Patent Grant
10991528
The disclosure relates to a gas-insulated load break switch with an arc-extinguishing capability, and to a switchgear such as an electric power distribution switchgear comprising such a gas-insulated load break switch.
Load break switches constitute an integral part of units assigned to the task of switching load currents, with typical load currents being in a range of 400 A to 2000 A root mean square. The switch is opened or closed by a relative movement of contacts, e.g. a plug contact and a tulip-type contact. When the contacts are moved away from each other during a current-breaking operation, an electric arc may be formed between the separating contacts.
In load break switches which have a mechanism with an arc-extinguishing capability, such as puffer mechanism, a quenching gas is compressed in a puffer volume and released into an arcing region or arc quenching region. During an opening operation, a piston through a displacement stroke, the quenching gas is compressed, and an overpressure occurs in the compression chamber. At the same time, the tulip contact is pulled away from the plug contact, and the electric arc is generated. During the interruption, the arc heats up the gas volume around the contacts. Hot insulation gas has a lower insulation capability than the same insulation gas at a lower temperature. The hot gas increases a risk of a dielectric re-strike, even if the arc was successfully interrupted beforehand (i.e., even if a preceding thermal interruption was successful).
In typical applications, sulfur hexafluoride (SF) is used as a quenching gas or insulating gas. SF6 has excellent dielectric properties for the purpose of insulation, as well as excellent arc cooling or arc quenching properties and thermal dissipating properties. Therefore, the use of SF6 allows for compact load break switches and compact switchgears having such SF6-based load break switches. However, the global warming potential of SF6 has led to developing gas-insulated load break switches and/or switchgear with alternative insulation gases.
Document EP 2 445 068 A1 describes a gas circuit breaker comprising an insulation gas of CO2 gas or a gas including CO2 gas as the main component. The gas circuit breaker includes a high-voltage unit, a zeolite and the insulation gas in a closed vessel.
Document WO 2014/094891 A1 describes an electrical switching device having arcing contacts and main contacts. A first arcing contact is attached to an exhaust tube, the exhaust tube being surrounded by an exhaust volume. Another exhaust volume follows a second arcing contact.
An object of the disclosure is to provide an improved gas-insulated load break switch which allows for a reliable arc extinction even under difficult conditions, while still maintaining a compact or low-cost design. Another object of the disclosure is to provide an improved switchgear having a gas-insulated load break switch as described herein, wherein a reliable arc-extinguishing operation of the load break switch does not substantially affect an interphase behavior between neighboring phases.
In view of the above, a gas-insulated load break switch and a switchgear according to the claims, are provided.
According to a first aspect, the gas-insulated load break switch, such as a low- or medium-voltage gas-insulated load break switch, comprises a housing, a first main contact and a second main contact, a first arcing contact and a second arcing contact, a pressurizing system, and a nozzle system. The housing defines a housing volume for holding an insulation gas at an ambient pressure. The first main contact and the second main contact are movable in relation to each other in an axial direction of the load break switch. The first arcing contact and the second arcing contact are movable in relation to each other in an axial direction of the load break switch and define an arcing region. In the arcing region, an arc is formed during a current breaking operation. The arcing region is located at least partially radially inward from the first main contact. The pressurizing system has a pressurizing chamber for pressurizing a quenching gas during the current breaking operation. The nozzle system is arranged and configured such as to blow the pressurized quenching gas onto the arc which is formed in the quenching region during the current breaking operation. The nozzle system has a nozzle supply channel for supplying at least one nozzle with the pressurized quenching gas.
In the first aspect, the first main contact comprises at least one pressure release opening. The pressure release opening is formed such as to allow a flow of gas substantially in a radial outward direction. The flow of gas during an arc extinguishing operation is typically a flow of pressurized gas which has been released by the nozzle system into the quenching region, or arc extinguishing region.
In the first aspect, further, the total area of the at least one pressure release opening is configured such that during a supply of the pressurized quenching gas, a reduction of the flow of gas out of the pressure release opening is suppressed. Thus, the area of the at least one pressure release opening is designed such as to be large enough not to cause a substantial gas flow reduction of the quenching gas.
