JP2020177876A - Direct-current interrupting device - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a direct-current interrupting device capable of determining the presence or absence of failure of each semiconductor switch element while a function thereof is normal.SOLUTION: A direct-current interrupting device according to an embodiment includes: a mechanical circuit interrupter; an interrupting circuit connected to the mechanical circuit interrupter in parallel; and a control unit configured to control a conductive state and an interrupted state of the mechanical circuit interrupter and the interrupting circuit. The interrupting circuit includes an interrupting unit. The interrupting unit includes: a plurality of semiconductor switch elements connected in series to one another; a snubber circuit including a capacitor connected in parallel to each of the plurality of semiconductor switch elements and provided so as to hold both end voltages thereof at the time of an interrupting operation; an arrester connected in parallel to the plurality of semiconductor switch elements; and a first level detection circuit connected to a connection node in a middle of a series circuit of the plurality of semiconductor switch elements and having a predetermined first threshold value.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

An embodiment of the present invention relates to a DC cutoff device.

Since a DC cutoff device does not zero-cross like an alternating current in direct current, various methods have been studied and proposed as to how to process energy at the time of cutoff (for example, Patent Document 1 and the like).

The mechanical circuit breaker can prevent the arc from being generated by performing the circuit breaker operation when the voltage across the ends drops sufficiently. Since the semiconductor switch does not generate an arc discharge when it is off, it is combined with a mechanical circuit breaker to transfer the breaking energy until the voltage across the mechanical circuit breaker drops sufficiently.

Such a semiconductor switch is provided in parallel with the mechanical circuit breaker and is in an off state during normal operation. Since a high voltage corresponding to the voltage of the DC line is applied to the semiconductor switch when it is off, a large number of semiconductor switch elements are connected in series according to the voltage of the DC line to be cut off.

When the DC cutoff device starts the cutoff operation, all the semiconductor switch elements connected in series are turned on once and then turned off to process the energy at the time of cutoff. The number of semiconductor switch elements in series is set based on the voltage of the DC line and the applied commutation energy, but is usually set so as to guarantee a sufficient withstand voltage. Therefore, even if some of the large number of semiconductor switch elements connected in series fail due to a short circuit or the like, if the other majority of the elements are normal, the function as a DC cutoff device is satisfied.

However, in a DC cutoff device used in a power system or the like, normal operation needs to be guaranteed for a long period of time, and if some elements remain faulty, normal operation will be guaranteed in the future. Is difficult. Therefore, it is desirable to detect a minute defect and perform inspection, repair, etc. before the DC cutoff device reaches a functional defect.

JP-A-2016-127026

The embodiment provides a DC cutoff device capable of determining the presence or absence of failure of each semiconductor switch element while the function is normal.

The DC circuit breaker according to the embodiment is a circuit breaker connected in parallel with the mechanical circuit breaker, and by detecting the circuit breaker, the circuit breaker is passed before the mechanical circuit breaker is interrupted, and then the circuit breaker is interrupted. And a control unit that controls the conduction state and the cutoff state of the mechanical circuit breaker and the circuit breaker. The break circuit is a snubber circuit including a plurality of semiconductor switch elements connected in series and a capacitor connected in parallel to each of the plurality of semiconductor switch elements and provided so as to hold a voltage across the cutoff operation. The voltage difference between the arrester connected in parallel to the plurality of semiconductor switch elements and the voltage of the connection node in the middle of the series circuit of the plurality of semiconductor switch elements and the preset reference voltage is input to the voltage. Includes a break unit that includes a first level detection circuit that compares the difference with a preset first threshold. The reference voltage and the first threshold value are set based on the voltage that appears at the connection node when all of the plurality of semiconductor switch elements normally cut off the breaking current and the arrester operates normally. .. The first level detection circuit outputs an active detection signal when the absolute value of the voltage difference is equal to or less than the first threshold value, and the absolute value of the voltage difference is larger than the first threshold value. If so, output an inactive detection signal.

In the present embodiment, a DC cutoff device capable of determining the presence or absence of failure of each semiconductor switch element while the function is normal is realized.

