Current interruption device for high voltage direct current with dynamic oscillator circuit and control method

Abstract

The present invention relates to a current interruption device (10) for high-voltage direct current, comprising: at least one first mechanical switch (18) arranged in a main line (16) between a first point (12) and a second point (14); a first surge suppressor (30) arranged in parallel with the first switch (18); and an oscillator circuit (40) arranged electrically in parallel with the first switch (18) and the first surge suppressor (30), the oscillator circuit (40) comprising at least an inductor (42), a capacitor (44) and an oscillation trigger (46) arranged electrically in series, wherein the device (10) comprises a controllable device (48, 48', 50, 50') for changing the resistance value of a resistor inserted in series with the oscillator circuit (40).

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of networks for transporting and / or supplying high voltage direct current, commonly referred to as HVDC networks, and in particular to a fault current interruption device for such networks. [Background technology]

[0002] HVDC networks are considered in particular as a solution for the interconnection of dissimilar or non-synchronous electric production sites. They are considered in particular for the transport and supply of energy produced by offshore wind farms, rather than AC technology, due to the lower line losses and the absence of parasitic capacitance effects in long-distance networks. Typically, such networks have a voltage level of around 100 kV or even higher.

[0003] In this specification, devices with a nominal operating voltage of more than 1500V DC are considered high voltage with respect to DC. Additionally, such high voltages are classified as extra-high voltage when they are more than 75000V (75kV) DC. Of course, the high voltage region includes the extra-high voltage region.

[0004] The interruption of DC current in such networks is a major consideration that directly affects the feasibility and evolution of such networks.

[0005] Mechanical circuit breaker type interrupting devices are known which realize the interruption of alternating currents, i.e. the interruption of the current is realized only by opening a mechanical switching element. Such a mechanical switching element comprises two contact-making conductive parts which are in mechanical and electrical contact when the switching element is closed and which are mechanically separated when the switching element is opened. Such mechanical circuit breakers have various disadvantages when large currents flow through them.

[0006] Under high currents and / or voltages, mechanical separation can lead to the formation of an electric arc between the two conductive parts. This is due to the large energy stored in the network that the device protects. If an electric arc is formed due to mechanical separation, the interrupting device does not achieve an electric interruption, because the current continues to flow through the device due to the presence of the arc. An electric interruption, in the sense of effectively interrupting the current flow, can be very difficult to achieve in situations where an electric arc is likely to be maintained, such as direct current and high voltage. Moreover, this electric arc deteriorates the two contact-making conductive parts on the one hand by erosion, and on the other hand the surrounding environment by ionization. Moreover, due to this ionization, it takes some time to stop the current. This requires maintenance operations on the interrupting device, which are troublesome and expensive.

[0007] Fault currents in HVDC networks are very violent and disruptive. When a fault occurs that produces a large current, it is necessary to interrupt the current quickly, or it may be necessary to limit the current while waiting for the interruption to be possible. Furthermore, interrupting HVDC currents is more difficult to achieve than interrupting alternating current (AC), in which case the zero crossing of the current is used to achieve the interruption. However, this is not the case for direct current, especially HVDC.

[0008] Prior Art Various solutions have been proposed to facilitate current interruption in HVDC lines, see for example documents WO2015 / 078525, US2017 / 0178844 or DE2136865.

[0009] Some solutions use a large number of active semiconductor switching elements, mainly thyristors and IGBTs. However, these elements are expensive / power efficient. Excessive use of such semiconductor switches increases the cost of the solution.

[0010] Documents WO2015 / 185096, US4442469 and US3758790 each describe a current interruption device for high voltage direct current. These devices comprise a first mechanical switch and a second mechanical switch, which are inserted successively in a main line between a first point and a second point, but are located opposite each other as viewed from a midpoint of the main line. Each of these two mechanical switches is controlled between an open state and a closed state. However, the problem of interrupting a current in the presence of an electric arc between mechanically separated contacts in a mechanical switch remains unsolved.

