EP1459337A1 - High current controlled switch-on circuit - Google Patents

High current controlled switch-on circuit

Info

Publication number
EP1459337A1
EP1459337A1 EP02796767A EP02796767A EP1459337A1 EP 1459337 A1 EP1459337 A1 EP 1459337A1 EP 02796767 A EP02796767 A EP 02796767A EP 02796767 A EP02796767 A EP 02796767A EP 1459337 A1 EP1459337 A1 EP 1459337A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
circuit
switch
generic
supplying high
high currents
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.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP02796767A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Inventor
Carlo Gemme
Carlo Cereda
Walter Turati
Cesare Spreafico
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.)
ABB Technology AG
Original Assignee
ABB T&D Technology AG
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by ABB T&D Technology AG filed Critical ABB T&D Technology AG
Priority to EP02796767A priority Critical patent/EP1459337A1/en
Publication of EP1459337A1 publication Critical patent/EP1459337A1/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H03—ELECTRONIC CIRCUITRY
    • H03K—PULSE TECHNIQUE
    • H03K17/00—Electronic switching or gating, i.e. not by contact-making and –breaking
    • H03K17/51—Electronic switching or gating, i.e. not by contact-making and –breaking characterised by the components used
    • H03K17/52—Electronic switching or gating, i.e. not by contact-making and –breaking characterised by the components used by the use, as active elements, of gas-filled tubes
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H03—ELECTRONIC CIRCUITRY
    • H03K—PULSE TECHNIQUE
    • H03K3/00—Circuits for generating electric pulses; Monostable, bistable or multistable circuits
    • H03K3/02—Generators characterised by the type of circuit or by the means used for producing pulses
    • H03K3/53—Generators characterised by the type of circuit or by the means used for producing pulses by the use of an energy-accumulating element discharged through the load by a switching device controlled by an external signal and not incorporating positive feedback
    • H03K3/55—Generators characterised by the type of circuit or by the means used for producing pulses by the use of an energy-accumulating element discharged through the load by a switching device controlled by an external signal and not incorporating positive feedback the switching device being a gas-filled tube having a control electrode

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a high current controlled switch-on circuit based on low cost gas discharge components.
  • Today many research activities on the next generation switching apparatus are directed to and involve the use of drives based on Thomson coil or repulsive drive.
  • This kind of drive is simply based on a fixed part made of a coil and a moving part, made of solid metal, which is close to said fixed part.
  • the fixed part i.e. the coil
  • the eddy current develop a force impulse between fixed and movable part, causing the movable part to move in a time which is of the order of hundred of microsecond.
  • FIG. 1 A schematic view of this kind of solution, as presently known in the art, is given in figure 1.
  • the present state of the art of the electronic control for repulsive drive requires big and expensive power electronic components in order to switch-on the circuit and discharge, inside the drive coil, the energy accumulated within a capacitor bank.
  • These power electronic components are normally designed for continuous currents, flowing for several ten years; they are therefore very limitedly exploited in this kind of application, i.e. to control repulsive drives, in which the component is switched-on for a maximum of only a few thousand times, for some hundred microsecond each time.
  • the goal of the present invention is to substitute the power electronic component used to switch on the current in the drive coil with a simpler device, having low cost components, but at the same time being able to perform all the functions needed by the drive coil.
  • This goal is achieved, according to the present invention by using components, which are normally used to discharge voltage transient in order to protect electronic circuit.
  • the circuit of the present invention is preferably applied to high current, switch-on electronic components without continuous duty.
  • figure 2 is represented a generic electronic circuit used to transfer power form a power supply to a load through a switch-on component.
  • two gas discharge voltage suppressors can be used instead of the single power electronic switch.
  • the gas discharge voltage suppressors are dimensioned in order to be able to withstand the foreseen current to be let through for a number of requested time; the characteristics and the dimensioning can be determined by taking as reference the manufacturer data-sheet.
  • the voltage of the discharge voltage suppressors is chosen in such a way that the two components in series can easily withstand the nominal voltage at which the capacitor bank is charged, while this is not anymore valid once one component is short-circuited by a suitable control circuit, letting the other being naturally ignited by a voltage higher than the its own nominal voltage.
  • the cost of the repulsive control drive can be reduce in a considerable way.
  • Figure 3 represents a schematic electronic circuit, showing a first possible embodiment of how to apply the gas discharge overvoltage suppressor components according to the present invention
  • Figure 4 represents a schematic electronic circuit showing a further possible embodiment of the solution according to the present invention, with gas discharge components to supply generic loads through a switch-on component;
  • Figure 5 represents a schematic electronic circuit showing a further possible embodiment of the solution according to the present invention, with a three pins Gas Discharge component to supply generic loads through a switch- on component.
  • either two or only one gas discharge voltage suppressors used can be.
  • a single gas discharge voltage suppressor is used, a three pins component needs to be used.
  • the intermediate connection is used to control the switch-on operation.
  • the application of the circuit according to the present invention to a drive coil is only one of the possible application of the present invention; the basic idea can be applied to all electronic circuit in which use of power electronic switched-on component is made, the said power electronic switched-on component being possibly substituted by gas discharge voltage suppressor devices.
  • the circuit of the present invention as substitute of power electronic switched-on components.
  • Particular care must be taken for instance in the following cases, in which additional features might be necessary in order to have proper functionality of the system.
  • the switch-on operations are not followed by a switch-off operation until the voltage operation has gone down to zero, or a switch-off support circuit is used, like for instance those used for tyristors.
  • the switch-on operation should not be repeated too often, in order not to reduce the life of the gas discharge voltage suppressor, below the expected period.
  • the precision of voltage intervention of this gas discharge component is not very high, so adequate tolerance in dimensioning has to be taken.
  • the high current controlled switch-on circuit according to the present invention allows to achieve the intended goals and objects.
  • the low cost gas discharge voltage suppressors used in the circuit according to the present invention allow to control operation of repulsive drive in an effective way, without any need to use expensive power electronic components.