It is a block diagram which illustrates the main part of the DC cutoff device which concerns on embodiment. FIG. 2A is a block diagram illustrating the DC cutoff device of the embodiment. FIG. 2B is a block diagram illustrating a DC power transmission system including the DC cutoff device of FIG. 2A. It is a schematic block diagram for demonstrating the operation of the DC cutoff device of embodiment. It is a schematic block diagram for demonstrating the operation of the DC cutoff device of embodiment.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
The drawings are schematic or conceptual, and the relationship between the thickness and width of each part, the ratio of the sizes between the parts, and the like are not necessarily the same as the actual ones. Further, even when the same parts are represented, the dimensions and ratios may be different from each other depending on the drawings.
In addition, in the present specification and each figure, the same elements as those described above with respect to the above-mentioned figures are designated by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted as appropriate.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a main part of the DC cutoff device according to the embodiment.
As shown in FIG. 1, the DC cutoff device of the embodiment includes a cutoff circuit 20. As will be described in detail later, the circuit breaker 20 is connected in parallel with the mechanical circuit breaker and commutates the energy at the time of interruption until the voltage across the mechanical circuit breaker is sufficiently lowered to reach the voltage at which the arc is cut off.

The break circuit 20 includes a plurality of units 120. Each of the plurality of units (disconnection units) 120 includes a terminal 121a on the high voltage side and a terminal 121b on the low voltage side, and is connected in series via these terminals 121a and 121b. In this example, m units 120 are connected in series. Here, m is an integer of 2 or more.

The plurality of units 120 include a semiconductor switch element 21, a snubber circuit 23, an arrester 26, resistors 27a and 27b, rectifier circuits 28a and 28b, and level detection circuits 29a and 29b, respectively.

A plurality of semiconductor switch elements 21 are connected in series. The semiconductor switch element 21 is a self-extinguishing semiconductor element, for example, an IGBT (Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor). In this example, for one unit 120, N semiconductor switch elements 21 are connected in series on the high potential side and N semiconductor switch elements 21 are connected in series on the low potential side. That is, one unit 120 includes 2N semiconductor switch elements 21 connected in series. Although not shown, the control terminals of each semiconductor switch element 21 are connected to a control unit described later via a drive circuit or the like. The semiconductor switch element 21 turns on and off based on a control signal transmitted from the control unit.

A snubber circuit 23 is connected in parallel to each semiconductor switch element 21. The snubber circuit 23 includes a diode 23d, a capacitor 23c and a resistor 23r in this example. The diode 23d and the resistor 23r are connected in parallel, and the capacitor 23c is connected in series with this parallel circuit. The diode 23d is connected so that the high potential side is the anode and the low potential side is the cathode. Therefore, the voltage at both ends of the semiconductor switch element 21, that is, the voltage between the collector and the emitter rises due to the energy at the time of interruption when the semiconductor switch element 21 is turned off, and the capacitor 23c is charged.

The snubber circuit 23 commutates the current when the semiconductor switch element 21 through which the breaking current is flowing is turned off. The commutated current charges the capacitor 23c. The resistor 23r is provided to suppress dv / dt applied between the main terminals of the semiconductor switch element 21. The charge charged in the capacitor 23c is held by the diode 23d.

The arrester 26 is connected in parallel to a series circuit of 2N semiconductor switch elements 21. When the semiconductor switch element 21 is turned off, the voltage across all the capacitors 23c charged by the commutated current further rises, and when the voltage limit of the arrester 26 is exceeded, the arrester 26 conducts and commutates. The generated current is passed to absorb the remaining energy.

The resistors 27a and 27b are connected in series. The resistors 27a and 27b connected in series are connected in parallel with the series circuit of the semiconductor switch element 21 and the arrester 26. The resistance values of the resistors 27a and 27b are, for example, equal values. That is, the voltage applied between the terminals 121a and 121b is divided in half. The voltage obtained by dividing the terminals 121a and 121b is used as a reference voltage for determining whether or not at least one of the 2N semiconductor switch elements 21 has a short-circuit failure.

One input of the rectifier circuit 28b is connected to a connection node of N pieces on the high potential side and N pieces on the low potential side of the semiconductor switch element 21. The other input of the rectifier circuit 28b is connected to the connection node of the resistors 27a, 27b. That is, the potential obtained by dividing the voltage applied between the terminals 121a and 121b by half is input to the other input of the rectifier circuit 28b. The rectifier circuit 28b outputs the absolute value of the potential difference between the potential of the connection node in the middle of the semiconductor switch element 21 and the potential corresponding to 1/2 of the voltage applied between the terminals 121a and 121b.

