Conductor assembly

Abstract

The invention relates to a conductor assembly (1) comprising an electric conductor (2); an overvoltage arrestor (3) which has a longitudinal direction (12), an operating state in which the overvoltage arrestor (3) is designed to limit an overvoltage occurring in the electric conductor (2), and a test state in which the overvoltage arrestor (3) is not designed to limit the overvoltage; and an electric insulating supporter (6) which is arranged between the overvoltage arrestor (3) and the electric conductor (2) in the longitudinal direction (12), wherein the supporter (6) is supported by the electric conductor (2), and the overvoltage arrestor (3) is supported by the supporter (6).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a conductor arrangement.

[0002] A surge arrester is designed to limit electrical overvoltages, such as those that can occur during a lightning strike. The surge arrester may be a long and heavy component that requires support. If a permanently installed electrical conductor is used, the electrical conductor can support the surge arrester. European patent application EP 3 001 430 A1 discloses the rigid construction of a discharge current path in a surge arrester, thus stabilizing it. European patent application EP 3 208 811 A1 shows a surge arrester arrangement in which a stationary contact piece of a disconnecting device is connected to a varistor.If the surge arrester is not supported, this can lead to the surge arrester becoming deformed due to its own weight, which can cause damage to the surge arrester during transport and shorten its service life. There are switchable surge arresters in which an electrical connection from the electrical conductor to the surge arrester can be severed. Disconnecting the electrical connection from the electrical conductor to the surge arrester can be relevant, for example, to perform a high-voltage test on the electrical conductor. However, if the electrical connection from the electrical conductor to the surge arrester is severed, the surge arrester cannot be supported by the electrical conductor. This can lead to a shortening of the service life of the surge arrester.Such constructions are known, for example, from the European patent application EP 3 514 899 A1 and the Japanese publication JP 2000-232708 A.

[0003] The object of the invention is therefore to provide a conductor arrangement with a surge arrester in which a surge arrester has a long service life.

[0004] The conductor arrangement according to the invention comprises a housing, a bushing insulator, an electrical conductor, a surge arrester having a longitudinal direction, an operating state in which the surge arrester is configured to limit an overvoltage occurring in the electrical conductor, and a test state in which the surge arrester is not configured to limit the overvoltage, and an electrically insulating support arranged in the longitudinal direction between the surge arrester and the electrical conductor, wherein the support is supported by the electrical conductor and the surge arrester is supported by the support, wherein the bushing insulator is configured to hold the electrical conductor and to insulate it from the housing, wherein the surge arrester has a conductor connection,which is arranged to be at least partially displaceable relative to the remaining surge arrester and is thus configured to switch the surge arrester between the operating state and the test state, wherein the conductor connection protrudes further from the remaining surge arrester in the operating state than in the test state. By providing the support, the surge arrester is indirectly supported by the electrical conductor in both the operating state and the test state. This prevents damage to the conductor arrangement during transport, and the service life of the surge arrester is extended.

[0005] The surge arrester has a conductor connection that is arranged to be at least partially displaceable relative to the remaining surge arrester and is thus configured to switch the surge arrester between the operating state and the test state, wherein the conductor connection protrudes further from the remaining surge arrester in the operating state than in the test state. As a result, the surge arrester can be brought into the operating state by displacing the conductor connection towards the electrical conductor and into the test state by displacing the conductor connection away from the first conductor. In the operating state, there is an electrically conductive connection from the electrical conductor to the surge arrester, and in the test state, the electrically conductive connection is interrupted.

[0006] It is preferred that the conductor arrangement has a movable connection by means of which the surge arrester and the support are coupled to one another such that the support can be displaced in the longitudinal direction relative to the surge arrester. It is particularly preferred that a gap is provided in the longitudinal direction between the surge arrester and the support. This makes it possible to compensate for thermal expansion, for example of the conductor, the support and / or the surge arrester, by making the gap narrower in the longitudinal direction. This makes it possible to avoid mechanical stresses in the conductor arrangement during thermal expansion, whereby the service life of the conductor arrangement is particularly long. It is also particularly preferred that a flexible ring is arranged in the recess between the support and the surge arrester, the axis of rotation of which is essentially parallel to the longitudinal direction.This allows for the absorption of transverse forces exerted by a component perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. These transverse forces can be relevant, for example, during transport of the ladder assembly. By absorbing these transverse forces, the service life of the ladder assembly is particularly long.

[0007] It is preferred that the surge arrester has a contact cap, which is arranged at the longitudinal end of the surge arrester facing the electrical conductor and in which the movable connection and, in particular, the recess are arranged. The contact cap can be electrically conductive and, for this purpose, comprise, for example, a metal. It is particularly preferred that the contact cap has a geometry that reduces the electric field strengths to the electrical conductor and leads to grounding. For this purpose, the contact cap can, for example, have rounded corners.

