EP1153406A1 - Self-regenerating current limiting device with liquid metal - Google Patents
Self-regenerating current limiting device with liquid metalInfo
- Publication number
- EP1153406A1 EP1153406A1 EP00905038A EP00905038A EP1153406A1 EP 1153406 A1 EP1153406 A1 EP 1153406A1 EP 00905038 A EP00905038 A EP 00905038A EP 00905038 A EP00905038 A EP 00905038A EP 1153406 A1 EP1153406 A1 EP 1153406A1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- current limiting
- limiting device
- self
- channels
- walls
- 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.)
- Granted
Links
Classifications
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
- H01H87/00—Protective devices in which a current flowing through a liquid or solid is interrupted by the evaporation of the liquid or by the melting and evaporation of the solid when the current becomes excessive, the circuit continuity being reestablished on cooling
Definitions
- the invention relates to a self-recovering current limiting device with liquid metal according to the preamble of claim 1.
- Such a self-recovering current limiting device is known from the publication SU 922 911 A, which contains electrodes made of solid metal, which are separated by first insulating bodies designed as pressure-resistant insulating housings. Inside the insulating housing are formed by insulating intermediate walls and second insulating bodies arranged between them, which are designed as annular sealing disks, partially filled with liquid metal, consecutive compression spaces, which are interconnected via liquid metal filled, eccentrically arranged connecting channels of the intermediate walls. In normal operation there is therefore a continuous internal conductive connection between the electrodes via the liquid metal. In the case of current limitation, the liquid metal is displaced from the connecting channels due to the high current density. The electrical connection of the electrodes via the liquid metal is thus interrupted, which leads to the limitation of the short-circuit current. After the short circuit has been switched off or eliminated, the connecting channels fill again with liquid metal, whereupon the current limiting device is ready for operation again. In the publication SU 922 911 A, which contains electrodes made of solid metal, which are separated by first insulating bodies
- Document DE 40 12 385 A1 describes a current limiting device with only one compressor space and mentions vacuum, protective gas or an insulating liquid as the medium above the liquid level.
- the connection channels of adjacent partition walls are arranged offset from one another to improve the boundary properties.
- Liquid metal has the desired property of self-recovery, but with a relatively long switch-off time of a circuit breaker which is connected in series with a current limiting device, there is a risk of the arc or the arcs in the current limiting device frequently being re-ignited. This leads to an increased material load and thus a shorter service life of the current limiting device. It is not possible to influence the recombination time, that is to say the time until the continuous metallic conductive connection is restored, with the known current limiting devices.
- the invention is therefore based on the object of specifying means for specifically influencing the recombination time.
- the reconnection time can be set as required due to the connection channels being inclined on both sides, since after the current limitation the connection channels are more or less slowed down or accelerated with liquid metal depending on the course of their slopes.
- the current limiting device according to the invention can therefore be adapted to the corresponding application by its recombination time.
- the changing bevels of the connecting channels are expediently designed as straight partial channels which merge into one another at an angle in the interior of the intermediate walls. Partial channels rising on both sides towards the interior of the partition walls result in an extended recombination time compared to continuously straight connecting channels, since after a short circuit the escape of vapor or gas bubbles that are created is made more difficult and thus the refilling of the connecting channels with liquid metal is slowed down.
- Partitions of this type can advantageously be produced by assembling two part walls, each with sub-channels inserted in a straight line at an angle, the part channels which are inclined in reverse butting against one another and combining to form the connecting channels essential to the invention.
- Part walls of the same design the wall thickness of which is half the nominal wall thickness of the partition walls composed of these, cost-effectively lead to identical parts for the part walls.
- partition walls or part walls consists in that they are formed with an edge-side collar, the height of which corresponds to half or the entire width of the inner compression spaces.
- an inner compressor space is delimited by two opposite intermediate walls or partial walls, or an outer compressor space is delimited by an electrode and an intermediate or partial wall opposite this.
- pressure equalization channels are provided in the intermediate walls above the liquid level, it is advisable to offset pressure equalization channels of adjacent intermediate walls, particularly strongly. In the event of a short circuit, this prevents the ignition of undesired arcs via these channels and extends the recombination time.
- GalnSn alloys in particular are easy to handle due to their physiological harmlessness.
- An alloy of 660 parts by weight gallium, 205 parts by weight indium and 135 parts by weight tin is included
- Figure 1 in longitudinal section a first embodiment of the self-recovering current limiting device according to the invention
- Figure 2 in longitudinal section a second embodiment of the self-recovering current limiting device according to the invention.
- the current limiting device 10 contains an electrode 1 made of solid metal, preferably copper, on both sides, which is rotationally symmetrical and merges into an outer connecting conductor 2. Between the electrodes 1 there are a number of compression spaces 4 which are formed by a corresponding number of insulating partition walls 12 with collars 13 which are circular in shape on both sides at the edge.
- the the two outer compressor chambers 4 are laterally delimited by one of the electrodes 1 and by an intermediate wall 12.
- the inner compression spaces 4 are laterally delimited by two intermediate walls 12.
- the electrodes 1 and the intermediate walls 12 are held non-positively by an insulating body in the form of a molded housing 5, which consists of two identical shell-shaped housing parts 51.
- the housing halves 51 are pressure-resistant insulating bodies. All the compressor rooms 4 are partially filled with a liquid metal 7, for example a GalnSn alloy.
