EP3087578B1 - Electrical switching device - Google Patents
Electrical switching device Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP3087578B1 EP3087578B1 EP14828031.6A EP14828031A EP3087578B1 EP 3087578 B1 EP3087578 B1 EP 3087578B1 EP 14828031 A EP14828031 A EP 14828031A EP 3087578 B1 EP3087578 B1 EP 3087578B1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- volume
- exhaust gas
- exhaust
- wall
- switching device
- 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.)
- Active
Links
- 239000007789 gas Substances 0.000 claims description 235
- IYRWEQXVUNLMAY-UHFFFAOYSA-N fluoroketone group Chemical group FC(=O)F IYRWEQXVUNLMAY-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 43
- 239000000203 mixture Substances 0.000 claims description 35
- 125000004432 carbon atom Chemical group C* 0.000 claims description 32
- KRHYYFGTRYWZRS-UHFFFAOYSA-N Fluorane Chemical compound F KRHYYFGTRYWZRS-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 29
- 238000009413 insulation Methods 0.000 claims description 22
- 238000000354 decomposition reaction Methods 0.000 claims description 21
- 230000008033 biological extinction Effects 0.000 claims description 20
- 238000001816 cooling Methods 0.000 claims description 15
- 230000003116 impacting effect Effects 0.000 claims description 15
- 229920001774 Perfluoroether Polymers 0.000 claims description 13
- 238000007599 discharging Methods 0.000 claims description 12
- IJGRMHOSHXDMSA-UHFFFAOYSA-N Atomic nitrogen Chemical compound N#N IJGRMHOSHXDMSA-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 11
- 238000010891 electric arc Methods 0.000 claims description 11
- 230000001965 increasing effect Effects 0.000 claims description 11
- 150000001875 compounds Chemical class 0.000 claims description 10
- MDQRDWAGHRLBPA-UHFFFAOYSA-N fluoroamine Chemical compound FN MDQRDWAGHRLBPA-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 10
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 claims description 9
- MWUXSHHQAYIFBG-UHFFFAOYSA-N nitrogen oxide Inorganic materials O=[N] MWUXSHHQAYIFBG-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 9
- 230000006978 adaptation Effects 0.000 claims description 8
- -1 hydrofluoroether Chemical compound 0.000 claims description 7
- 229910002092 carbon dioxide Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 6
- 230000013011 mating Effects 0.000 claims description 6
- 229910052757 nitrogen Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 6
- JECYNCQXXKQDJN-UHFFFAOYSA-N 2-(2-methylhexan-2-yloxymethyl)oxirane Chemical compound CCCCC(C)(C)OCC1CO1 JECYNCQXXKQDJN-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 5
- 239000002184 metal Substances 0.000 claims description 5
- 229910052751 metal Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 5
- 230000003746 surface roughness Effects 0.000 claims description 5
- 230000008859 change Effects 0.000 claims description 4
- 230000003247 decreasing effect Effects 0.000 claims description 4
- NINIDFKCEFEMDL-UHFFFAOYSA-N Sulfur Chemical compound [S] NINIDFKCEFEMDL-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 3
- UBAZGMLMVVQSCD-UHFFFAOYSA-N carbon dioxide;molecular oxygen Chemical compound O=O.O=C=O UBAZGMLMVVQSCD-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 3
- 239000000306 component Substances 0.000 claims description 3
- 230000002708 enhancing effect Effects 0.000 claims description 3
- 125000005842 heteroatom Chemical group 0.000 claims description 3
- GVGCUCJTUSOZKP-UHFFFAOYSA-N nitrogen trifluoride Chemical compound FN(F)F GVGCUCJTUSOZKP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 3
- UJMWVICAENGCRF-UHFFFAOYSA-N oxygen difluoride Chemical compound FOF UJMWVICAENGCRF-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 3
- SFFUEHODRAXXIA-UHFFFAOYSA-N 2,2,2-trifluoroacetonitrile Chemical compound FC(F)(F)C#N SFFUEHODRAXXIA-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 2
- MTLOQUGSPBVZEO-UHFFFAOYSA-N 2,2,3,3,3-pentafluoropropanenitrile Chemical compound FC(F)(F)C(F)(F)C#N MTLOQUGSPBVZEO-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 2
- BOZRBIJGLJJPRF-UHFFFAOYSA-N 2,2,3,3,4,4,4-heptafluorobutanenitrile Chemical compound FC(F)(F)C(F)(F)C(F)(F)C#N BOZRBIJGLJJPRF-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 2
- UWNGUOVHDOXBPJ-UHFFFAOYSA-N 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoro-2-(trifluoromethoxy)propanenitrile Chemical compound FC(F)(F)OC(F)(C#N)C(F)(F)F UWNGUOVHDOXBPJ-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 2
- AASDJASZOZGYMM-UHFFFAOYSA-N 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoro-2-(trifluoromethyl)propanenitrile Chemical group FC(F)(F)C(F)(C#N)C(F)(F)F AASDJASZOZGYMM-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 2
- 239000005864 Sulphur Substances 0.000 claims description 2
- 241000722921 Tulipa gesneriana Species 0.000 claims description 2
- QVGXLLKOCUKJST-UHFFFAOYSA-N atomic oxygen Chemical compound [O] QVGXLLKOCUKJST-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 2
- 229910010293 ceramic material Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 2
- 239000011159 matrix material Substances 0.000 claims description 2
- 229910052760 oxygen Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 2
- 239000001301 oxygen Substances 0.000 claims description 2
- 238000011144 upstream manufacturing Methods 0.000 claims description 2
- 239000012530 fluid Substances 0.000 description 41
- 230000008901 benefit Effects 0.000 description 8
- 230000009286 beneficial effect Effects 0.000 description 6
- 238000010438 heat treatment Methods 0.000 description 6
- CURLTUGMZLYLDI-UHFFFAOYSA-N Carbon dioxide Chemical compound O=C=O CURLTUGMZLYLDI-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 5
- 230000015572 biosynthetic process Effects 0.000 description 5
- TXEYQDLBPFQVAA-UHFFFAOYSA-N tetrafluoromethane Chemical compound FC(F)(F)F TXEYQDLBPFQVAA-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 5
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 3
- 238000010791 quenching Methods 0.000 description 3
- 230000000171 quenching effect Effects 0.000 description 3
- CDOOAUSHHFGWSA-OWOJBTEDSA-N (e)-1,3,3,3-tetrafluoroprop-1-ene Chemical compound F\C=C\C(F)(F)F CDOOAUSHHFGWSA-OWOJBTEDSA-N 0.000 description 2
- FXRLMCRCYDHQFW-UHFFFAOYSA-N 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene Chemical compound FC(=C)C(F)(F)F FXRLMCRCYDHQFW-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- IAYPIBMASNFSPL-UHFFFAOYSA-N Ethylene oxide Chemical compound C1CO1 IAYPIBMASNFSPL-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 238000005422 blasting Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000012159 carrier gas Substances 0.000 description 2
- 230000006835 compression Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000007906 compression Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000001419 dependent effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000010494 dissociation reaction Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000005593 dissociations Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000002349 favourable effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- JCXJVPUVTGWSNB-UHFFFAOYSA-N nitrogen dioxide Inorganic materials O=[N]=O JCXJVPUVTGWSNB-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 230000008569 process Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000006798 recombination Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000005215 recombination Methods 0.000 description 2
- LOUICXNAWQPGSU-UHFFFAOYSA-N 2,2,3,3-tetrafluorooxirane Chemical class FC1(F)OC1(F)F LOUICXNAWQPGSU-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- OKTJSMMVPCPJKN-UHFFFAOYSA-N Carbon Chemical group [C] OKTJSMMVPCPJKN-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 125000000217 alkyl group Chemical group 0.000 description 1
- 230000003190 augmentative effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000004888 barrier function Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000005540 biological transmission Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000000903 blocking effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000007664 blowing Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000000872 buffer Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000001569 carbon dioxide Substances 0.000 description 1
- 125000002915 carbonyl group Chemical group [*:2]C([*:1])=O 0.000 description 1
- 230000006866 deterioration Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000005516 engineering process Methods 0.000 description 1
- NBVXSUQYWXRMNV-UHFFFAOYSA-N fluoromethane Chemical class FC NBVXSUQYWXRMNV-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 239000007788 liquid Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000012423 maintenance Methods 0.000 description 1
- 125000004433 nitrogen atom Chemical group N* 0.000 description 1
- 229910052756 noble gas Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 125000004430 oxygen atom Chemical group O* 0.000 description 1
- 230000003389 potentiating effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 229920006395 saturated elastomer Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 238000000926 separation method Methods 0.000 description 1
- VPAYJEUHKVESSD-UHFFFAOYSA-N trifluoroiodomethane Chemical compound FC(F)(F)I VPAYJEUHKVESSD-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
Images
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
- H01H33/22—Selection of fluids for arc-extinguishing
-
- 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
- H01H33/7015—Switches with separate means for directing, obtaining, or increasing flow of arc-extinguishing fluid characterised by flow directing elements associated with contacts
-
- 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
- H01H33/72—Switches with separate means for directing, obtaining, or increasing flow of arc-extinguishing fluid having stationary parts for directing the flow of arc-extinguishing fluid, e.g. arc-extinguishing chamber
- H01H33/74—Switches with separate means for directing, obtaining, or increasing flow of arc-extinguishing fluid having stationary parts for directing the flow of arc-extinguishing fluid, e.g. arc-extinguishing chamber wherein the break is in gas
-
- 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
- H01H2033/888—Deflection of hot gasses and arcing products
Definitions
- the invention is in the field of medium and high voltage switching technologies and relates to an electrical switching device and a method for operating it according to the independent claims, particularly for a use as an earthing device, a fast-acting earthing device, a circuit breaker, a generator circuit breaker, a switch disconnector, a combined disconnector and earthing switch, or a load break switch in power transmission and distribution systems.
- Electrical switching devices are well known in the field of medium and high voltage switching applications. They are e.g. used for interrupting a current when an electrical fault occurs.
- circuit breakers have the task of opening contacts and keeping them far apart from one another in order to avoid a current flow, even in case of high electrical potential originating from the electrical fault itself.
- medium voltage refers to voltages from 1 kV to 72.5 kV
- high voltage refers to voltages higher than 72.5 kV.
- the electrical switching devices may be rated to carry high nominal currents of 4000 A to 6300 A and to switch very high short circuit currents of 40 kA to 80 kA at very high voltages of 110 kV to 1200 kV.
- the electrical switching devices of today require many so-called nominal contact fingers for the nominal current.
- the current When disconnecting (opening) a nominal or short circuit current within the electrical switching devices, the current commutates from nominal contacts of the electrical switching device to its arcing contacts.
- the arcing contacts are connected in advance.
- the arcing contacts comprise, as a first arcing contact, arcing contact fingers arranged around the longitudinal axis of the electrical switching device in a so-called arcing finger cage and, as a second arcing contact, a rod or pin which is driven into the finger cage.
- the electrical switching devices During the opening process of the electrical switching device an electric arc forms between the first and the second arcing contact, an area being called arcing volume, which arc is conductive and still carries electric current even after the opening or physical separation of the arcing contacts.
- the electrical switching devices contain a dielectrically inert fluid used as a dielectric insulating medium and for quenching the electric arc as fast as possible. Quenching the electric arc means extracting as much energy as possible from it. Consequently, a part of the fluid located in the area where the electric arc is generated is considerably heated up (to around 20'000°C to 30'000°C) in a very short period of time.
- this part of the fluid builds up a pressure and is ejected from the arcing volume. In this way the electric arc is blown off around the instant when the current is zero.
- the fluid flows into one or more exhaust volumes where it is cooled and redirected by a cooling device. Mixing with the cold fluid located in the exhaust volume or volumes is only possible to a relatively small extent, because the predominant part of the cold gas present inside the respective exhaust volume is pressed out of the exhaust volume by the hot fluid, which expands out of the arcing volume, before any significant mixing can occur.
- the hot exhaust fluid comes into electric-field-stressed regions, e.g.
- an SF 6 -gas-blast circuit breaker in which SF 6 -exhaust-gas from an arcing area is passed through a hollow contact into a concentrically arranged exhaust volume, and from there into a switching chamber volume located further outward.
- at least one intermediate volume and possibly an additional volume is or are arranged concentrically between the hollow contact and the exhaust volume and are separated from one another by intermediate walls.
- the intermediate walls generate an increased intermediate SF 6 -exhaust-gas pressure and have holes or openings for forming SF 6 gas jets.
- the SF 6 -exhaust-gas jets then impact on opposite walls opposing the openings and are swirled intensively at the opposing walls.
- the SF 6 -exhaust-gas is cooled by radially flowing out the SF6-switching-gas from the inner to the outer volumes through a sequence of jet-forming openings and jet-swirling opposing baffle walls, and thus a large amount of thermal energy is transferred to walls of the volumes in the exhaust system.
- the openings between the hollow-contact volume, the intermediate volume and, if appropriate, the additional volume are arranged offset with respect to one another on the circumference.
- the openings between the additional volume and the exhaust volume are arranged offset with respect to one another on the circumference and/or in the axial direction. This also results in meandering as well as spiralling SF 6 -exhaust-gas paths being predetermined, with the dwell time for which the SF 6 -exhaust-gas remains in the exhaust area being increased, and with the heat transfer from the SF 6 -exhaust-gas being further improved.
- the holes can be covered by means of panels in the form of perforated metal sheets to produce a larger number of radially directed SF 6 -exhaust-gas streams or SF 6 -exhaust-gas jets.
- These SF 6 -exhaust-gas jets again strike the opposite wall, are swirled at the impact points, and thus intensively cool the hot SF 6 exhaust gas.
- the intermediate volume which improves the cooling, is arranged in the exhaust area on the drive contact side.
- a second intermediate volume may also be provided on the fixed-contact side.
- at least one intermediate volume is additionally required in the circuit breaker, that is to say in addition to the hollow-contact volume, the exhaust volume and the switching chamber volume, in order to achieve efficient SF 6 -exhaust-gas cooling.
- an SF 6 -gas-blast generator circuit breaker with a similar exhaust gas system which has intermediate walls with openings for SF 6 -exhaust-gas jet formation and opposing walls with baffle-wall and heat-sink function for vortex heat transfer of the SF 6 -exhaust-gas to such opposing walls.
- a gas-blast circuit breaker with a novel arc-exctinguishing insulation fluid comprising fluoroketones is disclosed.
- High voltage circuit breakers having a heating chamber for providing a self-blasting effect can be operated with such fluoroketones and specifically C6-fluoroketones.
- fluoroketones are disclosed to beneficially increase the self-blasting pressure in the heating chamber during a back-heating phase in a switching operation, as they are decomposed to a larger number of fluorocarbon compounds having a lower number of carbon atoms.
- a favourable arc extinction capability of fluoroketones having from 4 to 12 carbon atoms is at least partially attributed to the recombination of the dissociation products of the fluoroketones mainly to tetrafluoromethane (CF 4 ), which is a highly potent arc extinction medium.
- C6-fluoroketones are disclosed to be useful for limiting the exhaust gas temperature in the whole vessel and in the exhaust volumes during and after arc interruption, because decomposition of sufficiently present C6-fluoroketone molecules absorbs the excess thermal energy and prevents further exhaust-gas heating beyond the decomposition temperature of around 550°C to 570°C.
- a gas-blast circuit breaker with arc-exctinguishing insulation fluids comprising C5-fluoroketones.
- the C5-fluoroketones have a non-linear increase of dielectric strength in mixtures with certain carrier gases, such as nitrogen and carbon dioxide.
- the C5-fluoroketones again provide a beneficial blasting-pressure increase in the compression chamber and/or heating chamber and/or arcing region during an arc-extinguishing phase due to molecular decomposition.
- recombination of C5-fluoroketone to tetrafluoromethane (CF 4 ) in the arcing region is beneficial for arc extinction.
- molecular decomposition is also beneficial in the exhaust region, because the rather low dissociation temperatures of the fluoroketones of about 400°C to about 600°C or even 900°C can function as a temperature barrier in the exhaust gas.
- an exhaust system with at least two concentric exhaust tubes is disclosed.
- the exhaust tubes have large numbers of radial (mantle-sided) over-pressure relief openings that are mutually off-set to one another such that direct radial gas outflow through both exhaust tubes is blocked.
- the relief openings may be arranged such that the exhaust gas is forced to enter the first and second exhaust tube repeatedly.
- axial (end-sided) non-overlapping over-pressure relief openings are disclosed and may e.g. be on opposite end faces of the first and second exhaust tube.
- An armature body can be provided, which is shiftable or dimensionally adaptable to hide or clear openings and thus to adapt the cooling capacity.
- exhaust gas is cooled by providing a long meandering (i.e. alternatingly radial and axial) gas path, by providing a very large number and density of openings, and also by providing each opening with an opposing baffle wall section for better mixing the exhaust gas.
- a puffer-type gas-blast circuit breaker which has a moveable hollow arcing contact with a radial opening for releasing exhaust gases in radial direction.