[0008] The conductor arrangement preferably comprises an electrically conductive component configured to electrically connect the support to the surge arrester, in particular to the contact cap. The support may comprise an electrically conductive contact piece at its longitudinal end facing the surge arrester, which contacts the electrically conductive component. This prevents partial discharges at the contact piece, thereby extending the service life of the conductor arrangement. Particularly preferably, the electrically conductive component is a contact spring, in particular a helical spring, or a bushing having inwardly projecting lamellae.

[0009] It is preferred that the conductor arrangement has a fixed connection by means of which the support is fixedly attached to the electrical conductor.

[0010] It is preferred that the conductor arrangement has an electrically conductive contact disk which is arranged in the longitudinal direction between the support and the electrical conductor and via which the electrical conductor is electrically conductively connected to the surge arrester in the operating state. It is conceivable that the contact disk contacts the electrical conductor. It is particularly preferred that the support is firmly screwed to the contact disk. It is also preferred that the contact disk is firmly attached to the electrical conductor. This can be achieved, for example, by screwing the contact disk to the electrical conductor. The fixed connection can be formed, for example, by screwing the contact disk to the support and the contact disk to the electrical conductor.The surge arrester particularly preferably has a conductor connection that is arranged at least partially displaceably relative to the remaining surge arrester and is thus configured to switch the surge arrester between the operating state and the test state, wherein the conductor connection protrudes further from the remaining surge arrester in the operating state than in the test state, wherein the contact disc has a contact recess and the conductor connection has a contact pin that is arranged in the contact recess in the operating state and is arranged outside the contact recess in the test state. By the conductor connection contacting the contact disc, the conductor connection and the electrode are electrically conductively connected to one another.

[0011] The surge arrester preferably comprises one or more varistors. The plurality of varistors can be connected in series and / or parallel. The varistor(s) can be electrically conductively connected to the conductor connection in the operating state. The varistor(s) can be metal oxide varistors (MOVs), for example.

[0012] The conductor arrangement preferably has a housing that encapsulates the electrical conductor, the surge arrester, and the support. Such a conductor arrangement is suitable wherever it is not possible to implement the electrical conductor as an overhead line, such as in a power plant or a transformer substation. The electrical conductor is particularly preferably supported by the housing and / or by a wall that separates two chambers in the housing.

[0013] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the attached schematic drawing. The figure shows a section through a conductor arrangement.

[0014] As can be seen from the figure, a conductor arrangement 1 comprises an electrical conductor 2, a surge arrester 3 which has a longitudinal direction 12, an operating state in which the surge arrester 3 is configured to limit an overvoltage occurring in the electrical conductor 2, and a test state in which the surge arrester 3 is not configured to limit the overvoltage, and an electrically insulating support 6 which is arranged in the longitudinal direction 12 between the surge arrester 3 and the electrical conductor 2, wherein the support 6 is supported by the electrical conductor 2 and the surge arrester 3 is supported by the support 6. The surge arrester 3 can have a longitudinal end facing away from the electrical conductor 2, which is electrically conductively connected to an earth 11.The conductor 2 may, for example, be configured to conduct a current with a voltage higher than 1 kV or higher than 100 kV.

[0015] The figure also shows that the conductor arrangement 1 can have a fixed connection 6d, by means of which the support 6 is fixedly attached to the electrical conductor 2. The conductor arrangement 1 can have a contact disk 4, which is arranged in the longitudinal direction 12 between the support 6 and the electrical conductor 2 and via which the electrical conductor 2 is electrically conductively connected to the surge arrester 3 in the operating state. The figure shows that the contact disk 4 can have a first end that contacts the electrical conductor 2 and a second end that contacts the support 6. The contact disk 4 can be fixedly connected to the electrical conductor 2. For this purpose, the contact disk 4 can be screwed to the electrical conductor 2. As a result, the electrical conductor 2 supports the support 6 indirectly via the contact disk 4.In order to establish the fixed connection 6d, the contact disc 4 can first be screwed to the support 6 and then the support disc 4 can be screwed to the electrical conductor 2.

