Universal connection interface for source inverter or power electrical cabinet

Abstract

An electrical connection interface (10) comprising a set of connection elements for high-voltage power transmission cables (620, 630, 640) and intended for connection to an electrical cabinet (101). According to its main feature, the interface comprises a set of insulated conductive busbars (21, 22, 23, 31, 32, 33, 41, 42, 43), grouped in three busbar configurations (20, 30, 40); the busbars being fixed and rigid, they are configured to provide an electrical connection between the connection elements and the cabinet in such a way as to facilitate the interchangeability of the electrical cabinet. The invention also relates to a simplified method for connecting and disconnecting the electrical cabinet from a high-voltage power transmission cable network. Figure 1

Description

Title of the invention: Universal connection interface for source inverter or power electrical cabinet

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of electrical connection devices for powering equipment and, in particular, to a universal electrical connection interface for a transfer switch or power switch cabinet. The device according to the invention finds applications in the field of high voltage and, in particular, in nuclear power plants. State of the art

[0002] Nuclear power plants are supplied with electricity by a main power supply or a secondary power supply, which may consist of one or more auxiliary safety supplies and an ultimate backup power supply. Switching from one power source to another is generally achieved using a compact transfer switch, such as the one described in the applicant's document FRI800523. Such a transfer switch operates for electricity with a voltage between 5,000 and 20,000 volts and a current between 100 A and 4,000 A. The transfer switch is connected to at least one load, the main power source, and the secondary power source by means of insulated electrical cables with a diameter between 15 mm and 50 mm.Indeed, the transmission of high-voltage currents requires the use of large-diameter electrical conductors and thick insulation. The rigidity of the cables used and their large bending radius make them difficult to handle and insufficient to maintain a precise position, which would facilitate reconnection after disconnection, for example, when changing the inverter. Furthermore, in the case of three-phase current, this requires at least nine cables to be connected to the source inverter. If more cables need to be connected to the inverter or an electrical cabinet, their size prevents connecting several to a single terminal on the inverter or cabinet. Junction boxes exist for connecting multiple cables to a single output cable, but these also require cable handling and take up space.Indeed, the clutter of a large number of cables on the floor is a major problem in the electrical rooms of nuclear power plants. Description of the invention

[0003] Therefore, the aim of the invention is to overcome these drawbacks by providing a fixed connection interface for high-voltage power transmission cables and allowing easy connection and disconnection of a source inverter or any other electrical cabinet while limiting the floor space required.

[0004] Another object of the invention is to provide an easy method for connecting and disconnecting a source inverter or any other electrical cabinet to a high-voltage power transmission cable network.

[0005] The object of the invention is therefore an electrical connection interface comprising a set of connection elements for high-voltage power transmission cables and intended to be connected to an electrical cabinet. According to the main feature, the interface comprises a set of insulated conductive busbars, grouped in three busbar assemblies, the busbars being fixed and rigid and configured to make an electrical connection between the connection elements and the cabinet so as to facilitate the interchangeability of the electrical cabinet.

[0006] Another object of the invention is a method for connecting an electrical cabinet to a connection interface in an electrical room, comprising the following steps: - Supply of the electrical cabinet in the electrical room, - Mounting the electrical cabinet onto the fixed chassis, - Movement of the electrical cabinet by translation between the rails from front to back until it reaches its connection position on the fixed bars of the connection interface, - Connection of the contact areas of the electrical cabinet to the connection areas of the conductor bars.

[0007] According to advantageous but optional features of the invention, taken individually or in any technically permissible combination:

[0008] - each bar assembly comprises three electrically independent bars and held together by being encased in a layer of insulation and fixed to a fixed frame designed to be integral with the slab of an electrical room. This is to stiffen the connection interface.

[0009] - the first ends of the bar assemblies located on the side of the cabinet electrical components form flat contact areas located in the same plane to facilitate their connection to the electrical cabinet.

[0010] - the bar assemblies are fixed to the fixed frame located at the end and between two rails on which the electrical cabinet slides between two positions, a first position away from the bus assemblies where it can be removed from the rails and a second position in which it can be connected to the contact areas of the bus assemblies located at their first end.

[0011] - the cross-section of the conductive bars is rectangular.

[0012] - the cross-section of the bars is circular.

[0013] - the connecting elements are connecting sleeves grouped in a fixed junction box, with second contact areas located at the second end of the three busbar assemblies designed to connect to one or two connecting sleeves each.