- the drive rod for the hollow arcing contact carries a gas blocking member for preventing axial gas discharge towards the drive unit.
- EP-A1-1768150 discloses an electrical switching device according to the preamble of claim 1.
- a first aspect of the invention related to an electrical switching device having a longitudinal axis z, comprising an arcing volume and at least an arcing contact arrangement with a first arcing contact and a mating second arcing contact, and further comprising an exhaust system with at least one exhaust volume, wherein for closing and opening the electric switching device at least one of the arcing contacts is movable parallel to the longitudinal axis z and cooperates with the other arcing contact, wherein the electrical switching device comprising a dielectric insulating medium comprising an organofluorine compound selected from the group consisting of: a fluoroether, a fluoroamine, a fluoroketone, a fluoroolefine, and mixtures thereof, and inside the exhaust volume at least one intermediate volume is arranged, is enclosed by an intermediate wall, comprises at least one inlet opening for receiving exhaust gas coming from the arcing region, and comprises at least one outlet opening, which outlet opening is facing an opposing wall, in particular of the exhaust volume, and is for producing at least
- the impacting causes swirling the at least one exhaust gas jet, which swirling induces turbulent-gas heat transfer to the opposing wall and reduces a temperature and pressure of the swirling exhaust gas jet.
- the organofluorine compound is selected from the group consisting of: perfluoroether, hydrofluoroether, perfluoroamine, perfluoroketone, perfluoroolefin, hydrofluoroolefine, and mixtures thereof; in particular, such organofluorine compound can be in mixtures with a background gas and more particularly in a mixture with a background gas compound selected from the group consisting of: air, air components, nitrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides.
- the dielectric insulating medium comprises as the organofluorine compound a fluoroketone having from 4 to 15 carbon atoms.
- the fluoroketone can be selected from the group consisting of: fluorketones having exactly 5 carbon atoms, fluorketones having exactly 6 carbon atoms, fluorketones having exactly 7 carbon atoms, fluorketones having exactly 8 carbon atoms, such fluoroketones with at least one of the mentioned carbon atoms being replaced by a heteroatom, in particular being replaced by nitrogen and/or oxygen and/or sulphur, and mixtures thereof.
- the intermediate volume is designed such that during operation, in particular during a time period of exhaust gas ejection,
- the intermediate volume is designed such that at least temporarily during a time period of exhaust gas ejection an intermediate exhaust gas pressure p 7 ; p 8 in the intermediate volume exceeds an exhaust gas pressure in its immediately succeeding exhaust volume at least by a pressure ratio K larger than 1.1, in particular the pressure ratio K being selected from the group consisting of: a first pressure ratio K 7 , a first further pressure ratio K f , a second pressure ratio K 8 , and combinations thereof.
- Choosing the pressure ratio K high is beneficial for providing a high impacting velocity of the impinging gas jets; however it can increase the flow resistance in the travel path of the exhaust gas.
- Choosing a critical pressure ratio K is optimal, because it allows to reach sonic outflow speed out of the first and/or second outlet opening(s) (which is the maximal achievable speed, without nozzle-shapes being provided at the outlet opening(s)) while maintaining the flow resistance in the travel path at still moderate levels.
- a second aspect of the invention relates to an electrical switching device, in particular as described above, having a longitudinal axis z, comprising an arcing volume and at least an arcing contact arrangement with a first arcing contact and a mating second arcing contact, and further comprising an exhaust system with at least one exhaust volume, wherein for closing and opening the electric switching device at least one of the arcing contacts is movable parallel to the longitudinal axis z and cooperates with the other arcing contact, and the electrical switching device comprises a dielectric insulating medium, and wherein inside the exhaust volume at least one intermediate volume is arranged, is enclosed by an intermediate wall, comprises at least one inlet opening for receiving exhaust gas coming from the arcing region , and comprises at least one outlet opening, which outlet opening is facing an opposing wall, in particular of the exhaust volume, and is for producing at least one exhaust gas jet and for discharging it towards and impacting it on the opposing wall, and wherein the switching device has means for changing a size of the intermediate volume, in particular wherein
- the means serve for adapting a first intermediate exhaust gas pressure p 7 in the first intermediate volume to a second exhaust gas pressure p 8' in the second exhaust volume, or to a second intermediate exhaust gas pressure p 8 in the second intermediate volume, within a predetermined range of pressure differences, in particular within 0.5 bar and more particularly within 0.4 bar and most particularly within 0.3 bar.
- the intermediate volume is delimited by a moveable wall that allows adaptation of a size of the intermediate volume; and/or the first intermediate volume is delimited by a first moveable wall that allows adaptation of a size of the first intermediate volume; and/or the second intermediate volume is delimited by a second moveable wall that allows adaptation of a size of the second intermediate volume.
- the intermediate volume in particular the first intermediate volume and/or the second intermediate volume, is or are designed such that at least temporarily during a time period of arc extinction, in particular during the whole arc extinction period, an additional flow resistance introduced in the exhaust gas comprising the organofluorine compound by the intermediate volume, in particular the first intermediate volume and/or the second intermediate volume, is kept below a threshold flow resistance, below which threshold flow resistance sonic or supersonic flow conditions in the arcing region are maintained, in other words at or above which threshold flow resistance subsonic flow conditions in the arcing region (6) would occur.
- a size of the intermediate volume and a position, number and cross-section of the at least one outlet opening are adapted to gas flow characteristics of the organofluorine compound, in particular of the fluoroketone and more particularly to a speed of sound of the fluoroketone gas mixtures, to withhold at least temporarily during a time period of arc extinction a predetermined amount of the exhaust gas inside the intermediate volume, and in particular to achieve a predetermined level of increase of the intermediate exhaust gas pressure(s) p 7 ; p 8 in the intermediate volume over the exhaust gas pressure (s) p 7' , p 8' in exhaust volumes downstream of the intermediate volume.
- a second aspect of the invention relates to a method for operating an electrical switching device as described herein, wherein an intermediate exhaust gas pressure p 7 ; p 8 in one of the intermediate volumes is adjusted, in particular by shifting at least one moveable wall, in such a way that it approximately equals, in particular within a pressure difference of 1 bar or 0.5 bar or less, an intermediate exhaust gas pressure p 8 ; p 7 in the other of the intermediate volumes at least temporarily during an arc extinction period; and/or wherein an intermediate exhaust gas pressure p 7 ; p 8 in one of the intermediate volumes and/or an intermediate exhaust gas pressure p 8 ; p 7 in the other of the intermediate volumes is or are adjusted, in particular by shifting at least one moveable wall (14a, 14b), in such a way that it is or they are smaller than a third pressure in the arcing volume (6) at least temporarily during an arc extinction period; and/or wherein the first intermediate exhaust gas pressure p 7 in the first intermediate volume is adjusted, in particular by shifting the first moveable wall,
- the first intermediate exhaust gas pressure p 7 in the first intermediate volume and/or the second intermediate exhaust gas pressure p 8 in the second intermediate volume is or are adjusted, in particular by shifting at least one moveable wall along the longitudinal axis z, depending on an intensity of an electric arc forming between the arcing contacts, when they are opened or closed.
- the first intermediate exhaust gas pressure p 7 in the first intermediate volume and/or a or the second intermediate exhaust gas pressure p 8 in the second intermediate volume is or are adjusted, in particular by shifting a moveable wall along the longitudinal axis z, in such a way that a temperature of the dielectric insulating medium is kept lower than a decomposition temperature of the organofluorine compound, in particular the fluoroketone.
- the electrical switching device and the method for operating it has the advantage of improved cooling of the insulating and extinguishing fluid located in the switching device.
- the adjustment of the size of the exhaust volume provides a flexible way of accounting for different current strengths, ensuring a pressure in the respective exhaust volume which is high enough to create a strong fluid stream, e.g. through the at least one first opening, towards the exterior of the exhaust volume or exhaust volumes.
- By providing jet-forming openings in the intermediate volume(s) and in particular even a hole array for such openings it is possible to increase a turbulence of said exhaust gas fluid stream, thus also enhancing the heat transfer capabilities from the fluid to its environment.
- thermoelectric insulation media arc extinguishing and insulating gas mixtures (herein simply referred to as "dielectric insulation media") used in high or medium voltage switching devices experience decomposition when heated up above certain levels, which may be encountered under certain operating conditions of said switching devices. This decomposition is undesired, as it reduces the insulating properties of the fluid.
- SF 6 has the property that it recombines when it is cooled down and thereby regains substantially its full dielectric properties; however other gases comprising an organofluorine compound, like the fluoroketone C5, do not exhibit this property.
- the present invention improves circuit breakers and makes it possible to use also such gases comprising an organofluorine-type compound, because the disclosed subject-matter allows to keep gas temperatures below decomposition temperatures of the organofluorine compound at least in certain areas outside the arcing volume, in particular at least in parts of the first exhaust volume and/or second exhaust volume and/or exterior volume.
- the decomposition can be reduced, and for example the degree of decomposition or the concentration ratio of decomposition products to the organofluorine compound in the exhaust gas can be kept below a predetermined threshold value.
- losses of the organofluorine compound can be reduced and maintenance time intervals of the switching device can be increased.
- Other benefits are the possibility of reducing the size of exhaust volumes.
- both leftward and rightward directions are downstream of the arcing volume where the pressure is highest and from where arc-blowing gas and exhaust gas is originating into both leftward and rightward directions.
- Switching device means electrical switching device and can encompass, for example, a high-voltage circuit breaker, a generator circuit breaker, a disconnector, a combined disconnector and earthing switch, a load break switch, an earthing device, or a fast-acting earthing device.
- Fig. 1 shows a sectional view of an embodiment of a high voltage circuit breaker 1 in an opened configuration.
- the device 1 can be essentially rotationally symmetric about the longitudinal axis z. Only the elements of the circuit breaker 1 which are related to the present invention will be described in the following, other elements present in the figures are not relevant for understanding the invention. Furthermore a detailed description of the operating principles of the circuit breaker 1 is not given.
- a “closed configuration” as used herein means that the nominal contacts and/or the arcing contacts of the circuit breaker 1 are closed (i.e. are touching one another). Accordingly, an “opened configuration” as used herein means that the nominal contacts and/or the arcing contacts of the circuit breaker 1 are opened (i.e. are separated).
- the purely exemplary circuit breaker 1 is enclosed by a shell or external enclosure 5 which normally is cylindrical and is arranged around longitudinal axis z. It comprises a nominal contact arrangement 3a, 3b comprising a first nominal contact comprising a plurality of contact fingers 3a, of which only two are shown here for reasons of clarity.
- the nominal contact fingers 3a are formed as a finger cage around the longitudinal axis z.
- the nominal contact arrangement further comprises a second mating nominal contact 3b which normally is a metal tube.
- a shielding 5a can be arranged around the first and the second nominal contact 3a, 3b.
- the circuit breaker 1 furthermore comprises an arcing contact arrangement 4a, 4b comprising a first arcing contact 4a and a second arcing contact 4b.
- Analogue to the first nominal contact 3a also the first arcing contact 4a comprises multiple fingers 4a arranged in a finger cage.
- the second arcing contact 4b is normally rod-shaped.
- the contact fingers 3a, 4a are movable relatively to the contacts 3b, 4b from said closed configuration, in which they are in electrical contact to one another, into the opened configuration shown in Fig. 1 , in which they are apart from one another, and vice versa. It is also possible that only one set of the contacts 3a, 4a or 3b, 4b respectively, moves parallel to the longitudinal axis z and the other set of contacts 3b, 4b or 3a, 4a respectively, is stationary. For the explanatory purposes of the present invention it is assumed that only the first nominal contact 3a and the first arcing contact 4a are movable along the z-axis and the second nominal contact 3b and the second arcing contact 4b are stationary. However, the invention is not limited to this configuration.
- circuit breaker 1 is shown during an opening process of the electrical switching device 1 in an instant when the distance between the arcing contacts 4a, 4b is still so small that an electric arc 3 is still present between the arcing contacts 4a, 4b.
- the area around the electric arc 3 is called arcing volume 6 or heat up area 6.
- the first arcing contact 4a is attached to an exhaust tube 7''' and the first nominal contact 3a is attached to a first intermediate volume 7 which at least partially surrounds the exhaust tube 7'''.
- a first exhaust volume 7' is arranged around the first intermediate volume 7.
- the second arcing contact 4b and the second nominal contact 3b are attached to a second intermediate volume 8.
- a second exhaust volume 8' is arranged around the second intermediate volume 8.
- the enclosure 5 defines an exterior volume 9 surrounding (at least partially or completely) the exhaust tube 7''', the first first intermediate volume 7 and the second intermediate volume 8.
- the exhaust tube 7''', the first intermediate volume 7, the first exhaust volume 7', the second intermediate volume 8, the second exhaust volume 8' and the exterior volume 9 form a or at least one travel path 2 for a fluid travelling through them.
- This travel path 2 is illustrated in Fig. 1 by a plurality of arrows, of which only a few have been denoted by the reference numeral 2. It is noted that the electrical switching device 1 may have less or more exhaust volumes or enclosures, depending on its type.
- the arcing volume 6 has on the lefthand side fluid connection via the exhaust tube 7''' to the first intermediate volume 7, and on the righthand side via an inner volume 80 surrounding and/or adjacent to the second arcing contact (plug) 4b to the second intermediate volume 8, as shown by the respective arrows 2.
- the first intermediate volume 7, the first exhaust volume 7' and the exterior volume 9 form a first travel path for the exhaust gas
- at least the arcing volume 6, the second intermediate volume 8, the second exhaust volume 8' and the exterior volume 9 form a second travel path for the exhaust gas.
- the exhaust system 7, 7', 7", 7''; 8, 8', 8" comprises a first exhaust volume 7' downstream from the arcing volume 6 on a first side of the switching device 1 having the first arcing contact 4a, and inside the first exhaust volume 7' at least one first intermediate volume 7 is arranged, is enclosed by a first intermediate wall 7a, comprises a first inlet opening 11a, which is for receiving exhaust gas coming from a hollow exhaust tube 7''' fluidly connected to the arcing region 6, and comprises at least one first outlet opening 12a, which is facing a first opposing wall 7b, in particular of the first exhaust volume 7', and is for producing at least one first gas jet 77 and for discharging it towards and impacting it on the first opposing wall 7b.
- the pressure ratios disclosed herein can be chosen to be critical pressure ratios, i.e. K, K 7 , K 7f , K 8 between 1.6 and 1.7 for (predominantly) SF 6 or between 1.7 and 1.8 for organofluorine compounds with background gas. This assures sonic outflow out of the first intermediate volume 7 and/or second intermediate volume 8 and/or first further intermediate volume.
- the fluid used in the circuit breaker 1 can be SF 6 gas or any other dielectric insulation medium, may it be gaseous and/or liquid, and in particular can be a dielectric insulation gas or arc quenching gas.
- dielectric insulation medium can for example encompass media comprising an organofluorine compound, such organofluorine compound being selected from the group consisting of: a fluoroether, an oxirane, a fluoroamine, a fluoroketone, a fluoroolefin and mixtures and/or decomposition products thereof.
- fluoroether refers to at least partially fluorinated compounds.
- fluoroether encompasses both hydrofluoroethers and perfluoroethers
- oxirane encompasses both hydrofluorooxiranes and perfluorooxiranes
- fluoroamine encompasses both hydrofluoroamines and perfluoroamines
- fluoroketone encompasses both hydrofluoroketones and perfluoroketones
- fluoroolefin encompasses both hydrofluoroolefins and perfluoroolefins. It can thereby be preferred that the fluoroether, the oxirane, the fluoroamine and the fluoroketone are fully fluorinated, i.e. perfluorinated.
- the dielectric insulation medium is selected from the group consisting of: a (or several) hydrofluoroether(s), a (or several) perfluoroketone(s), a (or several) hydrofluoroolefin(s), and mixtures thereof.
- fluoroketone as used in the context of the present invention shall be interpreted broadly and shall encompass both fluoromonoketones and fluorodiketones or generally fluoropolyketones. Explicity, more than a single carbonyl group flanked by carbon atoms may be present in the molecule. The term shall also encompass both saturated compounds and unsaturated compounds including double and/or triple bonds between carbon atoms.
- the at least partially fluorinated alkyl chain of the fluoroketones can be linear or branched and can optionally form a ring.
- the dielectric insulation medium comprises at least one compound being a fluoromonoketone and/or comprising also heteroatoms incorporated into the carbon backbone of the molecules, such as at least one of: a nitrogen atom, oxygen atom and sulphur atom, replacing one or more carbon atoms.
- the fluoromonoketone in particular perfluoroketone, can have from 3 to 15 or from 4 to 12 carbon atoms and particularly from 5 to 9 carbon atoms. Most preferably, it may comprise exactly 5 carbon atoms and/or exactly 6 carbon atoms and/or exactly 7 carbon atoms and/or exactly 8 carbon atoms.
