AU2021234895B2 - Hybrid switch and control device - Google Patents

Hybrid switch and control device Download PDF

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AU2021234895B2
AU2021234895B2 AU2021234895A AU2021234895A AU2021234895B2 AU 2021234895 B2 AU2021234895 B2 AU 2021234895B2 AU 2021234895 A AU2021234895 A AU 2021234895A AU 2021234895 A AU2021234895 A AU 2021234895A AU 2021234895 B2 AU2021234895 B2 AU 2021234895B2
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electric arc
control circuit
transistor
extinguishing
switching
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AU2021234895A1 (en
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Gauthier DEPLAUDE
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Hager Electro SAS
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Hager Electro SAS
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    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H9/00—Details of switching devices, not covered by groups H01H1/00 - H01H7/00
    • H01H9/50—Means for detecting the presence of an arc or discharge
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H9/00—Details of switching devices, not covered by groups H01H1/00 - H01H7/00
    • H01H9/54—Circuit arrangements not adapted to a particular application of the switching device and for which no provision exists elsewhere
    • H01H9/541—Contacts shunted by semiconductor devices
    • H01H9/542—Contacts shunted by static switch means
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H9/00—Details of switching devices, not covered by groups H01H1/00 - H01H7/00
    • H01H9/54—Circuit arrangements not adapted to a particular application of the switching device and for which no provision exists elsewhere
    • H01H9/541—Contacts shunted by semiconductor devices
    • H01H9/542—Contacts shunted by static switch means
    • H01H2009/543—Contacts shunted by static switch means third parallel branch comprising an energy absorber, e.g. MOV, PTC, Zener
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H9/00—Details of switching devices, not covered by groups H01H1/00 - H01H7/00
    • H01H9/54—Circuit arrangements not adapted to a particular application of the switching device and for which no provision exists elsewhere
    • H01H9/541—Contacts shunted by semiconductor devices
    • H01H9/542—Contacts shunted by static switch means
    • H01H2009/544—Contacts shunted by static switch means the static switching means being an insulated gate bipolar transistor, e.g. IGBT, Darlington configuration of FET and bipolar transistor
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H9/00—Details of switching devices, not covered by groups H01H1/00 - H01H7/00
    • H01H9/54—Circuit arrangements not adapted to a particular application of the switching device and for which no provision exists elsewhere
    • H01H9/541—Contacts shunted by semiconductor devices
    • H01H9/542—Contacts shunted by static switch means
    • H01H2009/545—Contacts shunted by static switch means comprising a parallel semiconductor switch being fired optically, e.g. using a photocoupler
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H9/00—Details of switching devices, not covered by groups H01H1/00 - H01H7/00
    • H01H9/54—Circuit arrangements not adapted to a particular application of the switching device and for which no provision exists elsewhere
    • H01H9/541—Contacts shunted by semiconductor devices
    • H01H9/542—Contacts shunted by static switch means
    • H01H2009/546—Contacts shunted by static switch means the static switching means being triggered by the voltage over the mechanical switch contacts

Abstract

The present invention relates to a hybrid switch and control device allowing an electric arc to be extinguished and the electric current to be switched in an electrical circuit, said device comprising, firstly, a hybrid switch (1, 2) comprising an electromechanical switch (1) and, in parallel, an electronic switch (2) for assisting in extinguishing an electric arc and in switching the electric current resulting from said arc, said electromechanical switch (1) comprising at least one electrical contact (1a) across the terminals of which is connected said electronic switch (2) and, secondly, an electronic control circuit (3) able to control said electronic switch (2) when said electric arc occurs and until the electric current is switched. The electronic control circuit (3) consists of a semiconductor (Q2)-based analog electronic control circuit (3) and is configured to detect the inception of an electric arc occurring across the terminals of the electric contact (1a) and to deliver, to an output (S) of said electronic control circuit (3), an output signal able to control said electronic switch (2) according to a temporal sequence for extinguishing the electric arc and for switching the electric current in multiple phases.

Description

Hybrid switch and control device
[0001]The present invention relates to the field of switches and safety protection circuits connected in an electrical circuit and likely to generate electric arcs and, more particularly, hybrid switches and their control device allowing the extinguishing of such an electric arc and the switching off of the electrical current in said electrical circuit. Its subject is a hybrid switch and control device.
