Electronic cut-off protective devices

Abstract

Electronic cut-off protection equipment The invention relates to an electronic cut-off protection device comprising: an electronic cut-off unit (4) including an electronic power cut-off component (5), an electronic protection release (6) including a control module (7) connected to a current sensor (3) and connected directly to the electronic cut-off unit (4), a power supply module (9) connected with a first current transformer (8), said protection device is characterized in that said electronic power cut-off component (5) is configured to be driven only by the electrical control signal of the control module (7),The control module (7) is configured to directly drive said electronic power cut-off component (5) from the control signal, provided that the supply current entering the power module (9) from the first current transformer (8) is greater than or equal to a predetermined minimum self-supply current lower than the nominal current, so as to open said electronic power cut-off component (5) and render it non-conducting in the event of an overload or short-circuit fault. Figure to be published with the abbreviation: Fig. 1,

Description

Title of the invention: Electronic cut-off protection device

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of electronically controlled protective devices.

[0002] Electronically disconnected protective devices are known, for example, from publication WO2022106527A1, for which a power supply must be provided between the phase and neutral power lines to supply the electronic protective release and operate the electronic disconnecting unit. The electronically disconnected protective device is therefore said to be voltage-dependent.

[0003] However, under certain conditions, it is desirable to have an electronically controlled protection device that is not dependent on the network voltage, but on the contrary is independent of the network voltage, i.e. whose electronic cutting unit can be controlled independently of the network voltage.

[0004] Publication WO2023151869A1 discloses a hybrid or electronic switching device comprising a normally open semiconductor switch that can be controlled by a driver. In the event of a voltage difference across the driver, particularly in the event of a residual current fault, and when the mains voltage-dependent power supply is not active, the driver controls the opening of the semiconductor switch. However, in the event of a non-residual current fault, such as a short circuit, this configuration does not function optimally in the absence of voltage, because in the event of a short circuit downstream of the circuit breaker, the voltage across its terminals is zero or very low.

[0005] Publication EP4167261A1 describes an electrical protection device also using transistors that are conducting by default. The opening of this device can be controlled indirectly by the control module via an actuator and a control element in the event of an electric arc across the switching element, and directly by an auxiliary control circuit powered by a supply. This auxiliary circuit supplements the control module only if the latter takes too long to activate the transistors in the event of a short circuit. This configuration has the disadvantages of using an electric arc and requiring an additional set of mechanical contacts.

[0006] The present invention aims to overcome at least one of these drawbacks and seeks to provide an electronically controlled protective device enabling a electronic cut-off and therefore without generation of electric arc in the event of at least one fault of the overload or short circuit type and which is independent of the network voltage.

[0007] To this end, the invention relates to an electronically controlled protective device comprising at least:

[0008] - a phase current line between a first phase connection terminal and a second phase connection terminal,

[0009] - a current sensor for measuring the current flowing in the line to emit a signal representative of the phase current image,

[0010] - an electronic switching unit comprising at least one electronic component of power interruption normally passing arranged on said phase current line,

[0011] - an electronic protective trigger comprising at least one module of control linked to the current sensor and connected directly to the electronic switching unit, and configured at least to process said signal representing the phase current image and, where appropriate, to emit an electrical control signal to directly control the opening of said at least one electronic power switching component in the event of the occurrence of at least one type of overload or short circuit fault,

[0012] - a first current transformer disposed exclusively on the current line phase,

[0013] - a power supply module connected with the first current transformer and being configured to be powered by energy from said first current transformer and to transform the alternating current from said first current transformer and to provide at least one operating voltage, and being further connected to the electronic protection trip unit so as to permit its power supply, the electronic protection trip unit being configured to be powered by said power supply module from said at least one operating voltage independently of the network voltage,

[0014] said protective device is characterized in that:

[0015] - said at least one electronic power cut-off component is configured to be controlled solely by the electrical control signal from the control module,

[0016] - the control module is configured to directly drive said at least one electronic power cut-off component from the control signal provided that the supply current entering the power supply module from the first current transformer is greater than or equal to a predetermined minimum self-supply current lower than the nominal current, so that open said at least one electronic power cut-off component and make it non-conductive in the event of an overload or short-circuit fault.