A flow reduction may for example relate to a reduction of a flow speed of the gas flowing out of the pressure release opening. Additionally or alternatively, a flow reduction may for example relate to a reduction of a flow rate or a flow volume of the gas flowing out of the pressure release opening. A substantial gas flow reduction, as used herein, is assumed when the discharge process of the pressurized quenching gas through a respective opening, such as the pressure release opening, is insufficient to an extent that a dielectric re-strike or re-ignition is likely to occur due to the gas, which is heated by the arc, flowing towards the main contact.
As used herein, in the case that only one single opening such as the pressure release opening is provided, a total area refers to the area of single opening which can be used by the pressurized quenching gas to flow out through this opening. Consequently, in the case that more than one respective opening is provided, such as a succession of pressure release openings in the main contact which are separated from each other by solid material, a total area refers to the cumulative effective area of all openings which are involved in the respective gas flow.
By designing the at least one pressure release opening such that the gas flow of the pressurized quenching gas is substantially not reduced from the quenching region to the other side of the openings, an accumulation of hot gas around the main contact can be reduced during a current-breaking operation. The hot gas can be effectively flow away from the quenching region, in a relatively unhindered manner. A volume of colder gas replaces the hot gas. The colder gas has a higher insulation level. Thereby, a dielectric re-strike after a thermal arc interruption may be prevented.
In embodiments, the nozzle supply channel has, at least in a connection region with the pressurizing chamber, a substantially uniform cross-section. In the connection region, the nozzle supply channel opens out into the pressurizing chamber (i.e., empties into the pressurizing chamber), and the cross-section in this region contributes to the behavior of the gas inside the pressurizing chamber. In case of a plurality of nozzle supply channels, the cross-section of the nozzle supply channel is defined as an effective cross-section of the plurality of nozzle supply channels.
In embodiments, the total area of the at least one pressure release opening is more than 4 (four) times the cross-section of the nozzle supply channel. A total area of more than four times the cross-section of the nozzle supply channel may help to ensure an effective gas flow away from the quenching region, and prevent an accumulation of hot gas in or around the quenching region to prevent a dielectric re-strike.
In embodiments, the total area of the at least one pressure release opening is less than 5 (five) times the cross-section of the nozzle supply channel. Typically, the total area of the at least one pressure release opening is more than four times and less than five times the cross-section of the nozzle supply. Limiting the opening to less than five times the cross-section of the nozzle supply channel may help to ensure a sufficient current-carrying capability of the first main contact, while limiting the opening to more than four times the cross-section of the nozzle supply channel may help to ensure an effective gas flow away from the quenching region, and prevent an accumulation of hot gas in or around the quenching region to prevent a dielectric re-strike.
In embodiments, the gas-insulated load break switch further comprises an interruption chamber. The first main contact is arranged, at least partially, within the interruption chamber (inside the interruption chamber). The interruption chamber typically has, at least in a region where the first main contact is arranged, a substantially uniform cross-section.
The interruption chamber comprises at least one gas outlet opening. The total area of the gas outlet opening is at least the total area of the at least one pressure release opening of the main contact. Additionally or alternatively, the total area of the gas outlet opening is more than ⅓ (a third) of the area of the substantially uniform cross-section of the interruption chamber. In further embodiments, the total area of the gas outlet opening is more than ⅓ (a third) and less than ½ (a half) of the area of the substantially uniform cross-section of the interruption chamber. As above, a total area, as used herein, refers to the cumulative effective area of all openings which are involved in a respective gas flow.
In embodiments, the at least one gas outlet opening is formed such as to allow, in co-operation with the at least one pressure release opening, a flow of gas substantially in a radial outward direction into an ambient-pressure region of the housing volume.
Designing the gas outlet opening in this way may help to ensure that the hot gas from the arcing region or quenching region can be released effectively not only through the main contact, but also out of the interruption chamber into the housing volume. Thus, an accumulation of hot gas in or around the quenching region may be reduced or prevented, and a dielectric re-strike may be prevented from occurring.