- the dielectric insulation medium comprises at least one compound being a fluoroolefin selected from the group consisting of: hydrofluoroolefins (HFO) comprising at least three carbon atoms, hydrofluoroolefins (HFO) comprising exactly three carbon atoms, trans-1,3,3,3-tetrafluoro-1-propene (HFO-1234ze), 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoro-1-propene (HFO-1234yf), and mixtures thereof.
- HFO hydrofluoroolefins
- HFO hydrofluoroolefins
- HFO trans-1,3,3,3-tetrafluoro-1-propene
- HFO-1234yf trans-1,3,3,3-tetrafluoro-1-propene
- HFO-1234yf 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoro-1-propene
- the dielectric insulation medium can further comprise a background gas or carrier gas different from the organofluorine compound (in particular different from the fluoroether, the oxirane, the fluoroamine, the fluoroketone and the fluoroolefin) and can in embodiments be selected from the group consisting of: air, N 2 , O 2 , CO 2 , a noble gas, H 2 ; NO 2 , NO, N 2 O; fluorocarbons and in particular perfluorocarbons, such as CF 4 ; CF 3 I, SF 6 ; and mixtures thereof.
- a background gas or carrier gas different from the organofluorine compound in particular different from the fluoroether, the oxirane, the fluoroamine, the fluoroketone and the fluoroolefin
- a background gas or carrier gas different from the organofluorine compound (in particular different from the fluoroether, the oxirane, the fluoroamine, the fluoroketone and the fluoro
- a size of the intermediate volume 7, 8 and a position, number and cross-section of the at least one outlet opening 12a; 12b are adapted to gas flow characteristics of the organofluorine compound, in particular of the fluoroketone and more particularly to a speed of sound of the fluoroketone gas mixtures, to withhold at least temporarily during a time period of arc extinction a predetermined amount of the exhaust gas inside the intermediate volume 7; 8, and in particular to achieve a predetermined level of increase of the intermediate exhaust gas pressure (s) p 7 ; p 8 in the intermediate volume 7; 8 over the exhaust gas pressure (s) p 7' , p 8' in exhaust volumes 7'; 8' downstream of the intermediate volume 7; 8.
- the first intermediate volume 7 and/or the second intermediate volume 8 is or are delimited on one side by at least a first wall 14 (exemplarily shown on the left-hand side in Fig. 1 , 2 ) arranged transversally to the longitudinal axis z and shiftable parallel to it by at least an actuation device 15, 16, 17.
- the at least one actuation device comprises at least one spring 16 connecting the actuator 15 to the first wall 14.
- the actuation device 15 may also be formed by a hydraulic or a pneumatic or electric actuation device 15, or it may be a spring itself or even the spring 16.
- this moving first wall 14a is to adjust the volume of the first intermediate volume 7 and/or of the second intermediate volume 8 depending on operating parameters of the circuit breaker 1, with the aim of optimizing the fluid flow within the circuit breaker 1, which leads to a more efficient fluid or exhaust gas cooling inside the circuit breaker 1.
- the first intermediate volume 7 may be decreased by pushing the first wall 14a in the direction of the longitudinal axis z (to the righthand side) in case small currents are expected.
- a decrease of the first intermediate volume 7 helps to keep up a necessary exhaust fluid or gas pressure and to achieve an optimized impinging jet effect 77 for the exhaust fluid or gas.
- the exhaust fluid or gas escaping from the intermediate volume 7 or volumes 7, 8 through the first outlet openings 12a or second outlet openings 12b generates a higher turbulence in the respective first and second exhaust volume 7', 8'.
- the fluid or gas in the arcing volume 6 has a higher pressure and expansion and may require a larger volume.
- the first intermediate volume 7 can be augmented by shifting the first wall 14 in a leftward direction counter or anti-parallel to the longitudinal axis z (rightward direction being denoted by arrow z).
- the spring 16 has such a spring rigidity that it permits a volume change of the first and/or the intermediate volume 7, 8 of maximum ⁇ 90%, in particular ⁇ 70% and more particularly ⁇ 50% and most particularly ⁇ 30%, with respect to a base volume of the first and/or the second intermediate volume 7, 8 defined by the base position of the first moveable wall 14a or second moveable wall 14b, respectively.
- a self-adapting volume change e.g. within the above limits, occurs as an effect of changing pressures in the respective exhaust volume 7, 8 due to the travelling fluid or exhaust gas.
- a first pressure in one of the intermediate volumes 7, 8 is adjusted in such a way by shifting the moveable wall 14a and/or 14b that it approximately equals a second pressure of the other intermediate volume 8, 7.
- This pressure-driven, self-adapting volume change can be achieved by at least one shiftable moveable first and/or second wall 14a, 14b with any actuator system, e.g. actuator system 15-17, present in the circuit breaker 1.
- the volume adjustment in a respective intermediate volume 7, 8 is carried out by shifting the first wall 14a.
- Current values and pressure values assumed in this example are exemplary and may vary.
- the base position of the first wall 14a is set by the actuator 15 before operating the electrical switching device 1, and the pressure in the respective intermediate volume 7, 8 is calculated for 90% of the maximum current, e.g. equal to 50 bar; i.e. the base position is defined by these parameters.
- the spring rigidity is chosen in such a way that, in operation of the electrical switching device 1, the first wall 14 does not move when the current is lower than 90% of the maximum current.
- the first wall 14a only moves when the current is higher than 90% of the maximum current.
- the pressure may e.g.
- the first pressure in the first intermediate volume 7 and/or in the second intermediate volume 8 is adapted depending on an intensity of the electric arc 3 forming between the arcing contacts 4a, 4b when they are opened or closed.
- such measures also contribute to pressure equalization within both the first and second intermediate volume 7 and 8.
- the pressure equalization is best in an embodiment using moving walls 14a, 14b coupled to actuators 15-17 for both the first and the second intermediate volume 7, 8.
- the first pressure p 7 in the first intermediate volume 7 and/or a second pressure p 8 in the second intermediate volume 8 is or are adjusted by shifting the first wall 14a and/or the second wall 14b in such a way that the first pressure p 7 and/or the second pressure p 8 is or are smaller than a third pressure in the arcing volume 6. This is desired in order to prevent the fluid or exhaust gas which has escaped into the intermediate volume or volumes 7, 8 to flow back into the arcing volume 6.
- the first pressure p 7 in the first intermediate volume and/or the second pressure p 8 in the second intermediate volume 7, 8 is or are adjusted in such a way that a temperature of the dielectric insulating medium is kept lower than a decomposition temperature of the insulating medium by shifting the respective first wall 14a, 14b along the longitudinal axis z.
- the fluoroketone has a decomposition temperature of around 600-900°C.
- Fig. 4 shows the beneficial effect of using the first intermediate volume 7 in conjunction with the dielectric insulation medium comprising a fluoroketone, specifically gaseous C5-fluoroketone (i.e. comprising exactly 5 carbon atoms), in a mixture with air as background gas.
- the graphs are showing absorbed thermal energy in kilo-Joule (i.e. exhaust gas cooling) versus time after current zero CZ in seconds for fluorketone-air mixtures (upper curve) compared to conventional SF 6 (lower curve).
- This prooves that the novel arc extinction medium comprising organofluorine compounds have unexpectedly better exhaust gas cooling by an intermediate volume 7, 8 as disclosed herein.
- the at least one outlet opening 12a; 12b in particular the first outlet opening 12a and/or the second outlet opening 12b, is or are covered by at least one hole array comprising a plurality of holes 13.
- a ratio of a distance H between the intermediate wall 7a; 8a and the opposing wall 7b, 8b and an average diameter D of the outlet opening 12a; 12b is in the range of 1.5 to 8, particularly the ratio has a value of 6; in particular wherein a first ratio of a first distance between the first intermediate wall 7a and the first opposing wall 7b and an average diameter D of the first outlet opening 12a is in the range of 1.5 to 8 or is 6, and/or a second ratio of a second distance between the second intermediate wall 8a and the second opposing wall 8b and an average diameter D of the second outlet opening 12b is in the range of 1.5 to 8 or is 6.
- a ratio of 6 can be preferred. This ensures an optimized transfer of the fluid or exhaust gas stream from the intermediate volumes 7, 8 into their respective first and/or second exhaust volumes 7', 8'.
- Fig. 2 shows a sectional view of another embodiment of a high voltage circuit breaker 1 in an opened configuration.
- This embodiment is similar to the embodiment described in connection with Fig. 1 with the difference that the first wall 14a (here shown for left-hand first intermediate volume 7, but alternatively or in addition equally applicable to right-hand second intermediate volume 8) is actuated in a different way for its movement along the longitudinal axis z.
- no actuator and spring are present. Instead the actuation is done by using a drive 17 which is already present in the circuit breaker 1 and is coupled to the nominal and/or arcing contacts 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b by a drive rod.
- This drive 17 has the main task of moving the lefthand contacts, in this example the nominal contact 3a and arcing contact 4a, during the opening and closing procedures. In this way, also the exhaust tube 7''' is shifted along the longitudinal axis z.
- the first wall 14a is attached to the exhaust tube 7''' and is consequently also moved along with it. While the contacts 3a, 3b; 4a, 4b are being closed, the first intermediate volume 7 is decreased until the contacts 3a, 3b; 4a, 4b have reached their closed configuration, in which the 1 st intermediate volume 7 has a minimum size. While the contacts 3a, 3b; 4a, 4b are being moved into the opened configuration, the 1 st intermediate volume 7 is increased until it reaches a maximum size.
- the means 14a, 14b, 15, 16, 17 for changing a size of the intermediate volume 7, 8, in particular the at least one actuation device 17, comprise at least one exhaust tube 7''' arranged inside the first exhaust volume 7' and are attached to the first arcing contact 4a and at least one drive 17 of the switching device 1 for moving the exhaust tube 7''' and the first arcing contact 4a along the longitudinal axis z, wherein the at least one first moveable wall 14a is attached to the exhaust tube 7'''; and/or the first moveable wall 14a acts as an exhaust-gas-pressure-driven auxiliary driving-force support for a or the drive 17.
- the first wall 14a is shown as being mounted at one extremity of the exhaust tub 7'''. In other embodiments the first wall 14a may also be mounted at another location along the exhaust tube 7'''.
- the limitation how far it may be mounted on the outer surface of the exhaust tube 7''', as seen in the direction of the longitudinal axis z, is given by a minimum required size of the first intermediate volume 7 and by a position of the openings 11a in the exhaust tube 7'''.
- Fig. 2 also shows an embodiment of a second wall 14b being moveable transversely to the longitudinal axis z. This is, among other possibilities of providing moveable first and/or second moveable walls 14a, 14b, useful and can be implemented in a relatively simple manner.
- Fig. 3 shows a detailed view of an embodiment of one of the first outlet openings 12a or second outlet openings 12b of Fig. 1 or 2 .
- At least the intermediate wall 7b (and/or 8b) of the first intermediate volume 7 (and/or of the second intermediate volume 8, respectively) can comprise multiple outlet openings 12a, 12b of the type shown in Fig. 3 .
- the intermediate wall 7b, 8b is preferably concentric with respect to the longitudinal axis z.
- the outlet openings 12a, 12b are covered by a hole array having a plurality of holes 13.
- the holes 13 of the hole array have a cross-section of not more than 50% of an average cross section of the outlet opening 12a; 12b (without hole array), in particular the first outlet opening 12a and/or the second outlet opening 12b; and/or the hole array is exchangeable with a hole array having holes 13 with a different diameter.
- the fluid or exhaust gas escapes from the first and/or second intermediate volume 7, 8 through said outlet openings 12a, 12b into the first and/or the second exhaust volume 7', 8', respectively.
- the advantage of providing outlet openings 12a, 12b with such a hole array 13 is that the turbulence of the fluid or exhaust gas stream is increased, thus improving heat transfer to metal surfaces of delimiting walls in the path of the fluid or exhaust gas.
- the exhaust gases can be focused even better onto an impinging wall or baffle wall or opposing wall 7b, 8b, such as first opposing wall 7b of the first exhaust volume 7' or second opposing wall 8b of the second exhaust volume 8', arranged opposite of the outlet openings 12a, 12b, respectively.
- a first hole array with first holes 13 is exchangeable with a second hole array having second holes 13 with a different diameter. This is advantageous for adapting the circuit breaker 1 to different or changing operating conditions, e.g. to another fluid used as dielectric insulation and extinguishing medium.
- the first arcing contact 4a is an arcing contact tulip 4a and the second arcing contact (4b) is an arcing contact pin (4b); and/or the dielectric insulation medium comprises: an organofluorine compound selected from the group consisting of a fluoroether, a fluoroamine, a fluoroketone, a fluoroolefine, and mixtures thereof; the organofluorine compound being in a mixture with a background gas, in particular selected from the group consisting of: CO 2 , O 2 , N 2 .
- At least one guiding-wall section of the travel path of the exhaust gas is provided with projections 18, 19, 20 (see e.g. exemplarily Fig. 1 and 2 ) that extend transversely to the guiding-wall section out of or into the travel path and are for cooling down the exhaust gas.
- the projections 18, 19 can be macroscopic projections 18, 19 and can be arranged in a two-dimensional arrangement or two-dimensional matrix at the guiding-wall section and can form a two-dimensional arrangement of vortices in the exhaust gas along the guiding-wall section of the travel path to increase a rate of convective heat transfer from the exhaust gas to the guiding-wall section.
- the projections are negative projections 18, 19, 20, in particular uniform dimples 18 or non-uniform dimples 19 or microscopic projections 20, that extend into the guiding-wall section of the travel path; and/or the projections are positive projections 18, 19, 20, in particular uniform positive projections 18 or non-uniform positive projections 19 or microscopic projections 20, extending out of the guiding-wall section of the travel path.
- the opposing wall 7b, 8b in particular the first opposing wall 7b and/or the second opposing wall 8b, has or have on its surface uniform dimples 18 or non-uniform dimples 19 or an increased surface roughness 20 forming microscopic projections 20, all for enhancing heat transfer from impinging exhaust gas jets 77, 88 to the opposing wall 7b, 8b; and/or the opposing wall 7b, 8b, in particular the first opposing wall 7b and/or the second opposing wall 8b, is or are made from metal or metal-impregnated ceramic materials.
- a mean roughness Ra of the guiding-wall section comprising the microscopic projections 20 is selected in a range of 30 ⁇ m to 200 ⁇ m and more preferably in a range of 50 ⁇ m to 150 ⁇ m and most preferably in a range of 70 ⁇ m to 120 ⁇ m; and/or none of the projections 18, 19 are formed as microscopic projections 20 but instead are macroscopic projections 18, 19 and the macroscopic projections 18, 19 are sufficiently distanced from one another for forming mutually non-interacting vortices in the exhaust gas.
- FIG. 5 shows exemplarily a sectional view of at least one inner thread section 22 arranged inside the exhaust tube 6.
- the inner thread elements 22 are preferably negative projections 22 formed as cavities in the inner wall 23 of the exhaust tube 6.
- the inner thread section (s) is or are for swirling the exhaust gas inside the hollow exhaust tube (7''').
- the exhaust tube 6 is shown in a partial "transparent" way to better illustrate the inner thread or swirl 22.
- At least a part of the inner thread sections 22 may be connected to one another and may thus form one or more channels 22 in the wall of the exhaust tube 6.
- This concept of exhaust tube 6 with inner thread section projections 22 or continuous innner thread projections 22 can be implement in any other set-up disclosed herein.
- At least one deflection device 21 is arranged upstream of the at least one intermediate volume 7, 8 and interacts with the at least one inlet opening 11a, 11b and is for radial deflection of the exhaust gas into the intermediate volume 7, 8.
- the at least one deflection device 21 can be arranged on a side of the hollow exhaust tube 7''' facing away from the arcing region 6 and can interact with the at least one first inlet opening 11a in the hollow exhaust tube 7''' and serves then for radial deflection of the exhaust gas into the first intermediate volume 7.
- the present invention improves the capabilities of cooling a fluid or exhaust gas present inside a high or medium voltage switching device 1.
- organofluorine compounds as disclosed herein
- the present invention allows to protect oranofluorine compounds being present outside the arcing volume 6, in particular in the first intermediate volume 7 and/or second intermediate volume 8 and exterior volume 9, to be protected from too high temperatures caused by the exhaust gases and thus from being decomposed. This allows to reduce or minimize the loss of organofluorine compounds occurring during circuit breaker operation.
- the electrical switching device 1 in particular as disclosed above, has a longitudinal axis z, comprises an arcing volume 6 and at least an arcing contact arrangement with a first arcing contact 4a and a mating second arcing contact 4b, and further comprises an exhaust system 7, 7', 7", 7'''; 8, 8', 8" with at least one exhaust volume 7'; 8', wherein for closing and opening the electric switching device 1 at least one of the arcing contacts 4a, 4b is movable parallel to the longitudinal axis z and cooperates with the other arcing contact 4b, 4a, wherein the electrical switching device 1 comprises a dielectric insulating medium comprising an organofluorine compound selected from the group consisting of fluoronitriles, in particular perfluoronitriles, and mixtures and/or decomposition products thereof, wherein inside the exhaust volume 7'; 8' at least one intermediate volume 7; 8 is arranged, is enclosed by an intermediate
- the fluoronitrile is in a mixture with an organofluorine compound selected from the group consisting of: a fluoroether, an oxirane, a fluoroamine, a fluoroketone, a fluoroolefine, and mixtures and/or decomposition products thereof; in particular the fluoronitrile being in mixtures with a background gas and more particularly in a mixture with a background gas compound selected from the group consisting of: air, air components, nitrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides.