[0017] The invention will be better understood from the following description, which relates to several preferred embodiments, given by way of non-limiting examples, and explained with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings, in which:

[0018] [Fig-1] [Fig.1] represents an electrical diagram of the protective equipment at electronic cutoff according to a first variant of the invention protecting against overload or short-circuit type faults, and

[0019] [Fig.2] [Fig.2] represents an electrical diagram of the electronic cut-off protection equipment according to a second variant of the invention protecting against overload, short-circuit or differential faults.

[0020] The invention relates to an electronically controlled protective device comprising at least:

[0021] - a phase current line L between a first phase connection terminal 1 and a second phase 2 connection terminal,

[0022] - a current sensor 3 for measuring the current flowing in the line to emit a signal representative of the L-phase current image,

[0023] - an electronic switching unit 4 comprising at least one electronic component power cut-off electronics 5 normally operating arranged on said phase L current line,

[0024] - an electronic protection trigger 6 comprising at least one module of control 7 connected to the current sensor 3 and directly connected to the electronic switching unit 4, and configured at least to process said signal representing the phase current image L and where appropriate to emit an electrical control signal to directly drive the opening of said at least one electronic power switching component 5 in the event of the occurrence of at least one overload or short-circuit fault,

[0025] - a first current transformer 8 disposed exclusively on the line of phase current L,

[0026] - a power supply module 9 connected with the first current transformer 8 and being configured to be powered by the energy from said first current transformer 8 and to transform the alternating current from said first current transformer 8 and to provide at least one operating voltage, and being further connected to the electronic protection trip 6 so as to permit its supply, the electronic protection trip 6 being configured to be supplied by said power supply module 9 from said at least one operating voltage independently of the network voltage.

[0027] In accordance with the invention, said protective device is characterized in that that :

[0028] - said at least one electronic power cutoff component 5 is configured to be controlled solely by the electrical control signal from control module 7,

[0029] - the control module 7 is configured to directly control said at least one electronic power cut-off component 5 from the control signal provided that the supply current entering the power module 9 from the first current transformer 8 is greater than or equal to a predetermined minimum self-supply current lower than the nominal current, so as to open said at least one electronic power cut-off component 5 and make it non-conducting in the event of an overload or short-circuit fault.

[0030] Advantageously, thanks to the invention, it is possible to provide an electronically controlled protection device that allows for electronic disconnection, and therefore without the generation of an electric arc, in the event of at least one overload or short-circuit fault. This device is self-powered, at least by the first current transformer 8, under certain conditions, and therefore independently of the network voltage. Indeed, the control module 7 directly drives said at least one electronic power disconnect component 5 from the control signal, provided that the supply current entering the power supply module 9 from the first current transformer 8 is greater than or equal to the predetermined minimum self-supply current, which is less than the nominal current.In other words, under these conditions, the energy from the first current transformer 8 is sufficient to power at least the electronics of the control module 7 and the electronic switching unit 4. Consequently, in the event of an overload or short-circuit fault, at least one normally conducting electronic power switching component 5 will open, thus deactivating it. Furthermore, this at least one normally conducting electronic power switching component 5, which can advantageously operate at low power consumption, can be self-powered before the occurrence of an overload or short-circuit fault, independently of the mains voltage under the aforementioned conditions.It follows that the electronically interrupting protective device according to the invention can operate in the absence of a neutral (N) current line, and therefore that the invention can be applied to single-pole or multi-pole electronically interrupting protective devices. The invention is at least advantageously applicable to a static circuit breaker with protection against at least overload or short-circuit faults, independent of the network voltage.

[0031] The control module 7 directly drives said at least one normally conducting electronic power cutoff component 5, i.e. that unlike the prior art cited, the control of said at least one normally conducting electronic power cut-off component 5 is done without intermediate components between them, for example of actuator type and a switching element.

[0032] Said at least one normally conducting electronic power cut-off component 5 is configured to be controlled only by the electrical control signal from the control module 7, that is to say that the control of said at least one electronic power cut-off component 5 is done only by means of the control signal emanating from the control module 7 and that another control method cannot be envisaged as is the case in the prior art cited.