In embodiments, the gas-insulated load break switch further comprises a gas flow directing member. The gas flow directing member is configured and arranged such that the flow of gas is directed to a region having a low electrical field. Optionally, the gas flow directing member is configured and arranged such that the flow of gas is directed away from an external contacting terminal of the gas-insulated load break switch. The electrical field in the low electrical field region is typically significantly lower than an electrical field in the vicinity of the external contacting terminal of the gas-insulated load break switch, for example half as low or less.
The gas flow directing member may be essentially cup-shaped, and/or it may have a rounded surface.
When the hot gas is not only directed away from the arcing region or quenching region, but also away from a region which is known to have a high electrical field strength, a dielectric re-strike may be even more reliably prevented from occurring.
In embodiments, the first arcing contact has, at least in a contacting region with the second arcing contact, a substantially uniform cross-section, and the first arcing contact comprises at least one gap extending in the axial direction. The gap is designed such that it allows a flow of gas, typically a flow of pressurized quenching gas, to flow through it. Typically, the gap has at least ¼ (a fourth) of the area of the substantially uniform cross-section of the first arcing contact.
The first arcing contact may thus be split, with a width of the split allowing for a sufficient gas flow. In the exemplary case of a first arcing contact having a round cross-section, a width which is sufficient may correspond to at least ¼ of the arc pin diameter. The local temperature distribution during an arc quenching operation may be further improved by this measure.
In embodiments, the pressurizing system is a puffer system, and the pressurizing chamber is a puffer chamber with a piston arranged for compressing the quenching gas on a compression side of the puffer chamber during the current breaking operation. A puffer type switch can manage a relatively high electric power while the dielectric requirements of the medium which surrounds the load break switch are comparatively low.
In this embodiment, the piston of the puffer system comprises at least one auxiliary opening which connects the compression side with an opposite side of the piston. A total cross-section area of the at least one auxiliary opening is designed for allowing a sufficient flow of gas through it. Typically, the total cross-section area of the at least one auxiliary opening is at least ⅓ (a third) of the area of a total gas outflow cross-section of the nozzle system.
A total gas outflow cross-section is the effective cross-section which contributes to a flow of pressurized quenching gas out of the nozzle system into the direction of the quenching region. The gas which flows from the compression chamber through the auxiliary hole(s) in the piston may cover the moving main contact with relatively cold gas. The higher insulation capabilities of the colder gas may help to prevent dielectric re-strikes in the region of the moving main contact.
In embodiments, the second arcing contact comprises a hollow section. The hollow section extends substantially in the axial direction and is arranged such that a gas portion from the quenching region flows from the quenching region into the hollow section.
In embodiments, the hollow section has an outlet for allowing the gas portion which has flown into the hollow section to flow out at an exit side of the hollow section into an ambient-pressure region of the housing volume. The exit side may be at a significant distance from an entry portion of the hollow cross-section in which the gas portion enters the hollow section.
The hollow section may contribute in a flow of hot gas away from the quenching region, such that dielectric re-strikes are even more reliably prevented.
In embodiments, the nozzle comprises an insulating outer nozzle portion. Additionally or alternatively, the nozzle is arranged, at least partially, on a tip end of the second arcing contact. Optionally, the insulating outer nozzle portion, if present, is arranged on the tip end of the second arcing contact.
In embodiments, the insulation gas has a global warming potential lower than the one of SF6 over an interval of 100 years, and wherein the insulation gas preferably comprises at least one gas component selected from the group consisting of: CO2, O2, N2, H2, air. N2O, a hydrocarbon, in particular CH4, a perfluorinated or partially hydrogenated organofluorine compound, and mixtures thereof. In further embodiments, the insulation gas comprises a background gas, in particular selected from the group consisting CO2, O2, N2, H2, air, in a mixture with an organofluorine compound selected from the group consisting of: fluoroether, oxirane, fluoroamine, fluoroketone, fluoroolefin, fluoronitrile, and mixtures and/or decomposition products thereof. For example, the dielectric insulating medium may comprise dry air or technical air. The dielectric insulating medium may in particular comprise an organofluorine compound selected from the group consisting of: a fluoroether, an oxirane, a fluoroamine, a fluoroketone, a fluoroolefin, a fluoronitrile, and mixtures and/or decomposition products thereof. In particular, the insulation gas may comprise as a hydrocarbon at least CH4, a perfluorinated and/or partially hydrogenated organofluorine compound, and mixtures thereof. The organofluorine compound is preferably selected from the group consisting of: a fluorocarbon, a fluoroether, a fluoroamine, a fluoronitrile, and a fluoroketone; and preferably is a fluoroketone and/or a fluoroether, more preferably a perfluoroketone and/or a hydrofluoroether, more preferably a perfluoroketone having from 4 to 12 carbon atoms and even more preferably a perfluoroketone having 4, 5 or 6 carbon atoms. The insulation gas preferably comprises the fluoroketone mixed with air or an air component such as N2. O2, and/or CO2.