[0014] - the connecting elements are flexible cables and sleeves of connection, the second contact areas located at the second end of the three bar assemblies being designed to connect to one or two connecting sleeves each.

[0015] - the junction box is designed to be fixed to the opposite face of the slab on to which the chassis and the said electrical cabinet are fixed, the bar assemblies being configured to pass through the slab via a hopper so that their two ends are located on either side of the slab.

[0016] - the contact areas of the second end of the conductive bars of the second The bar assemblies are oriented differently from the contact ranges of the first and third bar assemblies so that the connecting sleeves connected to the bar assembly are oriented in a different direction from the orientation of the sleeves connected to the bar assemblies.

[0017] - the electrical cabinet is a source inverter configured to connect at least an electrical load to at least one main current source or to at least one secondary backup current source, the second busbar assembly being designed to connect said at least one electrical load to the inverter by being connected by its first end to the second contact ranges of the inverter and by its second end to the connecting sleeves, the third busbar assembly being adapted to connect said at least one main source to the inverter by being connected by its first end to the third contact ranges of the inverter and by its second end to the connecting sleeves, the first busbar assembly being designed to connect said at least one backup source to the inverter by being connected by its first end to the first contact ranges of the inverter and by its second end to the connecting sleeves. Brief description of the figures

[0018] The aims, objects and features of the invention will become clearer upon reading the following description made with reference to the drawings in which:

[0019] Figure [1] shows a perspective view of the connection interface according to the invention,

[0020] Figure [Fig. 2a] shows a cross-sectional view of a first embodiment of conductive bars,

[0021] Figure [Fig. 2b] shows a cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of conductive bars,

[0022] Figure [Fig. 2c] shows a cross-sectional view of a third embodiment of conductive bars,

[0023] Figure 3 shows a longitudinal cross-sectional view of an assembly of conductive bars,

[0024] Figure 4 shows a rear view of the inverter,

[0025] Figure 5 represents the inverter connected to the connection interface according to the invention in a first embodiment,

[0026] Fig. 6 represents the inverter connected to the connection interface according to the invention in a second embodiment. Detailed description of the invention

[0027] The orientation of the figures is located using an orthogonal coordinate system comprising the X, Y and Z axes. As used in the following description, the terms "vertical", "top" and "bottom" are understood relative to the Z axis, the terms "left", "right", are understood relative to the X axis and the terms "front", "back" are understood relative to the Y axis.

[0028] According to [Fig. 1], the device according to the invention is an electrical connection interface 10 comprising a set of 9 insulated and rigid conductive busbars 21 to 23, 31 to 33 and 41 to 43, used to connect an electrical cabinet to a high-voltage and / or high-current power transmission cable network, the cables being grouped in an electrical room such as an electrical room in a nuclear power plant. The total number of busbars is not a limiting feature of the invention.

[0029] The conductive bars are made of an electrically conductive material, for example copper or aluminum, and have a solid cross-section. The bars are coated with an electrically insulating coating that limits the formation of electric arcs, such as an epoxy or polyester insulator, the thickness of which depends on the efficiency of the insulator used and is generally between 2 and 5 mm. With reference to [Fig. 2a], the cross-section of the bars is circular. Preferably, the cross-section of the bars is rectangular with reference to Figures 2b and 2c in order to obtain a heat dissipation surface area greater than that of a circular conductor of equal cross-sectional area. With reference to [Fig.[2c], the bars, insulated independently of each other, are grouped in threes so that they can be encased together in a second layer of insulation 25 while remaining electrically independent of each other. The three joined bars provide greater rigidity than three separate bars. In the following description, the bars held together are considered to be assemblies of bars. According to... In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the conductive bars thus form three assemblies of bars referenced 20, 30 and 40. The first assembly 20, located laterally on the left, comprises the conductive bars 21, 22 and 23; the second assembly 30, located in the center, comprises the bars 31, 32 and 33 and the third assembly 40, located laterally on the right, comprises the bars 41, 42 and 43.

[0030] The bar assemblies are fixed to a fixed frame 53 designed to be integral with the slab 50 of the electrical room and pass through the slab via a hopper 51 so that the ends of the bar assemblies are positioned on either side of the slab. Since the slab is in a horizontal plane along the X and Y axes, the bar assemblies are parallel to the Z axis. The bar assemblies s20, 30, and 40 can also be encased together over part of their height to provide greater rigidity to the bar assemblies.

[0031] The first end of the busbar assemblies is adapted to connect to an electrical cabinet 101 shown in the following figures. The second end of the busbars is adapted to connect to connecting elements attached to the high-voltage power transmission cables. The fixed frame 53 on which the busbars are held is located at the end of a base 55 and two rails 54 parallel to the Y-axis.