Landscapes

  • Driving Mechanisms And Operating Circuits Of Arc-Extinguishing High-Tension Switches (AREA)
  • Relay Circuits (AREA)

Abstract

A switch-on circuit for supplying high currents to generic loads, in particular to repulsive drives or Thomson coils, which comprises a power supply, such as a capacitor charge and a capacitor bank, and at least a gas-discharge components.

Description

HIGH CURRENT CONTROLLED SWITCH-ON CIRCUIT
DESCRIPTION
The present invention relates to a high current controlled switch-on circuit based on low cost gas discharge components. Today many research activities on the next generation switching apparatus are directed to and involve the use of drives based on Thomson coil or repulsive drive.
This kind of drive is simply based on a fixed part made of a coil and a moving part, made of solid metal, which is close to said fixed part. When the fixed part, i.e. the coil, is run through by a fast rising current, it generates strong eddy currents in the close moving part. Then, the coil current and the eddy current develop a force impulse between fixed and movable part, causing the movable part to move in a time which is of the order of hundred of microsecond.
The speed of this kind of drives is more than two orders of magnitude faster than the present mechanical drives which are used for the today circuit breaker. This feature will allow to develop a new generation of switching devices, with higher characteristics and performances and lower cost.
A schematic view of this kind of solution, as presently known in the art, is given in figure 1. The present state of the art of the electronic control for repulsive drive requires big and expensive power electronic components in order to switch-on the circuit and discharge, inside the drive coil, the energy accumulated within a capacitor bank. These power electronic components are normally designed for continuous currents, flowing for several ten years; they are therefore very limitedly exploited in this kind of application, i.e. to control repulsive drives, in which the component is switched-on for a maximum of only a few thousand times, for some hundred microsecond each time.
On the other side it is not possible to reduce the size of the electronic components below a certain limit, since the components themselves must be able to withstand the very high peak currents, which are normally necessary for the functionality of the repulsion drive.
The goal of the present invention is to substitute the power electronic component used to switch on the current in the drive coil with a simpler device, having low cost components, but at the same time being able to perform all the functions needed by the drive coil. This goal is achieved, according to the present invention by using components, which are normally used to discharge voltage transient in order to protect electronic circuit. This is in reality only one of the potential application of the circuit of the present invention, since basically all applications in which there is a power electronic component being switched on, could be substituted with a gas discharge arrangement in the way as described and claimed in the present invention. The circuit of the present invention is preferably applied to high current, switch-on electronic components without continuous duty. In figure 2 is represented a generic electronic circuit used to transfer power form a power supply to a load through a switch-on component.
According to the present invention, two gas discharge voltage suppressors, or one having three pins, can be used instead of the single power electronic switch. The gas discharge voltage suppressors are dimensioned in order to be able to withstand the foreseen current to be let through for a number of requested time; the characteristics and the dimensioning can be determined by taking as reference the manufacturer data-sheet.
Furthermore, the voltage of the discharge voltage suppressors is chosen in such a way that the two components in series can easily withstand the nominal voltage at which the capacitor bank is charged, while this is not anymore valid once one component is short-circuited by a suitable control circuit, letting the other being naturally ignited by a voltage higher than the its own nominal voltage. By applying the circuit as described in the present invention the cost of the repulsive control drive can be reduce in a considerable way. The same conclusion is applicable to and can be extended to all applications where there is a power electronic component being switched on; such power electronic component can be substituted with a gas discharge arrangement in the way being described in the text and in the drawings of the present invention. In particular:
Figure 3 represents a schematic electronic circuit, showing a first possible embodiment of how to apply the gas discharge overvoltage suppressor components according to the present invention; - Figure 4 represents a schematic electronic circuit showing a further possible embodiment of the solution according to the present invention, with gas discharge components to supply generic loads through a switch-on component;
