EP2270828B1 - Relief mushroom valve intended for releasing a dielectric gas between two volumes of an interruptor tube of a high- or medium-voltage circuit breaker - Google Patents

Description

TECHNICAL AREA

The invention relates to a relief valve valve.

The invention is particularly applicable to high or medium voltage circuit breaker interrupting chambers in which a dielectric gas must be discharged by a valve.

PRIOR ART

In the field of high or medium voltage circuit breakers, it is widely known to use valve valves to discharge the dielectric gas between different volumes of the same interrupting chamber during the breaking of currents.

Numerous patent applications, such as the application EP 2045827 of the applicant, describing the operation of a plurality of valve valves for a double volume compression chamber.

One of the valves 122 described is a unidirectional valve integrated in the operating tube 108 and has the function of opening only when the pressure in the second compression chamber 120 is greater than that in the first compression chamber 106 from which arc blowing is realised. Another of the disclosed valves is a fill valve 126 which is used after the breaker opening operation, so that gas can enter the second compression chamber 120 when the interrupting chamber 100 returns to the closed position.

• induire une perte de charge minimale lors de l'opération de remplissage au moins du volume de soufflage,
• être efficace lorsque le disjoncteur qui en est muni est soumis à des conditions de faibles températures, typiquement jusqu'à T0= -50°C,
• présenter une grande réactivité à l'ouverture et à la fermeture, c'est-à-dire une capacité à s'ouvrir et à se fermer instantanément lorsqu'une différence de pression de gaz diélectrique apparaît de part et d'autre.

Whatever the embodiment (constituent material of the valve, form of the valve, relative mechanical arrangement between the valve and its seat), a valve with a discharge valve of a breaking chamber of a high or medium voltage circuit breaker must ideally fulfill in addition to its primary function of discharging the dielectric gas from one volume to another, the following functions:

• induce a minimum pressure drop during the filling operation of at least the blowing volume,
• be effective when the circuit breaker equipped with it is subjected to conditions of low temperatures, typically up to T0 = -50 ° C,
• have a high reactivity to the opening and closing, that is to say, an ability to open and close instantly when a dielectric gas pressure difference appears on both sides.

To date, it is possible to classify exclusively in two categories the valves for the discharge valve of the insulating gas in a high or medium voltage circuit-breaker breaking chamber: one in which the valve is made of elastomer and the other in which the valve is made of metallic material.

Each of these two categories has its own advantages and disadvantages.

The elastomer valve is in the form of a washer mounted freely in a passage. Its main advantages are not to induce significant pressure drop during the filling operation, to be reactive to the opening and closing.

Its major disadvantage is to lose flexibility when the circuit breaker that is equipped with it is subjected to low temperatures.

The sealing of such an elastomeric valve is then no longer necessarily provided, which involves risks in operation.

The valve made of metallic material can take many forms.

A metal valve may be in the form of a washer mounted freely in a passage. It has the advantage of essentially being able to perform its functions of opening and closing tight regardless of the extreme temperature conditions.

Its major drawbacks are its relatively high weight and the fact that its arrangement induces a significant pressure drop because it partly obstructs the passage section of the insulating gas when it opens.

However, a significant loss of load is not satisfactory for an effective filling of the blowing volume.

A metal valve may also be in the form of a washer or plate maintained against a channel opening by one or more platelet support setting springs against said channel.

This spring (s) can (e) be mounted around a pin or pin clearance of the valve.

The advantage of these return springs is to increase the reactivity of the valve to the closure or in other words to increase its closing speed. Its major drawbacks are the required size (rod and spring (s)) in the interrupting chamber in addition to the stroke necessary for the valve, the complexity and cost increased due to the number of parts added.

Although now little used another type of metal valve is the ball valve according to which a metal ball is mounted freely in a channel opening.

The major disadvantages of a ball valve are the mass of the ball, the imperfection of the sealing performed, the size and difficulty of implementation.