[0032] Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the assembly of bars 20, 30, or 40 along a longitudinal vertical plane YZ passing through the midpoint of the assemblies. As can be seen in this figure, the conductive bars, straight over a length H representing their height and curved at their ends, are designed to be connected and are uninsulated. The height H of the bar assemblies is between 1 m and 2 m when reaching the level below the slab. In a multi-story configuration, the height of the three bar assemblies varies and is greater than 2 m. The main axis of the bars is vertical along the Z-axis, and their first end is curved to form a bend in a plane perpendicular to their main axis.The first end 120 of the busbar assembly 20 comprises three first contact areas 125 located on each of the conductor bars 21, 22 and 23 on the side of the electrical cabinet, and the second end 220 of the busbar assembly 20 comprises three second contact areas for connection to the cables, located at the termination of each of the conductor bars 21, 22 and 23. Similarly, the first end 130 of the busbar assembly 30 comprises three first contact areas 135 located at the termination of each of the conductor bars 31, 32 and 33 on the side of the electrical cabinet, and the second end of the busbar assembly 30 comprises three second contact areas for connection to the cables, located at the termination of each of the conductor bars 31, 32 and 33. Finally, the first. The end of the busbar assembly 40 includes three first contact areas 145 located at the termination of each of the conductor bars 41, 42 and 43 on the side of the electrical cabinet, and the second end of the busbar assembly 40 includes three second contact areas for connecting to the cables, located at the termination of each of the conductor bars 41, 42 and 43.

[0033] The contact areas 125, 135, and 145 of the busbars are preferably in the same vertical plane to facilitate their connection to the electrical cabinet and are positioned relative to each other to match the position of the contact areas on the electrical cabinet to which the connection interface is to be connected. Each contact area has a hole into which a stud attached to the electrical cabinet is inserted, and onto which a nut is screwed to ensure tight contact between the busbar contact areas and the cabinet contact areas. This reduces the time required to connect and disconnect the busbars from the electrical cabinet and facilitates the interchangeability of the electrical cabinet.

[0034] The second end of the bars of the same assembly 20, 30 or 40 is bent in a direction common to the three bars which can be the opposite direction to the direction of the bends of the first end as illustrated in [Fig.3] or the same direction (to the right according to [Fig.3]) or any other direction.

[0035] According to the preferred embodiment of the invention, the electrical cabinet 101 is a current source inverter 101 configured to connect one or more electrical loads to at least one main current source or to at least one backup secondary current source.

[0036] Figure 3 is a schematic view of the rear of the inverter without the connection interface according to the invention. The first contact areas of the inverter, 121, 122, and 123, located on the left, are designed to be connected to the backup power source; the second contact areas of the inverter, 131, 132, and 133, located in the center, are designed to be connected to the electrical load; while the third contact areas of the inverter, 141, 142, and 143, located on the right, are designed to be connected to the main power source. For our example, since the current sources deliver electrical energy in three-phase form, three contact areas are therefore required for each phase of the current.The upper contact areas 121, 131, and 141 are used to connect the conductors of the first phase; the central contact areas 122, 132, and 142 are used to connect the conductors of the second phase; and the lower contact areas 123, 133, and 143 are used to connect the conductors of the third phase. The contact areas of the inverter are located in an insulating support 111, which has partitions to eliminate any risk of electrical arcing between the contact areas.

[0037] According to figures 5 and 6, the inverter 101 is in its connection position.

[0038] The inverter 101 is positioned in this position by sliding it back and forth between the rails 54 along the Y-axis, a movement represented by arrow 74. The inverter (or the electrical cabinet) slides between two positions: a first position away from the conductor bars where it can be removed from the rails, and a second position, called the connection position, where it can be connected to the contact areas 125, 135, and 145 of the bars. The inverter reaches its connection position when it has reached the end position on the rails, which corresponds to a position where the contact areas of the inverter are positioned sufficiently close to the bar assemblies 20, 30, and 40 to be connected together by means of a stud located on each contact area and a nut, or any other equivalent means.The busbar assembly 30 located in the middle is connected to the central contact ranges 131, 132 and 133 of the inverter, configured to connect to at least one electrical load such as the cooling circuit pump of nuclear power plants. The busbar assembly 20 located on the left in the figures is connected to the contact ranges 121, 122 and 123, configured to connect to at least one backup power source, and the busbar assembly 40 located on the right in the figures is connected to the contact ranges 141, 142 and 143, configured to connect to at least one primary power source.