The level detection circuit 29b is connected to the output of the rectifier circuit 28b. The level detection circuit 29b outputs an active detection signal Di1 (an integer of i = 1 to m) when the input potential difference is 0V. The level detection circuit 29b deactivates the detection signal Di1 when the input potential difference is larger than 0V.

In the level detection circuit 29b, depending on whether the output detection signal Di1 is active or not, either the 2N semiconductor switch elements 21 in the unit 120 are normal or the 2N semiconductor switch elements 21 are used. It can be indicated whether one is a short circuit failure.

That is, when the detection signal Di1 of the i-th unit 120 is active, all 2N semiconductor switch elements 21 are normal, and voltages are held across the 2N capacitors 23c. On the other hand, when the detection signal Di1 of the i-th unit 120 is inactive, it is determined that at least one of the 2N semiconductor switch elements 21 has a short-circuit failure.

The rectifier circuit 28a inputs the total value of the voltages applied between the terminals 121a and 121b and outputs the absolute value thereof.

The potential of the terminal 121a is input to the rectifier circuit 28a with respect to the potential of the terminal 121b. Therefore, since this positive potential difference does not usually reverse to become a negative potential difference, it is not always necessary to provide the rectifier circuit 28a, and the generated positive potential difference is directly input to the level detection circuit described later. It may be done.

The level detection circuit 29a is connected to the output of the rectifier circuit 28a. The level detection circuit 29a has a preset threshold value. The level detection circuit 29a outputs an active detection signal Di2 (an integer of i = 1 to m) when the input potential difference is equal to or greater than the threshold value. The level detection circuit 29a deactivates the detection signal Di2 when the input potential difference is smaller than the threshold value.

The level detection circuit 29a can indicate whether or not the voltage applied between the terminals 121a and 121b of the unit 120 is a sufficiently high voltage depending on whether or not the output detection signal Di2 is active.

Immediately after the DC cutoff device 10 performs the cutoff operation, the total value of the voltages charged in the capacitors 23c of each snubber circuit 23 is substantially equal to the limit voltage of the arrester 26. That is, when the detection signal Di2 is active, at least in the arrester 26, the current transferred to the snubber circuit 23 is further transferred to reach the limit voltage, and the arrester 26 is operating normally. It is shown that Further, when the detection signal Di2 is active, even if some of the 2N semiconductor switch elements 21 are short-circuited, the remaining semiconductor switch elements 21 and the capacitor 23c are limited by the arrester 26. It is shown that the withstand voltage was maintained up to the voltage.

When the detection signal Di2 is inactive, it is indicated whether the arrester 26 has a short-circuit failure or all 2N semiconductor switch elements 21 have a short-circuit failure.

In the above description, the case where the level detection circuit 29b determines the presence or absence of a short-circuit failure of the semiconductor switch element 21 by the voltage of the connection node at the midpoint of the series circuit of the 2N semiconductor switch elements 21 has been described. The position can be arbitrarily set by setting the reference voltage appropriately.

For example, when the number of semiconductor switch elements 21 in series is an odd number (2N + 1), the number may be N on the high potential side and N + 1 on the low potential side. In this case, the reference voltage is set to Vp × {(N + 1) / (2N + 1)}, and the voltage difference between this reference voltage and the voltage of the connection node when all the semiconductor switch elements 21 are normal is set. It may be compared with 0V which is a threshold value. Further, the setting of the reference voltage is not limited to the voltage division by the resistor, and may be provided in the level detection circuit.

As described above, the voltage input to the level detection circuit 29a may directly detect the voltage across the series circuit of the arrester 26 and the semiconductor switch element 21, or is divided by the resistors 27a and 27b. It may be a voltage. An appropriate threshold value is set in the level detection circuit 29a according to the input voltage.

In the above, a plurality of units 120 are connected in series, but the number of series depends on the number of semiconductor switch elements 21 in series in the unit 120, the current value to be interrupted, and the energy transferred at the time of interruption. Determined appropriately. Depending on these conditions, it may be a single unit 120.

It is preferable that both of the level detection circuits 29a and 29b are mounted, but one of them may be mounted depending on the conditions for providing the DC cutoff device and the like.