The object of the invention is to provide a new discharge valve valve, which retains all the advantages of the existing discharge valve valves for discharging a dielectric gas between two volumes of a break chamber of a high circuit breaker or medium voltage but which overcomes their disadvantages.

The document FR 2 709 596 describes a device according to the preamble of claim 1.

STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION

To do this, the subject of the invention is a discharge valve valve intended to discharge a dielectric gas between two volumes of a high or medium voltage circuit breaker interrupting chamber. comprising a body comprising at least one opening passage, one end of which defines a valve seat, at least one abutment element integral with the body and, as a valve, at least one flexible metal blade interposed between the valve seat and the element and one end of which is integral with the body, the metal material of the blade being adapted to withstand high temperatures up to T1 ≃ 2500 ° C, the flexibility of the blade being adapted to allow it to deform when a gas from the opening passage is in excess pressure with respect to that present on the side of the stop element and in a temperature range from T0 to T1 where T0 ≃ - 50 ° C, from its closed position in which it obstructs the seat in its extreme open position in which it marries the stop element while remaining in its elastic limit, said opening passage being released in the extreme position I open the blade, the return of the extreme position of opening of the blade to its closed position is ensured by its flexibility in the absence of pressure.

In other words, according to the invention, a valve is used as a flexible metal blade, the opening being made by the elastic deformation of the blade.

The stop element allows the blade not to reach its breaking limit: this ensures a long life in operation compatible with the cycles of use of the circuit breaker that is equipped.

The fact of using metal for the valve prevents its elastic deformation from being disturbed by temperature variations and allows it to maintain its seal.

The flexibility conferred allows it to completely clear the channel through which the dielectric gas discharges, and thus not to induce a pressure drop for it.

There is no longer any need, as in the state of the art, to use valve closing calibration springs because the reactivity to closure, of the order of a few microseconds, is naturally ensured by the intrinsic bending moment. at mounting with pinching of the base of the metal blade.

The valve according to the invention is perfectly suitable for use in a high-voltage circuit-breaker breaking chamber, since its operation is effective between -50 ° C. and 2500 ° C. under a pressure of up to 100 bars and has an endurance that can reach 10000 opening / closing cycles.

According to a first embodiment, the body is of cylindrical revolution and comprises a plurality of through passages each defining a valve seat and distributed at the cylindrical periphery of the body, the valve comprising a plurality of abutment members integral with the body and as valve a single annular metal blade and one end of which is integral with the body and comprising flexible segments interposed individually between a valve seat and a stop element.

The advantages of this first embodiment are the ease of implementation with a reduced assembly time.

An alternative embodiment of this first mode is to provide the annular blade with an indexing pin allowing it to index angularly to the mounting each segment so as to be opposite one of the valve seats.

According to a second embodiment, the body is of cylindrical revolution and comprises a plurality of through passages each defining a valve seat and distributed at the cylindrical periphery of the body, the valve comprising a plurality of abutment elements integral with the body and, as valves, a plurality of flexible metal blades, individually interposed between a valve seat and an abutment member and each with an integral end of the body.

The advantages of this second embodiment are better efficiency in case of asymmetric blowing (different distribution of the blowing rate between the different passages), reduced costs because the parts are simpler design and all identical to each other.

Preferably, the opening passages are identical to each other, the abutment elements are identical to each other and the metal blades are identical to each other.

It is possible, to obtain the flexibility of the blade, to make an opening to adjusted dimensions in the metal blade portion not facing the valve seat.

For certain configurations, for example when the valve seat is metallic, and thus the imperfect seal between the valve seat and the metal blade, the metal blade can advantageously constitute with a blade of elastomeric material a bi-flexible material assembly, the blade of Elastomeric material then obstructs with direct contact the valve seat in the closed position of the metal blade.

Alternatively there may be a seal of elastomeric material inserted into a groove in the body around the valve seat, the metal blade being in direct contact with the seal of elastomeric material in its closed position.