Background
[0002] It is known that hybrid switches comprise an electromechanical switch and an electronic switch. The electromechanical switch, based on electromechanical switching, comprises at least one electrical contact and makes it possible to obtain a low voltage drop across its terminals in the closed state and good galvanic isolation in the open state but has the disadvantage of generating electric arcs when the electrical contact under load is opened. With regard to the electronic switch, it is free from electric arcs but has a much higher voltage drop in the on state and does not make it possible to provide galvanic isolation in the off state.
[0003]The essential purpose of hybrid switches is to take advantage of the respective advantages of the two types of switches by compromise on their respective disadvantages.
[0004] The combination of these two switches, namely the electromechanical switch and the electronic switch, forming the hybrid switch, can be done in series or in parallel or in series and/or parallel combinations. The series combination, which can be done with or without an arc during the opening under load according to the synchronization of the opening commands, makes it possible to provide galvanic isolation in the open state but has a high voltage drop in the on state. The parallel combination, which can be done with or without an arc during the opening under load according to the synchronization of the opening commands, has a low voltage drop in the on state but does not make it possible to provide galvanic isolation in the open state.
[0005]The electronic switch is controlled by an electronic control device and consists of an analog electronic circuit comprising a varistor in parallel with a power semiconductor such as a power transistor, generally a field effect transistor or an insulated gate transistor. The varistor and the semiconductor are connected in parallel directly to the terminals of the contact of the electromechanical switch.
[0006] The electronic switch generally comprises two parallel branches, namely a first branch comprising the varistor and a second branch comprising the semiconductor. The branch of the electrical circuit of the hybrid switch comprising the electrical contact is parallel with said first and second branches of the electronic switch.
[0007 In operation, it is possible to distinguish, among the known sequences, the temporal sequence for extinguishing the electric arc and the switching off of the electrical current in several phases, and more particularly according to the following three successive phases:
- in a first phase, when the contact of the electromechanical switch opens, for example after the detection of an electrical fault, an electric arc appears;
- in a second phase, the semiconductor of the electronic switch is controlled to be switched into the saturated state ON and the electric current then switches completely into the second branch of the electronic switch resulting in the extinguishing of the electric arc,
- then, in a third phase, the semiconductor is controlled to be switched into the cut-off state OFF, the sudden switching off of the current in the semiconductor generating an overvoltage which activates the varistor the effect of which is that the electric current then switches completely into the first branch of the electronic switch. The voltage which appears across the terminals of the varistor is sufficient to limit the electric current and attain the extinguishing of the electric current.
[0008]However, whatever sequence is used, the control of the electronic switch, notably of the power semiconductor, uses complex and microprocessor or microcontroller based digital electronics necessitating an external stable electrical power supply. The document US 2019/0252143 discloses such control/drive electronics comprising a microprocessor or microcontroller based electronic control unit.
[0009] It is also known, in an alternating current application, or in an application with a bidirectional DC supply, for example in a battery under charge or producing an electric current, to incorporate a diode bridge between the varistor and the semiconductor in order to switch off the current in both directions.
Summary of the Invention
[0010]The purpose of embodiments of the present invention is to overcome these disadvantages by proposing a hybrid switch and control device using less complex control electronics not necessitating an external power supply.
[0011] For this purpose, the hybrid switch and control device, according to embodiments of the present invention, allowing the extinguishing of an electric arc and the switching off of the electric current dans an electrical circuit, said device comprising, on the one hand, a hybrid switch comprising an electromechanical switch and, in parallel, an electronic switch for assisting in extinguishing an electric arc and switching off the electric current resulting from said arc, said electromechanical switch comprising at least one electrical contact able to be closed to allow the flow of the electric current in the electrical circuit and opened in order to switch off said flow, said electronic switch being configured to be able to extinguish an electric arc occurring when said electrical contact is opened and then switching off the electric current and consisting of a power semiconductor based analog electronic circuit connected across the terminals of the electrical contact and, on the other hand, an electronic control circuit able to control said electronic switch when said electric arc occurs and until the electric current is switched off, is essentially characterized in that the electronic control circuit consists of a semiconductor based analog electronic control circuit and in that said electronic control circuit is configured to detect the appearance of an electric arc occurring across the terminals of the electrical contact and to deliver, to an output of said electronic control circuit, an output signal able to control said electronic switch according to a temporal sequence for extinguishing the electric arc and for switching off the electric current in several phases.