In specific cases, the fluoronitrile mentioned above is a perfluoronitrile, in particular a perfluoronitrile containing two carbon atoms, and/or three carbon atoms, and/or four carbon atoms. More particularly, the fluoronitrile can be a perfluoroalkylnitrile, specifically perfluoroacetonitrile, perfluoropropionitrile (C2F5CN) and/or perfluorobutyronitrile (C3F7CN). Most particularly, the fluoronitrile can be perfluoroisobutyronitrile (according to formula (CF3)2CFCN) and/or perfluoro-2-methoxypropanenitrile (according to formula CF3CF(OCF3)CN). Of these, perfluoroisobutyronitrile is particularly preferred due to its low toxicity.
In embodiments, the gas-insulated load break switch has a rated voltage of at most 52 kV, in particular 12 kV or 24 kV or 36 kV or 52 kV. The load break switch may be adapted for operating in a voltage range of 1 to 52 kV. The voltage range of 1 to 52 kV AC can be referred to as medium voltage as defined in the standard EC 62271-103. However, all voltages above 1 kV can be referred to as high voltage.
According to a further aspect of the disclosure, a gas-insulated switchgear is provided. The gas-insulated switchgear has a gas-insulated load break switch as described herein.
In embodiments, the gas-insulated switchgear comprises at least two gas-insulated load break switches, typically three gas-insulated load break switches or a multiple of three. Each load break switch comprises an external contacting terminal for respective different voltage phases. In a three-phase distribution system, each of the three gas-insulated load break switches of the switchgear serves to switch one of the three phases of the three-phase system.
In this embodiment, each load break switch further comprises a gas flow directing member, as already described herein. The gas flow directing member is configured and arranged to direct the flow of gas away from the external contacting terminals of the load break switches. Typically, the external contacting terminals are arranged in the direct vicinity of the respective gas flow directing member, optionally in close contact with the respective gas flow directing member.
In the region of the external contacting terminals, the electrical field strength is typically high, and blowing hot insulation gas with a comparatively low insulation property against this high field region may cause a dielectric re-strike. With the configuration as described above, a dielectric re-strike in a switchgear may effectively be prevented.
Alternatively or additionally, the gas flow directing member is configured and arranged to direct the flow of gas away from an interphase zone between neighboring voltage phases.
Hence, the flow pattern of the gas flow may be tailored in such a way that the hot gas, vapors etc. which are generated during an arcing event is transported away from a region with high electrical field stress, such as the interphase zone, and the highly stressed regions will not experience a reduced insulation level. Rather, the hot gas is directed away from the interphase zone and preferably to a region where the electrical stress is low.
Further advantages, features, aspects and details that can be combined with embodiments described herein and are disclosed in the dependent claims and claim combinations, in the description and in the drawings.
The disclosure will now be described in greater detail with reference to the drawings in which:
Reference will now be made in detail to the various aspects and embodiments. Each aspect and embodiment are provided by way of explanation and is not meant as a limitation. For example, features illustrated or described as part of one aspect or embodiment can be used on or in conjunction with any other aspect or embodiment. It is intended that the present disclosure includes such combinations and modifications.
Within the following description of embodiments shown in the drawings, the same reference numbers refer to the same or to similar components. Generally, only the differences with respect to the individual embodiments are described. Unless specified otherwise, the description of a part or aspect in one embodiment applies to a corresponding part or aspect in another embodiment, as well.
