Classifications

• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
  • H01H9/00—Details of switching devices, not covered by groups H01H1/00 - H01H7/00
  • H01H9/50—Means for detecting the presence of an arc or discharge
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
  • H01H9/00—Details of switching devices, not covered by groups H01H1/00 - H01H7/00
  • H01H9/54—Circuit arrangements not adapted to a particular application of the switching device and for which no provision exists elsewhere
  • H01H9/541—Contacts shunted by semiconductor devices
  • H01H9/542—Contacts shunted by static switch means
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
  • H01H9/00—Details of switching devices, not covered by groups H01H1/00 - H01H7/00
  • H01H9/54—Circuit arrangements not adapted to a particular application of the switching device and for which no provision exists elsewhere
  • H01H9/541—Contacts shunted by semiconductor devices
  • H01H9/542—Contacts shunted by static switch means
  • H01H2009/543—Contacts shunted by static switch means third parallel branch comprising an energy absorber, e.g. MOV, PTC, Zener
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
  • H01H9/00—Details of switching devices, not covered by groups H01H1/00 - H01H7/00
  • H01H9/54—Circuit arrangements not adapted to a particular application of the switching device and for which no provision exists elsewhere
  • H01H9/541—Contacts shunted by semiconductor devices
  • H01H9/542—Contacts shunted by static switch means
  • H01H2009/544—Contacts shunted by static switch means the static switching means being an insulated gate bipolar transistor, e.g. IGBT, Darlington configuration of FET and bipolar transistor
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
  • H01H9/00—Details of switching devices, not covered by groups H01H1/00 - H01H7/00
  • H01H9/54—Circuit arrangements not adapted to a particular application of the switching device and for which no provision exists elsewhere
  • H01H9/541—Contacts shunted by semiconductor devices
  • H01H9/542—Contacts shunted by static switch means
  • H01H2009/545—Contacts shunted by static switch means comprising a parallel semiconductor switch being fired optically, e.g. using a photocoupler
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
  • H01H9/00—Details of switching devices, not covered by groups H01H1/00 - H01H7/00
  • H01H9/54—Circuit arrangements not adapted to a particular application of the switching device and for which no provision exists elsewhere
  • H01H9/541—Contacts shunted by semiconductor devices
  • H01H9/542—Contacts shunted by static switch means
  • H01H2009/546—Contacts shunted by static switch means the static switching means being triggered by the voltage over the mechanical switch contacts

Definitions

• the present invention relates to the field of switches and safety protection circuits connected in an electrical circuit and capable of generating electric arcs and, more particularly, hybrid switches and their control device allowing the extinction of such an electric arc and the interruption of the electric current in said electric circuit. It relates to a hybrid switch and control device.
• hybrid switches include an electromechanical switch and an electronic switch.
• the electromechanical switch based on electromechanical switching, comprises at least one electrical contact and makes it possible to obtain a low voltage drop across its terminals in the closed state and good galvanic isolation in the open state, but has the drawback to generate electric arcs when the electric contact opens under load.
• the electronic switch is itself free from electric arcs but has a much greater voltage drop in the on state and does not provide galvanic isolation in the open state.
• the combination of these two switches namely the electromechanical switch and the electronic switch, forming the hybrid switch, can be carried out in series or else in parallel or else in series and / or parallel combinations.
• the series combination which can be done with or without an arc during opening under load depending on the synchronization of the opening commands, ensures galvanic isolation in the open state but has a high voltage drop at l. 'state of affairs.
• the parallel combination which can be done with or without an arc during opening under load depending on the synchronization of the opening commands, has a low voltage drop in the on state but does not ensure galvanic isolation. in the open state.
• the electronic switch is controlled by an electronic control device and consists of an analog electronic circuit comprising a varistor in parallel with a power semiconductor such as a power transistor, generally a field effect transistor or an insulated gate transistor.
• a power semiconductor such as a power transistor, generally a field effect transistor or an insulated gate transistor.
• the varistor and the semiconductor are connected in parallel directly across the contact terminals of the electromechanical switch.
• the electronic switch generally comprises two parallel branches, namely a first branch comprising the varistor and a second branch comprising the semiconductor.
• the branch of the electrical circuit of the hybrid switch comprising the electrical contact is parallel to said first and second branches of the electronic switch.