[0012] In a first embodiment of the electronic control circuit, the latter is configured to detect the appearance of the electric arc by its characteristic arc voltage whilst being able to deliver, as a function of the voltage across the terminals of the electrical contact, to the output of said electronic control circuit, an output signal able to control said electronic switch according to the temporal sequence for extinguishing the electric arc and for switching off the electric current in several phases.
[0013 In a second embodiment of the electronic control circuit, the latter can be configured to detect the appearance of the electric arc by its characteristic emitted light whilst being able to deliver, as a function of said emitted light, to the output of said electronic control circuit, the output signal able to control said electronic switch according to the temporal sequence for extinguishing the electric arc and for switching off the electric current in several phases.
[0014] According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a hybrid switch and control device allowing the extinguishing of an electric arc and the switching off of the electric current in an electrical circuit, said device comprising: a hybrid switch comprising an electromechanical switch and, in parallel, an electronic switch for assisting in extinguishing an electric arc and switching off the electric current resulting from said arc, said electromechanical switch comprising at least one electrical contact able to be closed to allow the flow of the electric current in the electrical circuit and opened in order to switch off said flow, said electronic switch being configured to be able to extinguish an electric arc occurring when said electrical contact is opened and then switching off the electric current and consisting of a power semiconductor based analog electronic circuit connected across the terminals of the electrical contact; and an electronic control circuit able to control said electronic switch when said electric arc occurs and until the electric current is switched off, the electronic control circuit consisting of a semiconductor based analog electronic control circuit and said electronic control circuit being configured to detect the appearance of an electric arc occurring across the terminals of the electrical contact and to deliver, to an output of said electronic control circuit, an output signal able to control said electronic switch according to a temporal sequence for extinguishing the electric arc and for switching off the electric current in several phases, wherein said electronic control circuit is configured to detect the appearance of the electric arc: - by its characteristic arc voltage whilst being able to deliver, as a function of the voltage across the terminals of the electrical contact, to the output of said electronic control circuit, an output signal able to control said electronic switch according to said temporal sequence for extinguishing the electric arc and for switching off the electric current in several phases, or - by its characteristic emitted light whilst being able to deliver, as a function of said emitted light, to the output of said electronic control circuit, the output signal able to control said electronic switch according to the temporal sequence for extinguishing the electric arc and for switching off the electric current in several phases.
[0015] It is an object of the present invention to overcome or ameliorate at least one of the disadvantages of the prior art, or to provide a useful alternative.
[0016] By way of clarification and for avoidance of doubt, as used herein and except where the context requires otherwise, the term "comprise" and variations of the term, such as "comprising", "comprises" and "comprised", are not intended to exclude further additions, components, integers or steps
Brief Description of the Drawings
[0017] The invention will be better understood, by means of the following description, which relates to at least one preferred embodiment, given as a non-limiting example and explained with reference to the appended schematic diagrams, in which:
[0018] [Fig. 1] shows the schematic diagram of the hybrid switch and control device, according to the present invention, connected in an electrical circuit, with the electronic switch and the electronic control circuit in the form of block diagrams,
[0019] [Fig. 2] shows the electrical schematic diagram of the hybrid switch and control device, according to the present invention, shown in figure 1, in a preferred embodiment of the electronic switch,
[0020] [Fig. 3] shows the electrical schematic diagram of the device, according to the present invention, shown in figure 2, in the first embodiment of the electronic control circuit, with a control transistor of the bipolar transistor type,
[0021] [Fig. 4] shows the electronic control circuit shown in figure 3 and having no capacitors,
[0022] [Fig. 5] shows the electronic control circuit shown in figure 3 in a variant with a control transistor of the field effect type,
[0023] [Fig. 6] shows the electronic control circuit shown in figure 5 in a variant having no capacitors,
[0024] [Fig. 7] shows the device, according to the present invention, shown in figures 3, 4, 5 and 6, without the electronic control circuit 3 and in a form of embodiment where the electronic switch is configured to operate in a bidirectional configuration, with a diode bridge,
[0025] [Fig. 8] shows the device, according to the present invention, shown in figure 2, the electromechanical switch of which is of the circuit breaker disconnector type and comprises moreover a second electrical contact equipped with a displacement and arc-splitting interrupter connected in series with the first electrical contact across the terminals of which is connected the electronic switch.
