EP1040496B1 - Electrical circuit breaker - Google Patents

Electrical circuit breaker Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1040496B1
EP1040496B1 EP98962578A EP98962578A EP1040496B1 EP 1040496 B1 EP1040496 B1 EP 1040496B1 EP 98962578 A EP98962578 A EP 98962578A EP 98962578 A EP98962578 A EP 98962578A EP 1040496 B1 EP1040496 B1 EP 1040496B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
arc
contacts
electrical circuit
circuit breaker
gas
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP98962578A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP1040496A1 (en
Inventor
William Bewick Hall
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
VA Tech Elin Service BV
Original Assignee
VA Tech Elin Service BV
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Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by VA Tech Elin Service BV filed Critical VA Tech Elin Service BV
Publication of EP1040496A1 publication Critical patent/EP1040496A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP1040496B1 publication Critical patent/EP1040496B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H33/00—High-tension or heavy-current switches with arc-extinguishing or arc-preventing means
    • H01H33/02—Details
    • H01H33/04—Means for extinguishing or preventing arc between current-carrying parts
    • H01H33/18—Means for extinguishing or preventing arc between current-carrying parts using blow-out magnet
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H33/00—High-tension or heavy-current switches with arc-extinguishing or arc-preventing means
    • H01H33/70—Switches with separate means for directing, obtaining, or increasing flow of arc-extinguishing fluid
    • H01H33/88—Switches with separate means for directing, obtaining, or increasing flow of arc-extinguishing fluid the flow of arc-extinguishing fluid being produced or increased by movement of pistons or other pressure-producing parts
    • H01H33/90—Switches with separate means for directing, obtaining, or increasing flow of arc-extinguishing fluid the flow of arc-extinguishing fluid being produced or increased by movement of pistons or other pressure-producing parts this movement being effected by or in conjunction with the contact-operating mechanism
    • H01H33/91—Switches with separate means for directing, obtaining, or increasing flow of arc-extinguishing fluid the flow of arc-extinguishing fluid being produced or increased by movement of pistons or other pressure-producing parts this movement being effected by or in conjunction with the contact-operating mechanism the arc-extinguishing fluid being air or gas

Landscapes

  • Circuit Breakers (AREA)
  • Arc-Extinguishing Devices That Are Switches (AREA)
  • Electrical Discharge Machining, Electrochemical Machining, And Combined Machining (AREA)
  • Emergency Protection Circuit Devices (AREA)
  • Driving Mechanisms And Operating Circuits Of Arc-Extinguishing High-Tension Switches (AREA)
  • Saccharide Compounds (AREA)
  • Switch Cases, Indication, And Locking (AREA)
  • Glass Compositions (AREA)
  • Relay Circuits (AREA)
  • Electronic Switches (AREA)

Abstract

An electrical circuit breaker (10) comprises an enclosure (12) filled with an insulating fluid. Within the enclosure (12) is a pair of opposing contacts (14 and 16) one of which is fixed and the other moves axially relative thereto. When the contacts (14 and 16) are separated an arc is drawn between them. The arc is rotated by a magnetic field generated by coil (18). A shield (20) prevents the arc short circuiting the coil (18) but also traps ionised gas particles and metallic vapours. To prevent the ionised gas and vapours building up, a flow of purging gas is directed to region A, eg through channels (26 and 28). The purging flow of gas flushes out this region to prevent re-establishment of the arc.

