A hybrid switch assembly for a circuit breaker assembly is provided. The circuit breaker assembly includes a housing assembly and an operating mechanism. The housing assembly defines a power electronic switch assembly cavity. A hybrid switch assembly includes a number of conductor assemblies, each conductor assembly including a movable conductor, and a stationary conductor. Further, each movable conductor is structured to move between an open, first position, wherein each movable conductor is spaced from and not in electrical communication with an associated stationary conductor, and a closed, second position, wherein each movable conductor is coupled to and in electrical communication with an associated stationary conductor. A number of the conductor assemblies further include a power electronic switch assembly. Each power electronic switch assembly includes an isolation contact assembly. Each isolation contact assembly is selectively coupled to, and in electronic communication with, the stationary conductor and the movable conductor.

Modular circuit protection devices and configurable panelboard systems include arc-free operation, thermal management features providing safe operation in hazardous environments at lower cost and without requiring conventional explosion-proof enclosures and without entailing series connected separately provided packages such as circuit breaker devices and starter motor contactors and controls.

Provided is a high voltage DC circuit breaker that interrupts a fault current flowing through a high voltage DC transmission line with a vacuum circuit breaker and a gas circuit breaker connected in series. The circuit breaker includes: a vacuum circuit breaker installed on a DC transmission line and operating to interrupt a current in the DC transmission line when a fault occurs on either side of the DC transmission line; a gas circuit breaker connected in series with the vacuum interrupter; an LC circuit connected in parallel with the vacuum circuit breaker and including a capacitor and a reactor connected in series to induce LC resonance; a first bidirectional switching device connected in series with the LC circuit and switching a current flowing in any of two opposite directions; and a second bidirectional switching device connected in parallel with the LC circuit.

Multiple relays are connected in parallel by including one or more semiconductor devices connected across the relay contacts. The semiconductor devices are triggered to conduct and shunt transient currents during the opening and closing of the relay contacts to protect the relay contacts from overcurrent and to eliminate arcing during relay switching. This permits a combination of smaller relays to replace a larger and more expensive relay in applications that require switching of large load currents.

A system includes a contactor operatively connected to a coil for actuating the contactor to open and close a circuit. A pass element includes a source, a drain, and a gate, wherein the drain is electrically connected to the coil, and wherein the coil is in series between the pass element and ground. A voltage source is connected to the source of the pass element to pass current into the coil when the pass element is in a pass state. A current source control circuit with economizer is operatively connected to the gate of the pass element. A delay circuit is operatively connected to the current source control circuit with economizer and to a command line to command a lower current for holding the contactor closed after a delay has expired for the contactor to transition.

A fault current limiter may include a current limiting leg to transmit a first current and a control leg in parallel with the current limiting leg, the control leg to transmit a second current. The control leg may include a plurality of solid state switches arranged in electrical series with one another; a plurality of current monitors arranged in electrical series with the plurality of solid state switches; and at least one triggering circuit, wherein the plurality of current monitors are electrically coupled to the at least one triggering circuit, and wherein the at least one triggering circuit is optically coupled to the plurality of solid state switches.

A circuit breaker with a switching path has at least one line interruption apparatus, wherein the circuit breaker has a disconnection unit and a connection unit which are each connected to the line interruption apparatus. The switching device has at least one measuring arrangement for measuring at least one electrical variable on the at least one switching path. The disconnection unit further has a comparison and decision unit, which comparison and decision unit is connected to the measuring arrangement and to the line interruption apparatus. The circuit breaker has a first data interface, which first data interface is designed to receive at least one connection command and/or one disconnection command, and wherein the first data interface is connected to the disconnection unit and the connection unit.

A switching apparatus for electric power distribution grids including: a withdrawable first switching unit having one or more first electric poles; a withdrawable second switching unit having one or more second electric poles and electrically connected ins series with said first switching unit; and a controller implementing control strategies directed to increase the safety of the withdrawal manoeuvres of said first and second switching units.

A hybrid circuit interrupter can be used for medium voltage direct current applications, among other applications. The circuit breaker includes a vacuum circuit interrupter and an electronic power interrupter that are electrically connected in parallel. The vacuum circuit interrupter is normally closed and the electronic power interrupter is normally off, so that current passes through the vacuum circuit interrupter in a non-interrupt mode. When an interrupt condition is detected, the electronic interrupter will turn on, and current will pass through the electronic interrupter as the vacuum interrupter is opened. A current injector may draw current from the vacuum interrupter to the electronic power interrupter. An isolation switch may maintain the system in a non-conducting state when interruption is complete.

A disconnecting device for interrupting a direct current between a direct current source and an electric apparatus, having a current-conducting mechanical switch, a power electronics unit connected thereto, and an energy store which is charged by an arcing voltage generated on the switch by an arc as the switch is being disconnected. A pulse generator that is connected to the energy store triggers at least one semiconductor switch of the power electronics unit in such a way that the power electronics unit short-circuits the switch and the arc is extinguished.