Detailed Description
[0026]The figures show a hybrid switch and control device, according to the present invention, allowing the extinguishing of an electric arc and the switching off of the electric current in an electrical circuit C.
[0027] Such a device, according to the present invention, comprises:
- on the one hand, a hybrid switch 1, 2 able to be connected to said electrical circuit C and comprising an electromechanical switch 1 and, in parallel, an electronic switch 2 for assisting in extinguishing an electric arc and in switching off the electric current, said electromechanical switch 1 comprising at least one electrical contact 1a able to be closed in order to allow the flow of the electric current in the electrical circuit C and opened in order to switch off said flow. The electronic switch 2 is configured to be able to extinguish an electric arc occurring during the opening of said electrical contact 1a and then switching off the electric current and consisting of a power semiconductor Q1 based analog electronic circuit connected across the terminals of the electrical contact 1a and
- on the other hand, an electronic control circuit 3 able to control said electronic switch 2 when said electric arc occurs and until the electric current is switched off.
[0028]According to the present invention, the electronic control circuit 3 consists of a semiconductor Q2 based analog electronic circuit. Moreover, said electronic control circuit 3 is configured to detect the appearance of an electric arc occurring across the terminals of the electrical contact 1a and to deliver, to an output S of said electronic control circuit 3, an output signal able to control said electronic switch 2 according to a temporal sequence for extinguishing the electric arc and for switching off the electric current in several phases.
[0029 If reference is made more particularly to figures 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8, it can be seen that, in a first embodiment of the device according to the present invention, the electronic control circuit 3 is configured to detect the appearance of the electric arc by its characteristic arc voltage whilst being able to deliver, as a function of the voltage across the terminals of the electrical contact, to the output S of said electronic control circuit 3, the output signal able to control said electronic switch 2 according to said temporal sequence for extinguishing the electric arc and for switching off the electric current in several phases.
[0030 If reference is made to figures 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8, it can be seen that, in a preferred embodiment of the electronic switch 2, the latter can comprise an association of two branches connected in parallel across the terminals of the electrical contact 1a, namely, a first branch comprising a varistor RV and a second branch comprising a power transistor Q1, said transistor Q1 for assisting the extinguishing of an electric arc, such as an insulated gate bipolar transistor, a field effect transistor (figures 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8) or a bipolar transistor. It can also be seen that the output S of the electronic control circuit 3 is connected to the gate or to the base of said transistor Q1 for assisting the extinguishing of an electric arc in such a way as to be able to apply the output signal to the gate or to the base of the transistor Q1 for assisting the extinguishing an electric arc in order to control said electronic switch 2 by switching, to the saturated state ON or the cut-off state OFF, the transistor Q1 for assisting the extinguishing of an electric arc according to several switching phases. The switching phases make it possible to carry out the phases of the temporal sequence for extinguishing the electric arc and switching off the electric current.
[0031] In the well-known way in which transistors function, it is recalled that the cut-off state OFF corresponds to a state where the transistor is not conducting and the saturated state ON corresponds to a state where the transistor is conducting.
[0032] In operation, the temporal sequence for extinguishing the electric arc in several phases can comprise three phases, phase 1, phase 2 and phase 3, this starting from an initial phase in which the electrical contact 1a is closed such that the electric current flows in the electrical circuit C, the electronic switch 2 and the electronic control circuit 3 then being inactive whilst the transistor Q1 for assisting extinguishing of the electric arc is controlled to be in the cut-off state OFF:
- phase 1: the electrical contact 1a is opened and an electric arc appears at the level of said open electrical contact 1a,
- phase 2: the output signal of the electronic control circuit 3 applied to the gate or the base of the transistor Q1 for assisting the extinguishing of the electric arc has the effect of switching the transistor Q1 for assisting the extinguishing of the electric arc from the cut-off state OFF to the saturated state ON, the electric current then switching into the second branch of the electronic switch 2 comprising said transistor Q1 for assisting the extinguishing of the electric arc and resulting in the extinguishing of the electric arc, and then
- phase3: the output signal of the electronic control circuit 3 applied to the gate or the base of the transistor Q1 for assisting the extinguishing of the electric arc has the effect of switching the transistor Q1 for assisting the extinguishing of the electric arc from the saturated state ON to the cut-off state OFF, which results in a switching off of the current in said transistor Q1 generating an overvoltage activating the varistor RV of the first branch, the electric current then switching into said first branch. The voltage which is established across the terminals of the varistor RV is sufficient to limit the electric current and attain the extinguishing of the electric current.
