1. Field
The present disclosure relates to electrical systems, and more particularly to laminated bus bars.
2. Description of Related Art
Bus bars carry high voltages. If a fault occurs between two live bus bars, e.g. due to a defect in the insulation separating the two bus bars, the high energy levels can potentially lead to cascading faults. The same can happen if there is a fault between a live bus bar and ground.
The conventional techniques have been considered satisfactory for their intended purpose. However, there is an ever present need for improved systems and methods for bus bars and fault clearing in bus bars. This disclosure provides a solution for this need.
A system includes a first bus bar. A foil element is spaced apart from the first bus bar. The foil element is electrically connected to the first bus bar by grid elements. A second bus bar is spaced apart from the foil element across a dielectric layer.
The foil element can be a first foil element, wherein the grid elements are a first set of grid elements, and the system can include a second foil element spaced apart from the second bus bar. The second foil element can be electrically connected to the second bus bar by a second set of grid elements. The second foil element can be spaced apart from the first foil element by the dielectric layer. The first set of grid elements can pass through a first dielectric sub-layer that otherwise separates the first bus bar from the first foil element. The second set of grid elements can pass through a second dielectric sub-layer that otherwise separates the second bus bar from the second foil element. The first bus bar, the first foil element, and the first set of grid elements can be coated with a first plating. The second bus bar, the second foil element, and the second set of grid elements can be coated with a second plating.
The first bus bar can have a thickness that is more than twice that of the first foil element. The second bus bar can have a thickness that is more than twice that of the second foil element. The first dielectric sub-layer can be thicker than the first foil element. The second dielectric sub-layer can be thicker than the second foil element. The dielectric layer can be thinner than the first bus bar, wherein the dielectric layer is thinner than the second bus bar. An external dielectric coating around the first and second bus bars can coat laterally along lateral edges of the first and second bus bars, the first and second foil elements, the first and second dielectric sub-layers, and the dielectric layer.
A direct current source can be connected to the first bus bar with a positive potential, and connected to the second bus bar with a negative potential. A load can be electrically connected across the first and second bus bars, wherein the load is electrically connected through the first and second bus bars to the direct current source.
A method includes powering a load through a laminated bus bar assembly. The method includes clearing a fault in the laminated bus bar assembly by locally breaking a fusible link within the laminated bus bar assembly, and continuing to power the load through the laminated bus bar assembly after the fault is cleared.
Locally breaking a fusible link can include breaking a fusible link between a foil element and a bus bar at a grid element electrically connecting the node to the bar. The fusible link can include a section of the foil element between two grid elements electrically connecting the bus bar to the foil element. Continuing to power the load can include utilizing additional fusible links within the laminated bus bar assembly to protect against future faults. The bus bar can carry a load, wherein the foil element carries only a transient current, wherein the load has a lower frequency than the transient current.
These and other features of the systems and methods of the subject disclosure will become more readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments taken in conjunction with the drawings.
So that those skilled in the art to which the subject disclosure appertains will readily understand how to make and use the devices and methods of the subject disclosure without undue experimentation, preferred embodiments thereof will be described in detail herein below with reference to certain figures, wherein:
Reference will now be made to the drawings wherein like reference numerals identify similar structural features or aspects of the subject disclosure. For purposes of explanation and illustration, and not limitation, a partial view of an embodiment of a system in accordance with the disclosure is shown in
The system 100 includes a first bus bar 102. A foil element 104 is spaced apart from the first bus bar 102. The foil element 104 is electrically connected to the first bus bar 102 by grid elements 106. A second bus bar 108 is spaced apart from the foil element 104 across a dielectric layer 110. A second foil element 112 is spaced apart from the second bus bar 108. The second foil element 112 is electrically connected to the second bus bar 108 by a second set of grid elements 114. The second foil element 112 is spaced apart from the first foil element 104 by the dielectric layer 110.
With continued reference to
With continued reference to
The first bus bar 102 can have a thickness A that is more than twice the thickness C of the first foil element 104. The second bus bar 108 can have a thickness G that is more than twice the thickness E of the second foil element 112. The first dielectric sub-layer 116 can have a thickness B that is thicker than the thickness C of the first foil element 104. The second dielectric sub-layer 118 can have thickness F that is thicker than the thickness E of the second foil element 112. The dielectric layer 110 can have a thickness D that is thinner than the thickness A of the first bus bar and thinner than the thickness G of the second bus bar 108.
With reference now to
With continued reference to
The methods and systems of the present disclosure, as described above and shown in the drawings, provide for laminated bus bars with self-clearing of faults. While the apparatus and methods of the subject disclosure have been shown and described with reference to preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that changes and/or modifications may be made thereto without departing from the scope of the subject disclosure.
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Number | Date | Country |
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13179433 | Dec 2013 | WO |
Entry |
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Extended European Search Report dated Jun. 24, 2020, issued during the prosecution of European Patent Application No. EP 19215924.2. |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20210104882 A1 | Apr 2021 | US |