Note that the detection signals Di1 and Di2 are active, for example, the detection signals Di1 and Di2 are signals having a high level logic value, and the inactivity means that the detection signals Di1 and Di2 have low level logic. It means that it is a signal to have. Of course, active may be low level and inactive may be high level. In addition, the active signal may correspond to a signal having a specific value, and the inactive signal may correspond to a non-signal or a high impedance signal. In this example, when the detection signals Di1 and Di2 are active, the level detection circuits 29a and 29b and the light emitting element provided in the control unit are lit, and when the detection signals Di1 and Di2 are inactive, the light emitting elements are lit. This corresponds to turning off the level detection circuits 29a and 29b and the light emitting element of the control unit.

FIG. 2A is a block diagram illustrating the DC cutoff device of the embodiment. FIG. 2B is a block diagram illustrating a DC power transmission system including the DC cutoff device of FIG. 2A.
FIG. 2A shows a more specific configuration example of the DC cutoff device 10. As shown in FIG. 2A, the DC circuit breaker 10 of the embodiment includes a circuit breaker 20 and a mechanical circuit breaker 50. The DC circuit breaker 10 includes terminals 11a and 11b, and the circuit breaker 20 and the mechanical circuit breaker 50 are connected in parallel between the terminals 11a and 11b.

The cutoff circuit 20 is connected to the terminal 11a by the terminal 121a connected to the highest potential, and is connected to the terminal 11b by the terminal 121b connected to the lowest potential.

In addition, the DC cutoff device 10 further includes a main switch circuit 40 and a control unit 60. The main switch circuit 40 is connected in series with the mechanical circuit breaker 50. The series circuit of the main switch circuit 40 and the mechanical circuit breaker 50 is connected between the terminals 11a and 11b.

The main switch circuit 40 is a self-extinguishing semiconductor element such as an IGBT. The main switch circuit 40 is normally conducting, and is cut off first when a short-circuit accident or the like occurs in a DC line such as a DC transmission line. In the main switch circuit 40, after breaking as in this example, the breaking current flows through the breaking circuit 20 and a high voltage is not applied to both ends. Therefore, in many cases, the number of series is one.

The mechanical circuit breaker 50 is normally closed, and when a short-circuit accident or the like occurs in a DC line, the mechanical circuit breaker 50 is opened after being transferred to the circuit breaker 20. The mechanical circuit breaker 50 is, for example, a vacuum circuit breaker.

The breaker circuit 20 is connected in parallel to the series circuit of the main switch circuit 40 and the mechanical circuit breaker 50. The semiconductor switch element 21 (FIG. 1) of the cutoff circuit 20 is normally cut off. When a short-circuit accident or the like occurs in a DC line, the semiconductor switch element 21 conducts and then shuts off.

The break circuit 20 includes m series-connected units 120. For example, since each unit 120 outputs an m detection signal, the cutoff circuit 20 as a whole transmits 2 m of detection signals D11 to Dm2 to the control unit 60. The control unit 60 that has received the detection signals D11 to Dm2 converts the detection signals D11 to Dm2 into an appropriate format, or transmits the detection signals D11 to Dm2 as they are to the host control device 100 connected to the terminal 11d.

As shown in FIG. 2B, the DC cutoff device 10 is used by being connected in series to the DC line 2 between the DC circuits 1a and 1b. The DC circuits 1a and 1b are, for example, an AC / DC power converter that converts an AC voltage of a power system or the like into a DC voltage, a DC power source of a photovoltaic power generation panel, a storage battery, or the like. The DC circuits 1a and 1b may include a DC load operating on a DC power source. The DC line 2 is, for example, a DC transmission line. The DC line 2 is provided with a current detector 3, and the DC cutoff device 10 inputs the current value Is detected by the current detector 3 and the current value Is is equal to or higher than a preset threshold value. In the case of, the shutoff operation is started.

When the control unit 60 of the DC cutoff device 10 determines that the current value Is flowing through the current detector 3 is equal to or higher than the threshold value, the control unit 60 first generates a cutoff signal S1 so as to cut off the main switch circuit 40. Is supplied to the main switch circuit 40. The control unit 60 supplies the cutoff signal S1 to the main switch circuit 40, and supplies 2 N × m cutoff signals S3 to the cutoff circuit 20 so as to turn on the cutoff circuit 20.

In the cutoff circuit 20, 2N × m semiconductor switch elements 21 are turned on at almost the same time by the cutoff signal S3, and the cutoff circuit 20 is conducted.