[0033]At the end of phase 3, the electrical contact 1a is open and the electric current is zero.
[0034]The hybrid switch and control device, according to the present invention, is therefore adapted, following the appearance of the electric arc due to the opening of the electrical contact 1a, to detect said appearance of an electric arc and to carry out a sequence for extinguishing the electric arc and switching off the electric current by acting on the control voltage of the transistor Q1 for assisting the extinguishing of the electric arc, that is to say by driving/controlling the latter, in order to switch it from the cut-off state OFF to the saturated state ON and vici versa according to several switching phases, for example according to the aforementioned two switching phases.
[0035 If reference is now made to figures 3, 4, 5 and 6, it can be seen that the electronic control circuit 3 can comprise, in the first embodiment, a switching transistor Q2, called a control transistor Q2, such as a bipolar transistor (figures 3 and 4) or, in a variant, a field effect transistor (figures 5 and 6) and an association of two branches in parallel, namely a first branch comprising a first resistor R1 in series with a first capacitor C1 and a second branch comprising a second resistor R2 in series with a second capacitor C2. The control transistor Q2 can be connected, by its collector (figures 3 and 4) or drain (figures 5 and 6), to the first branch at a first junction point forming the output of the electronic control circuit 3 and being situated between the first resistor R1 and the first capacitor C1. Moreover, the control transistor Q2 can be connected, by its base (figure 3) or gate (figure 5), to the second branch at a second junction point situated between the second resistor R2 and the second capacitor C2.
[0036]The phase-by-phase functioning of the device, according to the present invention, in this first embodiment of the electronic control circuit 3 can be as follows, starting from an initial phase where the electrical contact 1a is closed and the electric current flows in the electrical circuit C, the electronic switch 2 and the electronic control circuit 3 being inactive and the first and second capacitors C1 and C2 being discharged:
- phase 1: the electrical contact 1a is opened and an electric arc appear which is detected by the device, according to the present invention, the voltage across the terminals of the electrical contact 1a being equal to the arc voltage and simultaneously charging the first and second capacitors C1 and C2 via the first and second resistors R1 and R2. When the voltage across the terminals of the first capacitor C1, which forms the output signal of the electronic control circuit 3, exceeds a certain threshold VG(TH), an intrinsic characteristic of the transistor Q1 for assisting the extinguishing of the electric arc, the latter is switched into the saturated state ON, the effect of which is that the electric current switches from the electrical circuit C to the second branch of the electronic switch 2 comprising the transistor Q1 for assisting the extinguishing of the electric arc and consequently extinguishing the electric arc,
- phase 2: the voltage across the terminals of the electrical contact 1a is equal to the drain/source VDS (figures 3 and 5) or collector/base voltage, an intrinsic characteristic voltage of the transistor Q1 for assisting the extinguishing of the electric arc and this voltage continues to charge the second capacitor C2. When the voltage across the terminals of the capacitor C2 exceeds a certain threshold, for example about 0.7 V in the case of a silicon transistor, a significant electric current begins to flow in the base (figure 3) or a switching voltage is applied to the gate (figure 5) of the control transistor Q2 which is then switched into the saturated state ON, which has the effect of discharging the first capacitor C1 through said control transistor Q2 and, as soon as the voltage across the terminals of the first capacitor C1 drops under the threshold VG(TH), of switching the transistor Q1 for assisting the extinguishing of the electric arc into the cut-off state OFF. The sudden switching off of the electric current dans the latter generates an overvoltage sufficient to activate the varistor RV and the electric current then switches completely into the first branch comprising said varistor RV.
- phase 3: the electric current flows in the first branch of the electronic switch 2 comprising the varistor RV and the voltage across the terminals of the electrical contact 1a is equal to the limiting voltage of the varistor RV. The transistor Q1 for assisting the extinguishing of the electric arc is maintained in the cut-off state OFF because an electric current continues to flow in the base (figure 3) switching voltage is still applied to the gate (figure 5) of the control transistor Q2 via the second resistor R2.