• the semiconductor of the electronic switch is controlled to be switched to the ON saturated state and the electric current then switches completely in the second branch of the electronic switch causing the extinction of the 'electric arc
• the semiconductor in a third phase, is controlled to be switched to the blocked OFF state, the sudden interruption of current in the semiconductor generating an overvoltage which activates the varistor having the effect that the electric current then switches completely in the first branch of the electronic switch.
• the voltage that is established at the terminals of the varistor is sufficient to limit the electric current and reach the extinction of the electric current.
• control of the electronic switch uses complex and digital electronics based on a microprocessor or microcontroller requiring external stable power supply.
• Document US 2019/0252143 discloses such control / pilot electronics comprising an electronic control unit based on a microcontroller or microprocessor.
• the present invention aims to overcome these drawbacks by providing a hybrid switch and control device implementing less complex control electronics that do not require an external power supply.
• the hybrid switch and control device allowing the extinction of an electric arc and the interruption of the electric current in an electric circuit
• said device comprising, of a on the other hand, a hybrid switch comprising an electromechanical switch and, in parallel, an electronic switch for assisting in the extinction of an electric arc and in the interruption of the electric current resulting from said arc
• said electromechanical switch comprising at least one suitable electric contact to be actuated in closing to allow the passage of electric current in the electric circuit and in opening to interrupt said passage
• said electronic switch being configured to be able to extinguish an electric arc occurring during the opening of said electric contact then interrupt the electric current and consisting of an analog electronic circuit based on a power semiconductor connected to the b adorned with the electrical contact and, on the other hand, an electronic control circuit able to control said electronic switch when said electric arc occurs and until the interruption of the electric current
• the electronic control circuit consists in an analog semiconductor-based electronic control circuit and in that said electronic control circuit is
• the latter is configured to detect the appearance of the electric arc by its characteristic arc voltage while being able to deliver, as a function of the voltage at the terminals from the electrical contact, at the output of said electronic control circuit, an output signal capable of controlling said electronic switch according to the time sequence of extinction of the electric arc and of interruption of the electric current in several phases.
• the latter can be configured to detect the appearance of the electric arc by its characteristic emitted light while being able to deliver, as a function of said emitted light, to the output of said electronic control circuit, the output signal capable of controlling said electronic switch according to the time sequence of extinction of the electric arc and of interruption of the electric current in several phases.
• FIG. 1 shows the diagram of the hybrid switch and control device, according to the present invention, connected in an electrical circuit, with the electronic switch and the electronic control circuit in the form of block diagrams,
• FIG. 2 shows the electrical diagram of the hybrid switch and control device, according to the present invention, shown in Figure 1 in a preferred embodiment of the electronic switch,
• FIG. 3 shows the electrical diagram of the device, according to the present invention, shown in FIG. 2, in the first embodiment of the electronic control circuit, with a control transistor of the bipolar transistor type, [0021]
• FIG. 4 shows the electronic control circuit represented in FIG. 3 and which does not include the capacitors,
• FIG. 5 shows the electronic control circuit represented in FIG. 3 in a variant with a control transistor of the field effect transistor type
• FIG. 6 shows the electronic control circuit shown in Figure 5 in a variant that does without capacitors
• FIG. 7 shows the device, according to the present invention, shown in Figures 3, 4, 5 and 6, without the electronic control circuit 3 and in an embodiment where the electronic switch is configured to operate in a bidirectional configuration, with a diode bridge,
• FIG. 8 shows the device according to the present invention, shown in FIG. 2, the electromechanical switch of which is of the disconnector circuit breaker type and further comprises a second electrical contact equipped with an arc displacement and splitting interrupting chamber and mounted. in series with the first electrical contact to the terminals of which the electronic switch is connected.
• the figures show a hybrid switch and control device, according to the present invention, allowing the extinction of an electric arc and the interruption of the electric current in an electric circuit C.
• Such a device comprises:
• a hybrid switch 1, 2 capable of being connected to said electrical circuit C and comprising an electromechanical switch 1 and, in parallel, an electronic switch 2 for assistance in the extinction of an electric arc and on interruption of the electric current, said electromechanical switch 1 comprising at least one electric contact 1a capable of being actuated in closing to allow the passage of electric current in the electric circuit C and in opening to interrupt said passage.
• the electronic switch 2 is configured to be able to extinguish an electric arc occurring during the opening of said electric contact 1 a then interrupt the electric current and consisting of an analog electronic circuit based on a power semiconductor Q1 connected to the terminals of the contact.
