A high voltage electric power switch with an anti-flashover nozzle that suppresses the likelihood of a flashover occurring between switch components other than the switch contactors, such as the nozzle casing around the first contactor (e.g., female or socket) and the casing around the second contactor (e.g., male or pin) during an opening stroke of the contactors. The anti-flashover features include a corona ring positioned at the proximal end of the nozzle casing and a nozzle clamp ring positioned to the distal side of a nozzle casing abutment that mates with a nozzle receiver. The conventional nozzle includes a nib-shaped proximal end of the nozzle casing carrying a clamp ring positioned on the proximal side of the abutment. The new nozzle design reduces the high level of electric field stress created by the conventional nozzle casing to suppress the likelihood of a flashover occurring between the contactor casings.

The power system may include a main circuit arrangement having a power source, a load and a circuit breaker. The power system may additionally include an energy harvesting circuit arrangement connected to the main circuit arrangement. The energy harvesting circuit arrangement may include an operating switch and an energy harvester. The power system may also further include a trigger mechanism, which may be configured to, when detecting a current above a predetermined value in the main circuit arrangement, trigger the circuit breaker to switch from a closed mode to an open mode. The trigger mechanism may also be configured to trigger the operating switch to switch from an open mode to a closed mode for a predetermined duration, and back to the open mode after the predetermined duration, thereby storing electrical energy in the energy harvester.

The power system may include a main circuit arrangement having a power source, a load and a circuit breaker. The power system may additionally include an energy harvesting circuit arrangement connected to the main circuit arrangement. The energy harvesting circuit arrangement may include an operating switch and an energy harvester. The power system may also further include a trigger mechanism, which may be configured to, when detecting a current above a predetermined value in the main circuit arrangement, trigger the circuit breaker to switch from a closed mode to an open mode. The trigger mechanism may also be configured to trigger the operating switch to switch from an open mode to a closed mode for a predetermined duration, and back to the open mode after the predetermined duration, thereby storing electrical energy in the energy harvester.

A switching apparatus comprises: a plurality of parallel-connected current-conductive branches, each current-conductive branch including at least one respective gas tube switch; and a switching control unit configured to control the turn-on of the gas tube switches in a switching order so that the flow of current in the switching apparatus is controlled to switch between the current-conductive branches, wherein the switching order of the turn-on of the gas tube switches is arranged so that only one of the current-conductive branches is carrying the current during each turn-on cycle of the switching apparatus.

A switch includes: a first contact and a second contact placed on an operation axis and facing each other; an urging part that urges the second contact to a first contact side; and a second magnetic material part that engages with the second contact to restrict the second contact from moving to the first contact side. The switch also includes: a conductor part that passes current when an arc is formed between the first contact and the second contact; and a first magnetic material part that surrounds the conductor part. When current flows through the conductor part, the second magnetic material part is disengaged from the second contact.

A switch includes: a first contact and a second contact placed on an operation axis and facing each other; an urging part that urges the second contact to a first contact side; and a second magnetic material part that engages with the second contact to restrict the second contact from moving to the first contact side. The switch also includes: a conductor part that passes current when an arc is formed between the first contact and the second contact; and a first magnetic material part that surrounds the conductor part. When current flows through the conductor part, the second magnetic material part is disengaged from the second contact.

An electrical switch. The electrical switch includes at least one fixed contact and a movable contact contacting the fixed contact. At least one shutter element is arranged to move in synchronism with the movable contact. The shutter element is positioned in an extended position between the fixed contact and the movable contact and in a contracted position outside the patch of the movable contact allowing the movable contact to turn from the open position to the closed position.

A switching device for an encapsulated electric power distribution switchgear and an electric power distribution switchgear with at least one such switching device are disclosed. The switching device has a first electrically conducting housing which encloses an actuator mechanism for a first contact assembly and a second electrically conducting housing which encloses a second contact assembly. The first electrically conducting housing is arranged at a distance from the second electrically conducting housing. The switching device further has a third housing which is electrically insulating and arranged between the first electrically conducting housing and the second electrically conducting housing. The switching device is a puffer type switch.

A switching device for an encapsulated electric power distribution switchgear and an electric power distribution switchgear with at least one such switching device are disclosed. The switching device has a first electrically conducting housing which encloses an actuator mechanism for a first contact assembly and a second electrically conducting housing which encloses a second contact assembly. The first electrically conducting housing is arranged at a distance from the second electrically conducting housing. The switching device further has a third housing which is electrically insulating and arranged between the first electrically conducting housing and the second electrically conducting housing. The switching device is a puffer type switch.

An alternative gas current pause circuit interrupter with an internally switched resistor-varistor impedance. The varistor limits the voltage rise across the main contactor limiting restrikes, while the resistor limits the current through the interrupter. The values of the resistor and varistor are selected to creates a current pause in the current. In a representative embodiment, the current pause performance is less than 10% of the rated line current for at least 15% of the half-cycle period allowing a plain break butt impedance contactor to be utilized without excessive arcing. For another embodiment the current pause performance is less than 5% of the rated line current for at least 20% of the half-cycle period. SF6 free alternative gas current pause circuit interrupters using a 60% CO2 blend can achieve similar or improved transient voltage performance compared to similarly sized conventional SF6 gas interrupters operating at the same voltage rating.