[0033] Preferably, said electronically cut-off protection equipment further comprises an actuator 10 electrically connected to the control module 7, a galvanic isolation mechanism 11 comprising at least a first set of separable contacts 12 with a first fixed contact 13 and a first movable contact 14 arranged on the phase current line L and the actuator 10 is configured to actuate the opening of the first set of separable contacts 12 following the opening of said at least one electronic power cut-off component 5.

[0034] Advantageously, this configuration makes it possible to guarantee the isolation of the electronically cut-off protection equipment in the event of the opening of said at least one electronic power cut-off component 5 following the occurrence of a fault by cutting the phase current line L.

[0035] Preferably, said electronically disconnecting protection equipment further comprises a neutral current line N between a first neutral connection terminal 15 and a second neutral connection terminal 16.

[0036] Advantageously, this configuration allows for the provision of electronically cut-off protection devices with an additional neutral current line N, which is particularly necessary for detecting a differential type fault.

[0037] Preferably, the galvanic isolation mechanism 11 further comprises a second set of separable contacts 17 with a second fixed contact 18 and a second movable contact 19 arranged on the neutral current line N and the actuator 10 is configured to actuate the opening of the first set of separable contacts 12 and the second set of separable contacts 17 following the opening of said at least one electronic switching component 5.

[0038] Advantageously, this configuration makes it possible to guarantee the isolation of the electronically cut-off protection equipment in the event of the opening of said at least one electronic power cut-off component 5 following the occurrence of a fault by cutting the phase current line L and the neutral current line N.

[0039] Preferably, the electronically disconnected protective device further comprises a differential current sensor 20 configured to measure the differential current circulating between said phase current line L and neutral current line N and to emit a signal representative of the image of the differential fault current between the phase current line L and the neutral current line N.

[0040] Advantageously, in this case the electronically cut-off protection device is configured to also detect a differential fault.

[0041] Preferably, said actuator 10 is electrically connected to the differential current sensor 20 and if the supply current entering the power supply module 9 is less than the predetermined minimum self-supply current so that the electronic protection trip 6 is not sufficiently supplied by the power supply module 9 to ensure its operation, the actuator 10 is configured to process said signal representative of the image of the differential fault current and where appropriate emit a protection trip control signal representative of the occurrence of a differential fault to actuate the opening of the first set of separable contacts 12 and the second set of separable contacts 17 in the event of the occurrence of a differential fault.

[0042] The invention is also advantageously applicable to a static residual current circuit breaker with protection against overload, short-circuit, or differential faults. In this case, tripping of the electronically interrupting protective device is possible even if the power supply module 9 is not sufficiently energized. Indeed, the energy of the differential fault triggers the actuator 10, and the interruption occurs via the actuator 10 in conjunction with the differential current sensor 20. The actuator 10 actuates the first set of separable contacts 12 and the second set of separable contacts 17, and not via the control module 7 and the electronic interrupting unit 4. In this configuration, neither the electronics of the electronic interrupting unit 4 nor the control module 7 is active for differential fault protection.

[0043] Preferably, if the supply current entering the power supply module 9 is greater than or equal to the predetermined minimum self-supply current, the control module 7 is configured to process said signal representing the image of the differential fault current and, where appropriate, output a differential control signal to directly drive the opening of said at least one electronic power cut-off component 5 and then consecutively to drive said actuator 10, which is configured to actuate the opening of the first set of separable contacts 12 and the second set of separable contacts 17 in the event of the occurrence of a differential fault.

[0044] The invention is also advantageously applicable to a static residual current circuit breaker with protection against overload, short-circuit, or differential faults. In this case, a trip of the protective device with disconnection Electronic switching is also possible if the power supply module 9 is powered sufficiently independently of the mains voltage, that is, provided that the supply current entering the power supply module 9 is greater than or equal to the predetermined minimum self-supply current. The energy from the differential fault is not used to trigger the actuator 10, but that of the power supply module 9 is. In the event of a differential fault, this results in the opening of at least one normally conducting electronic power interruption component 5, thus rendering it non-conducting. Then, galvanic switching can occur via the actuator 10, which is controlled by the control module 7. The actuator 10 actuates the opening of the first set of separable contacts 12 and the second set of separable contacts 17.The electronics of control module 7 are also active under these conditions for protection against a differential fault.