- the intermediate walls 12 are provided below the liquid level 9 with connecting channels 17 with a V-shaped longitudinal profile.
- the connection channels 17 are also filled with liquid metal 7 in nominal operation, so that there is a continuous electrically conductive connection between the electrodes 1.
- the connecting channels 17 of adjacent partitions 12 can advantageously be offset by a certain angular amount in order to make a continuous arc difficult in the event of a current limitation.
- the connecting channels 17 are composed of two subchannels 18, 19 which merge at right angles and run in a straight line.
- the subchannels 18 and 19 run from the outer walls to the inside of the intermediate walls 12 obliquely downwards, that is, directed away from the liquid level 9.
- This configuration of the connecting channels 17 results in a shorter recombination time than the known current limiting devices with rectilinear connecting channels, since after an external short circuit, the escape of steam or gas bubbles from the connecting channels 17 is facilitated and thus the refilling of the connecting channels with the liquid metal 7 is accelerated.
- the current limiting device 20 according to FIG. 2 differs from the one described above essentially in the design of its intermediate the partition walls 22, 23 and by further insulating bodies formed as annular sealing disks 21 between the partition walls 22, 23 or between the outer partition walls 22 and the adjacent electrodes 1.
- the partition walls 22, 23 are each composed of two identical part walls 24 and 25, which with an inclined partial channel 28 and 29 are provided.
- connecting channels 26 or 27 are formed which have different directions of inclination from the outside inwards.
- the two outer partition walls 22 are composed by the partial walls 24 and 25 such that the V-shaped connecting channels 26 formed by the partial channels 28 and 29 open obliquely on both sides to the liquid level 9 of the liquid metal 7, whereas the inner intermediate walls 23 are composed such that the inverted V-shaped connecting channels 27 formed by the partial channels 28 and 29 open obliquely on both sides away from the liquid level 9.
- the outer connection channels 26 have a shortened and the inner connection channels 27 have an extended recombination time after a short circuit.
- the present invention is not restricted to the embodiments described above.
- suitable selection of the paired composition of the partial walls 24 and 25 allows current limiting devices to be produced which are largely adapted to different current limiting conditions.
- some of the partition walls can be equipped with straight connecting channels.
Abstract
Description
Claims
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
DE1999105372 DE19905372C1 (en) | 1999-02-10 | 1999-02-10 | Self-recovering current limiting device with liquid metal |
DE19905372 | 1999-02-10 | ||
PCT/EP2000/001005 WO2000048216A1 (en) | 1999-02-10 | 2000-02-08 | Self-regenerating current limiting device with liquid metal |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP1153406A1 true EP1153406A1 (en) | 2001-11-14 |
EP1153406B1 EP1153406B1 (en) | 2003-04-16 |
Family
ID=7896958
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP00905038A Expired - Lifetime EP1153406B1 (en) | 1999-02-10 | 2000-02-08 | Self-regenerating current limiting device with liquid metal |
Country Status (3)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP1153406B1 (en) |
DE (1) | DE19905372C1 (en) |
WO (1) | WO2000048216A1 (en) |
Family Cites Families (10)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
CH273223A (en) * | 1946-02-19 | 1951-01-31 | Fkg Ag | Device for limiting electrical currents. |
CH308101A (en) * | 1952-08-19 | 1955-06-30 | Fkg Ag | Arc-proof insulating body. |
FR1339243A (en) * | 1961-12-27 | 1963-10-04 | Merlin Gerin | Improvements to electrical switches with liquid resistance |
DE1513333A1 (en) * | 1965-11-30 | 1969-10-16 | Licentia Gmbh | Current-limiting fuse |
DE1788143B1 (en) * | 1967-04-19 | 1972-12-21 | Gen Electric | Current limiting device |
NL7509962A (en) * | 1975-08-22 | 1977-02-24 | Hazemeijer Bv | Electrical current limiting device - has cylindrical housing in two parts with central insulator and internal filling of conductive liquid metal |
DE2652506A1 (en) * | 1976-11-18 | 1978-05-24 | Gec Elliott Automation Ltd | Heavy current switchgear with several moving contacts - has at least one solid contact wetted on surface with liq. gallium or its alloy |
SU922911A1 (en) * | 1980-05-05 | 1982-04-23 | Kb Polt Inst Kujbysheva | Current limiter |
SU1076981A1 (en) * | 1982-07-29 | 1984-02-29 | Куйбышевский ордена Трудового Красного Знамени политехнический институт им.В.В.Куйбышева | Current-limiting circuit breaker |
DD282778A5 (en) * | 1989-04-26 | 1990-09-19 | Karl Marx Stadt Tech Hochschul | POWER-CONTROLLED SHUT-OFF DEVICE |
-
1999
- 1999-02-10 DE DE1999105372 patent/DE19905372C1/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
-
2000
- 2000-02-08 EP EP00905038A patent/EP1153406B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 2000-02-08 WO PCT/EP2000/001005 patent/WO2000048216A1/en active IP Right Grant
Non-Patent Citations (1)
Title |
---|
See references of WO0048216A1 * |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
DE19905372C1 (en) | 2000-08-24 |
WO2000048216A1 (en) | 2000-08-17 |
EP1153406B1 (en) | 2003-04-16 |
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