Figure 5 represents a schematic electronic circuit showing a further possible embodiment of the solution according to the present invention, with a three pins Gas Discharge component to supply generic loads through a switch- on component.
As already said and as shown in the accompanying figures, either two or only one gas discharge voltage suppressors used can be. When a single gas discharge voltage suppressor is used, a three pins component needs to be used. In such a case, the intermediate connection is used to control the switch-on operation.
The application of the circuit according to the present invention to a drive coil is only one of the possible application of the present invention; the basic idea can be applied to all electronic circuit in which use of power electronic switched-on component is made, the said power electronic switched-on component being possibly substituted by gas discharge voltage suppressor devices. There are however some limitation about the possible use of the circuit of the present invention as substitute of power electronic switched-on components. Particular care must be taken for instance in the following cases, in which additional features might be necessary in order to have proper functionality of the system. In particular: the switch-on operations are not followed by a switch-off operation until the voltage operation has gone down to zero, or a switch-off support circuit is used, like for instance those used for tyristors. the switch-on operation should not be repeated too often, in order not to reduce the life of the gas discharge voltage suppressor, below the expected period. the precision of voltage intervention of this gas discharge component is not very high, so adequate tolerance in dimensioning has to be taken.
The high current controlled switch-on circuit according to the present invention allows to achieve the intended goals and objects.
In particular, the low cost gas discharge voltage suppressors used in the circuit according to the present invention allow to control operation of repulsive drive in an effective way, without any need to use expensive power electronic components.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A switch-on circuit for supplying high currents to generic loads characterized in that it comprises a power supply, a generic load and at least a gas-discharge components.
2. A switch-on circuit for supplying high currents to generic loads according to Claim 1, characterized by the fact that it comprises a first and a second gas- discharge components and a first control circuit for ignition.
3. A switch-on circuit for supplying high currents to generic loads according to Claim 1, characterized by the fact that it comprises a three pins gas- discharge component and a control circuit for ignition, the intermediate connection of said three-pins gas discharge component being used to control the switch-on operation.
4. A switch-on circuit for supplying high currents to generic loads according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that said power supply comprises a capacitor charger and a capacitor bank.
5. A switch-on circuit for supplying high currents to generic loads according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that said generic load is a Thomson coil.
6. A switch-on circuit for supplying high currents to generic loads according to any of claims from 1 to 4, characterized by the fact that said generic load is a repulsive drive.
7. A drive for a circuit breaker comprising a switch-on circuit according to any of the preceding claims.
EP02796767A 2001-12-28 2002-12-27 High current controlled switch-on circuit Withdrawn EP1459337A1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP02796767A EP1459337A1 (en) 2001-12-28 2002-12-27 High current controlled switch-on circuit

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP01205247 2001-12-28
EP01205247 2001-12-28
EP02796767A EP1459337A1 (en) 2001-12-28 2002-12-27 High current controlled switch-on circuit
PCT/EP2002/014888 WO2003056586A1 (en) 2001-12-28 2002-12-27 High current controlled switch-on circuit

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1459337A1 true EP1459337A1 (en) 2004-09-22

Family

ID=8181564

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP02796767A Withdrawn EP1459337A1 (en) 2001-12-28 2002-12-27 High current controlled switch-on circuit

Country Status (3)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1459337A1 (en)
AU (1) AU2002361249A1 (en)
WO (1) WO2003056586A1 (en)

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US8686814B2 (en) 2010-04-15 2014-04-01 Schneider Electric Industries Sas Electric switching device with ultra-fast actuating mechanism and hybrid switch comprising one such device

Family Cites Families (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS531868A (en) * 1976-06-26 1978-01-10 Fuji Electric Co Ltd Circuit breaker
JP3564251B2 (en) * 1996-06-11 2004-09-08 三菱重工業株式会社 Single power supply type pulse charging device

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
See references of WO03056586A1 *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO2003056586A1 (en) 2003-07-10
AU2002361249A1 (en) 2003-07-15

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