Within a direct current hybrid circuit breaker (DC HCB), a commutation unit (CU) is provided in a semiconductor switch path in series with a semiconductor switch to facilitate opening the DC HCB. The semiconductor switch path is connected in parallel with a mechanical switch path that includes a mechanical switch. The CU is a controlled voltage source which applies a reverse biased voltage on the semiconductor switch path. The CU causes the current through the mechanical switch to ramp down while the current through the semiconductor switch ramps up to a supply current. The CU maintains the current through the mechanical switch to remain at a zero vale by compensating for the voltage drop across the semiconductor switch and the self-inductance of the semiconductor switch path. The mechanical switch can open without current and against no recovery voltage.

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.

A switching arrangement for reducing contactor wear of an energy storage system having a plurality of battery packs arranged in parallel for powering a load. The switching arrangement includes a contactor for each battery pack. The contactors connect and disconnect the battery packs relative to the load by closing and opening, respectively, an electric arc reducing circuitry associated to one of the contactors. The switching arrangement is configured to electrically disconnect the battery packs from the load by means of the contactors such that the contactor being associated with the electric arc reducing circuitry is opened last.

The DC interrupting device includes a main current conduction unit including a main interrupting switch, which is a mechanical switch, a reverse current power supply unit connected to an input terminal of the main current conduction unit and configured to generate a predetermined reverse current, and a reverse current conduction unit configured to supply the reverse current to an output terminal of the main current conduction unit. The reverse current power supply unit includes a first reverse current dedicated capacitor charged by a voltage applied to an input terminal of the main current conduction unit, a polarity reversing inductor configured to reverse a polarity of the first reverse current dedicated capacitor, and a reverse current power supply unit switch configured to perform circuit connection such that the polarity reversing inductor reverses the polarity of the first reverse current dedicated capacitor.

An interrupter device for interrupting a direct current between a direct current source and an electrical device, for example, between a photovoltaic generator and an inverter. The interrupter device has a mechanical switch which has a first fixed contact, a second fixed contact, and a contact bridge that can be moved between a first position and a second position. The contact bridge and the first fixed contact are electrically contacted to a semiconductor switch which blocks a current when the contact bridge is in the first position. A control input of the semiconductor switch is connected to the mechanical switch such that an arc voltage generated as a result of an arc across the switch connects the semiconductor switch so as to conduct a current when the contact bridge is moved into the second position.

To provide an arc suppression device that blocks AC power and is capable of prolonging a life of a breaker for switching between supply and block of the AC power from an AC power supply.

An arc suppression device includes current limiting circuits provided in parallel to a breaker for switching between supply and block of AC power from an AC power supply corresponding to a bidirectional current from the AC power supply in parallel, in which each of the current limiting circuits blocks a current from the AC power supply when the AC power from the AC power supply is supplied to a load and blocks the current from the AC power supply after a current that is generated by a potential difference is flowed, the potential difference being caused at the time of blocking when the supply of the AC power from the AC power supply to the load is blocked.

A low-voltage protective device includes: at least one outer conductor path from an outer conductor power terminal of the low-voltage protective device to an outer conductor load terminal of the low-voltage protective device; a neutral conductor path from a neutral conductor terminal of the low-voltage protective device to a neutral conductor load terminal of the low-voltage protective device; a mechanical bypass switch arranged in the outer conductor path; a first semiconductor circuit arrangement connected in parallel to the mechanical bypass switch, the first semiconductor circuit arrangement having at least one power semiconductor, such as an IGBT, with a control terminal, such as a gate terminal; an electronic control unit; a current-measurement arrangement arranged in the outer conductor path, connected to the electronic control unit of the protective device; and at least one voltage measurement arrangement for detecting a Miller effect-induced voltage spike at the at least one power semiconductor.

An arc extinguishing power device driving apparatus and an arc extinguishing apparatus of the present disclosure belong to the electrical field, and are particularly an arc extinguishing power device driving apparatus applicable to an electronic arc extinguishing apparatus for driving a power device. The power device that needs to be driven is connected in parallel to a mechanical switch that requires arc extinguishing, and includes a first voltage detection switch. An input end of the first voltage detection switch is connected to two ends of the power device. The first voltage detection switch is connected in series in a driving loop of the power device. The first voltage detection switch is turned on when detecting that there is a potential difference between the two ends of the power device. A driving signal is transferred to the power device by using the first voltage detection switch, to drive the power device to be turned on. The first voltage detection switch is a semi-controllable switch, or a fully-controllable switch whose threshold is less than an on-state voltage of the power device. The present disclosure has advantages of no need of a semiconductor device with a high withstand voltage, real-time detection on disconnection of a mechanical switch, and low driving energy consumption.

Some embodiments are directed to an apparatus for detecting and suppressing DC electric arcs at a component, and are particularly adapted for vehicle wiring harnesses. The apparatus can include a detector circuit electrically connected to input and output terminals so as to be electrically connected in parallel to the component, the detector circuit being configured to detect a significant voltage spike across the component upon the component actuating between open and closed positions. The detector circuit can also be configured to transmit a control signal upon detecting the significant voltage spike. The detector circuit can include multiple circuit elements, enabling both the detection of the significant voltage spike and the transmission of the control signal, that are directly electrically connected to each other. A switching circuit conducts electricity from the power source side of the component to the load side of the component upon receipt of the control signal.

A low-voltage circuit breaker includes: at least one external conductor section of an external conductor power terminal of the low-voltage circuit breaker connected to an external conductor load terminal of the low-voltage circuit breaker; and a neutral conductor section of a neutral conductor connection of the low-voltage circuit breaker connected to a neutral conductor load terminal of the low-voltage circuit breaker. A mechanical bypass switch is arranged in the at least one external conductor section. A semiconductor circuit arrangement of the low-voltage circuit breaker is switched parallel to the bypass switch. A first current measuring arrangement is arranged in the at least one external conductor section, which is connected to an electronic control unit of the low-voltage circuit breaker. The electronic control unit is configured to actuate the bypass switch and the semiconductor circuit arrangement when a prespecifiable overcurrent is detected by the current measuring arrangement.