[0011] Furthermore, it is known to provide an oscillator circuit arranged electrically in parallel with the switch. The oscillator circuit is designed and capable of facilitating an electrical interruption in the first switch when the first switch is mechanically opened by forming a zero crossing of the current in the switch. In some known embodiments, the oscillator circuit includes at least an inductor, a capacitor and an oscillation trigger, which are arranged in electrical series with the oscillator circuit arranged in parallel with the switch that is desired to be effectively electrically interrupted. Often, the capacitor is precharged (est prevu que) before the oscillator circuit starts to operate. In this example, the circuit may include a circuit for precharging the capacitor. However, in that case, the oscillator circuit must be configured to be able to prevent any fault current that may occur in the switch in question, including in particular a fault current of the maximum magnitude that may be envisaged. However, in use, fault currents may occur that do not reach this maximum value. In this example, the oscillator circuit is too large in the sense that the counter current (contre-courant) that it generates is very large compared to the fault current. Furthermore, in this example, the oscillator circuit generates one or more zero crossings of the current through the switch of interest that may occur at conditions where the rate of change of intensity dI / dt in the switch is too high, which may result in the zero crossing not causing an electrical interruption.

[0012] The device described in EP-3091626 is of this type and includes an oscillator circuit arranged electrically in parallel with a switch. This document does not disclose a blocking device in which a resistor can be inserted in series with an oscillator circuit arranged in parallel with a first switch. In an electric circuit, two elements are in series if the same current flows through them. Thus, in EP-3091626, the resistor 150 cannot be inserted in series with an oscillator circuit arranged in parallel with a switch. In EP-3091626, when the two switches 130, 140 are open, the current flowing through the resistor 150 is considered to be the same as the current flowing through the LC element 120. However, in this example, neither the resistor 150 nor the LC element 120 is in an oscillator circuit parallel to the switch 110. When the switch 120 or 130 is closed, the current through the resistor 150 cannot be the same as the current through the LC element 120, because most of the current through the LC element 120 flows through the branch that contains the closed switch 120 or 130, and does not flow through the resistor 150. In D1, the role of the resistor 150 is simply to charge the capacitor. The resistor has no role in the oscillator circuit when it injects current into the main line.

[0013] Several prior art documents propose dynamic circuits that adapt the characteristics of the oscillator circuit depending on the fault current.

[0014] Document US-2014 / 299579, also published as DE-102011083514, describes an oscillator circuit comprising at least two parallel branches, each with a capacitor in series with a capacitor branch switch. Depending on the fault current, the number of capacitors that discharge the charge stored in the oscillator circuit can be selected. This dynamic circuit thus makes it possible to adapt the strength of the reverse current injected into the main line. In each branch in the system, a switch must withstand the full voltage, which requires expensive and bulky components.

[0015] Document WO-2015 / 166600 describes an oscillator circuit comprising means for adapting the inductance value of the oscillator circuit. An embodiment comprises a number of dedicated inductive elements, for example a number of coils, at least some of which are provided with bypass switches. The bypass switches must withstand high voltages, which requires expensive and bulky elements.

[0016] However, the devices in the last two documents affect the total capacitance or inductance implemented in the oscillator circuit, which usually requires many stages of total capacitance or inductance to be implemented so that the oscillator circuit can prevent electric arcs over the full range of possible fault currents. In reality, this increases the number of dedicated inductive or capacitive elements, as well as the number of control switches directly associated with the oscillator circuit, which causes high costs and large space requirements.

[0017] In summary, the prior art does not provide a compact and inexpensive solution that provides effective interruption of current in a mechanical switch, whether the current is a charging current or a fault current, over a wide range of currents to be interrupted, especially when considering the range of currents to be interrupted, which may be less than 1000 Amperes up to values ​​that may be more than 10 kA. Summary of the Invention

[0018] The invention therefore proposes a current interruption device for high voltage direct current, of the type comprising: - a main line between a first point and a second point, the main line including at least one first mechanical switch inserted in the main line; a first surge suppressor disposed in parallel with the first switch; and an oscillator circuit arranged electrically in parallel with the first switch and electrically in parallel with the first surge suppressor, the oscillator circuit including at least an inductor, a capacitor and an oscillation trigger arranged electrically in series;

[0019] In one aspect of the invention, an apparatus includes in an oscillator circuit a controllable device for varying a resistance value inserted in series with the oscillator circuit.

[0020] A device according to the invention may also comprise any other feature of the invention, either alone or in combination.