- an organofluorine compound selected from the group consisting of: a fluoroether, an oxirane, a fluoroamine, a fluoroketone, a fluoroolefine, and mixtures and/or decomposition products thereof; in particular the fluoronitrile being in mixtures with a background gas and more particularly in a mixture with a background gas compound selected from the group consisting of: air, air components, nitrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides.
- the fluoronitrile is a perfluoronitrile containing two carbon atoms, three carbon atoms or four carbon atoms, in particular is a perfluoroalkylnitrile, specifically perfluoroacetonitrile, perfluoropropionitrile (C 2 F 5 CN) and/or perfluorobutyronitrile (C 3 F 7 CN), and more particularly is perfluoroisobutyronitrile according to the formula (CF 3 ) 2 CFCN and/or perfluoro-2-methoxypropanenitrile according to the formula CF 3 CF(OCF 3 )CN.
- the dielectric insulation medium is selected such and the intermediate volume 7; 8 is designed such that at least temporarily during a time period of exhaust gas ejection an intermediate exhaust gas pressure p 7 ; p 8 in the intermediate volume 7; 8 exceeds an exhaust gas pressure in its immediately succeeding exhaust volume 7'; 8' at least by a pressure ratio K larger than 1.3, preferably larger than 1.4, more preferably larger than 1.5, more preferably larger than 1.6, and most preferably larger than 1.7.
- the pressure ratio K is selected from the group consisting of: a first pressure ratio K 7 , a first further pressure ratio K f , a second pressure ratio K 8 , and combinations thereof.
- the advantage of choosing the pressure ratio K larger than a threshold value of 1.1, or optionally larger than 1.3 or 1.4 or 1.5 or 1.6 or 1.7, is that with increasing pressure ratio K the exhaust gas jet formation is improved. This results in more gas mass flow and hence better heat transfer to the exhaust system 7, 7', 7", 7'''; 8, 8', 8" of the electrical switching device 1.
- the exhaust gas jet formation will be sonic, as long as the outlet opening 12a; 12b for jet formation is a hole 12a; 12b, but may become supersonic, if the outlet opening for jet formation has at least partly a nozzle form 12a; 12b, and ideally has a laval nozzle form 12a; 12b.
- the gas mass flow and hence heat transfer can further be increased.
Landscapes
- Gas-Insulated Switchgears (AREA)
- Organic Insulating Materials (AREA)
- Arc-Extinguishing Devices That Are Switches (AREA)
Description
- The invention is in the field of medium and high voltage switching technologies and relates to an electrical switching device and a method for operating it according to the independent claims, particularly for a use as an earthing device, a fast-acting earthing device, a circuit breaker, a generator circuit breaker, a switch disconnector, a combined disconnector and earthing switch, or a load break switch in power transmission and distribution systems.
- Electrical switching devices are well known in the field of medium and high voltage switching applications. They are e.g. used for interrupting a current when an electrical fault occurs. As an example for an electrical switching device, circuit breakers have the task of opening contacts and keeping them far apart from one another in order to avoid a current flow, even in case of high electrical potential originating from the electrical fault itself. For the purposes of this disclosure the term medium voltage refers to voltages from 1 kV to 72.5 kV and the term high voltage refers to voltages higher than 72.5 kV. The electrical switching devices, like said circuit breakers, may be rated to carry high nominal currents of 4000 A to 6300 A and to switch very high short circuit currents of 40 kA to 80 kA at very high voltages of 110 kV to 1200 kV.
- Because of the high nominal current, the electrical switching devices of today require many so-called nominal contact fingers for the nominal current. When disconnecting (opening) a nominal or short circuit current within the electrical switching devices, the current commutates from nominal contacts of the electrical switching device to its arcing contacts. As well, when connecting (closing) the nominal contacts of the electric switching device, the arcing contacts are connected in advance. In embodiments the arcing contacts comprise, as a first arcing contact, arcing contact fingers arranged around the longitudinal axis of the electrical switching device in a so-called arcing finger cage and, as a second arcing contact, a rod or pin which is driven into the finger cage.
- During the opening process of the electrical switching device an electric arc forms between the first and the second arcing contact, an area being called arcing volume, which arc is conductive and still carries electric current even after the opening or physical separation of the arcing contacts. In order to interrupt the current, the electrical switching devices contain a dielectrically inert fluid used as a dielectric insulating medium and for quenching the electric arc as fast as possible. Quenching the electric arc means extracting as much energy as possible from it. Consequently, a part of the fluid located in the area where the electric arc is generated is considerably heated up (to around 20'000°C to 30'000°C) in a very short period of time. Because of its volume expansion this part of the fluid builds up a pressure and is ejected from the arcing volume. In this way the electric arc is blown off around the instant when the current is zero. The fluid flows into one or more exhaust volumes where it is cooled and redirected by a cooling device. Mixing with the cold fluid located in the exhaust volume or volumes is only possible to a relatively small extent, because the predominant part of the cold gas present inside the respective exhaust volume is pressed out of the exhaust volume by the hot fluid, which expands out of the arcing volume, before any significant mixing can occur. When the hot exhaust fluid comes into electric-field-stressed regions, e.g. close to shieldings, unwanted dielectric flashovers may occur, as the dielectric withstand capabilities of the exhaust fluid is typically lower at higher temperatures. It is therefore necessary to cool down the exhaust fluid as much as possible before it travels into such electric-field-stressed regions of the exhaust volume(s).
- In
EP 1 403 891 - The openings between the hollow-contact volume, the intermediate volume and, if appropriate, the additional volume are arranged offset with respect to one another on the circumference. The openings between the additional volume and the exhaust volume are arranged offset with respect to one another on the circumference and/or in the axial direction. This also results in meandering as well as spiralling SF6-exhaust-gas paths being predetermined, with the dwell time for which the SF6-exhaust-gas remains in the exhaust area being increased, and with the heat transfer from the SF6-exhaust-gas being further improved. Furthermore, the holes can be covered by means of panels in the form of perforated metal sheets to produce a larger number of radially directed SF6-exhaust-gas streams or SF6-exhaust-gas jets. These SF6-exhaust-gas jets again strike the opposite wall, are swirled at the impact points, and thus intensively cool the hot SF6 exhaust gas. The intermediate volume, which improves the cooling, is arranged in the exhaust area on the drive contact side. A second intermediate volume may also be provided on the fixed-contact side. Overall, at least one intermediate volume is additionally required in the circuit breaker, that is to say in addition to the hollow-contact volume, the exhaust volume and the switching chamber volume, in order to achieve efficient SF6-exhaust-gas cooling.
- In
WO 2006/066420 of the same applicant, an SF6-gas-blast generator circuit breaker with a similar exhaust gas system is disclosed, which has intermediate walls with openings for SF6-exhaust-gas jet formation and opposing walls with baffle-wall and heat-sink function for vortex heat transfer of the SF6-exhaust-gas to such opposing walls. - In
WO 2010/142346 of the same applicant, a gas-blast circuit breaker with a novel arc-exctinguishing insulation fluid comprising fluoroketones is disclosed. High voltage circuit breakers having a heating chamber for providing a self-blasting effect can be operated with such fluoroketones and specifically C6-fluoroketones. Such fluoroketones are disclosed to beneficially increase the self-blasting pressure in the heating chamber during a back-heating phase in a switching operation, as they are decomposed to a larger number of fluorocarbon compounds having a lower number of carbon atoms. Inside the arcing region, a favourable arc extinction capability of fluoroketones having from 4 to 12 carbon atoms is at least partially attributed to the recombination of the dissociation products of the fluoroketones mainly to tetrafluoromethane (CF4), which is a highly potent arc extinction medium. Moreover, C6-fluoroketones are disclosed to be useful for limiting the exhaust gas temperature in the whole vessel and in the exhaust volumes during and after arc interruption, because decomposition of sufficiently present C6-fluoroketone molecules absorbs the excess thermal energy and prevents further exhaust-gas heating beyond the decomposition temperature of around 550°C to 570°C. - In
WO 2012/080246 of the same applicant, a gas-blast circuit breaker with arc-exctinguishing insulation fluids comprising C5-fluoroketones is disclosed. The C5-fluoroketones have a non-linear increase of dielectric strength in mixtures with certain carrier gases, such as nitrogen and carbon dioxide. The C5-fluoroketones again provide a beneficial blasting-pressure increase in the compression chamber and/or heating chamber and/or arcing region during an arc-extinguishing phase due to molecular decomposition. In addition, recombination of C5-fluoroketone to tetrafluoromethane (CF4) in the arcing region is beneficial for arc extinction. As mentioned, molecular decomposition is also beneficial in the exhaust region, because the rather low dissociation temperatures of the fluoroketones of about 400°C to about 600°C or even 900°C can function as a temperature barrier in the exhaust gas. - In both
WO 2010/142346 andWO 2012/080246 , the decomposition of fluoroketones in the heating chamber, compression or puffer chamber, arcing region and exhaust volumes are considered to be beneficial for the circuit breaker performance and in particular for the exhaust gas cooling. - In
DE 10 2011 083 588 A1 an exhaust system with at least two concentric exhaust tubes is disclosed. The exhaust tubes have large numbers of radial (mantle-sided) over-pressure relief openings that are mutually off-set to one another such that direct radial gas outflow through both exhaust tubes is blocked. The relief openings may be arranged such that the exhaust gas is forced to enter the first and second exhaust tube repeatedly. Also axial (end-sided) non-overlapping over-pressure relief openings are disclosed and may e.g. be on opposite end faces of the first and second exhaust tube. An armature body can be provided, which is shiftable or dimensionally adaptable to hide or clear openings and thus to adapt the cooling capacity. Overall, exhaust gas is cooled by providing a long meandering (i.e. alternatingly radial and axial) gas path, by providing a very large number and density of openings, and also by providing each opening with an opposing baffle wall section for better mixing the exhaust gas. - In
US 7,763,821 , a puffer-type gas-blast circuit breaker is disclosed which has a moveable hollow arcing contact with a radial opening for releasing exhaust gases in radial direction. The drive rod for the hollow arcing contact carries a gas blocking member for preventing axial gas discharge towards the drive unit.EP-A1-1768150 discloses an electrical switching device according to the preamble ofclaim 1. - It is an objective of the present invention to improve exhaust gas cooling in an electrical switching device. This objective is achieved by the subject-matter of the independent claims. Embodiments are disclosed in the dependent claims, any claim combinations thereof, and in the description together with the figures.
- A first aspect of the invention related to an electrical switching device having a longitudinal axis z, comprising an arcing volume and at least an arcing contact arrangement with a first arcing contact and a mating second arcing contact, and further comprising an exhaust system with at least one exhaust volume,
wherein for closing and opening the electric switching device at least one of the arcing contacts is movable parallel to the longitudinal axis z and cooperates with the other arcing contact,
wherein the electrical switching device comprising a dielectric insulating medium comprising an organofluorine compound selected from the group consisting of: a fluoroether, a fluoroamine, a fluoroketone, a fluoroolefine, and mixtures thereof, and
inside the exhaust volume at least one intermediate volume is arranged, is enclosed by an intermediate wall, comprises at least one inlet opening for receiving exhaust gas coming from the arcing region, and comprises at least one outlet opening, which outlet opening is facing an opposing wall, in particular of the exhaust volume, and is for producing at least one exhaust gas jet and for discharging it towards and impacting it on the opposing wall. - In embodiments, the impacting causes swirling the at least one exhaust gas jet, which swirling induces turbulent-gas heat transfer to the opposing wall and reduces a temperature and pressure of the swirling exhaust gas jet.
- In embodiments, the organofluorine compound is selected from the group consisting of: perfluoroether, hydrofluoroether, perfluoroamine, perfluoroketone, perfluoroolefin, hydrofluoroolefine, and mixtures thereof; in particular, such organofluorine compound can be in mixtures with a background gas and more particularly in a mixture with a background gas compound selected from the group consisting of: air, air components, nitrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides.
- In embodiments, the dielectric insulating medium comprises as the organofluorine compound a fluoroketone having from 4 to 15 carbon atoms. The fluoroketone can be selected from the group consisting of: fluorketones having exactly 5 carbon atoms, fluorketones having exactly 6 carbon atoms, fluorketones having exactly 7 carbon atoms, fluorketones having exactly 8 carbon atoms, such fluoroketones with at least one of the mentioned carbon atoms being replaced by a heteroatom, in particular being replaced by nitrogen and/or oxygen and/or sulphur, and mixtures thereof.
- In embodiments, the intermediate volume is designed such that during operation, in particular during a time period of exhaust gas ejection,
- an exhaust gas pressure is decreasing along a travel path of the exhaust gas from the arcing region through the exhaust system; and/or
- an intermediate exhaust gas pressure p7; p8 in the intermediate volume exceeds a pressure in the volumes which are downstream of the intermediate volume in the travel path of the exhaust gas through the exhaust system; and/or
- an exhaust gas pressure in the at least one intermediate volume is increased compared to when the at least one intermediate volume were not present.
- In embodiments, the intermediate volume is designed such that at least temporarily during a time period of exhaust gas ejection an intermediate exhaust gas pressure p7; p8 in the intermediate volume exceeds an exhaust gas pressure in its immediately succeeding exhaust volume at least by a pressure ratio K larger than 1.1, in particular the pressure ratio K being selected from the group consisting of: a first pressure ratio K7, a first further pressure ratio Kf, a second pressure ratio K8, and combinations thereof.
- In embodiments, the pressure ratio K, in particular the first pressure ratio K7 = p7/p7' and/or the first further pressure ratio Kf = p7/p7f and/or the second pressure ratio K8 = p8/p8', is or are chosen as a function of the dielectric insulation medium.
- In embodiments, the pressure ratio K is a critical pressure ratio K, in particular a first critical pressure ratio K7 = p7/p7' and/or a first further critical pressure ratio Kf = p7/p7f and/or a second critical pressure ratio K8 = p8/p8', that is or are chosen:
- in a range of 1.6 to 1.7, when the dielectric insulation medium predominantly contains SF6, or
- in a range 1.7 to 1.8, when the dielectric insulation medium predominantly or exclusively contains the organofluorine compound in a mixture with a background gas, in particular fluoroketone or C5-fluoroketone in a mixture with at least one of: CO2, O2 and N2.
- Choosing the pressure ratio K high is beneficial for providing a high impacting velocity of the impinging gas jets; however it can increase the flow resistance in the travel path of the exhaust gas. Choosing a critical pressure ratio K is optimal, because it allows to reach sonic outflow speed out of the first and/or second outlet opening(s) (which is the maximal achievable speed, without nozzle-shapes being provided at the outlet opening(s)) while maintaining the flow resistance in the travel path at still moderate levels.
- A second aspect of the invention relates to an electrical switching device, in particular as described above, having a longitudinal axis z, comprising an arcing volume and at least an arcing contact arrangement with a first arcing contact and a mating second arcing contact, and further comprising an exhaust system with at least one exhaust volume,
wherein for closing and opening the electric switching device at least one of the arcing contacts is movable parallel to the longitudinal axis z and cooperates with the other arcing contact, and the electrical switching device comprises a dielectric insulating medium, and
wherein inside the exhaust volume at least one intermediate volume is arranged, is enclosed by an intermediate wall, comprises at least one inlet opening for receiving exhaust gas coming from the arcing region , and comprises at least one outlet opening, which outlet opening is facing an opposing wall, in particular of the exhaust volume, and is for producing at least one exhaust gas jet and for discharging it towards and impacting it on the opposing wall, and wherein the switching device has means for changing a size of the intermediate volume, in particular wherein the means are for changing a size of a or the first and/or second intermediate volume. - In embodiments, the means serve for adapting a first intermediate exhaust gas pressure p7 in the first intermediate volume to a second exhaust gas pressure p8' in the second exhaust volume, or to a second intermediate exhaust gas pressure p8 in the second intermediate volume, within a predetermined range of pressure differences, in particular within 0.5 bar and more particularly within 0.4 bar and most particularly within 0.3 bar.
- In embodiments, the intermediate volume is delimited by a moveable wall that allows adaptation of a size of the intermediate volume; and/or the first intermediate volume is delimited by a first moveable wall that allows adaptation of a size of the first intermediate volume; and/or the second intermediate volume is delimited by a second moveable wall that allows adaptation of a size of the second intermediate volume.
- In embodiments, the intermediate volume, in particular the first intermediate volume and/or the second intermediate volume, is or are designed such that at least temporarily during a time period of arc extinction, in particular during the whole arc extinction period, an additional flow resistance introduced in the exhaust gas comprising the organofluorine compound by the intermediate volume, in particular the first intermediate volume and/or the second intermediate volume, is kept below a threshold flow resistance, below which threshold flow resistance sonic or supersonic flow conditions in the arcing region are maintained, in other words at or above which threshold flow resistance subsonic flow conditions in the arcing region (6) would occur.