[0016] As can be seen from the figure, the surge arrester 3 can have a conductor connection 7, which is arranged to be at least partially displaceable relative to the remaining surge arrester 3 and is thus configured to switch the surge arrester 3 between the operating state and the test state, wherein the conductor connection 7 protrudes further from the remaining surge arrester 3 in the operating state than in the test state. The conductor connection 7 can, for example, have an electrically conductive contact pin 7a. In the operating state, the contact pin 7a can contact the contact disk 4 and, in particular, can be inserted into a contact recess 7b arranged in the contact disk 4, as is also shown in the figure. In the test state, the contact pin 7a can be arranged outside the contact recess 7b.The conductor connection 7 can have a drive 7c configured to displace the contact pin 7a away from the electrical conductor 2 to bring the surge arrester 3 into the test state, and to displace the contact pin 7a toward the electrical conductor 2 to bring the surge arrester 3 into the operating state. The conductor connection can have a drive rod 7d, a hand crank 7e, and a transmission configured to translate a rotation of the hand crank 7e into a longitudinal displacement of the drive rod 7d. The drive rod 7d can be coupled to the contact pin 7a such that the longitudinal displacement of the drive rod 7d leads to a longitudinal displacement of the contact pin 7a.

[0017] The conductor arrangement 1 can have a movable connection 6e, by means of which the surge arrester 3 and the support 6 are coupled to one another such that the support 6 can be displaced in the longitudinal direction 12 relative to the surge arrester 3. The surge arrester 3 can have a recess 6c, which is arranged at the longitudinal end of the surge arrester 3 facing the electrical conductor 2 and in which a first longitudinal end of the support 6 is arranged. A flexible ring 6f, whose axis of rotation is substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction 12, can be arranged in the recess 6c between the support 6 and the surge arrester 3. By providing the ring 6f, the support 6 can be displaced in the longitudinal direction 12 relative to the surge arrester 3 by either the support 6 or the surge arrester 3 sliding on the ring 6f. The ring 6f can, for example, comprise PTFE or be made of PTFE.To secure the ring 6f, either the support 6 or the surge arrester 3 can have a groove into which the ring 6f is inserted. It is also conceivable to provide a plurality of rings 6f, with one groove for each of the rings 6f. The figure also shows that a gap 6h can be provided in the longitudinal direction 12 between the surge arrester 3 and the support 6.

[0018] The surge arrester 3 may have a contact cap 5a, which is arranged at the longitudinal end of the surge arrester 3 facing the electrical conductor 2 and in which the recess 6c is arranged. The contact cap 5a may be electrically conductive.

[0019] The conductor arrangement 1 can have an electrically conductive component that is designed to electrically conductively connect the support 6 to the surge arrester 3, in particular to the contact hood 5a. The electrically conductive component can be arranged in the recess 6c. The electrically conductive component can, for example, contact the contact piece 5b and the surge arrester 3, in particular the contact hood 5a. In a first example, the electrically conductive component can be a contact spring 6g. The contact spring 6g can, for example, be a helical spring. The helical spring can, for example, be designed without a longitudinal end, i.e., in the form of a closed ring. In a second example, the electrically conductive component can be a bushing that has inwardly projecting lamellae. The first longitudinal end of the support 6 can be received in the bushing.In addition, the axis of rotation of the bushing can be substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction 12.

[0020] The figure shows that the support 6 can have a support insulator 6a, which is arranged at the longitudinal end of the support 6 facing the electrical conductor 2, and a contact piece 6b, which is arranged at the longitudinal end of the support 6 facing away from the electrical conductor 2. The support insulator 6a can be electrically insulating. For this purpose, the support insulator 6a can comprise a resin or consist of the resin, wherein the resin can be a casting resin. Alternatively, the support insulator can comprise a ceramic material or consist of the ceramic material. The contact piece 6b can be electrically conductive. The contact piece 6b can be arranged in the recess 6c. The support insulator 6a can also have, at its longitudinal end facing away from the electrical conductor 2, an electrode (not shown) in its interior, which is electrically conductively connected to the contact piece 6b. This can prevent partial discharges.

[0021] The figure shows that the surge arrester 3 can have one varistor 5b or a plurality of varistors 5b. The varistor 5b or varistors 5b can be metal oxide varistors (MOV). The varistor 5b or varistors 5b can be arranged at the longitudinal end of the contact cap 5a facing away from the electrical conductor 2. The longitudinal end of the varistor 5b or varistors facing away from the contact cap 5a can be electrically conductively connected to an earth 11. The figure also shows that the surge arrester 3 can have an active part 5 in addition to the conductor connection 7, wherein the active part 5 has the contact cap 5a and the varistor 5b or varistors 5b.

[0022] As can be seen from the figure, the conductor arrangement 1 has a housing 8 that encapsulates the electrical conductor 2, the surge arrester 3, and the support 6. The electrical conductor 2 can be supported by the housing 8 and / or by a wall that separates two chambers in the housing 8. The housing 8 can also be part of the grounding 11. The conductor arrangement 1 has a bushing insulator 9 that is configured to hold the electrical conductor 2 and insulate it from the housing 8. The bushing insulator 9 can have an electrode 9a to which the electrical conductor 2 is electrically conductively attached. In addition, the conductor arrangement 1 can have an adapter ring 10 that is screwed between the housing 8 and the bushing insulator 9, wherein the bushing insulator 9 insulates the electrical conductor 2 from the adapter ring 10. The electrode 9a can be cast in a resin of the bushing insulator 9.The resin can, for example, be an epoxy resin.