[0021] The controllable device may be formed by or may include at least a bypass switch and a damping resistor, the bypass switch being switchable between an open state and a closed state, the damping resistor and the bypass switch being arranged such that, when the bypass switch is in one state, the damping resistor is inserted electrically in series in the oscillator circuit and is in series with the inductor, the capacitor and the oscillation trigger of the oscillator circuit, while, when the bypass switch is in another state, the damping resistor is short-circuited in the oscillator circuit.

[0022] The oscillator circuit may include at least one permanent resistor permanently inserted in the oscillator circuit and disposed in electrical series with the inductor, the capacitor and the oscillation trigger of the oscillator circuit.

[0023] The oscillator circuit may include a plurality of damping resistors, each of the plurality of damping resistors associated with a separate bypass switch for that damping resistor, each bypass switch being switchable between an open state and an on state, and the damping resistors and associated bypass switches arranged such that when the bypass switch is in one state, the damping resistor associated with the switch is inserted electrically in series with the oscillator circuit and is in electrical series with the inductor, capacitor and oscillation trigger of the oscillator circuit, while when the bypass switch is in another state, the damping resistor associated with the switch is shorted in the oscillator circuit.

[0024] The interrupter includes a second mechanical switch inserted in the main line, the first mechanical switch and the second mechanical switch being inserted in series in the main line between the first point and the second point but positioned on opposite sides of an intermediate point of the main line, and each of these two mechanical switches may be independently controlled between an open state and a closed state.

[0025] The interruption device may include a second surge suppressor electrically disposed between the intermediate point and the second point and in electrical parallel with the second switch.

[0026] The interruption device includes a capacitive buffer circuit disposed between the first point and the second point, electrically in parallel with the assembly formed by the first switch and the second switch, and electrically in parallel with the assembly formed by the first surge suppressor and the second surge suppressor, the capacitive buffer circuit may include an actuation switch and a buffer capacitor. Typically, the capacitive buffer circuit does not include a dedicated inductive element.

[0027] The activation switch and the buffer capacitor may be arranged electrically in series in a line of the capacitive buffer circuit extending from a first point to a second point.

[0028] The capacitive buffer circuit may include a circuit for discharging the buffer capacitor.

[0029] The capacitive buffer circuit may include a third surge suppressor arranged in parallel with the activation switch, for example a third surge suppressor connected directly to multiple terminals of the activation switch and across the area between the terminals.

[0030] The first switch may include at least one vacuum switch.

[0031] The second switch may include at least one insulating gas switch and may include at least one vacuum switch.

[0032] The invention also relates to a method for controlling a disconnection device, characterized in that it comprises determining a value of the magnitude of the current flowing through the device to be interrupted and determining, depending on the determined value of the magnitude of the fault current, the state to which at least one bypass switch should be switched (de l'état dans lequel l'au moins un interrupteur de bypass doit etre bascule). In such a method, all the bypass switches of an oscillator circuit may be switched simultaneously or, conversely, with a time lag relative to one another. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0033] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a first embodiment of a blocking device according to the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a second embodiment of a blocking device according to the present invention. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a graph showing, in a schematic manner, the variation of some quantitative characteristics relating to the operation of the device during the opening process according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a modified oscillator circuit that can be implemented in the interrupter according to the present invention. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of another modified example of an oscillator circuit that can be implemented in the interrupter according to the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0034] 1 shows diagrammatically a first embodiment of a disconnection device 10 according to the invention. The device is for direct current at high or even extra-high voltages.

[0035] 1, the current interrupt device 10 includes a first point, which may be a first terminal 12, and a second point, which may be a second terminal 14. The first point 12 and the second point 14, or these terminals, form a current input / output in the device 10. Each of these points may correspond to a physical terminal of the device 10, for example a physical connection terminal of the device 10, or a virtual terminal that is a (long) point on a conductor.