- In embodiments, a size of the intermediate volume and a position, number and cross-section of the at least one outlet opening are adapted to gas flow characteristics of the organofluorine compound, in particular of the fluoroketone and more particularly to a speed of sound of the fluoroketone gas mixtures, to withhold at least temporarily during a time period of arc extinction a predetermined amount of the exhaust gas inside the intermediate volume, and in particular to achieve a predetermined level of increase of the intermediate exhaust gas pressure(s) p7; p8 in the intermediate volume over the exhaust gas pressure (s) p7', p8' in exhaust volumes downstream of the intermediate volume.
- A second aspect of the invention relates to a method for operating an electrical switching device as described herein, wherein an intermediate exhaust gas pressure p7; p8 in one of the intermediate volumes is adjusted, in particular by shifting at least one moveable wall, in such a way that it approximately equals, in particular within a pressure difference of 1 bar or 0.5 bar or less, an intermediate exhaust gas pressure p8; p7 in the other of the intermediate volumes at least temporarily during an arc extinction period; and/or
wherein an intermediate exhaust gas pressure p7; p8 in one of the intermediate volumes and/or an intermediate exhaust gas pressure p8; p7 in the other of the intermediate volumes is or are adjusted, in particular by shifting at least one moveable wall (14a, 14b), in such a way that it is or they are smaller than a third pressure in the arcing volume (6) at least temporarily during an arc extinction period; and/or
wherein the first intermediate exhaust gas pressure p7 in the first intermediate volume is adjusted, in particular by shifting the first moveable wall, in such a way that it approximately equals, in particular within a pressure difference of 1 bar or 0.5 bar or less, a second exhaust gas pressure p8' in the second exhaust volume at least temporarily during an arc extinction period; and/or
wherein the first intermediate exhaust gas pressure p7 in the first intermediate volume and/or an exhaust gas pressure in the second exhaust volume is or are adjusted, in particular by shifting the first moveable wall, in such a way that it is or they are smaller than a third pressure in the arcing volume at least temporarily during an arc extinction period. - In embodiments, the first intermediate exhaust gas pressure p7 in the first intermediate volume and/or the second intermediate exhaust gas pressure p8 in the second intermediate volume is or are adjusted, in particular by shifting at least one moveable wall along the longitudinal axis z, depending on an intensity of an electric arc forming between the arcing contacts, when they are opened or closed.
- In embodiments, the first intermediate exhaust gas pressure p7 in the first intermediate volume and/or a or the second intermediate exhaust gas pressure p8 in the second intermediate volume is or are adjusted, in particular by shifting a moveable wall along the longitudinal axis z, in such a way that a temperature of the dielectric insulating medium is kept lower than a decomposition temperature of the organofluorine compound, in particular the fluoroketone.
- The electrical switching device and the method for operating it has the advantage of improved cooling of the insulating and extinguishing fluid located in the switching device. in particular, the adjustment of the size of the exhaust volume provides a flexible way of accounting for different current strengths, ensuring a pressure in the respective exhaust volume which is high enough to create a strong fluid stream, e.g. through the at least one first opening, towards the exterior of the exhaust volume or exhaust volumes. By providing jet-forming openings in the intermediate volume(s) and in particular even a hole array for such openings, it is possible to increase a turbulence of said exhaust gas fluid stream, thus also enhancing the heat transfer capabilities from the fluid to its environment.
- The described improvements of the heat transfer capabilities result in several important benefits for an electrical switching device, e.g. a high voltage circuit breaker. One advantage results from the fact that, by keeping the fluid temperature comparatively low, the use of different types of fluids other than SF6 is made even more favourable. As is known, arc extinguishing and insulating gas mixtures (herein simply referred to as "dielectric insulation media") used in high or medium voltage switching devices experience decomposition when heated up above certain levels, which may be encountered under certain operating conditions of said switching devices. This decomposition is undesired, as it reduces the insulating properties of the fluid. SF6 has the property that it recombines when it is cooled down and thereby regains substantially its full dielectric properties; however other gases comprising an organofluorine compound, like the fluoroketone C5, do not exhibit this property. The present invention improves circuit breakers and makes it possible to use also such gases comprising an organofluorine-type compound, because the disclosed subject-matter allows to keep gas temperatures below decomposition temperatures of the organofluorine compound at least in certain areas outside the arcing volume, in particular at least in parts of the first exhaust volume and/or second exhaust volume and/or exterior volume. Thus, the decomposition can be reduced, and for example the degree of decomposition or the concentration ratio of decomposition products to the organofluorine compound in the exhaust gas can be kept below a predetermined threshold value. As a consequence losses of the organofluorine compound can be reduced and maintenance time intervals of the switching device can be increased. Other benefits are the possibility of reducing the size of exhaust volumes.
- Embodiments, advantages and applications of the invention result from the dependent claims, from claim combinations and from the now following description and figures. It is shown in:
-
Fig. 1 a sectional view of an embodiment of a high voltage circuit breaker according to the invention; -
Fig. 2 a sectional view of another embodiment of a high voltage circuit breaker according to the invention; -
Fig. 3 a detailed view of a first opening of an intermediate exhaust volume in the circuit breaker ofFig. 1 or2 , with the opening having an array of jet-forming holes for exhaust gas; -
Fig. 4 a graph showing absorbed thermal energy in kilo-Joule versus time after current zero CZ in seconds for novel arc extinction media (here fluoroketone in a mixture with air) compared to conventional SF6; and -
Fig. 5 a sectional view of inner thread elements that in embodiments can be arranged inside the exhaust tube of the circuit breaker ofFig. 1 and2 . - The invention is described for the example of a high voltage circuit breaker with nominal contacts and arcing contacts, but the principles described in the following also apply for using the invention in other switching devices, e.g. of the type mentioned herein. In the following same reference numerals denote structurally or functionally same elements of the various embodiments of the invention.
- For the purposes of this document the terms "rightward" and "leftward" are used in connection with a position along the longitudinal axis z, i.e. leftward denotes a relative position in the arrow z direction and rightward denotes a relative position in the opposite arrow z direction. Please note that both leftward and rightward directions are downstream of the arcing volume where the pressure is highest and from where arc-blowing gas and exhaust gas is originating into both leftward and rightward directions.
- Switching device means electrical switching device and can encompass, for example, a high-voltage circuit breaker, a generator circuit breaker, a disconnector, a combined disconnector and earthing switch, a load break switch, an earthing device, or a fast-acting earthing device.
-
Fig. 1 shows a sectional view of an embodiment of a highvoltage circuit breaker 1 in an opened configuration. Thedevice 1 can be essentially rotationally symmetric about the longitudinal axis z. Only the elements of thecircuit breaker 1 which are related to the present invention will be described in the following, other elements present in the figures are not relevant for understanding the invention. Furthermore a detailed description of the operating principles of thecircuit breaker 1 is not given. - A "closed configuration" as used herein means that the nominal contacts and/or the arcing contacts of the
circuit breaker 1 are closed (i.e. are touching one another). Accordingly, an "opened configuration" as used herein means that the nominal contacts and/or the arcing contacts of thecircuit breaker 1 are opened (i.e. are separated). - The purely
exemplary circuit breaker 1 is enclosed by a shell orexternal enclosure 5 which normally is cylindrical and is arranged around longitudinal axis z. It comprises anominal contact arrangement contact fingers 3a, of which only two are shown here for reasons of clarity. Thenominal contact fingers 3a are formed as a finger cage around the longitudinal axis z. The nominal contact arrangement further comprises a second matingnominal contact 3b which normally is a metal tube. Ashielding 5a can be arranged around the first and the secondnominal contact circuit breaker 1 furthermore comprises anarcing contact arrangement first arcing contact 4a and asecond arcing contact 4b. Analogue to the firstnominal contact 3a also thefirst arcing contact 4a comprisesmultiple fingers 4a arranged in a finger cage. Thesecond arcing contact 4b is normally rod-shaped. - The
contact fingers contacts Fig. 1 , in which they are apart from one another, and vice versa. It is also possible that only one set of thecontacts contacts nominal contact 3a and thefirst arcing contact 4a are movable along the z-axis and the secondnominal contact 3b and thesecond arcing contact 4b are stationary. However, the invention is not limited to this configuration. - As mentioned the
circuit breaker 1 is shown during an opening process of theelectrical switching device 1 in an instant when the distance between the arcingcontacts electric arc 3 is still present between the arcingcontacts electric arc 3 is calledarcing volume 6 or heat uparea 6. - The
first arcing contact 4a is attached to an exhaust tube 7''' and the firstnominal contact 3a is attached to a firstintermediate volume 7 which at least partially surrounds the exhaust tube 7'''. - A first exhaust volume 7' is arranged around the first
intermediate volume 7. In this embodiment thesecond arcing contact 4b and the secondnominal contact 3b are attached to a secondintermediate volume 8. A second exhaust volume 8' is arranged around the secondintermediate volume 8. Theenclosure 5 defines anexterior volume 9 surrounding (at least partially or completely) the exhaust tube 7''', the first firstintermediate volume 7 and the secondintermediate volume 8. The exhaust tube 7''', the firstintermediate volume 7, the first exhaust volume 7', the secondintermediate volume 8, the second exhaust volume 8' and theexterior volume 9 form a or at least onetravel path 2 for a fluid travelling through them. Thistravel path 2 is illustrated inFig. 1 by a plurality of arrows, of which only a few have been denoted by thereference numeral 2. It is noted that theelectrical switching device 1 may have less or more exhaust volumes or enclosures, depending on its type. - The arcing
volume 6 has on the lefthand side fluid connection via the exhaust tube 7''' to the firstintermediate volume 7, and on the righthand side via aninner volume 80 surrounding and/or adjacent to the second arcing contact (plug) 4b to the secondintermediate volume 8, as shown by therespective arrows 2. Thus in particular, at least the arcingvolume 6, the firstintermediate volume 7, the first exhaust volume 7' and theexterior volume 9 form a first travel path for the exhaust gas, and/or at least the arcingvolume 6, the secondintermediate volume 8, the second exhaust volume 8' and theexterior volume 9 form a second travel path for the exhaust gas. - In more detail, the
exhaust system volume 6 on a first side of theswitching device 1 having thefirst arcing contact 4a, and inside the first exhaust volume 7' at least one firstintermediate volume 7 is arranged, is enclosed by a first intermediate wall 7a, comprises a first inlet opening 11a, which is for receiving exhaust gas coming from a hollow exhaust tube 7''' fluidly connected to thearcing region 6, and comprises at least one first outlet opening 12a, which is facing a first opposingwall 7b, in particular of the first exhaust volume 7', and is for producing at least onefirst gas jet 77 and for discharging it towards and impacting it on the first opposingwall 7b. The firstintermediate volume 7 is designed such that at least temporarily during a time period of exhaust gas ejection a first intermediate exhaust gas pressure p7 in the firstintermediate volume 7 exceeds a first exhaust gas pressure p7' in the first exhaust volume 7' at least by a first pressure ratio K7 = p7/p7' larger than 1.1. - In embodiments not shown in the figures, the hollow exhaust tube 7''' is mechanically connected to the
first arcing contact 4a at a second end part, and/or
a first further intermediate volume is arranged outside the firstintermediate volume 7, is enclosed by a first further intermediate wall, comprises a first further inlet opening 12a for receiving exhaust gas coming from the firstintermediate volume 7, and comprises at least one first further outlet opening, which is facing a first further opposing wall, in particular of the first exhaust volume 7', and is for producing at least one first further gas jet and for discharging it towards and impacting it on the first further opposing wall, and the firstintermediate volume 7 and/or the first further intermediate volume is or are designed such that at least temporarily during a time period of exhaust gas ejection a first intermediate exhaust gas pressure p7 in the firstintermediate volume 7 exceeds a first further intermediate exhaust gas pressure p7f in the first further intermediate volume at least by a first further pressure ratio Kf = p7/p7f larger than 1.1. - In embodiments shown in
Fig. 1 and2 , the exhaust comprises a second exhaust volume 8' downstream from the arcingvolume 6 on a second side of theswitching device 1 having thesecond arcing contact 4b, and inside the second exhaust volume 8' at least one secondintermediate volume 8 is arranged, is enclosed by a secondintermediate wall 8a, comprises a second inlet opening 11b, which is for receiving exhaust gas coming from the arcingregion 6, and comprises at least one second outlet opening 12b, which is facing a second opposingwall 8b, in particular of the second exhaust volume 8', and is for producing at least onesecond gas jet 88 and for discharging it towards and impacting it on the second opposingwall 8b, and the secondintermediate volume 8 is designed such that at least temporarily during a time period of exhaust gas ejection a second intermediate exhaust gas pressure p8 in the secondintermediate volume 8 exceeds a second exhaust gas pressure p8' in the second exhaust volume 8' at least by a second pressure ratio K8 = p8/p8' larger than 1.1. - In embodiments, the pressure ratios disclosed herein can be chosen to be critical pressure ratios, i.e. K, K7, K7f, K8 between 1.6 and 1.7 for (predominantly) SF6 or between 1.7 and 1.8 for organofluorine compounds with background gas. This assures sonic outflow out of the first
intermediate volume 7 and/or secondintermediate volume 8 and/or first further intermediate volume. - For the purposes of this disclosure the fluid used in the
circuit breaker 1 can be SF6 gas or any other dielectric insulation medium, may it be gaseous and/or liquid, and in particular can be a dielectric insulation gas or arc quenching gas. Such dielectric insulation medium can for example encompass media comprising an organofluorine compound, such organofluorine compound being selected from the group consisting of: a fluoroether, an oxirane, a fluoroamine, a fluoroketone, a fluoroolefin and mixtures and/or decomposition products thereof. Herein, the terms "fluoroether", "oxirane", "fluoroamine", "fluoroketone" and "fluoroolefin" refer to at least partially fluorinated compounds. In particular, the term "fluoroether" encompasses both hydrofluoroethers and perfluoroethers, the term "oxirane" encompasses both hydrofluorooxiranes and perfluorooxiranes, the term "fluoroamine" encompasses both hydrofluoroamines and perfluoroamines, the term "fluoroketone" encompasses both hydrofluoroketones and perfluoroketones, and the term "fluoroolefin" encompasses both hydrofluoroolefins and perfluoroolefins. It can thereby be preferred that the fluoroether, the oxirane, the fluoroamine and the fluoroketone are fully fluorinated, i.e. perfluorinated. - In embodiments, the dielectric insulation medium is selected from the group consisting of: a (or several) hydrofluoroether(s), a (or several) perfluoroketone(s), a (or several) hydrofluoroolefin(s), and mixtures thereof.
- In particular, the term "fluoroketone" as used in the context of the present invention shall be interpreted broadly and shall encompass both fluoromonoketones and fluorodiketones or generally fluoropolyketones. Explicity, more than a single carbonyl group flanked by carbon atoms may be present in the molecule. The term shall also encompass both saturated compounds and unsaturated compounds including double and/or triple bonds between carbon atoms. The at least partially fluorinated alkyl chain of the fluoroketones can be linear or branched and can optionally form a ring.
- In embodiments, the dielectric insulation medium comprises at least one compound being a fluoromonoketone and/or comprising also heteroatoms incorporated into the carbon backbone of the molecules, such as at least one of: a nitrogen atom, oxygen atom and sulphur atom, replacing one or more carbon atoms. More preferably, the fluoromonoketone, in particular perfluoroketone, can have from 3 to 15 or from 4 to 12 carbon atoms and particularly from 5 to 9 carbon atoms. Most preferably, it may comprise exactly 5 carbon atoms and/or exactly 6 carbon atoms and/or exactly 7 carbon atoms and/or exactly 8 carbon atoms.
- In embodiments, the dielectric insulation medium comprises at least one compound being a fluoroolefin selected from the group consisting of: hydrofluoroolefins (HFO) comprising at least three carbon atoms, hydrofluoroolefins (HFO) comprising exactly three carbon atoms, trans-1,3,3,3-tetrafluoro-1-propene (HFO-1234ze), 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoro-1-propene (HFO-1234yf), and mixtures thereof.
- The dielectric insulation medium can further comprise a background gas or carrier gas different from the organofluorine compound (in particular different from the fluoroether, the oxirane, the fluoroamine, the fluoroketone and the fluoroolefin) and can in embodiments be selected from the group consisting of: air, N2, O2, CO2, a noble gas, H2; NO2, NO, N2O; fluorocarbons and in particular perfluorocarbons, such as CF4; CF3I, SF6; and mixtures thereof.