• electric 1 a and - On the other hand, an electronic control circuit 3 capable of controlling said electronic switch 2 when said electric arc occurs and until the interruption of the electric current.
• the electronic control circuit 3 consists of an analog electronic circuit based on semiconductor Q2.
• said electronic control circuit 3 is configured to detect the appearance of an electric arc occurring at the terminals of the electrical contact 1a and to deliver, to an output S of said electronic control circuit 3, an output signal capable of controlling said electronic switch 2 according to a temporal sequence of extinction of the electric arc and of interruption of the electric current in several phases.
• the electronic control circuit 3 is configured to detect the appearance of the electric arc by its characteristic arc voltage while being able to deliver, as a function of the voltage at the terminals of the electric contact, at the output S of said electronic control circuit 3, the output signal capable of controlling said electronic switch 2 according to said time sequence of extinguishing the electric arc and interrupting the electric current in several phases.
• the latter may include a parallel association two branches connected to the terminals of the electrical contact 1a, namely a first branch comprising a varistor RV and a second branch comprising a power transistor Q1, called an electric arc extinguishing assistance transistor Q1, such as a Insulated gate bipolar transistor, a field effect transistor ( Figures 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8) or a bipolar transistor.
• the output S of the electronic control circuit 3 is connected to the gate or to the base of said electric arc extinguishing assistance transistor Q1 so as to be able to apply the output signal to the gate or the base of the electric arc extinguishing assistance transistor Q1 to control said electronic switch 2 by switching, in the saturated ON or blocked state OFF, the electric arc extinguishing assistance transistor Q1 according to several switching phases.
• the switching phases make it possible to carry out the phases of the time sequence of extinguishing the electric arc and interrupting the electric current.
• the blocked OFF state corresponds to a state where the transistor is not on and the saturated ON state corresponds to a state where the transistor is on.
• the temporal sequence of extinguishing the electric arc in several phases can include three phases, phase 1, phase 2 and phase 3, this from an initial phase in which the electrical contact 1a is closed so that the electric current flows in the electric circuit C, the electronic switch 2 and the electronic control circuit 3 then being inactive while the electric arc extinguishing assistance transistor Q1 is controlled in the state blocked OFF:
• phase 1 the electrical contact 1a is controlled to open and an electric arc appears at said electrical contact 1a open,
• the output signal of the electronic control circuit 3 applied to the gate or the base of the electric arc extinguishing assistance transistor Q1 has the effect of switching the assistance transistor Q1 to the extinction of the electric arc from the blocked OFF state to the saturated ON state, the electric current then switching in the second branch of the electronic switch 2 comprising said transistor Q1 for assisting in the extinction of the electric arc and resulting in the extinction of the electric arc, then
• the output signal of the electronic control circuit 3 applied to the gate or the base of the electric arc extinguishing assistance transistor Q1 has the effect of switching the assistance transistor Q1 to the extinction of an electric arc from the saturated ON state to the blocked OFF state, which causes an interruption of the current in said transistor Q1 generating an overvoltage activating the varistor RV of the first branch, the electric current then switching into said first branch.
• the voltage that is established at the terminals of the varistor Rv is sufficient to limit the electric current and reach the extinction of the electric current.
• the electrical contact 1a is open and the electrical current is zero.
• the hybrid switch and control device is therefore suitable, following the appearance of the electric arc due to the opening of the electric contact 1a, to detect said appearance of an electric arc and to carry out a sequence of extinction of the electric arc and of interruption of the electric current by acting on the control voltage of the transistor Q1 for assisting in the extinction of the electric arc, that is to say by controlling / controlling the latter, to switch it from the blocked OFF state to the saturated ON state and vice versa according to several switching phases, for example according to the two aforementioned switching phases.
• the electronic control circuit 3 can include, in the first embodiment, a switching transistor Q2, called control transistor Q2, such as a bipolar transistor ( Figures 3 and 4) or, in a variant, a field effect transistor ( Figure 5 and 6) and a parallel association of two branches, namely a first branch comprising a first resistor R1 in series with a first capacitor C1 and a second branch comprising a second resistor R2 in series with a second capacitor C2.
• a switching transistor Q2 such as a bipolar transistor ( Figures 3 and 4) or, in a variant, a field effect transistor ( Figure 5 and 6) and a parallel association of two branches, namely a first branch comprising a first resistor R1 in series with a first capacitor C1 and a second branch comprising a second resistor R2 in series with a second capacitor C2.