[0045] Preferably, the electronically disconnected protection equipment further comprises a second current transformer 21 disposed exclusively on the neutral current line N and the power supply module 9 is connected with the second current transformer 21 and is configured to be powered by the energy from said second current transformer 21 and to transform the alternating current from said second current transformer 21 and provide said at least one operating voltage.

[0046] The energy from the second current transformer 21 is used to power the power supply module 9 to operate the electronics of the electronic protection release 6 and the electronic cut-off unit 4.

[0047] Preferably, the power supply module 9 is configured to be powered exclusively by energy from said first current transformer 8 and said second current transformer 21 from said at least one operating voltage.

[0048] In this case, only the energy from the first current transformer 8 and the second current transformer 21 can power the power supply module 9 to operate the electronics of the electronic protection release 6 and the electronic cut-off unit 4.

[0049] Preferably, the control module 7 is configured to integrate from the signal representing the image of the current flowing in said phase L current line data representing the measurement of the current flowing in the phase L current line provided that the supply current entering the supply module 9 is greater than or equal to the predetermined minimum self-supply current.

[0050] Advantageously, in this case the electronically controlled protective device is configured to measure the current flowing in the phase L current line using the first current sensor 3 and to integrate the related data into the control module 7.

[0051] Preferably, the electronically disconnected protection equipment further comprises a voltage sensor 22 electrically connected to the phase current line L and the neutral current line N configured to measure the voltage between the phase current line L and the neutral current line N and to output a signal representative of the voltage and the control module 7 is configured to integrate from the signal representative of the voltage data representative of the voltage measurement provided that the supply current entering the supply module 9 is greater than or equal to the predetermined minimum self-supply current.

[0052] Advantageously, in this case the electronically cut-off protection equipment is configured to measure the voltage between the phase current line L and the neutral current line N using the voltage sensor 22 and to integrate the related data into the control module 7.

[0053] Preferably, the electronic protection release 6 further includes a communication module 23 configured to communicate preferably wirelessly the representative data of the measurement of the current flowing in the phase current line L and / or the measurement of the voltage and / or the power and energy measurements carried out by the combination of the current and voltage measurements provided that the supply current entering the supply module 9 is greater than or equal to the predetermined minimum self-supply current.

[0054] Advantageously, in this case the electronically interrupting protection equipment is configured to communicate the data integrated into the electronic protection release 6 representing the measurement of the current flowing in the phase current line L and / or the voltage measurement and / or the power and energy measurements carried out by the combination of the current and voltage measurements.

[0055] Preferably, said at least one normally conducting power cutoff electronic component 5 comprises at least one power transistor and preferably at least one FET and preferably one JFET.

[0056] In the absence of a fault, said at least one normally conducting electronic power cut-off component 5 is not controlled by the control module 7 and allows current to flow in the phase line L. However, in the event of a fault, the control module 7 transmits the control signal in the form of a potential difference across said at least one electronic power cut-off component 5, which has the effect of triggering the opening of the latter. As a result, the current flow in the phase line L is interrupted, because said at least one electronic power cut-off component power 5 has passed into the non-passing state.

[0057] Preferably, the power supply module 9 is configured to be powered exclusively by energy from said first current transformer 8.

[0058] Advantageously, the power supply module 9 cannot be powered by any source other than the first current transformer 8.

[0059] Alternatively, the power supply module 9 is configured to be further powered by energy from an auxiliary power source preferably if the supply current entering the power supply module 9 from the first current transformer 8 is less than the minimum self-supply current.

[0060] Advantageously, under certain conditions the power supply module 9 can be powered by an auxiliary source and therefore a source which is different in particular from the first current transformer 8 and where applicable from the second current transformer 21. This is all the more useful because if the supply current entering the power supply module 9 from the first current transformer 8 is less than the minimum self-supply current, then the electronics of the electronic protection release 6 and of the electronic breaking unit 4 cannot operate with the energy from the first current transformer 8 and where applicable from the second current transformer 21, the auxiliary source can then take over under these conditions.

[0061] Preferably, the electronic protection release 6 is configured to be powered exclusively by said power supply module 9 independently of the network voltage.

[0062] Under these conditions, it is not possible to consider directly powering the electronics of the electronic protection release 6, for example, by an auxiliary source, this auxiliary source being independent or not of the network voltage, or using the network voltage.

