HIGH-VOLTAGE CIRCUIT DISCONNECTION

Abstract

Exemplary embodiments include a device for connecting and disconnecting a high-voltage circuit. The device includes a first main terminal and a second main terminal, a first intermediate terminal connected to the first main terminal by a first impedance, a first arc quenching chamber arranged between the first intermediate terminal and the first main terminal, a second intermediate terminal connected to the first intermediate terminal by a second impedance, the first intermediate terminal being connected in series between the first main terminal and the second intermediate terminal, a second arc quenching chamber arranged between the first intermediate terminal and the second intermediate terminal, and a mobile armature making it possible to connect, in the disconnection direction, the second main terminal on the one hand and, on the other hand and in succession, the first main terminal, the first intermediate terminal and the second intermediate terminal.

Claims

1. A device for connecting and disconnecting a high-voltage circuit, comprising: a first main terminal and a second main terminal for connecting the device to the high-voltage circuit; a first intermediate terminal connected to the first main terminal by a first impedance; a first arc quenching chamber arranged between the first intermediate terminal and the first main terminal; a second intermediate terminal connected to the first intermediate terminal by a second impedance, the first intermediate terminal being connected in series between the first main terminal and the second intermediate terminal; a second arc quenching chamber arranged between the first intermediate terminal and the second intermediate terminal; and a mobile armature which may be moved between a connection position and a disconnection position in a direction for disconnecting the high-voltage circuit, the mobile armature making it possible to connect, in the disconnection direction, the second main terminal on the one hand and, on the other hand and in succession, the first main terminal, the first intermediate terminal and the second intermediate terminal, the armature being in contact with the first and the second main terminal in the connection position, the armature being moved beyond the second intermediate terminal in the disconnection direction into the disconnection position.

2. The device according to claim 1, the second main terminal comprising a sliding contact.

3. The device according to claim 1, the mobile armature being mobile in translation.

4. The device according to claim 3, the first main terminal, first intermediate terminal and second intermediate terminal being arranged on the same straight line.

5. The device according to claim 1, the mobile armature being mobile in rotation.

6. The device according to claim 5, the first main terminal, first intermediate terminal and second intermediate terminal being arranged on the same circular arc.

7. The device according to claim 1, comprising: a third intermediate terminal connected to the second main terminal by a third impedance; a third arc quenching chamber arranged between the third intermediate terminal and the second main terminal; the mobile armature making it possible to connect, in the disconnection direction, on the one hand and in succession, the second main terminal and the third intermediate terminal and, on the other hand and in succession, the first main terminal, the first intermediate terminal and the second intermediate terminal, the armature being moved beyond the third intermediate terminal in the disconnection direction into the disconnection position.

8. The device according to claim 1, comprising one or more additional intermediate terminals, one or more additional arc quenching chambers or a last quenching chamber.

9. The device according to claim 1, having a symmetrical structure, the first main terminal and the second main terminal being connected to the same number of respective intermediate terminals, the armature being, in the disconnection position, separated from the first and from the second main terminal by the same number of arc quenching chambers.

10. The device according to claim 1, each arc quenching chamber comprising a plurality of metal blades separated from one another by a determined distance.

11. The device according to claim 1, each arc quenching chamber arranged between two specific terminals being sized in relation to the impedance connecting those same specific terminals, the sizing of each arc quenching chamber avoiding formation of an electric arc below a determined threshold, and allowing formation of an electric arc above the determined threshold, the determined threshold corresponding to a characteristic loss threshold of the impedance connecting those same specific terminals.

12. An arrangement for connecting and disconnecting a high-voltage circuit, comprising a plurality of devices according to claim 1 which are connected in series.

13. A method for disconnecting a high-voltage circuit, comprising continuous movement of an armature of a device according to claim 1 from the connection position towards the disconnection position.

14. The method according to claim 13, the movement being linear.

15. The method according to claim 13, the movement being rotational.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0035] FIGS. 1A-D are a depiction of a first exemplary device.

[0036] FIGS. 2A-D are a depiction of a second exemplary device.

[0037] FIGS. 3A-B are depictions of third examples based on the first and second examples, respectively.

[0038] FIG. 4 is a depiction of a fourth exemplary device.