[0036] The device 10 of FIG. 1 includes a main line 16. The main line 16 extends between a first terminal 12 and a second terminal 14. A first switch 18 having a first terminal 20 and a second terminal 22 and a second switch 24 having a first terminal 26 and a second terminal 28 are inserted in series in the main line 16 between the first point 12 and the second point 14. The first terminal 20 of the first switch 18 is at the same potential as the first point 12. The second terminal 28 of the second switch 24 is at the same potential as the second point 14. The second terminal 22 of the first switch 18 and the first terminal 28 of the second switch 24 are at the same potential, and at the same potential as the intermediate point 13 of the main line 16 located between the two switches 18, 24. When the first switch 18 and the second switch 24 are in a current-carrying on state, current flows in the main line 16 through the device 10. The main line 16 is the line of lowest impedance between the first point 12 and the second point 14 in the device 10. One or both of the first switch 18 and the second switch 24 may be switched to an open or closed state.

[0037] The device 10 is intended to be incorporated into an electrical installation. For example, the first terminal 12 of the device 10 may be connected to a part of the installation that may include a high voltage source. The high voltage source may be, for example, greater than 100 kilovolts. The second terminal 14 may be connected to, for example, a current consuming circuit. The current consuming circuit may be, for example, an electrical load or an electrical network. In this embodiment, in the illustrated example, the first terminal 12 may be considered to be an upstream or current input terminal, while the second terminal 14 may be considered to be a downstream or current output terminal, with respect to the direction of current flow. In this example, the main line 16 of the device is intended to carry a nominal current applied by a direct current voltage source. However, the device 10 according to the invention is reversible, and the flow of current through the device may be in the opposite direction.

[0038] The electrical installation is adapted to operate at a nominal direct current voltage in the high voltage range, i.e. at least greater than 1500 volts, preferably in the extra high voltage range, i.e. greater than 75000 V. The invention may be advantageously applied in particular to interrupting devices capable of interrupting currents of up to 3000 Amperes, preferably up to 10000 Amperes or even up to 20000 Amperes, at voltages of at least greater than 100000 Volts (100 kV).

[0039] The first switch 18 and the second switch 24 may be, in particular, a circuit breaker type, a disconnector type, a fuse type, etc. In a more specific example below, each of the first switch 18 and the second switch 24 is formed, for example, by a circuit breaker.

[0040] Both the first switch 18 and the second switch 24 are preferably mechanical electrical interruption devices in which electrical interruption is achieved by moving, in particular moving apart, two electrical contacts or a pair of electrical contacts. In mechanical devices, the movement of the electrical contacts is generally performed by a mechanical, pneumatic, hydraulic or electrical operating member or actuator and may be by motion transmission kinematics. This movement may be monitored electronically. As mentioned above, in the presence of high currents and / or high voltages, the mechanical separation of the electrical contacts may cause an electrical arc to form between the two electrical contacts in the switch. This is due to the large energy stored in the network that the device protects. If the electrical arc remains formed due to the mechanical interruption, the switch does not achieve electrical interruption because the current continues to flow through the switch due to the presence of the arc. As will be explained below, the present invention provides a means for achieving electrical interruption in the sense of effectively interrupting the flow of current.

[0041] Each of the first switch 18 and / or the second switch 24 can be a single mechanical electrical interrupting device, or a plurality of mechanical electrical interrupting devices arranged electrically in series and / or in parallel. This can be what is called a "metal-encased" device, in which the current supply means (also called "busbars") are housed in an enclosed container filled with an insulating fluid. In particular, a metal-encased device can be designed to be more compact than a device in which isolation is achieved in air.

[0042] The mechanical electrical cut-off switch may be of conventional type, in particular comprising two electrodes held by an insulating support in a fixed position away from the periphery of the vessel at earth potential. These electrodes are electrically connected or electrically separated depending on the position of a movable connecting member forming part of one of the electrodes. The movable connecting member is, for example, a sliding tube (tube coulissant) driven by a command. The tube is generally held by the electrode to which it is electrically connected, and the separation of the tube from the opposite electrode tends to cause an electric arc. This electric arc may be sustained for the duration of the opening movement of the switch, during which the tube moves away from said opposite electrode. The mechanical electrical cut-off switch usually comprises two pairs of electrical contacts held by the tubes and two electrodes. The first pair is the pair through which the nominal current flows in the fully closed state of the device. This contact pair may be supported by a second pair of contacts, which is called the arcing contact pair or the second contact pair. The two contacts in this pair are intended to remain in direct contact during separation of the first pair to minimize arcing in the first pair and ensure good electrical conductivity in the fully closed state, whereas the contacts of the second pair separate last and an electrical arc is formed.