- In relevant embodiments, a size of the
intermediate volume intermediate volume 7; 8, and in particular to achieve a predetermined level of increase of the intermediate exhaust gas pressure (s) p7; p8 in theintermediate volume 7; 8 over the exhaust gas pressure (s) p7', p8' in exhaust volumes 7'; 8' downstream of theintermediate volume 7; 8. - As mentioned, for such size adaptations the first
intermediate volume 7 and/or the secondintermediate volume 8 is or are delimited on one side by at least a first wall 14 (exemplarily shown on the left-hand side inFig. 1 ,2 ) arranged transversally to the longitudinal axis z and shiftable parallel to it by at least anactuation device spring 16 connecting theactuator 15 to the first wall 14. It is understood that theactuation device 15 may also be formed by a hydraulic or a pneumatic orelectric actuation device 15, or it may be a spring itself or even thespring 16. The purpose of this moving first wall 14a is to adjust the volume of the firstintermediate volume 7 and/or of the secondintermediate volume 8 depending on operating parameters of thecircuit breaker 1, with the aim of optimizing the fluid flow within thecircuit breaker 1, which leads to a more efficient fluid or exhaust gas cooling inside thecircuit breaker 1. - For example, the first
intermediate volume 7 may be decreased by pushing the first wall 14a in the direction of the longitudinal axis z (to the righthand side) in case small currents are expected. In this case a decrease of the firstintermediate volume 7 helps to keep up a necessary exhaust fluid or gas pressure and to achieve an optimizedimpinging jet effect 77 for the exhaust fluid or gas. As a consequence, the exhaust fluid or gas escaping from theintermediate volume 7 orvolumes arcing volume 6 has a higher pressure and expansion and may require a larger volume. Thus, the firstintermediate volume 7 can be augmented by shifting the first wall 14 in a leftward direction counter or anti-parallel to the longitudinal axis z (rightward direction being denoted by arrow z). - Furthermore, given the spring and
actuator system intermediate volume spring 16 directly). Thespring 16 has such a spring rigidity that it permits a volume change of the first and/or theintermediate volume intermediate volume moveable wall 14b, respectively. A self-adapting volume change, e.g. within the above limits, occurs as an effect of changing pressures in therespective exhaust volume - In other words, a first pressure in one of the
intermediate volumes intermediate volume second wall 14a, 14b with any actuator system, e.g. actuator system 15-17, present in thecircuit breaker 1. In embodiments, there is one shiftable first wall 14a with any actuator system, e.g. actuator system 15-17, present on the left-hand side (as shown inFig. 1 ,2 ) or on the right-hand side or on both sides of the switching device and inparticular circuit breaker 1. - In the following an example is given of how the volume adjustment in a respective
intermediate volume actuator 15 before operating theelectrical switching device 1, and the pressure in the respectiveintermediate volume electrical switching device 1, the first wall 14 does not move when the current is lower than 90% of the maximum current. The first wall 14a only moves when the current is higher than 90% of the maximum current. In this case, the pressure may e.g. be 60 bar, causing the first wall 14a to shift leftward, i.e. in the opposite direction with respect to the arrow z representing the longitudinal axis z. When the pressure drops again to 50 bar or lower the first wall 14a moves back into its base position. - Alternatively or additionally, the first pressure in the first
intermediate volume 7 and/or in the secondintermediate volume 8 is adapted depending on an intensity of theelectric arc 3 forming between the arcingcontacts intermediate volume walls 14a, 14b coupled to actuators 15-17 for both the first and the secondintermediate volume - Alternatively or additionally, the first pressure p7 in the first
intermediate volume 7 and/or a second pressure p8 in the secondintermediate volume 8 is or are adjusted by shifting the first wall 14a and/or thesecond wall 14b in such a way that the first pressure p7 and/or the second pressure p8 is or are smaller than a third pressure in thearcing volume 6. This is desired in order to prevent the fluid or exhaust gas which has escaped into the intermediate volume orvolumes volume 6. - In embodiments, the first pressure p7 in the first intermediate volume and/or the second pressure p8 in the second
intermediate volume first wall 14a, 14b along the longitudinal axis z. As mentioned, the fluoroketone has a decomposition temperature of around 600-900°C. By adjusting the gas pressure in said way it is possible to avoid or diminish its decomposition by the efficient gas cooling of the electrical switching device (in particular circuit breaker 1). -
Fig. 4 shows the beneficial effect of using the firstintermediate volume 7 in conjunction with the dielectric insulation medium comprising a fluoroketone, specifically gaseous C5-fluoroketone (i.e. comprising exactly 5 carbon atoms), in a mixture with air as background gas. The graphs are showing absorbed thermal energy in kilo-Joule (i.e. exhaust gas cooling) versus time after current zero CZ in seconds for fluorketone-air mixtures (upper curve) compared to conventional SF6 (lower curve). This prooves that the novel arc extinction medium comprising organofluorine compounds have unexpectedly better exhaust gas cooling by anintermediate volume - In embodiments schematically shown in
Fig. 3 , the at least one outlet opening 12a; 12b, in particular the first outlet opening 12a and/or the second outlet opening 12b, is or are covered by at least one hole array comprising a plurality ofholes 13. - In embodiments, a ratio of a distance H between the intermediate wall 7a; 8a and the opposing
wall wall 7b and an average diameter D of the first outlet opening 12a is in the range of 1.5 to 8 or is 6, and/or a second ratio of a second distance between the secondintermediate wall 8a and the second opposingwall 8b and an average diameter D of the second outlet opening 12b is in the range of 1.5 to 8 or is 6. In any of these embodiments, a ratio of 6 can be preferred. This ensures an optimized transfer of the fluid or exhaust gas stream from theintermediate volumes -
Fig. 2 shows a sectional view of another embodiment of a highvoltage circuit breaker 1 in an opened configuration. This embodiment is similar to the embodiment described in connection withFig. 1 with the difference that the first wall 14a (here shown for left-hand firstintermediate volume 7, but alternatively or in addition equally applicable to right-hand second intermediate volume 8) is actuated in a different way for its movement along the longitudinal axis z. In this embodiment, no actuator and spring are present. Instead the actuation is done by using adrive 17 which is already present in thecircuit breaker 1 and is coupled to the nominal and/orarcing contacts drive 17 has the main task of moving the lefthand contacts, in this example thenominal contact 3a and arcingcontact 4a, during the opening and closing procedures. In this way, also the exhaust tube 7''' is shifted along the longitudinal axis z. The first wall 14a is attached to the exhaust tube 7''' and is consequently also moved along with it. While thecontacts intermediate volume 7 is decreased until thecontacts intermediate volume 7 has a minimum size. While thecontacts intermediate volume 7 is increased until it reaches a maximum size. During the volume increase an underpressure is formed in the respectiveintermediate volume volume 6. One advantage of this embodiment is that additional parts like theactuator 15 and thespring 16 ofFig. 1 are not necessary. - In embodiments, the
means intermediate volume actuation device 17, comprise at least one exhaust tube 7''' arranged inside the first exhaust volume 7' and are attached to thefirst arcing contact 4a and at least onedrive 17 of theswitching device 1 for moving the exhaust tube 7''' and thefirst arcing contact 4a along the longitudinal axis z, wherein the at least one first moveable wall 14a is attached to the exhaust tube 7'''; and/or the first moveable wall 14a acts as an exhaust-gas-pressure-driven auxiliary driving-force support for a or thedrive 17. - In
Fig. 2 the first wall 14a is shown as being mounted at one extremity of the exhaust tub 7'''. In other embodiments the first wall 14a may also be mounted at another location along the exhaust tube 7'''. The limitation how far it may be mounted on the outer surface of the exhaust tube 7''', as seen in the direction of the longitudinal axis z, is given by a minimum required size of the firstintermediate volume 7 and by a position of the openings 11a in the exhaust tube 7'''. -
Fig. 2 also shows an embodiment of asecond wall 14b being moveable transversely to the longitudinal axis z. This is, among other possibilities of providing moveable first and/or secondmoveable walls 14a, 14b, useful and can be implemented in a relatively simple manner. -
Fig. 3 shows a detailed view of an embodiment of one of the first outlet openings 12a or second outlet openings 12b ofFig. 1 or2 . At least theintermediate wall 7b (and/or 8b) of the first intermediate volume 7 (and/or of the secondintermediate volume 8, respectively) can comprise multiple outlet openings 12a, 12b of the type shown inFig. 3 . Theintermediate wall holes 13. - In embodiments, the
holes 13 of the hole array have a cross-section of not more than 50% of an average cross section of the outlet opening 12a; 12b (without hole array), in particular the first outlet opening 12a and/or the second outlet opening 12b; and/or the hole array is exchangeable with a holearray having holes 13 with a different diameter. - The fluid or exhaust gas escapes from the first and/or second
intermediate volume hole array 13 is that the turbulence of the fluid or exhaust gas stream is increased, thus improving heat transfer to metal surfaces of delimiting walls in the path of the fluid or exhaust gas. Furthermore, the exhaust gases can be focused even better onto an impinging wall or baffle wall or opposingwall wall 7b of the first exhaust volume 7' or second opposingwall 8b of the second exhaust volume 8', arranged opposite of the outlet openings 12a, 12b, respectively. - In one embodiment a first hole array with
first holes 13 is exchangeable with a second hole array havingsecond holes 13 with a different diameter. This is advantageous for adapting thecircuit breaker 1 to different or changing operating conditions, e.g. to another fluid used as dielectric insulation and extinguishing medium. - In general embodiments, the
first arcing contact 4a is anarcing contact tulip 4a and the second arcing contact (4b) is an arcing contact pin (4b); and/or the dielectric insulation medium comprises: an organofluorine compound selected from the group consisting of a fluoroether, a fluoroamine, a fluoroketone, a fluoroolefine, and mixtures thereof; the organofluorine compound being in a mixture with a background gas, in particular selected from the group consisting of: CO2, O2, N2. - In embodiments, that are independent of and applicable to any of the disclosed set-ups, at least one guiding-wall section of the travel path of the exhaust gas is provided with
projections 18, 19, 20 (see e.g. exemplarilyFig. 1 and2 ) that extend transversely to the guiding-wall section out of or into the travel path and are for cooling down the exhaust gas. In particular, theprojections 18, 19 can bemacroscopic projections 18, 19 and can be arranged in a two-dimensional arrangement or two-dimensional matrix at the guiding-wall section and can form a two-dimensional arrangement of vortices in the exhaust gas along the guiding-wall section of the travel path to increase a rate of convective heat transfer from the exhaust gas to the guiding-wall section. - In embodiments, the projections are
negative projections non-uniform dimples 19 ormicroscopic projections 20, that extend into the guiding-wall section of the travel path; and/or the projections arepositive projections positive projections 19 ormicroscopic projections 20, extending out of the guiding-wall section of the travel path. - In embodiments, the opposing
wall wall 7b and/or the second opposingwall 8b, has or have on its surface uniform dimples 18 ornon-uniform dimples 19 or an increasedsurface roughness 20 formingmicroscopic projections 20, all for enhancing heat transfer from impingingexhaust gas jets wall wall wall 7b and/or the second opposingwall 8b, is or are made from metal or metal-impregnated ceramic materials. - In embodiments, in the case of
surface roughness 20 forming themicroscopic projections 20, a mean roughness Ra of the guiding-wall section comprising themicroscopic projections 20 is selected in a range of 30 µm to 200 µm and more preferably in a range of 50 µm to 150 µm and most preferably in a range of 70 µm to 120 µm; and/or none of theprojections 18, 19 are formed asmicroscopic projections 20 but instead aremacroscopic projections 18, 19 and themacroscopic projections 18, 19 are sufficiently distanced from one another for forming mutually non-interacting vortices in the exhaust gas. - Yet other embodiments are disclosed in
Fig. 5 , which shows exemplarily a sectional view of at least oneinner thread section 22 arranged inside theexhaust tube 6. Theinner thread elements 22 are preferablynegative projections 22 formed as cavities in theinner wall 23 of theexhaust tube 6. The inner thread section (s) is or are for swirling the exhaust gas inside the hollow exhaust tube (7'''). Theexhaust tube 6 is shown in a partial "transparent" way to better illustrate the inner thread orswirl 22. At least a part of theinner thread sections 22 may be connected to one another and may thus form one ormore channels 22 in the wall of theexhaust tube 6. This concept ofexhaust tube 6 with innerthread section projections 22 or continuousinnner thread projections 22 can be implement in any other set-up disclosed herein. - In further embodiments, that are implementable independent of any set-up disclosed herein, at least one
deflection device 21 is arranged upstream of the at least oneintermediate volume inlet opening 11a, 11b and is for radial deflection of the exhaust gas into theintermediate volume deflection device 21 can be arranged on a side of the hollow exhaust tube 7''' facing away from the arcingregion 6 and can interact with the at least one first inlet opening 11a in the hollow exhaust tube 7''' and serves then for radial deflection of the exhaust gas into the firstintermediate volume 7. - The present invention improves the capabilities of cooling a fluid or exhaust gas present inside a high or medium
voltage switching device 1. By the measures described above, it is possible to reduce the maximum fluid temperature and thus to use alternative insulating and extinguishing fluids of the types described above, i.e. organofluorine compounds as disclosed herein, with reduced risk of a permanent deterioration of fluid characteristics due to too high temperatures. In particular, while the organofluorine compounds present in thearcing volume 6 will be decomposed rather completely, the present invention allows to protect oranofluorine compounds being present outside the arcingvolume 6, in particular in the firstintermediate volume 7 and/or secondintermediate volume 8 andexterior volume 9, to be protected from too high temperatures caused by the exhaust gases and thus from being decomposed. This allows to reduce or minimize the loss of organofluorine compounds occurring during circuit breaker operation. - In a further aspect of the invention (with reference symbols being exemplary only), the electrical switching device 1, in particular as disclosed above, has a longitudinal axis z, comprises an arcing volume 6 and at least an arcing contact arrangement with a first arcing contact 4a and a mating second arcing contact 4b, and further comprises an exhaust system 7, 7', 7", 7'''; 8, 8', 8" with at least one exhaust volume 7'; 8', wherein for closing and opening the electric switching device 1 at least one of the arcing contacts 4a, 4b is movable parallel to the longitudinal axis z and cooperates with the other arcing contact 4b, 4a, wherein the electrical switching device 1 comprises a dielectric insulating medium comprising an organofluorine compound selected from the group consisting of fluoronitriles, in particular perfluoronitriles, and mixtures and/or decomposition products thereof, wherein inside the exhaust volume 7'; 8' at least one intermediate volume 7; 8 is arranged, is enclosed by an intermediate wall 7a; 8a, comprises at least one inlet opening 11a; 11b for receiving exhaust gas coming from the arcing region 6, and comprises at least one outlet opening 12a; 12b, which outlet opening 12a; 12b is facing an opposing wall 7b, 8b, in particular of the exhaust volume 7'; 8', and is for producing at least one exhaust gas jet 77, 88 and for discharging it towards and impacting it on the opposing wall 7b, 8b, and wherein the intermediate volume 7; 8 is designed such that at least temporarily during a time period of exhaust gas ejection an intermediate exhaust gas pressure p7; p8 in the intermediate volume 7; 8 exceeds an exhaust gas pressure in its immediately succeeding exhaust volume 7'; 8' at least by a pressure ratio K larger than 1.1.
- In embodiments, the fluoronitrile is in a mixture with an organofluorine compound selected from the group consisting of: a fluoroether, an oxirane, a fluoroamine, a fluoroketone, a fluoroolefine, and mixtures and/or decomposition products thereof; in particular the fluoronitrile being in mixtures with a background gas and more particularly in a mixture with a background gas compound selected from the group consisting of: air, air components, nitrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides.
- In embodiments, the fluoronitrile is a perfluoronitrile containing two carbon atoms, three carbon atoms or four carbon atoms, in particular is a perfluoroalkylnitrile, specifically perfluoroacetonitrile, perfluoropropionitrile (C2F5CN) and/or perfluorobutyronitrile (C3F7CN), and more particularly is perfluoroisobutyronitrile according to the formula (CF3)2CFCN and/or perfluoro-2-methoxypropanenitrile according to the formula CF3CF(OCF3)CN.
- In embodiments of the electrical switching device and of the method for operating such an electrical switching device, the dielectric insulation medium is selected such and the
intermediate volume 7; 8 is designed such that at least temporarily during a time period of exhaust gas ejection an intermediate exhaust gas pressure p7; p8 in theintermediate volume 7; 8 exceeds an exhaust gas pressure in its immediately succeeding exhaust volume 7'; 8' at least by a pressure ratio K larger than 1.3, preferably larger than 1.4, more preferably larger than 1.5, more preferably larger than 1.6, and most preferably larger than 1.7. In particular, the pressure ratio K is selected from the group consisting of: a first pressure ratio K7, a first further pressure ratio Kf, a second pressure ratio K8, and combinations thereof. - The advantage of choosing the pressure ratio K larger than a threshold value of 1.1, or optionally larger than 1.3 or 1.4 or 1.5 or 1.6 or 1.7, is that with increasing pressure ratio K the exhaust gas jet formation is improved. This results in more gas mass flow and hence better heat transfer to the
exhaust system electrical switching device 1. - The exhaust gas jet formation will be sonic, as long as the outlet opening 12a; 12b for jet formation is a hole 12a; 12b, but may become supersonic, if the outlet opening for jet formation has at least partly a nozzle form 12a; 12b, and ideally has a laval nozzle form 12a; 12b. By higher speed of the exhaust gas jet(s) the gas mass flow and hence heat transfer can further be increased.