[0039] FIG. 5 is a depiction of a fifth exemplary device.

[0040] FIG. 6 is a depiction of a sixth exemplary device.

[0041] FIG. 7 is a depiction of a seventh exemplary device.

[0042] FIG. 8 is a depiction of an exemplary arrangement for connecting and disconnecting a high-voltage circuit comprising a plurality of devices.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0043] This disclosure concerns a device for connecting and disconnecting a high-voltage circuit. A high-voltage circuit should be understood to be a circuit operating at a voltage above 1 kVAC and above 1.5 kVDC, up to 50 kVAC and 75 kVDC. The device is, however, particularly suited to DC circuits, due to the difficulty of switching currents which do not cross through zero in such circuits.

[0044] A device or switch according to this disclosure may, for example, be integrated into a high-voltage, or medium-voltage, AC electrical distribution system in a loop configuration. In this type of distribution, there may be found a loop distribution connection to two different substations (or to two different lines of the same substation), from among on-load switches, for configuring and operating a network. In this type of electrical distribution, the network may be reinforced or meshed through switches connected to different branches of the distribution loop or to a different substation line. In certain examples, these switches or devices may be used for other types of distribution, such as radial distribution, for example for distribution in rural areas with low population density.

[0045] For DC electrical distribution, and in particular in proximity to consumption and/or generation points, an electrical distribution mode similar to the AC distribution mode may be provided, comprising one or more devices according to this disclosure.

[0046] The device comprises a first main terminal and a second main terminal for connecting the device to the high-voltage circuit. Each of these main terminals may be a point or a contact for connecting the device to the network. The various terminals according to this disclosure may be placed on an insulating substrate, in particular a substrate offering a certain arc resistance or possibly having arc extinguishing properties.

[0047] The device comprises a first intermediate terminal. The first intermediate terminal, like the main terminals and the other intermediate terminals introduced below, are able to establish an electrical connection through contact with a mobile armature or mobile contact, the device therefore forming a multi-contact or multi-terminal structure arranged in order to be connected to the mobile armature of the same device.

[0048] The first intermediate terminal is connected to the first main terminal by a first impedance. This connection is electrical in nature. An impedance in this disclosure should be understood to be a component opposing the flow of a current of fixed or variable value, this component being able to have resistive, capacitive or inductive behaviour, or a combination of such behaviours. In certain examples, the impedance has mainly resistive behaviour with values which may range, for example, from a few milliohms to a few megaohms. In certain cases, the impedance is a set of active resistors and/or inductors and/or capacitors which are, for example, controlled by a charge circuit comprising a processor or microprocessor, and/or managed by a dedicated electronic circuit. In certain cases, the impedance is composed of passive elements comprising a selection of components of R, L and/or C type, making it possible to avoid using an active charge and/or discharge circuit. In one specific example, a current taking a value of the order of 10 kV/400 A is quenched by a device comprising a total of 5 successive impedances, 5 successive intermediate terminals and 6 successive quenching chambers including a last quenching chamber, the 5 impedances taking the following values in the disconnection direction: 1, 5, 15, 40 and 150 ohms, respectively. The number of impedances, intermediate terminals and quenching chambers may be adapted to the device and to the current under consideration. In certain examples, the value of the impedances grows in the disconnection direction in order to accelerate said disconnection during the gradual switching of the current. In certain examples, a first impedance in the disconnection direction has a value of less than 50%, 40%, 30%, 20%, 10%, 5% or even less than 1% of a value of a last impedance in the disconnection direction.

[0049] The device comprises a first arc quenching chamber arranged between the first intermediate terminal and the first main terminal. The positioning of an arc quenching chamber between two terminals is a positioning of the chamber in a space separating two adjacent terminals. In certain examples, such adjacent terminals are separated by a space having a thickness of at least 5 cm, at least 10 cm or at least 15 cm. In certain examples, a quenching chamber (implicitly, an arc quenching chamber) has a thickness in a direction separating the terminals concerned of at least 4 cm, at least 9 cm or at least 14 cm.