[0037]Thus, at the end of the aforesaid sequence, the electric arc is completely extinguished and the electric current is completely switched off despite the appearance of said electric arc.
[0038] Preferably, the working voltage of the varistor RV can be chosen so as to cause a rapid lowering of the intensity of the electric current until it is extinguished.
[0039] Preferably, more particularly in the case where the transistor Q1 for assisting the extinguishing of the electric arc is a field effect transistor (figures 2, 3, 4, 5, 6,
7 and 8) or an insulated gate bipolar transistor, the choice of said transistor can be such that:
- VG(TH) (gate voltage) < 50V, preferably less than 1OV, at the various values of intensity of the electric current, this being in order to guarantee that the arc voltage is sufficient to activate the gate of the transistor Q1 for assisting the extinguishing of the electric arc,
- VDS (drain/source voltage) < 50 V, preferably less than 1OV, at the various values of intensity of the electric current, because when the transistor Q1 for assisting the extinguishing of the electric arc is switched into the saturated state ON, its impedance must be lower than that of the electric arc in order to divert the whole of the electric current.
[0040]The choice of the values of the first resistor R1 and of the first capacitor C1 is determined to adjust the time constant t1 of the charging of the first capacitor C1 and therefore the time before the switching of the transistor Q1 for assisting the extinguishing of the electric arc, that is to say the time to change it from the cut-off state OFF to the saturated state ON. Such a time constant t1 can be chosen, for example and preferably, to be less than 100 ms, and more preferably between 0 and 5 ms.
[0041] Likewise, the choice of the values of the second resistor R2 and of the second capacitor C2 is determined to adjust the time constant t2 of the charging of the second capacitor C2 and therefore the time before the switching of the control transistor Q2, that is to say the time to change it from the cut-off state OFF to the saturated state ON. Such a time constant t2 is preferably chosen to be less than 100 ms and more preferably between 0 and 5 ms.
[0042]The value of the first resistor R1 also has an impact on the limitation of the electric current in the control transistor Q2, particularly in phase 3. It will be noted that the arc voltage, intrinsically, decreases when the intensity of the electric current increases. Thus, the more the intensity of the electric current increases, the longer is the charging time (duration) of the first capacitor C1 up to the threshold value VG (TH) of the gate of the transistor Q1 for assisting the extinguishing of the electric arc. The switching of the transistor Q1 for assisting the extinguishing of the electric arc to the saturated state is therefore later when the intensity increases.
[0043] It will be noted that the duration of the flow of the electric current in the control transistor Q2 slightly reduces when the intensity of the electric current increases.
[0044 It will also be noted that an advantageous property of the electronic control circuit 3 is its self-inhibition beyond a certain intensity threshold. The duration of phase 1 increases when the intensity of the electric current increases and the duration of phase 2 reduces. In fact, it has been observed that, beyond a certain intensity, the voltage across the terminals of the second capacitor C2 exceeds the value of the threshold voltage of the control transistor Q2 (for example a threshold voltage equal to about 0.7V) before the voltage of the first capacitor C1 attains the value of the threshold voltage VG(TH) of the transistor Q1 for assisting the extinguishing of the electric arc so that the latter is not switched into the saturated state and the function is then inhibited.
[0045]The time to attain or exceed the value of the threshold voltage essentially depends on the values of the first and second resistors R1, R2 and of the first and second capacitors C1 and C2. It is also the result of a compromise between the energy dissipated by the electric arc and that dissipated by the transistor Q1.
[0046 If reference is now made to figures 4 and 6, it can be seen that, compared to the first embodiment of the electronic control circuit 3 comprising resistors R1, R2 and capacitors C1, C2, in a second embodiment of the electronic control circuit 3, the first branch is configured so as to get rid of the first capacitor (C) and/or the second branch is configured so as to get rid of the second capacitor (C2). Thus, the first branch comprises only the first resistor R1 and/or the second branch comprises only the second resistor R2 and it is possible to consider, according to the present invention, getting rid of only the second capacitor C2 of the second branch and/or only the first capacitor C1 of the first branch.