The switch 1 has a first arcing contact (e.g., a stationary pin contact) 10 and a second arcing contact (e.g., a movable tulip contact) 20. The fixed contact 10 is solid, while the movable contact 20 has a tube-like geometry with a tube portion 24 and an inner volume or hollow section 26. The movable contact 20 can be moved along the axis 12, in an axial direction A, away from the stationary contact 10 for opening the switch 1.
The switch 1 further has a first main contact 80 and a second main contact 90 designed to carry and conduct a nominal current during nominal operation. In an opening operation, the second main contact 90 is moved away from the (stationary) first main contact 80, and the current from the main contacts 80, 90 is taken over by the arcing contacts 10, 20.
The switch 1 further has a puffer-type pressurizing system 40 with a pressurizing chamber 42 having a quenching gas contained therein. The quenching gas is a portion of the insulation gas contained in the housing volume of the switch 1. The pressurizing chamber 42 is delimited by a chamber wall 44 and a piston 46 for compressing the quenching gas within the puffer chamber 42 during the current breaking operation.
The switch 1 further has a nozzle system 30. The nozzle system 30 comprises a nozzle 33 connected to the pressurizing chamber 42 by a nozzle channel 32. The nozzle 33 is arranged axially outside the tulip contact 20. In embodiments, several nozzles may be arranged at different azimuthal positions along a circle about the axis 12; and the term “nozzle” herein preferably refers to each of these nozzles.
During a switching operation, as shown in
The nozzle system 30 and the piston 46 are moved by a drive (not shown), during the switching operation, together with the tulip contact 20 away from the pin contact 10. The other chamber walls 44 of the pressurizing volume 42 are stationary. Thus, the pressurizing volume 42 is compressed and the quenching gas contained therein is brought to a quenching pressure which is defined as the maximum total pressure (overall, i.e. neglecting localized pressure build-up) within the pressurizing chamber 42.
The nozzle system 30 then blows the pressurized quenching gas from the pressurization chamber 42 onto the arc. For this purpose, the quenching gas from the pressurization chamber 42 is released and blown through the channel 32 and the nozzle 33 onto the arcing zone 52. Thus, the quenching gas flows towards the arcing zone 52. From the arcing zone 52, the gas flows in a predominantly axial direction away from the arcing zone.
Referring to
Referring back to
The pressure release opening 85 of the embodiment shown in
The pressure release opening 85 is configured such that a flow of the pressurized quenching gas, which extends by the heat of the arc in the arcing region 52, is substantially not reduced. In other words. The total area of the pressure release opening(s) 85 is large enough not to cause any gas flow reduction of the quenching gas, e. g. a reduction of the gas flow volume.
In the embodiment of
In the embodiment of
The interruption chamber 70 has gas outlet opening 75. The total area of the gas outlet openings 75 is at least the total area of the pressure release openings 85. Thereby, the hot insulation gas is directed out of the interruption chamber 70 into an ambient-pressure region of the housing volume 2. In the shown embodiment, the total area of the gas outlet openings 75 of the interruption chamber 70 is more than ⅓ of the area of a substantially uniform cross-section 71 of the interruption chamber 70, wherein the substantially uniform cross-section 71 is provided at least in a region where the first main contact 80 is arranged.
Optionally, the total area of the gas outlet openings 75 of the interruption chamber 70 is more than ⅓ and less than ½ of the area of the substantially uniform cross-section 71 of the interruption chamber 70.
In the embodiment of
In the piston 46 which holds the second main contact 90, a central opening 49 is provided which leads to a hollow section 26. The hollow section is arranged such that a portion of the quenching gas having been blown onto the arcing region 52 is allowed to flow from the arcing region 52 into the hollow section 26, and from there through an outlet of the hollow section 26 into the bulk housing volume 2 of the load break switch 1.
In embodiments, a double flow design may occur at the tip of the nozzle 33, wherein the insulation gas accelerates into different possible directions. The hot gas may therefore split into a portion which flows radially outward and is released into the housing volume through openings 75, 85, and into another portion which is released through the outlet of the hollow section 26 into the housing volume of the switch 1.