[0050] An arc quenching chamber may comprise metal separation plates, or blades, stacked, for example in parallel, at a distance from one another, which make it possible to split an electric arc and to absorb some of its energy, thus contributing to its extinction. These separation plates may be held in place by means of walls which are, for example, perpendicular to the blades, also called cheeks or flanges, which delimit lateral edges of the quenching chamber. These walls may be made from (thermoplastic or thermosetting) plastic material. In certain cases, a quenching chamber according to this disclosure may comprise or be combined with one or more insulating parts comprising an insulating material which, in the presence of an electric arc, frees molecules which participate in the extinction and promote the transfer of the arc.

[0051] The arrangement of the quenching chamber between the terminals allows extinction of an electric arc appearing between those same terminals.

[0052] In certain cases, each arc quenching chamber comprises a plurality of metal blades separated from one another by a determined distance.

[0053] The device comprises a second intermediate terminal connected to the first intermediate terminal by a second impedance, the first intermediate terminal being connected in series between the first main terminal and the second intermediate terminal, as well as a second arc quenching chamber arranged between the first intermediate terminal and the second intermediate terminal. This configuration allows gradual absorption of the energy of the current to be switched, in the first place passing from the first main terminal to the first intermediate terminal, the first impedance and the first quenching chamber absorbing and diffusing a first amount of energy, a second amount of energy being absorbed by the second impedance and the second quenching chamber during the passage from the first to the second intermediate terminal. The first and second impedances may take different values or features, or have the same value and same features. The first and second arc quenching chambers may have different features, or have the same features.

[0054] In certain cases, each arc quenching chamber arranged between two specific terminals is sized in relation to the impedance connecting those same specific terminals, the sizing of each arc quenching chamber on the one hand contributes to the increase in the arc impedance or arc voltage, and on the other hand allows shifting of the current from the quenching chamber towards the impedance which is arranged in parallel with said quenching chamber.

[0055] After having passed through one whole device according to this disclosure, and when the contact mobile armature is offset beyond a last terminal, in certain cases a small and limited DC arc may be switched by a last quenching chamber located beyond such a last terminal (such as the terminals 112, 212, 312 or 361 described below), making it possible for the mobile armature to move away, in the disconnection direction, from this last terminal (last in the disconnection direction) and for an insulation distance to be able to make it possible to hold a recovery voltage, producing a physical separation of two branches of the switch, or device according to this disclosure, maintaining effective quenching. Such a structure is illustrated, for example, in FIGS. 3A and 3B, which will be presented below.

[0056] The device comprises a mobile armature. A mobile armature is a conductive element making it possible to establish, through contact, or to sever, through absence of contact, a connection between two terminals. The mobile armature, or mobile contact, may in certain cases comprise two parallel conductive blades equipped with contact springs in order to be able to sequentially connect and disconnect various terminals between the two blades. In other cases, the mobile armature may comprise a cylindrical piston allowing connection and disconnection of terminals which are arranged, for example, cylindrically around said piston.

[0057] The mobile armature may be moved between a connection position and a disconnection position in a direction for disconnecting the high-voltage circuit, the mobile armature making it possible to connect, in the disconnection direction, the second main terminal on the one hand and, on the other hand and in succession, the first main terminal, the first intermediate terminal and the second intermediate terminal, the armature being in contact with the first and the second main terminal in the connection position, the armature being moved beyond the second intermediate terminal in the disconnection direction into the disconnection position. The connection of two terminals by the mobile armature may be direct, the connected terminals being simultaneously in contact with the mobile armature, or may be indirect, the connection passing indirectly through another terminal or another component of the circuit. The movement of the mobile armature is movement which is determined and controlled, for example by means of a joint or of a mechanical guiding system. The movement takes place, between a connection position and a disconnection position, in a disconnection direction. This disconnection direction is a determined direction, for example following a straight line or a curve in a determined direction. In certain cases, this disconnection direction is a direction following a single direction in order to facilitate the disconnection operation. In certain cases, the device is reversible, the mobile armature being able to move between a disconnection position and a connection position in a direction for connecting the high-voltage circuit, the mobile armature making it possible to connect, in the connection direction, the second main terminal on the one hand and, on the other hand and in succession, the second intermediate terminal, the first intermediate terminal and the first main terminal. In certain cases, the disconnection direction is opposite to the connection direction.