After that, the control unit 60 supplies a cutoff signal so as to cut off the cutoff circuit 20 at an appropriate timing, and then supplies a cutoff signal S1 to the mechanical circuit breaker 50 so as to cut off the mechanical circuit breaker 50.

When the cutoff circuit 20 is cut off, the cutoff circuit 20 outputs the detection signals D11 to Dm2 of each unit 120. If the arrester 26 has a short-circuit failure or all the semiconductor switch elements 21 have a short-circuit failure in any of the units 120, the detection signal Di2 output from the unit 120 is inactive, and the other The detection signal output from the unit 120 of the above becomes active.

If one of the 2N semiconductor switch elements 21 in any of the units 120 has a short-circuit failure, the detection signal Dj1 output from the unit 120 becomes inactive and is output from the other unit 120. The detection signal becomes active.

The control unit 60 collects all the detected signals, appropriately converts the signal format, and transmits the result via the terminal 11d. The host control device 100 can identify the unit 120 in which the failure has occurred based on the received result, and determine whether the failure mode is a total short circuit of the unit 120 or a partial short circuit in the unit 120. .. The control unit 60 that has collected all the detection signals may identify the failed unit 120 and transmit the result to the host control device 100.

The DC circuit breaker 10 of the embodiment may include the circuit breaker 20 and the mechanical circuit breaker 50, and is not limited to the configuration example of FIG. 2A described above. Further, the DC cutoff device may include a current detector, or the DC cutoff device may not include a control unit, and for example, the cutoff control may be performed by a control device that controls an AC / DC power converter.

The operation of the DC cutoff device 10 of the embodiment will be described.
3 and 4 are schematic block diagrams for explaining the operation of the DC cutoff device of the embodiment.
FIG. 3 shows an operation example when one of the 2N semiconductor switch elements 21 of the i-th unit 120 has a short-circuit failure.
FIG. 4 shows an operation example when the arrester 26 of the i-th unit 120 has a short-circuit failure, or when all the semiconductor switch elements 21 of the 2N semiconductor switch elements 21 have a short-circuit failure.

First, the case of FIG. 3 will be described. In the following description, the voltage of each part shall have a voltage value based on the voltage of the terminal 121b unless otherwise specified.

In this example, it is assumed that the resistors 27a and 27b have the same resistance value. Therefore, as shown in the following equation (1), the voltage V1 of the connection node of the resistors 27a and 27b has a value equal to 1/2 of the voltage Vp of the terminal 121a.

V1 = Vp / 2 (1)

Here, the voltage Vp is the voltage between the terminals 121a and 121b, and is substantially equal to the limiting voltage of the arrester 26. The voltage Vc across the capacitor 23c of each snubber circuit 23 is a voltage that has risen until it reaches the limit voltage of the arrester 26, and when all the semiconductor switch elements 21 are normal,

Vp = 2N × Vc (2)

However, it is assumed that the electrical characteristics such as the leak current between the collector and the emitter of each semiconductor switch element 21, the capacitance value of each capacitor 23c, and the leak current are the same.

The voltage V2 of the connection node at the midpoint between the N semiconductor switch elements 21 on the high potential side and the N semiconductor switch elements 21 on the low potential side becomes equal to N × Vc, and the equations (1) and (2) Therefore, the relationship is as follows.

V1 = (1/2) x Vp = (1/2) x 2N x Vc = V2 (3)

That is, when the voltage V2 of the connection node is equal to the set value V1, all the semiconductor switch elements 21 are normal, and at this time, the level detection circuit 29b outputs the active detection signal Di1. That is, when Vin1 = | V2-V1 | = 0V (≦ 0V), the detection signal Di1 becomes active.

However, as shown in FIG. 3, when any one of the 2N semiconductor switch elements 21 has a short-circuit failure (marked with a cross in the figure), the electric charge accumulated in the capacitor 23c connected to the semiconductor switch element 21 is discharged. Therefore, V2 ≠ V1. At this time, when the level detection circuit 29b outputs the inactive detection signal Di1, the control unit 60 can recognize that one of the 2N semiconductor switch elements 21 has a short-circuit failure.

More specifically, V2 is expressed as follows.