Some possible applications for the load break switch 1 are a low- or medium voltage load break switch and/or a switch-fuse combination switch; or a medium-voltage disconnector in a setting in which an arc cannot be excluded. The rated voltage for these application is at most 52 kV.
By applying the openings for the flow of hot gas, as described herein, to a low- or medium-voltage load break switch, its thermal interruption performance can significantly be improved. This permits, for example, the use with an insulation gas being different from SF6. SF6 has excellent dielectric and arc quenching properties, and has therefore conventionally been used in gas-insulated switchgear. However, due to its high global warming potential, there have been large efforts to reduce the emission and eventually stop the usage of such greenhouse gases, and thus to find alternative gases, by which SF6 may be replaced.
Such alternative gases have already been proposed for other types of switches. For example, WO 2014/154292 A1 discloses an SF6-free switch with an alternative insulation gas. Replacing SF6 by such alternative gases is technologically challenging, as SF6 has extremely good switching and insulation properties, due to its intrinsic capability to cool the arc.
The present configuration allows the use of such an alternative gas having a global warming potential lower than the one of SF6 in a load break switch, even if the alternative gas does not fully match the interruption performance of SF6.
In some embodiments, due to the openings that prevent an accumulation of the hot gas while still maintaining a sufficient current carrying capability, this improvement can be achieved without significantly increasing the machining for the involved parts.
An application of the load break switch 1 is in a switchgear. A schematic sectional view of a switchgear 100 is shown in
In the switchgear 100 of
The gas flow directing members 110a, 110b, 110c each have an opening 112a, 112b, 112c through which the flow of hot gas which occurs within the gas flow directing members 110a, 110b, 110c during an arcing event passes. The gas flow directing members 110a, 110b, 110c have their respective openings 112a, 112b, 112c direct away from the external contacting terminals 101a, 101b, 101c. Furthermore, the openings 112a, 112b, 112c also direct away from a zone in between the phase, i.e. an interphase zone 105 between the first phase and the second phase, and an interphase zone 106 between the second phase and the third phase.
As such, the hot gas is directed away from neighboring phases. In
Thus, the hot gas is directed away from an interphase zone 105, 106 which is a zone of high electrical field stress in the switchgear 100. Consequently, the interphase zone 105, 106 will not experience a reduced insulation level, as the hot gas is directed away from the interphase zone 105, 106, e.g. towards walls or roof of the switchgear 100 where the electrical stress is low.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 17178561 | Jun 2017 | EP | regional |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/EP2018/065480 | 6/12/2018 | WO | 00 |
| Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| WO2019/001946 | 1/3/2019 | WO | A |
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4276456 | Cromer | Jun 1981 | A |
| 4471187 | Sturzenegger | Sep 1984 | A |
| 4663504 | Barkan | May 1987 | A |
| 6646850 | Bergmann | Nov 2003 | B1 |
| 6660954 | Iwabuchi | Dec 2003 | B2 |
| 8389886 | Dahlquist | Mar 2013 | B2 |
| 8674253 | Uchii | Mar 2014 | B2 |
| 8779316 | Drews | Jul 2014 | B2 |
| 20050150868 | Nowakowski | Jul 2005 | A1 |
| 20070221626 | Uchii | Sep 2007 | A1 |
| 20130126481 | Ozil | May 2013 | A1 |
| 20140251957 | Cernat | Sep 2014 | A1 |
| 20160307716 | Florez | Oct 2016 | A1 |
| Number | Date | Country |
|---|---|---|
| 2445068 | Apr 2012 | EP |
| 2034121 | May 1980 | GB |
| 2000067716 | Mar 2000 | JP |
| 2014094891 | Jun 2014 | WO |
| Entry |
|---|
| European Extended Search Report Application No. 17178561.1 Completed: Dec. 19, 2017 dated Jan. 15, 2018 9 Pages. |
| International Search Report and Written Opinion of the International Searching Authority Application No. PCT/EP2018/065480 Completed: Jul. 25, 2018; dated Aug. 13, 2018 17 Pages. |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20200126742 A1 | Apr 2020 | US |