[0058] Movement of the mobile armature beyond a terminal in the disconnection direction involves a movement of the armature in the disconnection direction, during which the armature passes the terminal concerned, breaking the contact with that terminal. In certain examples, the armature is considered to be beyond a terminal once placed beyond a threshold distance from any point of the terminal. Such a threshold distance may be at least 5 mm, at least 1 cm, at least 5 cm or at least 10 cm.

[0059] During its movement, when the armature passes from one terminal to another, these terminals being connected to one another by an impedance and separated from one another by a quenching chamber, the value of the current is gradually modified, this value being gradually reduced in the disconnection direction. The multi-terminal, multi-impedance and multi-quenching chamber gradualness offered by the device according to this disclosure allows, in particular, effective quenching of high-value direct currents.

[0060] Upon disconnection, at the moment when a voltage between two terminals which are connected by an impedance rises beyond the voltage imposed by the impedance concerned, the excess current flows through the mobile armature, if the armature is in contact with two terminals of the device.

[0061] If the armature is not in contact with two terminals of the device, the excess current forms an electric arc through the quenching chamber concerned, which may be sized in accordance with the corresponding current level. In the disconnection position, the mobile armature is sufficiently far away from a terminal for the arc voltage to be sufficient to extinguish a residual current, for example by means of a last quenching chamber.

[0062] The connection operation is performed the other way round to the disconnection operation, starting with the armature in the open position beyond a terminal, and following sequential connection until reaching the connection position, while at the same time limiting or even eliminating power dissipation or energy losses.

[0063] FIGS. 1A-D depict a first exemplary device 100 according to this disclosure. The device 100 is a device for connecting and disconnecting a high-voltage circuit (which is not depicted), comprising: [0064] a first main terminal 110 and a second main terminal 160 for connecting the device to the high-voltage circuit; [0065] a first intermediate terminal 111 connected to the first main terminal by a first impedance 121 of value Z1; [0066] a first arc quenching chamber 131 arranged between the first intermediate terminal 111 and the first main terminal 110; [0067] a second intermediate terminal 112 connected to the first intermediate terminal 111 by a second impedance 122 of value Z2, the first intermediate terminal 111 being connected in series between the first main terminal 110 and the second intermediate terminal 112; [0068] a second arc quenching chamber 132 arranged between the first intermediate terminal 111 and the second intermediate terminal 112; and [0069] a mobile armature 150 which may be moved between a connection position, illustrated in FIG. 1A, and a disconnection position, illustrated in FIG. 1D, in a disconnection direction 199 of the high-voltage circuit, the mobile armature making it possible to connect, in the disconnection direction, the second main terminal on the one hand and, on the other hand and in succession, the first main terminal (FIG. 1A), the first intermediate terminal (FIG. 1B) and the second intermediate terminal (FIG. 1C), the armature being in contact with the first and the second main terminal in the connection position, the armature being moved beyond the second intermediate terminal in the disconnection direction into the disconnection position (FIG. 1D). The numbering of the various elements of the device 100 is not repeated in FIGS. 1B-D in order to make them easier to read.

[0070] In this example according to FIGS. 1A-D, the mobile armature 150 is mobile in rotation, the first main terminal 110, first intermediate terminal 111 and second intermediate terminal 112 being arranged on the same circular arc.

[0071] Due to the fact that the depictions of the device are two-dimensional, it may appear that, during its movement, the mobile armature comes into contact with a quenching chamber when passing between two adjacent terminals separated by this quenching chamber. This is, however, not the case, the mobile armature not coming into contact with the quenching chambers during its trajectory.