[0063] Preferably, the power supply module 9 is configured to be further supplied by the voltage between the phase current line L and the neutral current line N preferably if the supply current entering the power supply module 9 from the first current transformer 8 is less than the minimum self-supply current.

[0064] Advantageously, under certain conditions the power supply module 9 can be powered by the mains voltage. This is particularly useful because if the supply current entering the power supply module 9 from the first current transformer 8 and, where applicable, the second current transformer 21, is less than the minimum self-supply current, then the electronics of the electronic protection release 6 and the electronic switching unit 4 cannot operating with the energy from the first current transformer 8 and, where applicable, the second current transformer 21, the network voltage can then take over under these conditions.

[0065] The predetermined minimum self-supply current is necessarily lower than the nominal current of the protection product, so that the protection electronics can be operational before the possible occurrence of an overload or short-circuit type fault.

[0066] The nominal current corresponds to the rating of the protective device, without "derating" due to user setting or severe environmental conditions such as high operating temperature or altitude.

[0067] Preferably, the current sensor 3 is preferably a sensor such as a shunt or resistor of very low ohmic value or a current transformer of the toroidal or Rogowski type.

[0068] The electronic protection trigger 6 is connected to the power supply module 9 to allow the power supply to the electronics of its control module 7 and, where applicable, its communication module 23.

[0069] The control module 7 of the electronic protective release 6 is electrically connected to the electronic switching unit 4 and, where applicable, to the actuator 10. For example, the control module 7 may include at least one microcontroller and at least one power driver that outputs the various control signals to the electronic switching unit 4 and, where applicable, to the actuator 10. The control module 7 is further connected to the current sensor 3, and, where applicable, to the voltage sensor 22. The microcontroller may integrate the measurement data from these current / voltage sensors 3, 22. The control module 7 is further connected to the communication module 23 to transmit said data, for example, to a remote or integrated human-machine interface.

[0070] The communication module 23 of the electronic protection trigger 6 may include wired or wireless communication means by electromagnetic waves of the transceiver type or equivalent.

[0071] The control module 7, and where applicable the communication module 23, and the electronic switching unit 4 may respectively comprise one or more electronic boards. Alternatively, the control module 7, and where applicable the communication module 23, and the electronic switching unit 4 could comprise a single electronic board including said microcontroller and said power driver and said at least one electronic power switching component 5.

[0072] The electronic switching unit 4 may include a first set E1 of power switching electronic component 5 and a second set E2 of electronic power cut-off component 5 which are preferably mounted in series, for example in a back-to-back fashion, on the phase P current line.

[0073] In the illustrated examples, the first set El and the second set E2 each include at least one electronic power cut-off component 5. These examples are not limiting.

[0074] The first current transformer 8 can be of the toroidal type.

[0075] The second current transformer 21 can be of the toroidal type.

[0076] The differential current sensor 20 can be of the toroidal type.

[0077] The power supply module 9 may include an AC / DC current converter and a circuit for local energy storage.

[0078] The actuator 10 may consist of an electromagnetic actuator.

[0079] The voltage sensor can be of the voltage divider bridge type with dropping impedances.

[0080] The actuating member 24, which may be in the form of a lever, allows the opening and closing of the first and second sets of separable contacts 12, 17 to be actuated. This actuating member 24 can adopt an open position when the first and second sets of separable contacts 12, 17 are open and a closed position when the first and second sets of separable contacts 12, 17 are closed.

[0081] The electronically switching protection device preferably includes a housing (not shown) in which the various components are housed.

[0082] The housing preferably has an overall parallelepiped shape with a width, i.e. the gap between the main faces, equal to an integer number of times a predetermined distance, called the module, generally about 18 millimeters.

[0083] Thanks to this advantageous arrangement, the format of the housing is modular and results in a modular electronic cut-off protection device.

[0084] The modular electronic switching protection equipment can be a static modular circuit breaker of the type SCCB (Semi Conductor Circuit Breaker) or a static modular residual current circuit breaker SC-RCBO (Semi Conductor Residual current Circuit Breaker with Overload).