• the control transistor Q2 can be connected, by its collector (figures 3 and 4) or drain (figures 5 and 6), to the first branch at a first junction point forming the output of the electronic control circuit 3 and being located between the first resistor R1 and the first capacitor C1.
• the control transistor Q2 can be connected, by its base (FIG. 3) or gate (FIG. 5), to the second branch at a second junction point located between the second resistor R2 and the second capacitor C2.
• phase-by-phase operation of the device, according to the present invention, in this first embodiment of the electronic control circuit 3 can be as follows, from an initial phase where the electrical contact 1 a is closed and that the electric current flows in the electric circuit C, the electronic switch 2 and the electronic control circuit 3 being inactive and the first and second capacitors C1 and C2 being discharged:
• the electrical contact 1a is controlled to open and an electric arc appears which is detected by the device, according to the present invention, the voltage at the terminals of the electrical contact 1a being equal to the arc voltage and simultaneously charging the first and second capacitors C1 and C2 via the first and second resistors R1 and R2.
• the voltage at the terminals of the electrical contact 1 a is equal to the drain / source voltage VDS ( Figures 3 and 5) or collector / base, intrinsic characteristic voltage of the transistor Q1 for extinction assistance d electric arc and this voltage continues to charge the second capacitor C2.
• VDS drain / source voltage
• the voltage across capacitor C2 exceeds a certain threshold, for example around 0.7 V in the case of a silicon transistor, a significant electric current begins to flow in the base (figure 3) or a switching voltage is applied on the gate (FIG.
• the electric current passes through the first branch of the electronic switch 2 comprising the varistor RV and the voltage at the terminals of the electrical contact 1a is equal to the limiting voltage of the varistor Rv.
• the electric arc extinguishing assistance transistor Q1 is kept in the OFF state because an electric current continues to flow in the base (figure 3) or a switching voltage is always applied to the gate (figure 5). ) of the control transistor Q2 via the second resistor R2.
• the electric arc is completely extinguished and the electric current completely interrupted despite the appearance of said electric arc.
• the working voltage of the varistor RV can be chosen so as to cause a rapid drop in the intensity of the electric current until it goes out.
• the electric arc extinguishing assistance transistor Q1 is a field effect transistor ( Figures 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8) or an insulated gate bipolar transistor
• the choice of said transistor may be such that:
• - VG (TH) gate voltage ⁇ 50V, preferably less than 10V, at the different intensity values of the electric current, this to ensure that the arc voltage is sufficient to activate the gate of the transistor Q1 of electric arc extinction assistance
• the choice of the values of the first resistor R1 and of the first capacitor C1 is determined to adjust the time constant t1 of the charge of the first capacitor C1 and therefore the time before the switching of the extinction assist transistor Q1 arc, i.e. the time to make it pass from the blocked OFF state to the saturated ON state.
• a time constant t1 can be chosen, for example, preferably to be less than 100 ms, more preferably between 0 and 5 ms.
• the choice of the values of the second resistor R2 and of the second capacitor C2 is determined to adjust the time constant t2 of the charge of the second capacitor C2 and therefore the time before the switching of the control transistor Q2, c 'that is to say the time to make it pass from the blocked OFF state to the saturated ON state.
• Such a time constant t2 is preferably chosen to be less than 100 ms, more preferably between 0 and 5 ms
• the value of the first resistor R1 also has an impact on the limitation of the electric current in the control transistor Q2, in particular in phase 3. It will be noted that the arc voltage, intrinsically, decreases when the intensity electric current increases. Thus, the more the intensity of the electric current increases, the more the time (duration) of the charging of the first capacitor C1 up to the threshold value VG (TH) of the gate of the transistor Q1 for assisting the extinction of electric arc increases. The switching of the transistor Q1 for assisting the extinction of an electric arc in the saturated state is therefore later when the intensity increases.
• phase 1 increases as the intensity of the electric current increases and the duration of phase 2 decreases.
• the voltage at the terminals of the second capacitor C2 exceeds the value of the threshold voltage of the control transistor Q2 (for example a threshold voltage equal to approximately 0.7V ) before the voltage of the first capacitor C1 reaches the value of the threshold voltage VG (TH) of the electric arc extinguishing assistance transistor Q1 so that the latter is not switched to the state saturated and the function is then inhibited.