[0072] FIGS. 2A-D depict a second exemplary device 200 according to this disclosure. The device 200 is a device for connecting and disconnecting a high-voltage circuit (which is not depicted), comprising: [0073] a first main terminal 210 and a second main terminal 260 for connecting the device to the high-voltage circuit; [0074] a first intermediate terminal 211 connected to the first main terminal by a first impedance 221 of value Z3; [0075] a first arc quenching chamber 231 arranged between the first intermediate terminal 211 and the first main terminal 210; [0076] a second intermediate terminal 212 connected to the first intermediate terminal 211 by a second impedance 222 of value Z4, the first intermediate terminal 211 being connected in series between the first main terminal 210 and the second intermediate terminal 212; [0077] a second arc quenching chamber 232 arranged between the first intermediate terminal 211 and the second intermediate terminal 212; and [0078] a mobile armature 250 which may be moved between a connection position, illustrated in FIG. 2A, and a disconnection position, illustrated in FIG. 2D, in a disconnection direction 299 of the high-voltage circuit, the mobile armature making it possible to connect, in the disconnection direction, the second main terminal on the one hand and, on the other hand and in succession, the first main terminal (FIG. 2A), the first intermediate terminal (FIG. 2B) and the second intermediate terminal (FIG. 2C), the armature being in contact with the first and the second main terminal in the connection position, the armature being moved beyond the second intermediate terminal in the disconnection direction into the disconnection position (FIG. 2D). The numbering of the various elements of the device 100 is not repeated in FIGS. 2B-D in order to make them easier to read.

[0079] In this example according to FIGS. 2A-D, the mobile armature 250 is mobile in translation. In this example, the second main terminal comprises a sliding contact. In this example, the first main terminal, first intermediate terminal and second intermediate terminal are arranged on the same straight line.

[0080] FIGS. 3A and 3B depict third exemplary devices 300 and 301 according to this disclosure. The device 300 is based on the device 100, and comprises the components described in the context of the device 100, as well as an additional arc quenching chamber 330. This quenching chamber 330 has the distinctive feature of being a last quenching chamber, that is to say, in this case, a quenching chamber located beyond the second intermediate terminal 112 in the disconnection direction in the disconnection position, the armature being moved beyond this last quenching chamber into the disconnection position. The device 301 is based on the device 200, and comprises the components described in the context of the device 200, as well as an additional arc quenching chamber 331. This quenching chamber 331 has the distinctive feature of being a last quenching chamber, that is to say, in this case, a quenching chamber located beyond the second intermediate terminal 212 in the disconnection direction in the disconnection position, the armature being moved beyond this last quenching chamber into the disconnection position. Note that such a structure comprising a last quenching chamber separating a last intermediate terminal from the armature in the disconnection position may be integrated into any example according to this description, beyond the examples illustrated in these FIGS. 3A and 3B, in order to reinforce the quenching effect of the device concerned.

[0081] In certain cases, a device according to this disclosure comprises one or more additional intermediate terminals, one or more additional impedances and one or more additional arc quenching chambers. In certain configurations, each additional impedance would electrically connect two adjacent terminals of the same branch, and each quenching chamber would separate or would be arranged or inserted between two adjacent terminals, that is to say in an inter-terminal space, of the same branch. In certain cases, two adjacent terminals of the same branch are separated by a plurality of quenching chambers.

[0082] FIG. 4 illustrates a fourth exemplary device 400 according to this disclosure. The elements of the device 400 are not numbered in so far as they may be directly deduced from those of the device 300. In the case of the device 400, the device has an axially symmetrical structure, movement of the mobile armature following a direction parallel to the axis of symmetry, the first main terminal and the second main terminal being connected to the same number of respective intermediate terminals, the armature being, in the disconnection position, separated from the first and from the second main terminal by the same number of arc quenching chambers. This makes it possible to balance the device and possibly to facilitate the manufacture and the assembly thereof. This device comprises two additional sets of intermediate terminal, impedance and quenching chamber, these two additional sets being the twins, in a branch connected to the second main terminal, of the elements of the branch which is connected to the first main terminal.

[0083] FIG. 5 illustrates a fifth exemplary device 500 according to this disclosure. The elements of the device 500 are not numbered in so far as they may be directly deduced from those of the device 100. In the case of the device 500, the device comprises: [0084] a third intermediate terminal connected to the second intermediate terminal by a third impedance of value Z3; [0085] a third arc quenching chamber arranged between the third intermediate terminal and the second intermediate terminal; [0086] the mobile armature making it possible to connect, in the disconnection direction, the second main terminal on the one hand and, on the other hand and in succession, the first main terminal, the first intermediate terminal, the second intermediate terminal and the third intermediate terminal, the armature being moved beyond the third intermediate terminal in the disconnection direction into the disconnection position.