[0043] In some embodiments, the first switch 18 is a vacuum switch or includes at least one vacuum switch, in which the active interrupting member, in particular the electrical contacts, are contained in a sealed container at a pressure below atmospheric pressure, in particular below 100 mbar, in particular below 10 microbar. Such a switch has the advantage that a complete electrical interruption can be achieved even in the case of a high rate of change of the current intensity, i.e. a high derivative of the intensity with respect to time (dI / dt).

[0044] In some embodiments of the invention, the second switch 24 is an insulating fluid switch or includes at least one insulating fluid switch. The insulating fluid switch is in particular an insulating gas switch. This type of switch is particularly suitable for interrupting currents under high voltages, even very high voltages. In such a device, the active interrupting member, in particular the electrical contacts, are contained in a sealed container in which an insulating fluid is present. The insulating fluid can be a gas, usually sulfur hexafluoride (SF6), but a liquid or oil can also be used. The insulating fluid is a pressurized fluid, for example at a pressure of 3 bar absolute or more. This fluid is chosen for its insulating properties, in particular to have a dielectric strength greater than that of dry air at an equivalent pressure.

[0045] In some embodiments, including those described in more detail below, the first switch 18 is or includes a vacuum switch, and the second switch 24 is an insulating fluid switch, particularly an insulating gas switch, or includes an insulating fluid switch, particularly an insulating gas switch, although other combinations are possible. For example, the device may include a combination of a first switch and a second switch of the same technology, particularly both of the vacuum switch type.

[0046] As can be seen in FIG. 1 , the apparatus 10 includes a first surge suppressor 30 disposed in parallel with the first switch 18 between the first point 12 and the intermediate point 13, and thus electrically disposed in parallel with the first switch 18, and a second surge suppressor 32 disposed in electrical parallel with the second switch 24, and thus electrically disposed between the intermediate point 13 and the second point 14.

[0047] Such surge suppressors make it possible to limit the magnitude of the potential difference between the terminals of the switches placed in parallel with them. A surge suppressor 30, 32 or "voltage surge arrester" is therefore a device that limits the peak of the voltage across its terminals. The surge suppressor 30, 32 typically comprises an electrical element having a variable resistance that varies with the voltage across its terminals. The change in resistance is typically non-linear with respect to the voltage across the terminals of the surge suppressor 30, 32. Typically, when the voltage across the terminals of the surge suppressor 30, 32 is below the transition voltage, the resistance of the surge suppressor 30, 32 is high and there is zero or a relatively small drop in resistance with increasing voltage, and the surge suppressor preferably conducts a leakage current of less than 1 ampere (A), or even less than 100 milliamps (mA). On the other hand, when the voltage across the terminals of the surge suppressor is higher than the transition voltage, the resistance of the surge suppressor drops rapidly with increasing voltage, leading to a clipping voltage value or protection voltage, at which the resistance of the surge suppressor is low or even very low. In other words, the surge suppressor acts as a limiter of the voltage across its terminals over a selected current range. The surge suppressor applies a protection voltage when passing a maximum current according to the size of the surge suppressor. Below the transition voltage, the surge suppressor prevents the current from passing. Above the transition voltage, the surge suppressor allows current to pass through the surge suppressor, and the voltage across its terminals rises slightly. As is known, the transition voltage usually does not correspond to an exact value, but rather to a range of transition voltages. However, in this specification, the transition voltage of a surge suppressor is defined as the voltage at which one ampere (A) of current passes through the surge suppressor. The protection voltage is the voltage across the terminals of the surge suppressor when the surge suppressor is carrying a maximum current according to its size. Among surge suppressors, lightning arresters are known which may in particular comprise a number of varistors and TVS diodes (transient voltage suppression diodes such as "Transil" diodes or TVS diodes). In particular, within the scope of the present invention, each of the first surge suppressor 30 and / or the second surge suppressor 32 may comprise a metal oxide varistor (or MOV).

[0048] Advantageously, in the illustrated example, the first surge suppressor 30 may be a surge suppressor having a transition voltage in the range of, for example, ten thousand volts (10 kV) to one hundred thousand volts (100 kV). The second surge suppressor 32 is typically a surge suppressor having a transition voltage higher than the transition voltage of the first surge suppressor 30. More specifically, the surge suppressors preferably have transition voltages such that the transition voltage ratio between the second surge suppressor 32 and the first surge suppressor 30 is between one and ten.