Description

The present invention relates to an electrical circuit breaker and in particular to one in which an arc is rotated to assist in extinguishing the arc.
DE-A-2820021 shows that electrical circuit breakers are known which have a pair of opposing contacts located in an enclosure filled with an insulating fluid, for example sulphur hexafloride (SF6) gas. The contacts are capable of relative movement between a closed circuit position in which they engage with one another to pass a current therebetween and an open circuit position in which the contacts are separated. When the contacts are moved apart arcing of the current between the contacts occurs before the current is interrupted. The arc can seriously damage the contacts reducing the life of the electrical circuit breaker.
To assist in the extinguishment of the arc and so prevent the contacts being damaged the arc is rotated. The arc is rotated by a Lorentz force produced when the current flowing through the arc cuts a magnetic field generated by a coil adjacent the contacts. The arc is rotated to remove it from areas were the gas has been ionised. If the arc is rotated faster than the gas can be ionised the arc will be extinguished.
A problem with electrical circuit breakers in which the arc is rotated is that degradation of the gas in the region between the contacts where the arc is generated occurs and the arc may also short circuit the coil.
One attempt to overcome the problem is illustrated in DE-A-2820021. This comprises utilising the movement of one contact away from the other to produce a flow of the insulating gas which surrounds the contacts to purge the area where the arc between the contacts is drawn to assist in the extinguishing of the arcs.
In DE-A-282001 the purging gas is taken from a region immediately adjacent to a contact and consequently it is heated and is likely to contain ionised gas containing metallic particles. Additionally in DE-A-282001 the purging gas is supplied only in a direction which is parallel to the axis along which the contacts are separated.
This results in inefficient purging and consequently poor arc extinguishing.
According to the present invention an electrical circuit breaker comprises an enclosure filled with an insulating fluid, at least one pair of opposing contacts housed in the enclosure which are capable of being separated to draw an arc, an actuator for axially moving one contact relative to the other the actuator having a piston mounted thereon whereby in operation axial movement of the actuator causes the piston to compress a purging fluid from the area where the arc is drawn to assist in the extinguishment of the arc, means being provided to direct separate axial and radial flows of the compressed purging fluid to the region between the contacts where the arc is drawn.
In the preferred embodiment of the present invention a coil is located adjacent the contacts which generates a magnetic field to rotate the arc drawn between the contacts.
The purging fluid may be directed to the region where the arc is drawn via a passageway through at least one of the contacts and via at least one other conduit. Preferably the purging fluid is sulphur hexafloride.
A shield may be provided adjacent the coil which prevents the arc short circuiting the coil.
The present invention will now be described with reference to and as shown in figure 1. Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of an electrical circuit breaker in accordance with the present invention in an open circuit position.
Referring to figure 1 an electrical circuit breaker, generally indicated at 10, comprises an enclosure 12 filled with an insulating fluid. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention the insulating fluid is sulphur hexafloride, SF6 gas, under pressure.
Located in the enclosure 12 are a pair of opposing electrical contacts 14 & 16. The contacts 14 & 16 extend through the enclosure 12 and are capable of relative movement between a closed circuit position and an open circuit position.
The contact 14 is fixed and the contact 16 moves axially relative thereto. In the closed circuit position the tip of contact 16 is inside the fixed contact 14 to pass a current therebetween. In the open circuit position shown in figure 1 the contact 16 is withdrawn from the contact 14 by an actuator 22.
The actuator 22 has a piston 24 mounted thereon and extends through a compression cylinder 25.
A coil 18 is provided adjacent the fixed contact 14 and a shield 20 is fitted adjacent the coil 18.
In operation when the electrical circuit breaker 10 is closed the main contacts 14 and 16 engage to carry one phase of the current supply.
When the current is to be interrupted the actuator 22 moves the contact 16 axially relative to the fixed contact 14. The contacts 14 and 16 are separated and an arc is drawn between them. As the tip of the contact 16 passes through electrode 17 the arc transfers between the contact 16 and the electrode 17. The electrical current path is then through the electrode 17 into the coil 18 and to the connection point 19.
As the current passes through the coil a magnetic field is generated. The magnetic field is cut by the current flowing through the arc and a Lorentz force is produced which rotates the arc. The arc is rotated to remove it from areas where the insulating gas, SF6, has been ionised. If the arc is rotated faster than the gas can be ionised the arc will extinguish.
The shield 20 provides an enclosure for the arc such that the arc is trapped and cannot short circuit the coil 18. The shield 20 also traps ionised gas and metal vapours in region A.
To prevent a build up of heat, metallic vapours and ionised gas, which cause electrical breakdown and prevent the arc from being extinguished, a purging flow of gas is supplied to region A.
The purging flow of SF6 gas is compressed in the cylinder 25 by the piston 24 mounted on the actuator 22 of the contact 16. As the contact 16 moves axially the piston 24 compresses the SF6 gas. The pressure is relieved as the gas passes through a passageway 26 in the moving contact 16 and conduits 28 to region A.
The purging flow of gas flushes out region A effectively dissipating the ionised gases and metallic vapours which cause electrical breakdown. The purging flow of gas therefore assists in extinguishing the arc.
The arc is extinguished by the combination of being rotated by the Lorentz force and the removal of heat, metallic vapours and ionised gas from region A.
At low arc currents there is insufficient energy to rotate the arc at high speed. The are may re-establish itself as it passes through the same ionised gas path. The purging flow of gas through the passageway 26 and the conduits 28 ensures that at these low arc currents the metallic vapours and ionised gases are dissipated to prevent re-establishment of the arc.
An electrical circuit breaker in accordance with the present invention has particular efficacy at high voltages in the region above 72KV. However it will be appreciated by one skilled in the art that the use of a purging flow of fluid can be used in any electrical circuit breaker where removal of ionised gas or contaminants is required from the region where an arc is drawn.
It will further be appreciated by one skilled in the art that the purging flow of fluid may be any insulating medium and may be provided from a separate supply controlled independently from the movement of the contacts.

Claims (6)