V2 = {N / (2N-1)} × Vp ≠ Vp / 2 (= V1) (4)

From equations (1) and (4), it is shown that one of the 2N semiconductor switch elements 21 has a short-circuit failure when the input voltage Vin1 of the level detection circuit 29b has the following relationship. ..

Vin1 = | V2-V1 | = Vp / {2 × (2N-1)} (5)

Therefore, in the level detection circuit 29b, when the input voltage Vin1 has a value of 0 V or more that satisfies the equation (5), whether or not any one of the 2N semiconductor switch elements 21 has a short-circuit failure. Can be detected.

In the above, it is assumed that the capacitance values of all the capacitors 23c are the same, but in reality, the electrical characteristics of each element vary individually, so for example, in advance. The V1 may be set by adjusting the equation (1) in consideration of the variation, such as by acquiring the characteristics, or the value of the equation (5) may be provided with a range corresponding to the variation.

For example, the unbalance coefficient K (K> 1) is introduced into the equation (1) and defined as follows.

V2'= Vp / {2 × (K-1)} (1)'
Here, V2'is the voltage of the connection node between the high potential side and the low potential side when all 2N semiconductor switch elements 21 are normal.

V2> V1', and from equations (1)' and (4), the following relationship is established.

1 / (2N-1)> 1 / (K-1) (6)

The unbalance coefficient K can be set by measuring V2 for each device in advance. The threshold value may be set so as to satisfy the equation (6) with respect to the set imbalance coefficient K.

Next, the case of FIG. 4 will be described.
As shown in FIG. 4, when the arrester 26 of one of the m units 120 (the i-th unit in this example) 120 has a short-circuit failure, the voltage between the terminals 121a and 121b is sufficient. To be low. Further, even when all the 2N semiconductor switch elements 21 are short-circuited, the voltage between the terminals 121a and 121b becomes sufficiently low.

The threshold voltage Vtha of the level detection circuit 29a is sufficiently lower than the limit voltage when the arrester 26 operates normally, and when the arrester 26 has a short-circuit failure or when 2N semiconductor switch elements 21 have a short-circuit failure. It is set to be equal to or higher than the voltage between terminals 121a and 121b. As a result, when the voltage Vin2 input to the level detection circuit 29a is lower than the threshold value Vtha, it is determined that the arrester 26 or all 2N semiconductor switch elements 21 are short-circuited. At this time, the level detection circuit 29a outputs the inactive detection signal Di2.

The threshold value Vtha is obtained by measuring in advance the voltage across the arrester 26 when the arrester 26 has a short-circuit failure, and by measuring in advance the voltage when all 2N semiconductor switch elements 21 have a short-circuit failure. An appropriate value is set.

The effect of the DC cutoff device 10 of the embodiment will be described.
The DC cutoff device 10 of the embodiment includes level detection circuits 29a and 29b that operate during the cutoff operation. The level detection circuits 29a and 29b can detect whether or not a voltage is normally applied to and held in the capacitor 23c of the snubber circuit 23 provided in each semiconductor switch element 21 after the cutoff operation. Therefore, it is possible to reliably determine a short-circuit failure of a large number of semiconductor switch elements 21 connected in series.

In such a DC cutoff device 10, the energy at the time of commutation processed by each semiconductor switch element 21 may not be so large as to short-circuit all the terminals of each semiconductor switch element 21. For example, the semiconductor switch element 21 to which excessive energy is applied may fail in a short-circuit mode while having resistance between the main terminals. In the DC cutoff device 10 of the embodiment, a short-circuit failure of the semiconductor switch element 21 and the arrester 26 can be detected by appropriately setting the threshold value and the reference voltage of the level detection circuits 29a and 29b, respectively.

Further, since the DC cutoff device 10 of the embodiment uses the voltage across the capacitor charged during the cutoff operation, it is possible to detect a short-circuit state of the cutoff circuit 20 in which the current is not always flowing.

On the control unit 60 and the upper control device 100 side, a short-circuit failure occurs depending on the presence or absence of an inactive detection signal, for example, a detection signal that has not been transmitted, among the detection signals D11 to Dm2 transmitted when the DC cutoff device 10 cuts off. It is possible to determine whether or not it has occurred.

On the control unit 60 and the host control device 100 side, the unit 120 in which the short-circuit failure has occurred can be determined depending on the number of the unit 120 in which the inactive detection signal corresponds.