[0049] 1 with two consecutive first and second switches 18, 24, the transition voltage of the first surge suppressor 30 is strictly less than the nominal voltage of the electrical installation in which the interruption device 10 is inserted. In a particularly optimized embodiment, the first surge suppressor 30 and the second surge suppressor 32 are selected such that the sum of the transition voltage of the first surge suppressor 30 and the transition voltage of the second surge suppressor 32 is equal to or greater than the nominal voltage of the electrical installation.

[0050] 1, by selecting a first surge suppressor 30 with a protection voltage of less than 200 kV, the voltage across the first switch 18 is maintained at or below this protection voltage, allowing the use of a switch that is significantly less costly and requires less space than an equivalent high voltage system. Electrical interruption at the first switch 18 is also facilitated.

[0051] Each of the first surge suppressor 30 and / or the second surge suppressor 32 may be formed by an assembly of multiple discrete elements electrically arranged in series and / or in parallel. For example, each discrete element is a lightning arrester, a varistor, in particular a metal oxide varistor, or a TVS diode. Preferably, the assembly of multiple discrete elements electrically arranged in series and / or in parallel behaves, in the eyes of the rest of the device, as a single surge suppressor with an equivalent transition voltage as an assembly and an equivalent protection voltage as an assembly.

[0052] Figure 2 shows a schematic representation of a second embodiment of a disconnection device 10 according to the invention. This device is for direct current at high or even extra-high voltages. This device is of simplified design. Elements common to the two embodiments are indicated by the same reference signs and, unless otherwise indicated, the details relating thereto given above are also applicable to this second embodiment.

[0053] In this simplified embodiment, the interruption device 10 includes only a first switch 18 in a main line 16 extending between the first point 12 and the second point 14. Therefore, this embodiment does not include the second switch described in the first embodiment. This does not prevent the first switch 18 from being formed by an assembly of several electrical switches arranged in series or parallel, but is seen as a single switch by the rest of the circuit. A first terminal 20 of the first switch 18 is at the same potential as the first point 12. A second terminal 22 of the first switch 18 is at the same potential as the second point 14. When the first switch 18 is in a current-carrying closed state, current flows in the main line 16 through the device 10. The main line 16 is the line with the lowest impedance of the device 10 between the first point 12 and the second point 14. The first switch 18 can be switched to an open state or a closed state.

[0054] The first switch 18 is preferably a mechanical electrical interrupt device. The first switch 18 may be a single mechanical electrical interrupt device or may be multiple mechanical electrical interrupt devices arranged electrically in series and / or parallel. The first switch 18 may be what is referred to as a "metal-encased" device. In some embodiments, the first switch 18 is a vacuum switch or includes at least one vacuum switch.

[0055] 2, the apparatus 10 includes a first surge suppressor 30 disposed in parallel with the first switch 18 between the first point 12 and the intermediate point 14, and thus disposed electrically in parallel with the first switch 18. In this embodiment with only the first switch 18 between the first point 12 and the second point 14, the transition voltage of the first surge suppressor 30 may be strictly greater than or equal to the nominal voltage of the electrical installation.

[0056] In one aspect common to both embodiments of the invention, the interrupter device 10 includes an oscillator circuit 40 disposed electrically in parallel with the first switch 18. Note that the oscillator circuit 40 is disposed electrically in parallel with the first surge suppressor 30. The oscillator circuit 40 is designed and capable of forming a zero crossing of the current in the first switch 18. In the first embodiment, the oscillator circuit 40 is disposed between the first point 12 and the intermediate point 13, and generates a zero crossing of the current that flows only through the first switch 18 and not through the second switch 24. In the second embodiment of FIG. 2, the oscillator circuit 40 is disposed between the first point 12 and the second point 14.

[0057] The purpose of such an oscillator circuit 40 is to facilitate electrical interruption in the first switch 18 when the first switch 18 is mechanically opened. Even after such switch opening, electrical arcing may continue to form between spaced contacts in the switch, which may prevent effective electrical interruption from being achieved. The zero crossing of the current through the first switch, generated by the oscillator circuit 40, facilitates electrical interruption in the first switch 18.