[0023] The figure shows that the longitudinal direction 12 is arranged in the horizontal direction. Alternatively, it is also conceivable that the longitudinal direction 12 has a component in the vertical direction or is arranged in the vertical direction.

Claims

1. Conductor assembly having a housing (8), a bushing insulator (9), an electrical conductor (2), a lightning arrester (3) that has a longitudinal direction (12), an operating state, in which the lightning arrester (3) is designed to limit an overvoltage occurring in the electrical conductor (2), and a test state, in which the lightning arrester (3) is not designed to limit the overvoltage, wherein the bushing insulator (9) is designed to hold the electrical conductor (2) and insulate it from the housing (8), wherein the lightning arrester (3) comprises a conductor connection (7), at least part of which is arranged so as to be moveable relative to the remaining lightning arrester (3) and is therefore designed to switch the lightning arrester (3) between the operating state and the test state, characterized by an electrically insulating support (6) arranged between the lightning arrester (3) and the electrical conductor (2) in the longitudinal direction (12), the support (6) being supported by the electrical conductor (2) and the lightning arrester (3) being supported by the support (6), and the conductor connection (7) projecting further from the remaining lightning arrester (3) in the operating state than in the test state.

2. Conductor assembly according to Claim 1, wherein the conductor assembly (1) comprises a moving connection (6e) by means of which the lightning arrester (3) and the support (6) are coupled to one another in such a way that the support (6) can move relative to the lightning arrester (3) in the longitudinal direction (12).

3. Conductor assembly according to Claim 2, wherein there is provision for a gap (6h) between the lightning arrester (3) and the support (6) in the longitudinal direction (12).

4. Conductor assembly according to Claim 2 or 3, wherein the lightning arrester (3) comprises a recess (6c) that is arranged at that longitudinal end of the lightning arrester (3) that faces the electrical conductor (2), and in which a first longitudinal end of the support (6) is arranged, the recess (6c) having, between the support (6) and the lightning arrester (3), a flexible ring (6f) arranged in it, the axis of rotation of which is substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction (12).

5. Conductor assembly according to one of Claims 2 to 4, wherein the lightning arrester (3) comprises a contact hood (5a) that is arranged at that longitudinal end of the lightning arrester (3) that faces the electrical conductor (2), and in which the moving connection (6e) is arranged.

6. Conductor assembly according to one of Claims 1 to 5, wherein the conductor assembly (1) comprises an electrically conductive element that is designed to connect the support (6) electrically conductively to the lightning arrester (3), in particular to the contact hood (5a).

7. Conductor assembly according to Claim 6, wherein the electrically conductive element is a contact spring (6g), in particular a helical spring, or a socket that comprises inwardly projecting lamellae.

8. Conductor assembly according to one of Claims 1 to 7, wherein the conductor assembly (1) comprises a permanent connection (6d) by means of which the support (6) is attached permanently to the electrical conductor (2).

9. Conductor assembly according to one of Claims 1 to 8, wherein the conductor assembly (1) comprises an electrically conductive contact disk (4) that is arranged between the support (6) and the electrical conductor (2) in the longitudinal direction (12) and via which the electrical conductor (2) is connected electrically conductively to the lightning arrester (3) in the operating state.

10. Conductor assembly according to Claim 9, wherein the support (6) is screwed permanently to the contact disk (4).

11. Conductor assembly according to Claim 9 or 10, wherein the lightning arrester (3) comprises a conductor connection (7), at least part of which is arranged so as to be movable relative to the remaining lightning arrester (3) and is therefore designed to switch the lightning arrester (3) between the operating state and the test state, the conductor connection (7) projecting further from the remaining lightning arrester (3) in the operating state than in the test state, the contact disk (4) comprising a contact recess (7b) and the conductor connection (7) comprising a contact pin (7a) that is arranged in the contact recess (7b) in the operating state.

12. Conductor assembly according to one of Claims 1 to 11, wherein the lightning arrester (3) comprises a varistor (5b) or a plurality of varistors (5b).

13. Conductor assembly according to one of Claims 1 to 12, wherein the conductor assembly (1) comprises a housing (8) that encapsulates the electrical conductor (2), the lightning arrester (3) and the support (6).

14. Conductor assembly according to Claim 13, wherein the electrical conductor (2) is supported by the housing (8) and / or by a wall that separates two chambers in the housing (8) from one another.

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