On the control unit 60 and the upper control device 100 side, whether the detection signal Di2 output by the level detection circuit 29a of the unit 120 in which the short-circuit failure has occurred is inactive or the detection signal Di1 output by the level detection circuit 29b is inactive. , The degree of the short-circuit failure that has occurred can be determined. For example, if the detection signal Di2 is inactive, the entire unit 120 is short-circuited for more urgent inspection and repair, and if the detection signal Di1 is inactive, the next periodic inspection, etc. It is possible to carry out inspections and the like.

According to the embodiment described above, it is possible to realize a DC cutoff device capable of determining the presence or absence of failure of each semiconductor switch element while the function is normal.

Although some embodiments of the present invention have been described above, these embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be implemented in various other embodiments, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the gist of the invention. These embodiments and modifications thereof are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are also included in the scope of the invention and its equivalents described in the claims. In addition, the above-described embodiments can be implemented in combination with each other.

1a, 1b DC circuit, 2 DC line, 3 current detector, 10 DC cutoff device, 20 cutoff circuit, 21 semiconductor switch element, 23 snubber circuit, 23c capacitor, 23d diode, 23r resistor, 26 arrester, 27a, 27b resistor Instrument, 28a, 28b rectifier circuit, 29a, 29b level detection circuit, 50 mechanical breaker, 60 control unit, 100 upper control device

Claims (5)

With a mechanical circuit breaker
A circuit breaker connected in parallel with the mechanical circuit breaker, in which the breaking current is passed before the mechanical circuit breaker is cut off by detecting the breaking current, and then cut off.
A control unit that controls the conduction state and the cutoff state of the mechanical circuit breaker and the breaker circuit,
With
The break circuit
With multiple semiconductor switch elements connected in series,
A snubber circuit including a capacitor connected in parallel to each of the plurality of semiconductor switch elements and provided to hold a voltage across the circuit during a cutoff operation.
An arrester connected in parallel to the plurality of semiconductor switch elements,
The first is to input the voltage difference between the voltage of the connection node in the middle of the series circuit of the plurality of semiconductor switch elements and the preset reference voltage, and compare the voltage difference with the preset first threshold value. Level detection circuit and
Including shutoff unit including
The reference voltage and the first threshold value are set based on the voltage that appears at the connection node when all of the plurality of semiconductor switch elements normally cut off the breaking current and the arrester operates normally.
The first level detection circuit outputs an active detection signal when the absolute value of the voltage difference is equal to or less than the first threshold value.
A DC cutoff device that outputs an inactive detection signal when the absolute value of the voltage difference is larger than the first threshold value. The break circuit includes the plurality of break units.
The DC cutoff device according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of cutoff units are connected in series. The blocking unit
Further comprising a second level detection circuit connected to detect the voltage across the arrester, having a second threshold lower than the voltage limit of the arrester and greater than or equal to the voltage across the arrester when the arrester short-circuits.
The second level detection circuit is
When the voltage across the arrester is equal to or greater than the second threshold value, an active detection signal is output.
The DC cutoff device according to claim 2, wherein an inactive detection signal is output when the voltage across the arrester is lower than the second threshold value. The DC cutoff according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the first threshold value is corrected and set according to the variation in the characteristics of the capacitor connected to each of the plurality of semiconductor switch elements. apparatus. With a mechanical circuit breaker
A circuit breaker connected in parallel with the mechanical circuit breaker, in which the breaking current is passed before the mechanical circuit breaker is cut off by detecting the breaking current, and then the breaking circuit is cut off.
A control unit that controls the conduction state and the cutoff state of the mechanical circuit breaker and the breaker circuit,
With
The break circuit
With multiple semiconductor switch elements connected in series,
A snubber circuit including a capacitor connected in parallel to each of the plurality of semiconductor switch elements and provided to hold a voltage across the circuit during a cutoff operation.
An arrester connected in parallel to the plurality of semiconductor switch elements,
A level detection circuit that is connected to detect the voltage across the arrester, is lower than the voltage limit of the arrester, and has a threshold value equal to or higher than the voltage across the arrester when the arrester is short-circuited.
Includes multiple shutoff units, each containing
The plurality of shutoff units are connected in series and
The level detection circuit
When the voltage across the arrester is equal to or greater than the threshold value, an active detection signal is output.
A DC cutoff device that outputs an inactive detection signal when the voltage across the arrester is lower than the threshold value.

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