[0039] According to [Fig.5], the cable connection elements are three, six or more connection sleeves 520, 530 and 540, for example with deep crimping, designed to connect to an electrical transmission cable, connected to the second contact areas of the busbar assemblies, respectively 20, 30 and 40. In our example, the second contact areas 220, 230 and 240 of the three assemblies 20, 30 and 40 are designed to connect to one or two connection sleeves each, making a total of 9 or 18 connection sleeves (18 in the figure). The six 520 connecting sleeves are connected to the bars 21, 22 and 23 and to the 620 power transmission cables, the six 530 connecting sleeves are connected to the bars 31, 32 and 33 and to the 630 power transmission cables and the six 540 connecting sleeves are connected to the bars 41, 42 and 43 and to the 640 power transmission cables.Each connecting sleeve 520, 530, and 540 is connected to one of the busbars, either via two contact plates clamped together with a stud and nut, or by any equivalent means. The cross-section of each busbar is equal to or less than half the cross-section of a 620, 630, or 640 power transmission cable, thus allowing a greater number of cables to be connected to the electrical cabinet or the inverter 101. For clarity in the figure, the power transmission cables are shown partially and in various lengths. The busbar assembly 20 can be connected to one or two... backup power sources, the 30 busbar assembly can connect to one or two electrical loads and the 40 busbar assembly can connect to one or two main power sources.

[0040] According to [Fig. 5], the entire set of connecting sleeves is contained in a junction box 61, fixed to the slab 50 on the side opposite to that where the inverter 101 is fixed. With reference to the figures, the junction box 61 containing the connecting sleeves 520 is fixed to the ceiling of the floor below that of the inverter. The junction box can also be fixed to the ceiling of the floor where the inverter is located. In this case, the busbar assemblies 20, 30, and 40 are oriented upwards. In both cases, the connecting sleeves are designed to connect to electrical cables running along the ceilings of the electrical rooms. In [Fig. 5], the connecting sleeves are all oriented in the same direction along horizontal planes.However, the second contact areas 220, 230 and 240 can be oriented differently, as well as the connecting sleeves in different directions, in order to connect to cables that converge towards the junction box in those directions.

[0041] According to [Fig.6], the connecting elements between the bars and the cables include a flexible cable and a connecting sleeve, for example with deep crimping. According to [Fig. 6], the cable connection elements are six flexible cables 420, 430, and 440 (but there could be three or more per busbar assembly), connected on one side to the second contact areas of the busbar assemblies, 20, 30, and 40 respectively, and on the other side to as many connection sleeves 520, 530, and 540, for example, deep-crimped, designed to connect to a power transmission cable 620, 630, and 640. The six flexible cables 420 are connected to the busbars 21, 22, and 23 and to the six connection sleeves 520, which are themselves connected to the power transmission cables 620. The six flexible cables 430 are connected to the busbars 31, 32, and 33 and to the six connection sleeves 530, which are themselves connected to the power transmission cables 630.The six flexible cables 440 are connected to the bars 41, 42 and 43 and to the six connecting sleeves 540, which are themselves connected to the power transmission cables 640.

[0042] Figure 6 illustrates a case where all the cables connected to the side busbar assemblies 20 and 40 converge in a direction opposite to the direction in which the cables connected to the central busbar assembly 30 converge. In the case of an inverter 101, the cables connected to the busbar assembly 30 supply one or two electrical loads while the cables connected to the busbar assemblies 20 and 30 come respectively from the backup and main power sources.

[0043] The connecting sleeves according to [Fig. 5] or 6 are placed in parallel and horizontal planes to facilitate the routing of cables along a ceiling. In the example of [Fig. 6], the connecting sleeves connected to the second busbar assembly 30 are oriented at 180° to the orientation of the connecting sleeves connected to the first and third busbar assemblies 20 and 40. This is the case for the inverter so that it can be connected to the cables from the electrical loads and to the cables from the power sources. As a general rule, the connecting sleeves connected to the same busbar assembly are all oriented in the same direction, and the connecting sleeves of each of the busbar assemblies can be oriented in different directions and at different levels.

[0044] To disconnect the electrical cabinet or the inverter from the connection interface according to the invention, it is sufficient to carry out the steps of the connection process in reverse order: - Disconnecting the contact points of the electrical cabinet or the inverter from the connection points 125, 135, 145 of the conductor bars, - Movement of the electrical cabinet or inverter by translation between the rails 54 from back to front until it is disconnected from the fixed bars of the connection interface, - Dismantling of the electrical cabinet or the inverter from the fixed chassis 53, - Removal of the electrical cabinet or the inverter from the electrical room.