- While there are shown and described presently preferred embodiments of the invention, it is to be distinctly understood that the invention is not limited thereto but may otherwise variously be embodied and practised within the scope of the following claims. Therefore, terms like "preferred" or "in particular" or "particularly" or "advantageously", etc. signify optional and exemplary embodiments only.
-
- 1
- = basic circuit breaker
- 2
- = fluid path
- 3
- = electric arc
- 3a
- = contact finger of first nominal contact
- 3b
- = second nominal contact
- 4a
- = first arcing contact
- 4b
- = second arcing contact
- 5
- = shell, housing, enclosure
- 5a
- = shielding
- 6
- = arcing volume
- 7
- = first intermediate volume (for creating gas-jets)
- 7'
- = first exhaust volume
- 7"
- = first outflow channel wall
- 7'''
- = exhaust tube
- 7a
- = wall of first intermediate volume
- 7b
- = wall of first exhaust volume, first opposing wall
- 77
- = first gas jet(s)
- 8
- = second intermediate volume (for creating gas-jets)
- 8'
- = second exhaust volume
- 8"
- = second outflow channel wall
- 8a
- = wall of second intermediate volume
- 8b
- = wall of second exhaust volume, second opposing wall
- 80
- = inner volume surrounding and/or adjacent to second arcing contact (plug)
- 88
- = second gas jet(s)
- 9
- = exterior volume, enclosure volume
- 11a
- = first inlet opening(s) into first intermediate volume, outlet opening of exhaust tube
- 11b
- = second inlet opening(s) into second intermediate volume
- 12a
- = first outlet opening (e.g. into first exhaust volume) of first intermediate volume
- 12b
- = second outlet opening (e.g. into second exhaust volume) of second intermediate volume
- 13
- = grid hole
- 14a
- = first moveable wall of first intermediate volume
- 14b
- = second moverable wall of second intermediate volume
- 15
- = actuator, actuation device (for moveable wall)
- 16
- = pressure-equalizing means, resilient means, spring
- 17
- = drive of the arcing contacts and the moveable wall
- 18
- = uniform dimples
- 19
- = non-uniform dimples
- 20
- = surface roughness
- 21
- = radial deflection device
- 22
- = inner thread elements (in exhaust tube)
- 23
- = inner wall of exhaust tube
- p7
- = first intermediate exhaust gas pressure in first intermediate volume
- p7'
- = first pressure of the exhaust gas downstream of the first intermediate volume, first pressure in first exhaust volume
- p7f
- = first further intermediate pressure of the exhaust gas in the first further intermediate volume
- p8
- = second intermediate exhaust gas pressure in second intermediate volume
- p8'
- = second pressure of the exhaust gas downstream of the second intermediate volume, second pressure in second exhaust volume
- K
- = (critical) pressure ratio
- K7
- = first (critical) pressure ratio, p7/p7'
- K7f
- = first (critical) pressure ratio, p7/p7f
- K8
- = second (critical) pressure ratio, p8/p8'z = longitudinal axis
Claims (26)
- Electrical switching device (1) having a longitudinal axis (z), comprising an arcing volume (6) and at least an arcing contact arrangement with a first arcing contact (4a) and a mating second arcing contact (4b), and further comprising an exhaust system (7, 7', 7", 7'''; 8, 8', 8") with at least one exhaust volume (7'; 8'),
wherein for closing and opening the electric switching device (1) at least one of the arcing contacts (4a, 4b) is movable parallel to the longitudinal axis (z) and cooperates with the other arcing contact (4b, 4a),
wherein inside the exhaust volume (7'; 8') at least one intermediate volume (7; 8) is arranged, is enclosed by an intermediate wall (7a; 8a), comprises at least one inlet opening (11a; 11b) for receiving exhaust gas coming from the arcing region (6), and comprises at least one outlet opening (12a; 12b), which outlet opening (12a; 12b) is facing an opposing wall (7b, 8b), in particular of the exhaust volume (7'; 8'), and is for producing at least one exhaust gas jet (77, 88) and for discharging it towards and impacting it on the opposing wall (7b, 8b), characterized in that
the electrical switching device (1) comprises a dielectric insulating medium comprising an organofluorine compound selected from the group consisting of: a fluoroether, an oxirane, a fluoroamine, a fluoroketone, a fluoroolefine, a fluoronitrile, and mixtures and/or decomposition products thereof, and in that the intermediate volume (7; 8) is designed such that at least temporarily during a time period of exhaust gas ejection an intermediate exhaust gas pressure p7; p8 in the intermediate volume (7; 8) exceeds an exhaust gas pressure in its immediately succeeding exhaust volume (7'; 8') at least by a pressure ratio K larger than 1.1. - Electrical switching device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the impacting causes swirling the at least one exhaust gas jet (77, 88), which swirling induces turbulent-gas heat transfer to the opposing wall (7b; 8b) and reduces a temperature and pressure of the swirling exhaust gas jet (77, 88).
- Electrical switching device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the organofluorine compound is selected from the group consisting of: perfluoroether, hydrofluoroether, perfluoroamine, perfluoroketone, perfluoroolefin, hydrofluoroolefine, perfluoronitrile, and mixtures thereof; in particular in mixtures with a background gas and more particularly in a mixture with a background gas compound selected from the group consisting of: air, air components, nitrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides.
- Electrical switching device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by the dielectric insulating medium comprising as the organofluorine compound a fluoroketone having from 4 to 15 carbon atoms, in particular the fluoroketone being selected from the group consisting of: fluorketones having exactly 5 carbon atoms, fluorketones having exactly 6 carbon atoms, fluorketones having exactly 7 carbon atoms, fluorketones having exactly 8 carbon atoms, such fluoroketones with at least one of the mentioned carbon atoms being replaced by a heteroatom, in particular being replaced by nitrogen and/or oxygen and/or sulphur, and mixtures thereof; and/or characterized in that the fluoronitrile is a perfluoronitrile containing two carbon atoms, three carbon atoms or four carbon atoms, in particular is a perfluoroalkylnitrile, specifically perfluoroacetonitrile, perfluoropropionitrile (C2F5CN) and/or perfluorobutyronitrile (C3F7CN) and more particularly is perfluoroisobutyronitrile according to the formula (CF3)2CFCN and/or perfluoro-2-methoxypropanenitrile according to the formula CF3CF(OCF3)CN.
- Electrical switching device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the intermediate volume (7; 8) is designed such that during operation, in particular during a time period of exhaust gas ejection, an exhaust gas pressure is decreasing along a travel path of the exhaust gas from the arcing region (6) through the exhaust system (7, 7', 7", 7'''; 8, 8', 8").
- Electrical switching device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the intermediate volume (7; 8) is designed such that at least temporarily during a time period of exhaust gas ejection an intermediate exhaust gas pressure p7; p8 in the intermediate volume (7, 8) exceeds a pressure in the volumes which are downstream of the intermediate volume (7, 8) in the travel path of the exhaust gas through the exhaust system (7, 7', 7", 7'''; 8, 8', 8"); and/or that the intermediate volume (7; 8) is designed such that during operation, in particular during a time period of exhaust gas ejection, an exhaust gas pressure in the at least one intermediate volume (7; 8) is increased compared to when the at least one intermediate volume (7; 8) were not present.
- Electrical switching device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that
the exhaust system comprises a first exhaust volume (7') downstream from the arcing volume (6) on a first side of the switching device (1) having the first arcing contact (4a), and inside the first exhaust volume (7') at least one first intermediate volume (7) is arranged, is enclosed by a first intermediate wall (7a), comprises a first inlet opening (11a), which is for receiving exhaust gas coming from a hollow exhaust tube (7''') fluidly connected to the arcing region (6), and comprises at least one first outlet opening (12a), which is facing a first opposing wall (7b), in particular of the first exhaust volume (7'), and is for producing at least one first gas jet (77) and for discharging it towards and impacting it on the first opposing wall (7b), and
the first intermediate volume (7) is designed such that at least temporarily during a time period of exhaust gas ejection a first intermediate exhaust gas pressure p7 in the first intermediate volume (7) exceeds a first exhaust gas pressure p7' in the first exhaust volume (7') at least by a first pressure ratio K7 = p7/p7' larger than 1.1. - Electrical switching device (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that the hollow exhaust tube (7''') is mechanically connected to the first arcing contact (4a) at a second end part, and/or
a first further intermediate volume is arranged outside the first intermediate volume (7), is enclosed by a first further intermediate wall, comprises a first further inlet opening (12a) for receiving exhaust gas coming from the first intermediate volume (7), and comprises at least one first further outlet opening, which is facing a first further opposing wall, in particular of the first exhaust volume (7'), and is for producing at least one first further gas jet and for discharging it towards and impacting it on the first further opposing wall, and
the first intermediate volume (7) and/or the first further intermediate volume is or are designed such that at least temporarily during a time period of exhaust gas ejection a first intermediate exhaust gas pressure p7 in the first intermediate volume (7) exceeds a first further intermediate exhaust gas pressure p7f in the first further intermediate volume at least by a first further pressure ratio Kf = p7/p7f larger than 1.1. - Electrical switching device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that
the exhaust comprises a second exhaust volume (8') downstream from the arcing volume (6) on a second side of the switching device (1) having the second arcing contact (4b), and inside the second exhaust volume (8') at least one second intermediate volume (8) is arranged, is enclosed by a second intermediate wall (8a), comprises a second inlet opening (11b), which is for receiving exhaust gas coming from the arcing region (6), and comprises at least one second outlet opening (12b), which is facing a second opposing wall (8b), in particular of the second exhaust volume (8'), and is for producing at least one second gas jet (88) and for discharging it towards and impacting it on the second opposing wall (8b), and
the second intermediate volume (8) is designed such that at least temporarily during a time period of exhaust gas ejection a second intermediate exhaust gas pressure p8 in the second intermediate volume (8) exceeds a second exhaust gas pressure p8' in the second exhaust volume (8') at least by a second pressure ratio K8 = p8/p8' larger than 1.1. - Electrical switching device (1) according to any one of the claims 7 to 9, characterized in that the pressure ratio K, in particular the first pressure ratio K7 = p7/p7' and/or the first further pressure ratio Kf = p7/p7f and/or the second pressure ratio K8 = p8/p8', is or are chosen as a function of the dielectric insulation medium.
- Electrical switching device (1) according to any one of the claims 7 to 10, characterized in that the pressure ratio K is a critical pressure ratio K, in particular a first critical pressure ratio K7 = p7/p7' and/or a first further critical pressure ratio Kf = p7/p7f and/or a second critical pressure ratio K8 = p8/p8', that is or are chosen:in a range of 1.6 to 1.7, when the dielectric insulation medium predominantly contains SF6, orin a range 1.7 to 1.8, when the dielectric insulation medium predominantly or exclusively contains the organofluorine compound in a mixture with a background gas, in particular fluoroketone or C5-fluoroketone in a mixture with at least one of: CO2, O2 and N2.
- Electrical switching device (1), according to any one of the preceding claims, having a longitudinal axis (z), comprising an arcing volume (6) and at least an arcing contact arrangement with a first arcing contact (4a) and a mating second arcing contact (4b), and further comprising an exhaust system (7, 7', 7", 7'''; 8, 8', 8") with at least one exhaust volume (7'; 8'),
wherein for closing and opening the electric switching device (1) at least one of the arcing contacts (4a, 4b) is movable parallel to the longitudinal axis (z) and cooperates with the other arcing contact (4b, 4a), and the electrical switching device (1) comprises a dielectric insulating medium, and
wherein inside the exhaust volume (7'; 8') at least one intermediate volume (7; 8) is arranged, is enclosed by an intermediate wall (7a; 8a), comprises at least one inlet opening (11a; 11b) for receiving exhaust gas coming from the arcing region (6), and comprises at least one outlet opening (12a; 12b), which outlet opening (12a; 12b) is facing an opposing wall (7b, 8b), in particular of the exhaust volume (7'; 8'), and is for producing at least one exhaust gas jet (77, 88) and for discharging it towards and impacting it on the opposing wall (7b, 8b), and
wherein the switching device (1) has means (14a, 14b, 15, 16, 17) for changing a size of the intermediate volume (7, 8), in particular wherein the means (14a, 14b, 15, 16, 17) are for changing a size of a or the first intermediate volume (7) and/or a size of a or the second intermediate volume (8). - Electrical switching device (1) according to claim 12, characterized in that the means (14a, 14b, 15, 16, 17) serve for adapting a first intermediate exhaust gas pressure p7 in the first intermediate volume (7) to a second exhaust gas pressure p8' in the second exhaust volume (8), or to a second intermediate exhaust gas pressure p8 in the second intermediate volume (8), within a predetermined range of pressure differences, in particular within 0.5 bar and more particularly within 0.4 bar and most particularly within 0.3 bar.
- Electrical switching device (1) according to any one of the claims 12 to 13, characterized in that
the intermediate volume (7; 8) is delimited by a moveable wall (14a, 14b) that allows adaptation of a size of the intermediate volume (7; 8), and/or
the first intermediate volume (7) is delimited by a first moveable wall (14a) that allows adaptation of a size of the first intermediate volume (7), and/or
the second intermediate volume (8) is delimited by a second moveable wall (14b) that allows adaptation of a size of the second intermediate volume (8); in particular in that the moveable wall (14a, 14b), in particular the first moveable wall (14a) and/or the second moveable wall (14b), is delimiting the intermediate volume (7; 8) on one side and is arranged transversally to the longitudinal axis (z) and shiftable parallel to the longitudinal axis (z) by at least an actuation device (15, 16; 17). - Electrical switching device (1) according to any one of the claims 12 to 14, characterized in that the means (14a, 14b, 15, 16, 17) or the at least one actuation device (15, 16) comprises at least one actuator (15), in particular a pneumatic or hydraulic or electric actuator (15) or spring, and at least one spring (16) attached to the actuator (15) for positioning the moveable wall (14a, 14b),
wherein a base position of the moveable wall (14a, 14b), in particular first moveable wall (14a) and/or second moveable wall (14b), is adjustable by the actuator (15) or by a base position of the spring (16), and the spring (16) has such a rigidity that the spring (16) permits a volume change of the intermediate volume (7, 8) within an adaptation range of maximum ±90% or ±70% or 150% or ±30%, with respect to a base volume of the intermediate volume (7, 8) defined by the base position of the moveable wall (14a, 14b). - Electrical switching device (1) according to any one of the claims 12 to 15, characterized in that the means (14a, 14b, 15, 16, 17), in particular the at least one actuation device (17), comprises at least one exhaust tube (7''') arranged inside the first exhaust volume (7') and attached to the first arcing contact (4a) and at least one drive (17) of the switching device (1) for moving the exhaust tube (7''') and the first arcing contact (4a) along the longitudinal axis (z), wherein the at least one first moveable wall (14a) is attached to the exhaust tube (7'''); and/or
that the first moveable wall (14a) acts as an exhaust-gas-pressure-driven auxiliary driving-force support for a or the drive (17). - Electrical switching device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, in particular according to claims 12 to 16, wherein
the first arcing contact (4a) is an arcing contact tulip (4a) and the second arcing contact (4b) is an arcing contact pin (4b); and/or
wherein the dielectric insulation medium comprises: an organofluorine compound selected from the group consisting of a fluoroether, a fluoroamine, a fluoroketone, a fluoroolefine, a fluoronitrile, and mixtures and/or decomposition products thereof; the organofluorine compound being in a mixture with a background gas, in particular selected from the group consisting of: CO2, O2, N2. - Electrical switching device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, the electrical switching device (1) further comprising an exterior volume (9) at least partially surrounding, in particular completely surrounding, the first exhaust volume (7) and the second exhaust volume (8), wherein at least the arcing volume (6), the first intermediate volume (7), the first exhaust volume (7') and the exterior volume (9) form a first travel path for the exhaust gas, and/or wherein at least the arcing volume (6), the second intermediate volume (8), the second exhaust volume (8') and the exterior volume (9) form a second travel path for the exhaust gas; and/or the electrical switching device (1) being or comprising an earthing device, a fast-acting earthing device, a circuit breaker, a generator circuit breaker, a switch disconnector, a combined disconnector and earthing switch, or a load break switch.