[0087] In this exemplary device 500, the mobile armature is mobile in rotation, the first main terminal, first intermediate terminal, second intermediate terminal and third intermediate terminal being arranged on the same circular arc.

[0088] In this exemplary device 500, the third intermediate terminal, third impedance and third quenching chamber are an additional intermediate terminal, an additional impedance and an additional quenching chamber according to this disclosure, respectively.

[0089] FIG. 6 illustrates a sixth exemplary device 600 according to this disclosure. The elements of the device 600 are not numbered in so far as they may be directly deduced from those of the device 200.

[0090] In the case of the device 600, the device comprises: [0091] a third intermediate terminal connected to the second intermediate terminal by a third impedance; [0092] a third arc quenching chamber arranged between the third intermediate terminal and the second intermediate terminal; [0093] a fourth intermediate terminal connected to the third intermediate terminal by a fourth impedance; [0094] a fourth arc quenching chamber arranged between the third intermediate terminal and the fourth intermediate terminal; [0095] the mobile armature making it possible to connect, in the disconnection direction, the second main terminal on the one hand and, on the other hand and in succession, the first main terminal, the first intermediate terminal, the second intermediate terminal, the third intermediate terminal and the fourth intermediate terminal, the armature being moved beyond the fourth intermediate terminal in the disconnection direction into the disconnection position. In this disclosure, the term “in succession” implies movement following the order listed.

[0096] In this exemplary device 600, the mobile armature is mobile in translation, the first main terminal, first intermediate terminal, second intermediate terminal, third intermediate terminal and fourth intermediate terminal being arranged on the same straight line.

[0097] In this exemplary device 600, the third and fourth intermediate terminals, third and fourth impedances and third and fourth quenching chambers are additional intermediate terminals, additional impedances and additional quenching chambers according to this disclosure, respectively.

[0098] FIG. 7 illustrates a seventh exemplary device 700 according to this disclosure. The elements of the device 700 are not numbered in so far as they may be directly deduced from those of the device 100.

[0099] The device 700 is functionally similar to the device 400, these devices having a symmetrical structure, the first main terminal and the second main terminal being connected to the same number of respective intermediate terminals, the armature being, in the disconnection position, separated from the first and from the second main terminal by the same number of arc quenching chambers. In the case of the device 400, the symmetry is an axial symmetry. In the case of the device 700, the symmetry is a central symmetry. In both cases, the symmetry is obtained by adding additional intermediate terminals, as well as corresponding impedances and quenching chambers. The configuration of the device 700 is particularly compact and ergonomic, the mobile armature being mobile in rotation, rotation being centred on the point of central symmetry, all of the terminals being arranged on the same circle, which is centred on the point of symmetry. Such a configuration may, in certain cases, allow stacking of such devices, the centres of symmetry of the devices being on the same axis, the armatures of the devices being connected and in rotation on that same axis, making it possible to simultaneously quench currents flowing through each of the stacked devices by means of a single rotational motion. A similar stack structure may be used with other devices according to the present disclosure.

[0100] FIG. 8 illustrates an exemplary arrangement 800 for connecting and disconnecting a high-voltage circuit, comprising a plurality of devices according to this disclosure which are connected in series. In this precise example, three devices similar to the device 700 are connected in series.

[0101] In certain examples, a device according to this description may take a cylindrical shape, for example by stacking various devices such as illustrated in FIG. 8, the devices being stacked concentrically. In such examples, the armature itself may take the shape of a cylindrical piston.

[0102] An exemplary method for disconnecting a high-voltage circuit comprises continuous movement of a mobile armature of a device according to this disclosure from the connection position towards the disconnection position. Continuous movement may be understood to be movement following a trajectory in a plane or in space, this movement following an unbroken curve in order to avoid a sudden change of direction in the operation of the devices. Examples of continuous movement include, in a plane or indeed in three dimensions, straight lines, polynomial, spiral, exponential, parabolic, logarithmic, sinusoidal, hyperbolic, elliptical, oval or even circular curves. In certain cases, the movement is linear, such as, for example, in the cases of the devices 200, 301, 400 or 600. In certain cases, the movement is rotational, such as in the example of the devices 100, 300 or 500. In certain cases, the movement may combine movement in rotation and movement in translation, for example helical movement.