For these embodiments, those skilled in the art ensure that the elastomer does not lose its characteristics at low (or very low) temperatures. Advantageously, the elastomer used to form the bimaterial with the metal blade or the seal is of EPDM type (preferably of the methylene-propylene-diene class rubber), vulcanized with peroxides.

The invention also relates to a blow-off chamber of the self-inflating type comprising at least one valve (s) for discharge valve described above. A self-inflating chamber is for example disclosed in the patent application. EP 1863054 .

The invention relates to a blow-off chamber of the self-blowing type comprising at least one discharge valve valve (s) described above.

A self-blowing chamber is for example described in the patent application FR 2821482 or in the patent application EP 2045827 described above.

Finally, the invention relates to a high-voltage circuit breaker greater than 52 kV and more particularly greater than 170 kV, comprising a breaking chamber provided with a valve valve (s) discharge described above.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

• les figures 1 et 1A sont respectivement des vues de face et en coupe longitudinale d'un premier mode de réalisation d'une valve à clapet de décharge selon l'invention, le clapet étant en position de fermeture,
• les figures 2 et 2A sont respectivement des vues de face et en coupe longitudinale du premier mode de réalisation selon les figures 1 et 1A mais avec le clapet en position extrême d'ouverture,
• la figure 3 montre en vue de face un clapet de valve selon l'invention,
• les figures 4 et 4A sont respectivement des vues de face et en coupe longitudinale d'un

Other advantages and features of the invention will emerge more clearly on reading the detailed description given below, by way of illustration and without being limiting, with reference to the figures among which:

• the Figures 1 and 1A are respectively front views and in longitudinal section of a first embodiment of a discharge valve valve according to the invention, the valve being in the closed position,
• the Figures 2 and 2A are respectively front views and in longitudinal section of the first embodiment according to the Figures 1 and 1A but with the flap in the extreme open position,
• the figure 3 shows in front view a valve flap according to the invention,
• the Figures 4 and 4A are respectively front views and in longitudinal section of a

• les figures 5 et 5A sont respectivement des vues de face et en coupe longitudinale du deuxième mode de réalisation selon les figures 4 et 4A, les clapets étant en position extrême d'ouverture,
• les figures 6 et 6A sont respectivement des vues de face et en coupe longitudinale d'une variante de la valve à clapet de décharge selon l'invention,
• les figures 7 et 7A sont respectivement des vues de face et en coupe longitudinale d'une variante du premier mode de la valve à clapet de décharge selon l'invention, le clapet étant en position de fermeture,
• les figures 8 et 8A sont respectivement des vues de face et en coupe longitudinale de la variante du premier mode selon les figures 7 et 7A, mais avec le clapet en position intermédiaire d'ouverture,
• la figure 9 est une vue schématique en coupe longitudinale partielle d'une chambre de coupure d'un disjoncteur haute tension HT dans laquelle une valve à clapet de décharge selon l'invention est implantée.

second embodiment of a valve with relief valves according to the invention, the valves being in the closed position,

• the Figures 5 and 5A are respectively front views and in longitudinal section of the second embodiment according to the Figures 4 and 4A , the valves being in the extreme open position,
• the Figures 6 and 6A are respectively views from the front and in longitudinal section of a variant of the discharge valve valve according to the invention,
• the Figures 7 and 7A are respectively views from the front and in longitudinal section of a variant of the first mode of the relief valve valve according to the invention, the valve being in the closed position,
• the Figures 8 and 8A are respectively front views and in longitudinal section of the variant of the first mode according to the Figures 7 and 7A but with the flap in the intermediate opening position,
• the figure 9 is a schematic view in partial longitudinal section of a breaking chamber of a high-voltage circuit breaker HT in which a valve with a relief valve according to the invention is implanted.

DETAILED PRESENTATION OF PARTICULAR EMBODIMENTS

The valve (s) discharge (s) according to the invention comprises first of all a body 1 of cylindrical section which separates a first volume of gas V1 from a second volume of gas V2 in a high or medium voltage circuit breaker interrupting chamber.