- Electrical switching device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the intermediate volume (7, 8), in particular the first intermediate volume (7) and/or the second intermediate volume (8), is or are designed such that at least temporarily during a time period of arc extinction, in particular during the whole arc extinction period, an additional flow resistance introduced in the exhaust gas comprising the organofluorine compound by the intermediate volume (7, 8), in particular the first intermediate volume (7) and/or the second intermediate volume (8), is kept below a threshold flow resistance, below which threshold flow resistance sonic or supersonic flow conditions in the arcing region (6) are maintained; and/or in that a size of the intermediate volume (7, 8) and a position, number and cross-section of the at least one outlet opening (12a; 12b) are adapted to gas flow characteristics of the organofluorine compound, in particular of the fluoroketone and more particularly to a speed of sound of the fluoroketone gas mixtures, to withhold at least temporarily during a time period of arc extinction a predetermined amount of the exhaust gas inside the intermediate volume (7; 8), and in particular to achieve a predetermined level of increase of the intermediate exhaust gas pressure(s) p7; p8 in the intermediate volume (7; 8) over the exhaust gas pressure (s) p7', p8' in exhaust volumes (7'; 8') downstream of the intermediate volume (7; 8).
- Electrical switching device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one outlet opening (12a; 12b), in particular the first outlet opening (12a) and/or the second outlet opening (12b), is covered by at least one hole array comprising a plurality of holes (13) and in that a ratio of a distance (H) between the intermediate wall (7a; 8a) and the opposing wall (7b, 8b) and an average diameter (D) of the outlet opening (12a; 12b) is in the range of 1.5 to 8, particularly the ratio has a value of 6, in particular that a first ratio of a first distance between the first intermediate wall (7a) and the first opposing wall (7b) and an average diameter (D) of the first outlet opening (12a) is in the range of 1.5 to 8 or is 6 and/or a second ratio of a second distance between the second intermediate wall (8a) and the second opposing wall (8b) and an average diameter (D) of the second outlet opening (12b) is in the range of 1.5 to 8 or is 6;
and/or in that the holes (13) of the hole array have a cross-section of not more than 50% of an average cross section of the outlet opening (12a; 12b), in particular the first outlet opening (12a) and/or the second outlet opening (12b);
and/or in that the hole array is exchangeable with a hole array having holes (13) with a different diameter. - Electrical switching device (1) according to claim 5 and any one of the preceding claims 1 to 4 and 6 to 20, characterized in that at least one guiding-wall section of the travel path is provided with projections (18, 19, 20) that extend transversely to the guiding-wall section out of or into the travel path and are for cooling down the exhaust gas, in particular that the projections (18, 19) are macroscopic projections (18, 19) and are arranged in a two-dimensional arrangement or two-dimensional matrix at the guiding-wall section and form a two-dimensional arrangement of vortices in the exhaust gas along the guiding-wall section of the travel path to increase a rate of convective heat transfer from the exhaust gas to the guiding-wall section;
and in particular that the projections are negative projections (18, 19, 20), in particular uniform dimples (18) or non-uniform dimples (19) or microscopic projections (20), that extend into the guiding-wall section of the travel path, and/or in particular that the projections are positive projections (18, 19, 20), in particular uniform positive projections (18) or non-uniform positive projections (19) or microscopic projections (20), extending out of the guiding-wall section of the travel path. - Electrical switching device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in
that the opposing wall (7b, 8b), in particular the first opposing wall (7b) and/or the second opposing wall (8b), has or have on its surface uniform dimples (18) or non-uniform dimples (19) or an increased surface roughness (20) forming microscopic projections (20), all for enhancing heat transfer from impinging exhaust gas jets (77, 88) to the opposing wall (7b, 8b); and/or that the opposing wall (7b, 8b), in particular the first opposing wall (7b) and/or the second opposing wall (8b), is or are made from metal or metal-impregnated ceramic materials; and/or that in the case of surface roughness (20) forming the microscopic projections (20), a mean roughness (Ra) of the guiding-wall section comprising the microscopic projections (20) is selected in a range of 30 µm to 200 µm and more preferably in a range of 50 µm to 150 µm and most preferably in a range of 70 µm to 120 µm;
or that none of the projections (18, 19) are formed as microscopic projections (20) but instead are macroscopic projections (18, 19) and the macroscopic projections (18, 19) are sufficiently distanced from one another for forming mutually non-interacting vortices in the exhaust gas. - Electrical switching device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a or the hollow exhaust tube (7''') has inner thread elements (22), in particular continuous thread elements (22) forming at least one concave channel inside the hollow exhaust tube (7'''), for swirling the exhaust gas inside the hollow exhaust tube (7'''); and/or
that at least one deflection device (21) arranged upstream of the at least one intermediate volume (7, 8) interacts with the at least one inlet opening (11a, 11b) and is for radial deflection of the exhaust gas into the intermediate volume (7, 8), and/or that at least one deflection device (21) arranged on a side of a or the hollow exhaust tube (7''') facing away from the arcing region (6) interacts with the at least one first inlet opening (11a) in the hollow exhaust tube (7''') and is for radial deflection of the exhaust gas into the first intermediate volume (7). - Electrical switching device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the dielectric insulation medium is selected such and the intermediate volume (7; 8) is designed such that at least temporarily during a time period of exhaust gas ejection an intermediate exhaust gas pressure p7; p8 in the intermediate volume (7; 8) exceeds an exhaust gas pressure in its immediately succeeding exhaust volume (7'; 8') at least by a pressure ratio K larger than 1.3, preferably larger than 1.4, more preferably larger than 1.5, more preferably larger than 1.6, and most preferably larger than 1.7; and/or wherein the least one outlet opening (12a; 12b) for producing at least one exhaust gas jet (77, 88) and for discharging it towards and impacting it on the opposing wall (7b, 8b) is a hole (12a; 12b) or is a nozzle (12a; 12b), in particular a laval nozzle (12a; 12b).
- Method for operating an electrical switching device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims; in particular characterized in
that an intermediate exhaust gas pressure p7; p8 in one of the intermediate volumes (7, 8) is adjusted, in particular by shifting at least one moveable wall (14a, 14b), in such a way that it approximately equals, in particular within a pressure difference of 1 bar or 0.5 bar or less, an intermediate exhaust gas pressure p8; p7 in the other of the intermediate volumes (8; 7) at least temporarily during an arc extinction period; and/or
that an intermediate exhaust gas pressure p7; p8 in one of the intermediate volumes (7, 8) and/or an intermediate exhaust gas pressure p8; p7 in the other of the intermediate volumes (8; 7) is or are adjusted, in particular by shifting at least one moveable wall (14a, 14b), in such a way that it is or they are smaller than a third pressure in the arcing volume (6) at least temporarily during an arc extinction period. - Method according to claim 25, characterized in
that the first intermediate exhaust gas pressure p7 in the first intermediate volume (7) is adjusted, in particular by shifting the first moveable wall (14a), in such a way that it approximately equals, in particular within a pressure difference of 1 bar or 0.5 bar or less, an exhaust gas pressure in the second exhaust volume (8') at least temporarily during an arc extinction period; and/or
that the first intermediate exhaust gas pressure (p7) in the first intermediate volume (7) and/or an exhaust gas pressure in the second exhaust volume (8') is or are adjusted, in particular by shifting the first moveable wall (14a), in such a way that it is or they are smaller than a third pressure in the arcing volume (6) at least temporarily during an arc extinction period; and/or
wherein the first intermediate exhaust gas pressure p7 in the first intermediate volume (7) and/or the second intermediate exhaust gas pressure p8 in the second intermediate volume (8) is or are adjusted, in particular by shifting at least one moveable wall (14a, 14b) along the longitudinal axis (z), depending on an intensity of an electric arc (3) forming between the arcing contacts (4a, 4b), when they are opened or closed; and/or
wherein a or the first intermediate exhaust gas pressure p7 in the first intermediate volume (7) and/or a or the second intermediate exhaust gas pressure p8 in the second intermediate volume (8) is or are adjusted, in particular by shifting a moveable wall (14a, 14b) along the longitudinal axis (z), in such a way that a temperature of the dielectric insulating medium is kept lower than a decomposition temperature of the organofluorine compound, in particular the fluoroketone.
Priority Applications (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
EP14828031.6A EP3087578B1 (en) | 2013-12-23 | 2014-12-22 | Electrical switching device |
BR112016014319A BR112016014319A8 (en) | 2013-12-23 | 2014-12-22 | ELECTRICAL SWITCHING DEVICE |
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
EP2013077960 | 2013-12-23 | ||
EP14828031.6A EP3087578B1 (en) | 2013-12-23 | 2014-12-22 | Electrical switching device |
PCT/EP2014/078975 WO2015097143A1 (en) | 2013-12-23 | 2014-12-22 | Electrical switching device |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP3087578A1 EP3087578A1 (en) | 2016-11-02 |
EP3087578B1 true EP3087578B1 (en) | 2018-02-28 |
Family
ID=56979723
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP14828031.6A Active EP3087578B1 (en) | 2013-12-23 | 2014-12-22 | Electrical switching device |
Country Status (2)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP3087578B1 (en) |
BR (1) | BR112016014319A8 (en) |
Cited By (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP4125108B1 (en) * | 2021-07-26 | 2024-01-31 | Hitachi Energy Ltd | Gas-insulated high or medium voltage circuit breaker |
-
2014
- 2014-12-22 EP EP14828031.6A patent/EP3087578B1/en active Active
- 2014-12-22 BR BR112016014319A patent/BR112016014319A8/en not_active IP Right Cessation
Cited By (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP4125108B1 (en) * | 2021-07-26 | 2024-01-31 | Hitachi Energy Ltd | Gas-insulated high or medium voltage circuit breaker |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
EP3087578A1 (en) | 2016-11-02 |
BR112016014319A2 (en) | 2017-08-08 |
BR112016014319A8 (en) | 2017-12-26 |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
US9899167B2 (en) | Electrical switching device | |
JP4643634B2 (en) | Circuit breaker | |
CN109564832B (en) | Gas-insulated low-voltage or medium-voltage load-break switch | |
EP3433870B1 (en) | Electrical circuit breaker device with particle trap | |
WO2014096460A1 (en) | Electrical switching device | |
EP3087578B1 (en) | Electrical switching device | |
US20230420203A1 (en) | Electrical switching device | |
CN111466006B (en) | Gas-insulated high-voltage or medium-voltage circuit breaker | |
EP2954548A1 (en) | Contact arrangement and electrical switching device with such contact arrangement | |
EP3433869B1 (en) | Electrical circuit breaker device | |
CN111630622B (en) | Gas-insulated high-or medium-voltage circuit breaker | |
CN110770868B (en) | Gas-insulated load break switch and switchgear comprising a gas-insulated load break switch | |
US20140174895A1 (en) | Contact arrangement for high voltage switchgear with contact arrangement | |
EP4125108B1 (en) | Gas-insulated high or medium voltage circuit breaker | |
EP2827353A1 (en) | Electrical switching device |
Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
PUAI | Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012 |
|
17P | Request for examination filed |
Effective date: 20160607 |
|
AK | Designated contracting states |
Kind code of ref document: A1 Designated state(s): AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR |
|
AX | Request for extension of the european patent |
Extension state: BA ME |
|
DAX | Request for extension of the european patent (deleted) | ||
RAP1 | Party data changed (applicant data changed or rights of an application transferred) |
Owner name: ABB SCHWEIZ AG |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: DE Ref legal event code: R079 Ref document number: 602014021776 Country of ref document: DE Free format text: PREVIOUS MAIN CLASS: H01H0033700000 Ipc: H01H0033880000 |
|
RIC1 | Information provided on ipc code assigned before grant |
Ipc: H01H 33/74 20060101ALI20170801BHEP Ipc: H01H 33/88 20060101AFI20170801BHEP Ipc: H01H 33/22 20060101ALI20170801BHEP Ipc: H01H 33/70 20060101ALI20170801BHEP |
|
GRAP | Despatch of communication of intention to grant a patent |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR1 |
|
STAA | Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent |
Free format text: STATUS: GRANT OF PATENT IS INTENDED |
|
INTG | Intention to grant announced |
Effective date: 20170920 |
|
GRAS | Grant fee paid |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR3 |
|
GRAA | (expected) grant |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009210 |
|
STAA | Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent |
Free format text: STATUS: THE PATENT HAS BEEN GRANTED |
|
AK | Designated contracting states |
Kind code of ref document: B1 Designated state(s): AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: GB Ref legal event code: FG4D Ref country code: CH Ref legal event code: EP |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: AT Ref legal event code: REF Ref document number: 974991 Country of ref document: AT Kind code of ref document: T Effective date: 20180315 |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: IE Ref legal event code: FG4D |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: DE Ref legal event code: R096 Ref document number: 602014021776 Country of ref document: DE |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: CH Ref legal event code: NV Representative=s name: ABB SCHWEIZ AG INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY (CH-LC/IP, CH |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: DE Ref legal event code: R082 Ref document number: 602014021776 Country of ref document: DE Representative=s name: DENNEMEYER & ASSOCIATES S.A., DE Ref country code: DE Ref legal event code: R082 Ref document number: 602014021776 Country of ref document: DE Representative=s name: VOGEL, ALBRECHT, DIPL.-ING. DR.-ING., DE |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: NL Ref legal event code: MP Effective date: 20180228 |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: LT Ref legal event code: MG4D |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: AT Ref legal event code: MK05 Ref document number: 974991 Country of ref document: AT Kind code of ref document: T Effective date: 20180228 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: ES Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20180228 Ref country code: HR Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20180228 Ref country code: NO Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20180528 Ref country code: FI Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20180228 Ref country code: LT Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20180228 Ref country code: NL Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20180228 Ref country code: CY Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20180228 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: SE Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20180228 Ref country code: LV Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20180228 Ref country code: GR Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20180529 Ref country code: RS Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20180228 Ref country code: BG Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20180528 Ref country code: AT Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20180228 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: RO Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20180228 Ref country code: IT Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20180228 Ref country code: EE Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20180228 Ref country code: AL Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20180228 Ref country code: PL Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20180228 |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: DE Ref legal event code: R097 Ref document number: 602014021776 Country of ref document: DE |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: CZ Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20180228 Ref country code: SK Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20180228 Ref country code: SM Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20180228 Ref country code: DK Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20180228 |
|
PLBE | No opposition filed within time limit |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009261 |
|
STAA | Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent |
Free format text: STATUS: NO OPPOSITION FILED WITHIN TIME LIMIT |
|
26N | No opposition filed |
Effective date: 20181129 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: SI Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20180228 |
|
GBPC | Gb: european patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee |
Effective date: 20181222 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: MC Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20180228 Ref country code: LU Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES Effective date: 20181222 |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: IE Ref legal event code: MM4A |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: BE Ref legal event code: MM Effective date: 20181231 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: IE Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES Effective date: 20181222 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: BE Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES Effective date: 20181231 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: GB Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES Effective date: 20181222 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: MT Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES Effective date: 20181222 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: TR Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20180228 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: PT Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20180228 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: MK Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES Effective date: 20180228 Ref country code: HU Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT; INVALID AB INITIO Effective date: 20141222 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: IS Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20180628 |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: CH Ref legal event code: NV Representative=s name: DENNEMEYER AG, CH Ref country code: CH Ref legal event code: PUE Owner name: ABB POWER GRIDS SWITZERLAND AG, CH Free format text: FORMER OWNER: ABB SCHWEIZ AG, CH |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: DE Ref legal event code: R081 Ref document number: 602014021776 Country of ref document: DE Owner name: HITACHI ENERGY SWITZERLAND AG, CH Free format text: FORMER OWNER: ABB SCHWEIZ AG, BADEN, CH Ref country code: DE Ref legal event code: R081 Ref document number: 602014021776 Country of ref document: DE Owner name: HITACHI ENERGY LTD, CH Free format text: FORMER OWNER: ABB SCHWEIZ AG, BADEN, CH Ref country code: DE Ref legal event code: R082 Ref document number: 602014021776 Country of ref document: DE Representative=s name: DENNEMEYER & ASSOCIATES S.A., DE Ref country code: DE Ref legal event code: R081 Ref document number: 602014021776 Country of ref document: DE Owner name: ABB POWER GRIDS SWITZERLAND AG, CH Free format text: FORMER OWNER: ABB SCHWEIZ AG, BADEN, CH |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: DE Ref legal event code: R081 Ref document number: 602014021776 Country of ref document: DE Owner name: HITACHI ENERGY SWITZERLAND AG, CH Free format text: FORMER OWNER: ABB POWER GRIDS SWITZERLAND AG, BADEN, CH Ref country code: DE Ref legal event code: R081 Ref document number: 602014021776 Country of ref document: DE Owner name: HITACHI ENERGY LTD, CH Free format text: FORMER OWNER: ABB POWER GRIDS SWITZERLAND AG, BADEN, CH |
|
P01 | Opt-out of the competence of the unified patent court (upc) registered |
Effective date: 20230527 |
|
PGFP | Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: FR Payment date: 20231221 Year of fee payment: 10 Ref country code: DE Payment date: 20231214 Year of fee payment: 10 |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: DE Ref legal event code: R082 Ref document number: 602014021776 Country of ref document: DE Representative=s name: DENNEMEYER & ASSOCIATES S.A., DE Ref country code: DE Ref legal event code: R081 Ref document number: 602014021776 Country of ref document: DE Owner name: HITACHI ENERGY LTD, CH Free format text: FORMER OWNER: HITACHI ENERGY SWITZERLAND AG, BADEN, CH |
|
PGFP | Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: CH Payment date: 20240101 Year of fee payment: 10 |