  1. An electrical circuit breaker (10) comprising an enclosure (12) filled with an insulating fluid, at least one pair of opposing contacts (14, 16) housed in the enclosure which are capable of being separated to draw an arc an actuator (22) for axially moving one contact relative to the other the actuator having a piston (24) mounted thereon whereby in operation axial movement of the actuator causes the piston (24) to compress a purging fluid from the area where the arc is drawn to assist in the extinguishment of the arc characterised in that means (26, 28) are provided to direct separate axial and radial flows of the compressed purging fluid to the region between the contacts where the arc is drawn.
  2. An electrical circuit breaker as claimed in claim 1 characterised in that a coil (18) is located adjacent the contacts (14, 16) which generates a magnetic field to rotate the arc drawn between the contacts.
  3. An electrical circuit breaker as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, characterised in that the means for axially directing the compressed purging fluid to the region between the contacts (14, 16) is a passageway (26) extending through at least one of the contacts (16).
  4. An electrical circuit breaker as claimed in any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the means for radially directing the compressed purging fluid to the region between the contacts is at least one conduit (28).
  5. An electrical circuit breaker as claimed in any preceding claim, characterised in that a shield (20) is provided adjacent the coil (18) to prevent the coil being short circuited by the arc current.
  6. An electrical circuit breaker as claimed in any preceding claims characterised in that the purging fluid is sulphur hexafloride gas.
EP98962578A 1997-12-19 1998-12-21 Electrical circuit breaker Expired - Lifetime EP1040496B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9726707 1997-12-19
GB9726707A GB2332566B (en) 1997-12-19 1997-12-19 Electrical circuit breaker
PCT/GB1998/003851 WO1999033081A1 (en) 1997-12-19 1998-12-21 Electrical circuit breaker

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1040496A1 EP1040496A1 (en) 2000-10-04
EP1040496B1 true EP1040496B1 (en) 2002-05-22

Family

ID=10823790

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP98962578A Expired - Lifetime EP1040496B1 (en) 1997-12-19 1998-12-21 Electrical circuit breaker

Country Status (11)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1040496B1 (en)
JP (1) JP2001527270A (en)
CN (1) CN1149600C (en)
AT (1) ATE218008T1 (en)
AU (1) AU1771299A (en)
DE (1) DE69805547T2 (en)
ES (1) ES2177118T3 (en)
GB (1) GB2332566B (en)
HK (1) HK1034801A1 (en)
MY (1) MY129528A (en)
WO (1) WO1999033081A1 (en)

Families Citing this family (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2003002531A2 (en) 2001-06-27 2003-01-09 Smithkline Beecham Corporation Fluoropyrrolidines as dipeptidyl peptidase inhibitors
FR2905515B1 (en) * 2006-08-30 2008-12-05 Areva T & D Sa METALLIC ENVELOPE ELECTRICAL DEVICE COMPRISING A PARTICLE TRAP.
CN102804313B (en) * 2009-06-25 2015-09-09 三菱电机株式会社 Gas-insulated switchgear device
DE102012202408A1 (en) * 2012-02-16 2013-08-22 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Switchgear arrangement

Family Cites Families (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB516530A (en) * 1938-06-22 1940-01-04 Reyrolle A & Co Ltd Improvements in or relating to electric circuit-breaking devices of the gas-blast type
GB1346984A (en) * 1969-12-30 1974-02-13 Reyrolle Parsons Ltd Gas circuit-breakers
FR2373141A1 (en) * 1976-12-06 1978-06-30 Cem Comp Electro Mec HIGH VOLTAGE ELECTRICAL CUT-OFF DEVICE, IN PARTICULAR A SELF-BLOWING CIRCUIT BREAKER BY GAS
DE2809509A1 (en) * 1978-03-06 1979-09-13 Licentia Gmbh COMPRESSED GAS CIRCUIT BREAKER
FR2422246A1 (en) * 1978-04-07 1979-11-02 Merlin Gerin Discharge suppressor for gas filled circuit breakers - is both magnetically and pneumatically operated with vents and baffles angled inward being displaced from contacts as circuit is broken
DE2815519A1 (en) * 1978-04-11 1979-10-25 Licentia Gmbh Gas blowout circuit breaker - has blowout coil producing cusp-like magnetic field and connected to two=part moving contact
DE2820021A1 (en) * 1978-05-08 1979-11-15 Licentia Gmbh HV power circuit breaker with rotating light arc - which is located parallel to breaker axis and rotates about it
US4291208A (en) * 1978-11-24 1981-09-22 Westinghouse Electric Corp. Gas-insulated circuit-interrupter having improved insulating nozzle
DE2904109A1 (en) * 1979-02-03 1980-08-07 Licentia Gmbh COMPRESSED GAS HIGH VOLTAGE CIRCUIT BREAKERS
DE3265381D1 (en) * 1981-06-12 1985-09-19 Bbc Brown Boveri & Cie High-voltage power circuit breaker
FR2596574B1 (en) * 1986-04-01 1988-05-20 Alsthom HIGH VOLTAGE CIRCUIT BREAKER WITH DIELECTRIC GAS UNDER PRESSURE

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE69805547T2 (en) 2003-01-09
AU1771299A (en) 1999-07-12
WO1999033081A8 (en) 2000-08-31
DE69805547D1 (en) 2002-06-27
JP2001527270A (en) 2001-12-25
ES2177118T3 (en) 2002-12-01
GB9726707D0 (en) 1998-02-18
MY129528A (en) 2007-04-30
GB2332566A (en) 1999-06-23
CN1149600C (en) 2004-05-12
GB2332566B (en) 2001-09-19
WO1999033081A1 (en) 1999-07-01
EP1040496A1 (en) 2000-10-04
HK1034801A1 (en) 2001-11-02
ATE218008T1 (en) 2002-06-15
CN1284202A (en) 2001-02-14

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