More specifically, the body 1 comprises a central bore 10 to fit and fix around a hollow actuating tube T fixed to the movable arc contact C1 of the interrupting chamber, as shown in FIG. figure 9 . The discharge valve valve VC according to the invention is intended to discharge the dielectric gas of the volume V1 to the volume V2, when the pressure rises in the volume V1 under the action of the operating tube T via the blowing piston P fixed. In this breaking chamber represented in figure 9 the other contact C2 is fixed.

The valve of the valve is constituted by a flexible metal blade 2 which is interposed between the valve seat 11 and a stop element 3.

The valve seat 11 is defined at the end of the opening channel 12 formed in the valve body 1 and through which the gas from the volume V1 is intended to flow.

• avec contact direct entre la lame métallique 2 et le corps de valve 1 (figures 1, 1A ; figures 4, 4A),
• avec contact direct soit entre la lame métallique 2 et un joint en matériau élastomère 5 inséré dans une rainure 50 pratiquée dans le corps 1 autour du siège de clapet 11 (figures 6 et 6A, la lame métallique 2 étant alors en contact direct avec le joint 5 dans sa position de fermeture), soit entre une lame de matériau élastomère 6 qui constitue avec la lame métallique 2 un ensemble bi matériau flexible et le corps de valve (figures 7 et 7A, la lame élastomère 6 obstrue alors avec contact direct le siège de clapet 11 dans la position de fermeture). Dans la variante à bi matériau flexible, la lame métallique 2 agit toujours comme un ressort de rappel de fermeture et favorise ainsi le retour à la position de fermeture au contact avec le siège de clapet 11.

In all the illustrated embodiments, the assembly of each metal blade 2, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5, 2.6 is such that it is interposed between a stop element 3 and the valve body 1 and fixed by pinching . This pinching is provided by a locking cylinder 4 fixed around the valve body 1, preferably by screwing. In other words, each blade 2, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5, 2.6 is mounted with its base pinched near the valve seat 11. When no pressure difference is present between the first volume V1 and the second volume V2, the metal blade 2 is in sealing engagement against the valve seat 11 ( Figures 1, 1A ; Figures 4, 4A ; figure 6 ; Figures 7, 7A ). Depending on the conditions, the waterproof support can be made:

• with direct contact between the metal blade 2 and the valve body 1 ( Figures 1, 1A ; Figures 4, 4A )
• with direct contact between the metal blade 2 and a seal made of elastomeric material 5 inserted in a groove 50 made in the body 1 around the valve seat 11 ( Figures 6 and 6A , the metal blade 2 then being in direct contact with the gasket 5 in its closed position), or between a blade of elastomer material 6 which constitutes with the metal blade 2 a bi-flexible material assembly and the valve body ( Figures 7 and 7A , the elastomeric blade 6 then obstructs with direct contact the valve seat 11 in the closed position). In the variant with flexible bi material, the metal blade 2 always acts as a closing spring and thus promotes the return to the closed position in contact with the valve seat 11.

The choice can be made according to the conditions of use of the high or medium voltage circuit breaker. For example, if it turns out that at extreme low temperatures of use of the circuit breaker (typically up to T0 ≃ - 50 ° C), direct metal / metal contact between the metal blade 2 and the valve body 1 is insufficient to ensure a dielectric gas seal, so the addition of a 5 or an elastomer blade 6, preferably EPDM type vulcanized with peroxides, can be realized.

As soon as the first volume V1 is overpressurized with respect to the second volume V2, for example during an insulating gas compression for blowing during an arc-breaking by the circuit-breaker, the metal strip 2 deforms from the position of closing in which it bears against the valve seat 11 to its extreme open position in which it marries the abutment element 3 while remaining in its elastic limit ( Figure 2, 2A ; Figure 5, 5A ).

In this extreme open position, the curvature given to the deformed metal blade 2 completely releases the opening channel 12. In other words, the position taken by the metal blade 2 does not induce a pressure drop at the opening of the valve.