[0085] Figure 1 shows an electrical diagram of the electronically disconnected protective device according to a first embodiment of the invention, protecting against overload or short-circuit faults. The electronically disconnected protective device comprises a phase current line L and a neutral current line N. The phase current line L is surrounded by the first current transformer 8 and is connected to the current sensor 3. The neutral current line N is surrounded by the second current transformer 21. The voltage sensor 22 is electrically connected The circuit is electrically connected between the phase current line L and the neutral current line N. The phase current line L is equipped with the first set of separable contacts 12 and the electronic breaking unit 4, which are electrically connected in series. The electronic breaking unit 4 comprises at least two JFET-type field-effect transistors connected in series and back-to-back. The neutral current line N is equipped with the second set of separable contacts 17. The electronic breaking protection equipment includes the actuator 10 connected to the first and second sets of separable contacts 12 and 17. The first current transformer 8 and the second current transformer 21 are electrically connected to the power supply module 9. The electronic protection release 6 comprises the control module 7 and the communication module 23.The electronic protection trip unit 6 is connected to the power supply module 9 to provide power to the electronics of its control module 7 and its communication module 23. The control module 7 of the electronic protection trip unit 6 is electrically connected to the electronic breaking unit 4 and the actuator 10 to control them. The control module 7 is also connected to the current sensor 3 and the voltage sensor 22 and receives signals representing the phase current L and the voltage between the phase current line L and the neutral current line N. The electronically broken protection device is a phase-to-neutral electronically broken circuit breaker that provides protection against short-circuit and overload faults and is independent of the mains voltage.Indeed, the first current transformer 8 and the second current transformer 21 supply power to the power supply module 9, drawing from the current flowing in the phase current line L and the neutral current line N, respectively. This power supply module transforms the alternating current from the first current transformer 8 and the second current transformer 21 and provides at least one operating voltage to the electronic protection trip unit 6, thus enabling its operation. Therefore, the electronic protection trip unit 6 is powered solely by the power supply module 9, receiving at least one operating voltage, independently of the mains voltage.If the supply current entering the power supply module 9 from the first current transformer 8 and the second current transformer 21 is greater than or equal to the predetermined minimum self-supply current, and if a short-circuit or overload fault occurs on the phase L current line, then the current sensor 3 measures the signal representing the phase L current image and transmits it to the control module 7, which compares this signal to a threshold representing a fault current and can then issue the control signal. Thus, in the event of an overload or short-circuit fault, the... The control module 7 transmits the control signal, in the form of a potential difference, to the electronic switching unit 4, directly controlling the opening of the JFET-type power switching electronic components 5. The two JFETs transition from a conducting state to a non-conducting state. Subsequently, the control module 7 drives the actuator 10, which opens the first and second sets of separable contacts 12, 17. The actuating element 24 switches from the closed position to the open position, thus indicating the presence of a fault and protecting the installations against electrical faults such as overload and short circuits.If the supply current entering the power supply module 9 from the first current transformer 8 and the second current transformer 21 is greater than or equal to the predetermined minimum self-supply current, the control module 7 can also transmit to the communication module 23 the representative data of the measurement of the current flowing in the phase current line L and / or the voltage measurement and / or the power and energy measurements carried out by the combination of the current and voltage measurements via the current sensor 3 and / or the voltage sensor 22. The communication module 23 can then transmit this data to a remote human-machine interface or one integrated into the electronically disconnected protection switchgear.If the supply current entering the power supply module 9 from the first current transformer 8 and the second current transformer 21 is less than the predetermined minimum self-supply current, then the electronic protection trip 6 is out of operation.