[0047] It will be understood that, in this second embodiment of the electronic control circuit 3, the values of the time constants t1 and t2 will then be dependent on the values of the resistors R1, R2 and/or of the stray capacity of the transistor Q1 for assisting the extinguishing of the electric arc (in the case without the first capacitor CI) and/or the stray capacity of the control transistor Q2 (in the case of the second capacitor C2).
[0048 In this second embodiment of the electronic control circuit 3 without the capacitors C1 and/or C2, the extinguishing of the electric arc will then be virtually immediate.
[0049] Depending on the type of transistor Q1 for assisting the extinguishing of the electric arc used, that is to say a field effect transistor (figures 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8) or an insulated gate bipolar transistor, the electronic control circuit 3 can have the same electrical circuit diagram, only the values of the components (R1, R2, C1, C2) then being adapted.
[0050]The present invention can also provide, for an alternating electric current, that the electronic control circuit 3 is connected to an electronic switch 2 configured to operate in a bidirectional configuration. Figure 7 shows an example of such a configuration in which the electronic switch 2 comprises for this purpose a diode bridge D. The diode bridge D is more particularly connected across the terminals of the varistor Rv.
[0051]The present invention can also provide that the electronic control circuit 3 can be connected to a hybrid switch 1, 2 necessitating galvanic isolation and comprising for this purpose an additional electrical contact lb upstream or downstream of the electrical contact 1a. In this case, the synchronization of the two electric contacts 1a and 1b has no effect on the operation of the device according to the present invention.
[0052]The self-inhibition function described above can be used to advantage in an application (figure 8) where the management of the electric currents beyond a certain threshold is taken care of by another device, for example in the case of a circuit breaker of the disconnector type, comprising two electric contacts 1a and 1b and where one of the two electric contacts 1b is equipped with a displacement and arc operating interrupting chamber known in the prior art. The interrupting chamber manages the extinguishing of the electric arc for currents whose intensity goes beyond a certain threshold Is and the device according to the present invention, the hybrid switch 2, 3 of which is connected in parallel with the other electrical contact 1a, can then manage the extinguishing of the electric arc occurring at the level of said electrical contact 1a and the switching off of the electric current below said threshold Is.
[0053]The control transistor Q2, such as a bipolar or field effect transistor, can be a PNP or NPN bipolar, a MOSFET (N or P type) or a JFET transistor. It will be understood that, depending on the type of transistor used, the electronic control circuit 3 can have that same electrical circuit diagram, only the values of the components (R1, R2, C1, C2) will then be adapted.
[0054]The present invention can also provide, in another way of embodiment of the first embodiment of the electronic control circuit 3, not shown in the appended figures, for the first capacitor C1 and/or the second capacitor C2 to be replaced by an inductor, that is to say an electronic component such as for example a coil or a choke.
[0055 In a second embodiment of the electronic control circuit 3, the latter can be configured to detect the appearance of the electric arc par its characteristic emitted light whilst being able to deliver, as a function of said emitted light, to the output S of said electronic control circuit 3, the output signal able to control said electronic switch 2 according to the temporal sequence for extinguishing the electric arc and switching off the electric current in several phases. In a preferred embodiment, the electronic control circuit 3 can comprise a photosensitive component of the LDR, phototransistor or photodiode type in order to detect the electric arc and to carry out the temporal sequence for extinguishing the electric arc and switching off the electric current in several phases.
[0056]Thus such a sequence for extinguishing the electric arc and switching off the current or any other sequence of this type using the device according to the present invention, more particularly in its first and second embodiments described above, makes it possible to detect the appearance of an electric arc, and more particularly, the voltage of the electric arc or the light emitted by the latter, across the terminals off the electrical contact 1a and to directly control (or drive) the transistor Q1 for assisting the extinguishing of the electric arc of the electronic switch 2, or any other power semiconductor of such an electronic switch 2 carrying out this function for assisting the extinguishing of the electric arc, solely from a semiconductor based analog electronic circuit (the electronic control circuit 3), that is to say without using complex electronics, notably microprocessor or microcontroller based, as is the case with the known systems of the prior art.
[0057] The invention is not of course limited to the embodiment described and shown in the appended drawings. Modifications remain possible, notably from the point of view of the constitution of the various components or by substitution of technical equivalents without, however, departing from the scope of protection of the invention.