When the gas pressure increases in the second volume V2 and therefore when there is more overpressure of the first volume V1 relative to the second volume V2, the metal blade closes and constitutes a bulkhead between the two volumes V1 and V2.

Typically, the metal material of the blade 2 is adapted to withstand high temperatures up to T1 ≃ 2500 ° C. It is advantageous to choose to make the blade 2 from a blued steel strip.

Typically, the flexibility of each blade is adapted to allow it to deform in a temperature range from T0 to T1 where T0 ≃ -50 ° C and T1 ≃ 2500 ° C.

According to the embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 to 3 and to Figures 7 to 8A , the body is of cylindrical revolution and comprises a plurality of opening passages 12 each defining a valve seat and distributed at the cylindrical periphery 13 of the body 1. The valve comprises a number of six abutment elements 3 integral with the body. The valve is here constituted by a single annular metal blade 2 ( figure 3 ). This blade 2 comprises a number of six identical flexible segments 21 between them. All the segments 21 are interposed individually between a valve seat 11 and an abutment element 3. All the segments 21 are deformed in the same manner and they each follow the profile of the corresponding abutment element 3 in the extreme open position. ( Figures 2 and 2A ) and the corresponding passage 12 is completely clear.

As illustrated in figure 3 , the blade 2 comprises a pin 22 which allows the angular indexing of each segment 21 facing a through passage 12.

The flexibility and thus the opening torque of the metal blade 2 can be adjusted by the section S of the blade at the hinge portion ( figure 3 ). It is thus possible to size the section S, in other words the aperture 23, as a function of an overpressure of the gas present in the volume V1 with respect to the volume V2. Of course, the choice of material and the dimensions of the metal blade 2 must also be determined according to the deformation of the desired blade 2 on opening and closing.

According to the embodiment illustrated in Figures 4 to 5A , the body 1 is of cylindrical revolution 13 and comprises a plurality of passages 12 opening each defining a valve seat 11 and distributed at the cylindrical periphery 13 of the body. The valve comprises a number of six stop members integral with the body and, as valves, a plurality of flexible metal blades 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5, 2.6 interposed individually between a valve seat 11 and an abutment member 3. All the blades 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5, 2.6 are deformed in the same way and they each marry the profile of the corresponding stop element 3 in the extreme open position ( Figures 5 and 5A ) and the corresponding passage 12 is completely clear.

Here, all the through passages 12 are identical to each other, the abutment elements 3 are identical to each other and the metal strips 2 are identical to each other.

As illustrated in Figures 8 and 8A in its intermediate opening position, the flexible bimaterial assembly according to the invention consists of a metal blade 2 and a blade 6 made of EPDM elastomer vulcanized with peroxides superimposed on one another.

• compacité, ce qui est avantageux lorsqu'on implante une valve à clapet(s) de décharge dans une chambre de coupure d'un disjoncteur haute ou moyenne tension,
• facilité d'assemblage (lame métallique, élément de butée, pièce de blocage sur le corps de valve),
• moindre coût de fabrication et d'assemblage,
• réduction de la chute de pression entre le volume V1 à V2 due à la moindre perte de charge,
• moindre masse de la valve due à la moindre masse de la lame métallique,
• tenue aux températures extrêmes auxquelles le disjoncteur haute ou moyenne tension peut être soumis,
• grande réactivité du clapet à l'ouverture et à la fermeture, de l'ordre de quelques microsecondes due à la faible inertie de la lame métallique,
• réduction des risques de dysfonctionnement en exploitation du disjoncteur haute ou moyenne tension.

