Gate control of power semiconductor devices using reduced gate drivers is disclosed. A circuit breaker may include a multitude of transistors, such as insulated gate bipolar transistors (IGBTs), connected in series with one another. Each transistor may be connected to a respective gate resistor. Diodes may be connected between various gate resistors. One or more resistor-capacitor (RC) snubber circuits may be provided in parallel with one or more of the transistors. Likewise, one or more metal-oxide varistors (MOVs) may be connected in parallel to one or more of the transistors. A gate driver (e.g., a single gate drive) may be connected to the one or more diodes and an emitter of at least one of transistors.

A system includes a dry contact with a first pair of switchable electrodes, a wet contact with a second pair of switchable electrodes, an arc suppressor, and a controller circuit operatively coupled to the arc suppressor and the first and second pairs of switchable electrodes. The controller circuit is configured to detect a failure of the wet contact and determine a stick duration associated with the first pair of switchable electrodes. The stick duration is based on a duration between an instance when a coil of the dry contact is deactivated and an instance of separation of the first pair of switchable electrodes during deactivation of the coil. The controller circuit generates, in-situ and in real-time, health assessment for the first pair of switchable electrodes based on a comparison of the determined stick duration with an average stick duration associated with a window of observation.

A system includes a dry contact with a first pair of switchable electrodes, a wet contact with a second pair of switchable electrodes, an arc suppressor, and a controller circuit operatively coupled to the arc suppressor and the first and second pairs of switchable electrodes. The controller circuit is configured to detect a failure of the wet contact and determine a stick duration associated with the first pair of switchable electrodes. The stick duration is based on a duration between an instance when a coil of the dry contact is deactivated and an instance of separation of the first pair of switchable electrodes during deactivation of the coil. The controller circuit generates, in-situ and in real-time, health assessment for the first pair of switchable electrodes based on a comparison of the determined stick duration with an average stick duration associated with a window of observation.

The present invention relates to a delay switch module comprising: a delay switch (110), which is connected in parallel to a load switch (SW), is switched on during a set delay-off-time from when the load switch (SW) is switched off, and is switched off when the delay-off-time has elapsed, so that an operation stops when the delay-off-time has elapsed after the load switch (SW) is switched off; and a control unit (120) for sensing on/off switching of the load switch (SW) if there is an on/off switching operation of the load switch (SW) after the load switch (SW) is switched off, and controlling an operation-off of the delay switch (110) so that the set delay-off-time of the delay switch (110) changes according to the on/off switching operation of the load switch (SW).

The present invention relates to a delay switch module comprising: a delay switch (110), which is connected in parallel to a load switch (SW), is switched on during a set delay-off-time from when the load switch (SW) is switched off, and is switched off when the delay-off-time has elapsed, so that an operation stops when the delay-off-time has elapsed after the load switch (SW) is switched off; and a control unit (120) for sensing on/off switching of the load switch (SW) if there is an on/off switching operation of the load switch (SW) after the load switch (SW) is switched off, and controlling an operation-off of the delay switch (110) so that the set delay-off-time of the delay switch (110) changes according to the on/off switching operation of the load switch (SW).

A switching apparatus for an electric grid includes first and second electric terminals, each having first and second electric branches having a plurality of switching devices. The first electric branch includes a first switching device switchable between open and closed states, which is driven by a current flowing along said first switching device and without receiving an external control signal or an external power supply, said first switching device switching from said closed state to said open state, when the current flowing along said switching apparatus exceeds a corresponding predefined threshold value or when the changing rate of the current flowing along said switching apparatus exceeds a corresponding predefined threshold value or upon a combination of these two conditions. A second switching device is connected in series with the first switching device and is switchable between closed and open states upon receiving a corresponding input control signal.

An operating mechanism for tripping a circuit-breaker, the operating mechanism comprising a coil having a first terminal and a second terminal, means for generating a first electric impulse, and means for creating, from the first electric impulse, a second electric impulse delayed from the first electric impulse and applied between the first terminal and the second terminal of the coil, characterized in that the means for creating the second electric impulse comprise a delaying circuit and a switch connected in series with the coil, the delaying circuit having an input connected to an output of the means for generating a first electric impulse and an output which delivers the second electric impulse, said second electric impulse being a command signal of the switch.

An operating mechanism for tripping a circuit-breaker, the operating mechanism comprising a coil having a first terminal and a second terminal, means for generating a first electric impulse, and means for creating, from the first electric impulse, a second electric impulse delayed from the first electric impulse and applied between the first terminal and the second terminal of the coil, characterized in that the means for creating the second electric impulse comprise a delaying circuit and a switch connected in series with the coil, the delaying circuit having an input connected to an output of the means for generating a first electric impulse and an output which delivers the second electric impulse, said second electric impulse being a command signal of the switch.

An assemblage having a thermally insulating switch and a thermal insulator for constituting an electrical conductor passthrough through the thermal insulator. The thermal insulator insulates an inner space from an outer space, the assemblage having inner connector on the side of the inner space and outer connector on the side of the outer space, which are electrically conductively connectable by the switch. The assemblage has a control unit for controlling the thermally insulating switch, a current flowing through the switch is detectable by the control unit, the switch is controllable by the control unit in such a way that the switch is actuatable only in a substantially zero-current state, and the switch is disposed in the thermal insulator in such a way that thermal insulation between the inner connector and the outer connector is accomplished by way of the switch in the open state.

An assemblage having a thermally insulating switch and a thermal insulator for constituting an electrical conductor passthrough through the thermal insulator. The thermal insulator insulates an inner space from an outer space, the assemblage having inner connector on the side of the inner space and outer connector on the side of the outer space, which are electrically conductively connectable by the switch. The assemblage has a control unit for controlling the thermally insulating switch, a current flowing through the switch is detectable by the control unit, the switch is controllable by the control unit in such a way that the switch is actuatable only in a substantially zero-current state, and the switch is disposed in the thermal insulator in such a way that thermal insulation between the inner connector and the outer connector is accomplished by way of the switch in the open state.