Claims (5)

  1. Claims
    [Claim 1] A hybrid switch and control device allowing the extinguishing of an electric arc and the switching off of the electric current in an electrical circuit, said device comprising: a hybrid switch comprising an electromechanical switch and, in parallel, an electronic switch for assisting in extinguishing an electric arc and switching off the electric current resulting from said arc, said electromechanical switch comprising at least one electrical contact able to be closed to allow the flow of the electric current in the electrical circuit and opened in order to switch off said flow, said electronic switch being configured to be able to extinguish an electric arc occurring when said electrical contact is opened and then switching off the electric current and consisting of a power semiconductor based analog electronic circuit connected across the terminals of the electrical contact; and an electronic control circuit able to control said electronic switch when said electric arc occurs and until the electric current is switched off, the electronic control circuit consisting of a semiconductor based analog electronic control circuit and said electronic control circuit being configured to detect the appearance of an electric arc occurring across the terminals of the electrical contact and to deliver, to an output of said electronic control circuit, an output signal able to control said electronic switch according to a temporal sequence for extinguishing the electric arc and for switching off the electric current in several phases, wherein said electronic control circuit is configured to detect the appearance of the electric arc: - by its characteristic arc voltage whilst being able to deliver, as a function of the voltage across the terminals of the electrical contact, to the output of said electronic control circuit, an output signal able to control said electronic switch according to said temporal sequence for extinguishing the electric arc and for switching off the electric current in several phases, or - by its characteristic emitted light whilst being able to deliver, as a function of said emitted light, to the output of said electronic control circuit, the output signal able to control said electronic switch according to the temporal sequence for extinguishing the electric arc and for switching off the electric current in several phases.
  2. [Claim 2] The device, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electronic switch, comprises an association of two branches connected in parallel across the terminals of the electrical contact, namely a first branch comprising a varistor and a second branch comprising a power transistor, said transistor for assisting the extinguishing of an electric arc, such as an insulated gate bipolar transistor, a field effect transistor or a bipolar transistor, and in that the output of the electronic control circuit is connected to the gate or to the base of said transistor for assisting the extinguishing of an electric arc in such a way as to be able to apply the output signal to the gate or to the base of the transistor in order to control said electronic switch by switching, to the saturated state or the cut-off state, the transistor Q1 for assisting the extinguishing of an electric arc according to several switching phases.
  3. [Claim 3] The device, as claimed in claim 2, wherein the electronic control circuit comprises a switching transistor, called a control transistor such as a bipolar transistor or a field effect transistor and an association of two branches in parallel, namely a first branch comprising a first resistor in series with a first capacitor and a second branch comprising a second resistor in series with a second capacitor and in that the control transistor is connected, on the one hand, by its collector or drain, to the first branch at a first junction point forming the output of the electronic control circuit and being situated between the first resistor and the first capacitor and, on the other hand, by its base or gate), to the second branch at a second junction point situated between the second resistor and the second capacitor.
  4. [Claim 4]. The device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the first branch is configured so as to get rid of the first capacitor and/or the second branch is configured so as to get rid of the second capacitor.
  5. [Claim 5] The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electronic control circuit comprises a photosensitive component of the LDR, phototransistor or photodiode type in order to detect the electric arc and to carry out the temporal sequence for extinguishing the electric arc and switching off the electric current in several phases.
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Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FRFR2002320 2020-03-09
FR2002320A FR3107987A1 (en) 2020-03-09 2020-03-09 Hybrid switch and control device
PCT/EP2021/055796 WO2021180658A1 (en) 2020-03-09 2021-03-08 Hybrid switch and control device

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
SE9704685L (en) * 1997-12-15 1999-06-16 Asea Brown Boveri Coupling device and method
EP3039701B1 (en) * 2013-08-30 2021-03-31 Eaton Intelligent Power Limited Circuit breaker with hybrid switch
JP6596781B2 (en) * 2016-01-24 2019-10-30 郭橋石 Power extinguishing power device drive device and arc extinguishing device
DE102016117003A1 (en) 2016-09-09 2018-03-15 Eaton Industries (Austria) Gmbh Protection device

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CN115485801A (en) 2022-12-16
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AU2021234895A1 (en) 2022-09-15
WO2021180658A1 (en) 2021-09-16

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