• the threshold voltage of the control transistor Q2 for example a threshold voltage equal to approximately 0.7V
• the time to reach or exceed the value of the threshold voltage depends essentially on the values of the first and second resistors R1, R2 and of the first and second capacitors C1 and C2. It is also the result of a compromise between the energy dissipated by the electric arc and that dissipated by the transistor Q1.
• the first branch is configured so as to be independent of the first capacitor (C1) and / or the second branch is configured so as to be independent of the second capacitor (C2).
• the first branch comprises only the first resistor R1 and / or the second branch comprises only the second resistor R2 and it can be envisaged, according to the present invention, to do without only the second capacitor C2 of the second branch and / or only the first capacitor C1 of the first branch.
• the values of the time constants t1 and t2 will then be dependent on the values of the resistors R1, R2 and / or on the parasitic capacitance of the transistor Q1 d assistance in the extinction of an electric arc (case without the first capacitor C1) and / or the parasitic capacitance of the control transistor Q2 (case without the second capacitor C2).
• the electronic control circuit 3 may have the same electrical diagram, only the values of the components (R1, R2, C1, C2) will then be adapted.
• the present invention can also provide, for an alternating electric current, that the electronic control circuit 3 is connected to an electronic switch 2 configured to operate in a bidirectional configuration.
• FIG. 7 shows an example of such a configuration in which the electronic switch 2 comprises for this purpose a diode bridge D.
• the diode bridge D is more particularly connected to the terminals of the varistor Rv.
• the present invention can also provide that the electronic control circuit 3 can be connected to a hybrid switch 1, 2 requiring galvanic isolation and comprising for this purpose an additional electrical contact 1b upstream or downstream of the electrical contact 1a .
• the synchronization of the two electrical contacts 1 a and 1 b has no effect on the operation of the device according to the present invention.
• the auto-inhibition function seen previously can be used in an application ( Figure 8) where the management of electric currents beyond a certain threshold is taken over by another device, for example in the case of a circuit breaker of the disconnector type, comprising two electrical contacts 1a and 1b and where one of the two electrical contacts 1b is equipped with an arc displacement and operation interrupting chamber known from the state of the art.
• the interrupting chamber manages the extinction of the electric arc for currents whose intensity goes beyond a certain threshold Is and the device according to the present invention, of which the hybrid switch 2, 3 is connected in parallel. on the other electric contact 1a, can then manage the extinction of the electric arc occurring at the level of said electric contact 1a and the interruption of the electric current below said threshold Is.
• the control transistor Q2 such as a bipolar or field effect transistor, can be a PNP or NPN bipolar transistor, a MOSFET (N or P type) or a JFET. It will be understood that depending on the type of transistor used, the electronic control circuit 3 may have the same electrical diagram, only the values of the components (R1, R2, C1, C2) will then be adapted.
• the present invention can also provide, in another embodiment of the first embodiment of the electronic control circuit 3, not shown in the appended figures, that the first capacitor C1 and / or the second capacitor C2 is replaced by an inductance, that is to say an electronic component such as for example a coil or an inductor.
• the latter can be configured to detect the appearance of the electric arc by its characteristic emitted light while being able to deliver, as a function of said emitted light, at the output S of said electronic control circuit 3, the output signal capable of controlling said electronic switch 2 according to the time sequence of extinction of the electric arc and of interruption of the electric current in several phases.
• the electronic control circuit 3 can comprise a photosensitive component of the LDR, phototransistor or photodiode type in order to detect the electric arc and to carry out the time sequence of extinction of the electric arc and of interruption. of electric current in several phases.

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• Driving Mechanisms And Operating Circuits Of Arc-Extinguishing High-Tension Switches (AREA)
• Steering Control In Accordance With Driving Conditions (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=70978142

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (5)

Family Cites Families (4)

• 2020
  • 2020-03-09 FR FR2002320A patent/FR3107987A1/fr active Pending
• 2021
  • 2021-03-08 AU AU2021234895A patent/AU2021234895B2/en active Active
  • 2021-03-08 EP EP21709699.9A patent/EP4118670A1/de active Pending
  • 2021-03-08 CN CN202180019320.XA patent/CN115485801A/zh active Pending
  • 2021-03-08 WO PCT/EP2021/055796 patent/WO2021180658A1/fr active Application Filing

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