[0045] The connection interface according to the invention allows for the rapid interchangeability of the electrical cabinet or the inverter 101 without having to disconnect any electrical cables, which considerably reduces the operating time. In the case of a nuclear power plant, where safety is essential, the reduced dismantling and reassembly time is an advantage.

Claims

Demands

1. Electrical connection interface (10) comprising a set of connection elements for high voltage power transmission cables (620, 630, 640) intended to be connected to an electrical cabinet (101), characterized in that the interface comprises a set of insulated conductive busbars (21, 22, 23, 31, 32, 33, 41, 42, 43), grouped according to three busbar assemblies (20, 30, 40), the fixed and rigid busbars being configured to make an electrical connection between said connection elements and said cabinet so as to facilitate the interchangeability of said electrical cabinet.

2. Electrical connection interface according to claim 1, wherein each assembly of bars (20, 30, 40) comprises three electrically independent conductive bars, respectively (21, 22, 23), (31, 32, 33) and (41, 42, 43) held together by being encased in a layer of insulation (25) and fixedly held to a fixed frame (53) designed to be integral with the slab (50) of an electrical room.

3. Electrical connection interface according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the first ends (120, 130, 140) of the busbar assemblies (10, 30, 40) located on the side of the electrical cabinet form flat contact areas (125, 135, 145) located in the same plane in order to facilitate their connection to the electrical cabinet (101).

4. Electrical connection interface according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the bus assemblies are fixed to said fixed frame (53) located at the end and between two rails (54) on which the electrical cabinet (101) slides between two positions, a first position away from the bus assemblies where it can be removed from the rails and a second position in which it can be connected to the contact areas (125, 135, 145) of the bus assemblies located at their first end.

5. Electrical connection interface according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the cross-section of the conductive bars is rectangular.

6. Electrical connection interface according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the cross-section of the bars is circular.

7. Electrical connection interface according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the connection elements are connection sleeves (520, 530, 540) grouped in a fixed junction box (61), second contact ranges (220, 230, 240) located at the second end of the three busbar assemblies (20, 30, 40) being designed to connect to one or two connection sleeves each.

8. Electrical connection interface according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the connection elements are flexible cables (420, 430, 440) and connection sleeves (520, 530, 540), second contact areas (220, 230, 240) located at the second end of the three busbar assemblies (20, 30, 40) being designed to connect to one or two connection sleeves each.

9. Electrical connection interface according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the junction box (61) is designed to be fixed to the opposite face of the slab (50) on which the chassis and said electrical cabinet are fixed, the bus assemblies being configured to pass through the slab (50) by a hopper (51) so that their two ends are located on either side of said slab.

10. Electrical connection interface according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the contact areas (230) of the second end of the conductive bars of the second bar assembly (30) are oriented differently from the contact areas (220, 240) of the first and third bar assemblies (20, 40) so that the connecting sleeves connected to the bar assembly (30) are oriented in a different direction from the orientation of the sleeves connected to the bar assemblies (20, 40).

11. An electrical connection interface according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the electrical cabinet is a source inverter configured to connect at least one electrical load to at least one primary power source or to at least one secondary backup power source, said second busbar assembly (30) being designed to connect said at least one electrical load to said inverter by being connected by its first end (130) to the second contact ranges (131, 132, 133) of the inverter and by its second end (230) to the connection sleeves (530), said

12. third busbar assembly (40) being adapted to connect said at least one main source to said inverter by being connected by its first end (140) to the third contact ranges (141, 142, 143) of the inverter and by its second end (240) to the connecting sleeves (540), said first busbar assembly (20) being designed to connect said at least one backup source to said inverter by being connected by its first end (120) to the first contact ranges (121, 122, 123) of the inverter and by its second end (220) to the connecting sleeves (520).Method of connecting an electrical cabinet (101) to a connection interface in an electrical room as defined in claims 1 to 11, comprising the following steps: - Supplying the electrical cabinet (101) to the electrical room, - Mounting the electrical cabinet on the fixed frame (53), - Moving the electrical cabinet by translation between the rails (54) from front to back until it reaches its connection position on the fixed bars of the connection interface, - Connecting the contact areas (121, 122, 123), (131, 132, 133) and (141, 142, 143) of said electrical cabinet to the connection areas (125, 135, 145) of the conductor bars.