[0086] Figure 2 shows an electrical diagram of the electronically disconnected protective device according to a second embodiment of the invention, protecting against overload, short-circuit, or differential faults. The electronically disconnected protective device is substantially identical to that of Figure 1, with the addition of a differential current sensor 20 in the form of a third current transformer that surrounds the phase current line L and the neutral current line N and is connected to the actuator 10. The electronically disconnected protective device corresponds to a phase-neutral electronically disconnected residual current circuit breaker that provides protection against short-circuit, overload, or differential faults and is independent of the mains voltage.If the supply current entering the power supply module 9 from the first current transformer 8 and the second current transformer 21 is greater than or equal to the predetermined minimum self-supply current, and if a differential fault between the phase current line L and the neutral current line N appears then the differential current sensor 20 measures the signal representative of the image of the . The differential fault current is detected and transmitted to the control module 7, which compares this signal to a threshold representative of a fault current and can then generate the differential control signal. Thus, in the event of an overload, short-circuit, or differential fault, the control module 7 transmits the corresponding control signal, in the form of a potential difference, to the electronic switching unit 4. This signal directly controls the opening of the JFET-type power switching electronic components 5. The two JFETs switch from a conducting state to a non-conducting state. Subsequently, the control module 7 drives the actuator 10, which opens the first and second sets of separable contacts 12 and 17.The actuation device 24 switches from the closed position to the open position, indicating the presence of a fault and protecting electrical installations from faults against overload and short circuits, and living beings against residual current faults (against indirect electric shocks). If the supply current entering the power supply module 9 from the first current transformer 8 and the second current transformer 21 is less than the predetermined minimum self-supply current, then the electronic protective trip unit 6 is inoperative. However, only the detection of a residual current fault by the fault energy remains possible.Indeed, in this case the electronic protection trigger 6 is not sufficiently powered by the power supply module 9 to ensure its operation, but instead the actuator 10 processes the signal representing the image of the differential fault current and then emits the protection trip control signal representing the occurrence of a differential fault to trigger the opening of the first set of separable contacts 12 and the second set of separable contacts 17 in the event of the occurrence of a differential fault.

[0087] Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiments described and shown in the accompanying drawings. Modifications remain possible, particularly with regard to the composition of the various elements or by substitution of technical equivalents, without departing from the scope of protection of the invention.

Claims

Demands

1. Electronically controlled protective equipment comprising at least: - a phase current line (L) between a first phase connection terminal (1) and a second phase connection terminal (2), - a current sensor (3) to measure the current flowing in the line to emit a signal representative of the phase current image (L), - an electronic switching unit (4) comprising at least one normally conducting electronic power switching component (5) disposed on said phase current line (L), - an electronic protection trigger (6) comprising at least one control module (7) connected to the current sensor (3) and directly connected to the electronic breaking unit (4), and configured at least to process said signal representing the phase current image (L) and where appropriate to emit an electrical control signal to directly drive the opening of said at least one electronic power breaking component (5) in the event of the occurrence of at least one overload or short-circuit fault, - a first current transformer (8) disposed exclusively on the phase current line (L), - a power supply module (9) connected with the first current transformer (8) and configured to be powered by the energy from said first current transformer (8) and to transform the alternating current from said first current transformer (8) and provide at least one operating voltage, and further connected to the electronic protection trip unit (6) so as to allow its power supply, the electronic protection trip unit (6) being configured to be powered by said power supply module (9) from said at least one operating voltage independently of the voltage of the network, said protection equipment is characterized in that: - said at least one electronic power cut-off component (5) is configured to be controlled only by the electrical control signal of the control module (7), - the control module (7) is configured to directly control said at least one electronic power cut-off component (5) from the control signal provided that the supply current entering the supply module (9) from the first current transformer (8) is greater than or equal to a predetermined minimum self-supply current lower than the nominal current, so as to open said at least one electronic power cut-off component (5) and make it non-conducting in the event of an overload or short-circuit fault.

2. Electronically breaking protective equipment according to claim 1 characterized in that it further comprises an actuator (10) electrically connected to the control module (7), a galvanic isolation mechanism (11) comprising at least a first set of separable contacts (12) with a first fixed contact (13) and a first movable contact (14) arranged on the phase current line (L) and in that the actuator (10) is configured to actuate the opening of the first set of separable contacts (12) following the opening of said at least one electronic breaking component (5).

3. Electronically switching protective device according to any one of claims 1 to 2, characterized in that it further comprises a neutral current line (N) between a first neutral connection terminal (15) and a second neutral connection terminal (16).

4. Electronically disconnecting protective device according to claims 2 and 3, characterized in that the galvanic isolation mechanism (11) further comprises a second set of separable contacts (17) with a second fixed contact (18) and a second movable contact (19) arranged on the neutral current line (N) and in that the actuator (10) is configured to actuate the opening of the first set of separable contacts (12) and the second set of separable contacts (17) following the opening of said at least one electronic switching component (5).

