A nozzle with an electric arc-blast having a median part of a first dielectric material and two end parts. The nozzle includes an insert of a second dielectric material, chosen from among: a composite material including a fluorocarbon polymer matrix and inorganic filler A chosen from among a sulfur, a ceramic and an oxide (SiO2, TiO2, Al2CoO4, ZnO, BaTiO3 and P2O5), in a percentage weight ranging between 0.1% and 10%, and/or at least one inorganic filler B (a graphite, a mica, a glass and a fluoride), in a percentage weight ranging between 5% and 50%, and a ceramic material including compound(s) (a carbide, a boride and an oxide).

An interrupter unit for a circuit breaker has two electrically conductive arcing contact pieces, which can be moved relative to one another along a switching path. An insulating nozzle has a nozzle channel through which the switching path runs. A heating volume is connected to the nozzle channel. A separating housing divides the heating volume into a cold gas region and a hot gas region. A cold gas duct runs through a nozzle channel end section of the nozzle channel and is connected to the cold gas region. A hot gas duct runs through the nozzle channel end section and is connected to the hot gas region.

In accordance with presently disclosed embodiments, an arc resistant exhaust and intake for medium and high voltage switchgear is provided. In one embodiment, an arc resistant drive system may comprise: a drive cabinet comprising a vent; and an arc resistant shutter plate assembly coupled to the drive cabinet and aligned adjacent to the vent, wherein the arc resistant shutter plate assembly comprises a plurality of shutter plates configured to automatically transition from an open position to a closed position when air pressure inside the drive cabinet exceeds a predetermined value, such that the shutter plates substantially restrict air flow through the vent in the closed position.

In accordance with presently disclosed embodiments, an arc resistant exhaust and intake for medium and high voltage switchgear is provided. In one embodiment, an arc resistant drive system may comprise: a drive cabinet comprising a vent; and an arc resistant shutter plate assembly coupled to the drive cabinet and aligned adjacent to the vent, wherein the arc resistant shutter plate assembly comprises a plurality of shutter plates configured to automatically transition from an open position to a closed position when air pressure inside the drive cabinet exceeds a predetermined value, such that the shutter plates substantially restrict air flow through the vent in the closed position.

Disclosed is a DC circuit breaker capable of interrupting fault currents flowing in both forward and backward directions. The DC circuit breaker includes: a first mechanical switch for interrupting a current in a DC transmission line; a first diode connected in parallel with the first mechanical switch; a second mechanical switch, connected in series with the first mechanical switch, for interrupting a current in the DC transmission line; a second diode connected in parallel with the second mechanical switch; an LC circuit connected in parallel with the first and second mechanical switches and including a capacitor and a reactor connected in series to induce LC resonance; a first unidirectional switching device connected in parallel with the LC circuit and switching a current to induce LC resonance; and a bidirectional switching device connected in series with the LC circuit and switching currents flowing in both forward and backward directions.

A nozzle with an electric arc-blast having a median part of a first dielectric material and two end parts. The nozzle includes an insert of a second dielectric material, chosen from among: a composite material including a fluorocarbon polymer matrix and inorganic filler A chosen from among a sulfur, a ceramic and an oxide (SiO2, TiO2, Al2CoO4, ZnO, BaTiO3 and P2O5), in a percentage weight ranging between 0.1% and 10%, and/or at least one inorganic filler B (a graphite, a mica, a glass and a fluoride), in a percentage weight ranging between 5% and 50%, and a ceramic material including compound(s) (a carbide, a boride and an oxide).

To improve cooling performances of quenching gas in a gas blast switch comprising a gas channel connecting an arcing region to a gas storage chamber delimited by radially opposite inner and outer walls and axially opposite first and second end walls, a flow guiding radial wall extends in the gas storage chamber spaced from each wall delimiting the chamber, an opening of the gas channel into the gas storage chamber through the first end wall faces a space between the flow guiding radial wall and the inner wall, the outer wall includes a deflecting portion protruding in the gas storage chamber and facing the second end wall, and at least part of the deflecting portion is offset from the flow guiding radial wall in an axial direction oriented from the gas channel towards the gas storage chamber.

An interrupter unit for a circuit breaker has two electrically conductive arcing contact pieces, which can be moved relative to one another along a switching path. An insulating nozzle has a nozzle channel through which the switching path runs. A heating volume is connected to the nozzle channel. A separating housing divides the heating volume into a cold gas region and a hot gas region. A cold gas duct runs through a nozzle channel end section of the nozzle channel and is connected to the cold gas region. A hot gas duct runs through the nozzle channel end section and is connected to the hot gas region.

A gas-insulated low- or medium-voltage load break switch includes: a housing defining a housing volume for holding an insulation gas at an ambient pressure; a first arcing contact and a second arcing contact arranged within the housing volume, the first and second arcing contacts being movable in relation to each other along an axis of the load break switch and defining a quenching region in which an arc is formed during a current breaking operation; a pressurizing system having a pressurizing chamber arranged within the housing volume for pressurizing a quenching gas from an ambient pressure p.sub.0 to a quenching pressure p.sub.quench during the current breaking operation; and a nozzle system arranged within the housing volume for blowing the pressurized quenching gas in a subsonic flow pattern from the pressurization chamber onto the arc formed in the quenching region during the current breaking operation. The nozzle system includes at least one nozzle arranged for blowing the quenching gas from an off-axis position predominantly radially inwardly onto the quenching region.

To improve cooling performances of quenching gas in a gas blast switch comprising a gas channel connecting an arcing region to a gas storage chamber delimited by radially opposite inner and outer walls and axially opposite first and second end walls, a flow guiding radial wall extends in the gas storage chamber spaced from each wall delimiting the chamber, an opening of the gas channel into the gas storage chamber through the first end wall faces a space between the flow guiding radial wall and the inner wall, the outer wall includes a deflecting portion protruding in the gas storage chamber and facing the second end wall, and at least part of the deflecting portion is offset from the flow guiding radial wall in an axial direction oriented from the gas channel towards the gas storage chamber.