The advantages of a relief valve valve according to the invention which has just been described are numerous:

• compactness, which is advantageous when implanting a valve valve (s) discharge in a breaking chamber of a high or medium voltage circuit breaker,
• ease of assembly (metal blade, stop element, locking piece on the valve body),
• lower cost of manufacturing and assembly,
• reduction of the pressure drop between the volume V1 to V2 due to the lower pressure drop,
• less mass of the valve due to the least mass of the metal blade,
• resistance to the extreme temperatures at which the high or medium voltage circuit breaker may be subjected,
• high reactivity of the valve at opening and closing, of the order of a few microseconds due to the low inertia of the metal blade,
• reduced risk of operating malfunction of the high and medium voltage circuit breaker.

Claims (12)

1. A relief valve for discharging a dielectric gas between two volumes (V1, V2) of a highvoltage or medium-voltage interrupting chamber, the valve comprising:

   - a body (1) including at least one open passage (12) with one end that defines a closure member seat (11),

   - at least one stop member (3) attached to the body and,

   - as a closure member, at least one flexible metal blade (2)

   Characterized in that said blade is
   interleaved between the closure member seat (11) and the stop member (3) and having one end (20) that is secured to the body, the metal of the blade being adapted to withstand high temperatures up to T1 ≈ 2500°C, the flexibility of the blade allowing it to be deformed when gas coming from the open passage (V1, 12) is at a pressure higher than gas on the same side (V2) as the stop member (3) and in a range of temperatures from T0 to T1 where T0 ≈ - 50°C, from its closed position in which it blocks the seat to its fully open position in which it fits closely against the stop member whilst remaining within its elastic limit, said open passage (12) being open in the fully open position of the blade, the flexibility of the blade enabling it to return from its fully open position to its closed position in the absence of any overpressure.
2. A relief valve according to claim 1, wherein the body (1) is a circular cylinder and includes a plurality of open passages (12) distributed at the cylindrical periphery (13) of the body and each defining a closure member seat (11),
   the valve including a plurality of stop members (3) secured to the body and, as a closure member, a single annular metal blade (2) one end (20) of which is secured to the body and including flexible segments (21) individually interleaved between a closure member seat (11) and a stop member (3).
3. A relief valve according to claim 2, wherein the annular blade (2) includes an indexing portion (22) enabling it to index each segment (21) angularly on assembly so as to face one of the closure member seats (11).
4. A relief valve according to claim 1, wherein the body is a circular cylinder and includes a plurality of open passages (12) distributed at the cylindrical periphery (13) of the body and each defining a closure member seat (11), the valve including a plurality of stop members (3) secured to the body and, as closure members, a plurality of flexible metal blades (2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5, 2.6) individually interleaved between a closure member seat (11) and a stop member (3) and each having one end (20.1, 20.2, 20.3, 20.4, 20.5, 20.6) secured to the body.
5. A relief valve according to claim 4, wherein the open passages (12) are identical to one another, the stop members (3) are identical to one another, and the metal blades (2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5, 2.6) are identical to one another.
6. A relief valve according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the metal blade portion (2) not facing the closure member seat (11) is provided with an aperture (23) with its dimensions chosen to produce the flexibility of the blade.
7. A relief valve according to one of the preceding claims, wherein with an elastomer material blade (6) the metal blade (2) constitutes a flexible dual material assembly, the elastomer material blade (6) obstructing the closure member seat (11) with direct contact in the closed position of the metal blade.
8. A relief valve according to one of claims 1 to 6, wherein an elastomer material seal (5) is inserted into a groove formed in the body (1) around the closure member seat (11), the metal blade (2) being in direct contact with the elastomer material seal (5) in its closed position.
9. A relief valve according to claim 7 or claim 8, wherein the elastomer material of the blade (6) or the seal (5) is an EPDM, preferably vulcanized using peroxides.
10. An interrupting chamber of the automatic pneumatic puffer type, including at least one relief valve according to any of claims 1 to 9.
11. An interrupting chamber of the automatic puffer type, including at least one relief valve according to any of claims 1 to 9.
12. A high voltage circuit-breaker, for high voltages greater than 52 kV and more particularly greater than 170 kV, including an interrupting chamber fitted with a relief valve according to any of claims 1 to 9.

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