5. Electronically disconnecting protective equipment according to any one of claims 3 to 4, characterized in that it further comprises a differential current sensor (20) configured to measure the differential current flowing between said phase current line (L) and the neutral current line (N) and to emit a signal representative of the image of the differential fault current between the phase current line (L) and the neutral current line (N).

6. Electronically disconnecting protective equipment according to claim 5, characterized in that said actuator (10) is electrically connected to the differential current sensor (20) and if the supply current entering the power supply module (9) is less than the predetermined minimum self-supply current so that the electronic protection trip (6) is not sufficiently supplied by the power supply module (9) to ensure its operation, the actuator (10) is configured to process said signal representative of the image of the differential fault current and where appropriate emit a protection trip control signal representative of the occurrence of a differential fault to actuate the opening of the first set of separable contacts (12) and the second set of separable contacts (17) in the event of the occurrence of a differential fault.

7. Electronically interrupting protective equipment according to claims 5 to 6, characterized in that if the supply current entering the supply module (9) is greater than or equal to the predetermined minimum self-supply current, the control module (7) is configured to process said signal representing the image of the differential fault current and where appropriate emit a differential control signal to directly drive the opening of said at least one electronic power interruption component (5) and then subsequently to drive said actuator (10), which is configured to actuate the opening of the first set of separable contacts (12) and the second set of separable contacts (17) in the event of the occurrence of a differential fault.

8. Electronically controlled protective equipment according to any one of claims 3 to 7, characterized in that it comprises in addition a second current transformer (21) disposed exclusively on the neutral current line (N) and in that the power supply module (9) is connected with the second current transformer (21) and is configured to be powered by the energy from said second current transformer (21) and to transform the alternating current from said second current transformer (21) and provide said at least one operating voltage.

9. Electronically cut-off protection device according to claim 8, characterized in that the power supply module (9) is configured to be powered exclusively by energy from said first current transformer (8) and said second current transformer (21) from said at least one operating voltage.

10. Electronically cut-off protection equipment according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the control module (7) is configured to integrate from the signal representing the image of the current flowing in said phase current line (L) data representing the measurement of the current flowing in the phase current line (L) provided that the supply current entering the supply module (9) is greater than or equal to the predetermined minimum self-supply current.

11. Electronically disconnecting protection equipment according to any one of claims 3 to 10, characterized in that it further comprises a voltage sensor (22) electrically connected to the phase current line (L) and the neutral current line (N) configured to measure the voltage between the phase current line (L) and the neutral current line (N) and to output a signal representative of the voltage and in that the control module (7) is configured to integrate from the signal representative of the voltage data representative of the voltage measurement provided that the supply current entering the supply module (9) is greater than or equal to the predetermined minimum self-supply current.

12. Electronically interrupting protective device according to any one of claims 10 to 11, characterized in that the electronic protective trip unit (6) further comprises a communication module (23) configured to communicate, preferably wirelessly, representative data of the current measurement flowing in the phase current line (L) and / or the voltage measurement and / or the power and energy measurements carried out by the combination of the current and voltage measurements provided that the supply current entering the power supply module (9) is greater than or equal to the predetermined minimum self-supply current.

13. Electronic cut-off protection apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that said at least one normally conducting electronic power cut-off component (5) comprises at least one power transistor and preferably at least one FET and preferably one JFET.

14. Electronically cut-off protection equipment according to any one of claims 1 to 8 and 10 to 13, characterized in that the power supply module (9) is configured to be powered exclusively by energy from said first current transformer (8).

15. Electronically cut-off protection equipment according to any one of claims 1 to 8 and 10 to 13, characterized in that the power supply module (9) is configured to be further powered by energy from an auxiliary power source preferably if the supply current entering the power supply module (9) from the first current transformer (8) is less than the minimum self-supply current.

16. Electronically cut-off protective equipment according to any one of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that the electronic protective release (6) is configured to be powered exclusively by said power supply module (9) independently of the network voltage.

17. Electronically disconnecting protective equipment according to any one of claims 3 to 8 and 10 to 13, characterized in that the power supply module (9) is configured to be further supplied by the voltage between the phase current line (L) and the neutral current line (N), preferably if the supply current entering the power supply module (9) from the first current transformer (8) is less than the minimum self-supply current.

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