[0058] The oscillator circuit 40 includes at least an inductor 42, a capacitor 44 and an oscillation trigger 46 arranged in electrical series with the oscillator circuit 40 and in parallel with the first switch 18, the inductor 42 being arranged between the first point 12 and the intermediate point 13 in the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1 and between the first point 12 and the second point 14 in the second embodiment shown in FIG. 2. In both examples, in order to operate such an oscillator circuit 40, the capacitor 44 is advantageously precharged before starting the operation of the oscillator circuit 40. In this example, the oscillator circuit 40 may further include a circuit (not shown) for precharging the capacitor 44.

[0059] In one aspect of the invention, the apparatus includes at least one damping resistor 48 electrically in series with the inductor 42, the capacitor 44 and the oscillation trigger 46 of the oscillator circuit 40, the oscillator circuit 40 including a controllable device for varying the resistance value inserted in series with the oscillator circuit.

[0060] In the two exemplary embodiments shown in Figures 1 and 2, such an oscillator circuit 40 may advantageously be provided with at least one damping resistor 48 and at least one bypass switch 50 for the damping resistor 48. The bypass switch 50 is switchable between an open state and an on state. The damping resistor 48 and the bypass switch 50 are arranged in parallel with each other, for example, such that when the bypass switch 50 is in one state, the damping resistor 48 is in electrical series with the oscillator circuit 40 and is in electrical series with the inductor 42, the capacitor 44 and the oscillation trigger 46, while when the bypass switch 50 is in another state, the damping resistor 48 is short-circuited with the oscillator circuit 40.

[0061] In the example of Figures 1 and 2, the damping resistor 48 is electrically in series with the inductor 42, the capacitor 44 and the oscillation trigger 46 in the electrical line of the oscillation circuit 40 that is directly connected to the first switch 18 and runs in parallel only with the first switch 18, and that runs between the first point 12 and the intermediate point 13 in the first embodiment of Figure 1 and between the first point 12 and the second point 14 in the second embodiment of Figure 2. The bypass switch 50 is directly connected to the damping resistor 48 and is arranged in parallel only with the damping resistor 48. When the bypass switch 50 is open, the damping resistor 48 is electrically in series with the oscillation circuit 40 and is electrically in series with the inductor 42, the capacitor 44 and the oscillation trigger 46, while when the bypass switch 50 is closed, the damping resistor 48 is short-circuited in the oscillation circuit 40.

[0062] It should be noted that the damping resistor 48 may be formed by an assembly of multiple discrete elements arranged electrically in series and / or in parallel, in which case the associated bypass switch 50 would typically be arranged electrically in parallel with that assembly.

[0063] The oscillation trigger 46 is a switch, advantageously a semiconductor switch, but may also be a mechanical switch, in particular a device including only a first switch as shown in FIG. 2. The oscillation trigger 46 is preferably a bidirectional switch. In the example of FIG. 1, the oscillation trigger 46 may be formed by an assembly of two thyristors 46a and 46b parallel and oppositely oriented (montes tete-beche). Such an assembly is similar to a TRIAC. However, other semiconductor elements may be used, such as IGBTs or other types of controlled spark gaps. From the point of view of voltage resistance or current handling, the oscillation trigger 46 may also be formed by an assembly of several switches arranged electrically in series and / or in parallel. However, the oscillation trigger 46 may preferably be controlled to behave as a single switch with respect to the rest of the device.

[0064] The bypass switch 50 is advantageously a semiconductor switch, but may also be a mechanical switch. The bypass switch 50 is preferably a bidirectional switch. As in the example of figures 1 and 2, the bypass switch 50 may be formed by an assembly of two thyristors 50a and 50b parallel to each other and oriented in opposite directions. Such an assembly is similar to a TRIAC. However, other semiconductor elements may be used, such as IGBTs or other types of controlled spark gaps. From the point of view of voltage resistance or current handling, the bypass switch 50 may also be formed by an assembly of several switches arranged electrically in series and / or in parallel. However, the bypass switch 50 may preferably be controlled to behave as a single switch with respect to the rest of the device.

[0065] In Fig. 4 a first variant of the oscillator circuit 40 of the interruption device 10 according to the invention is depicted. In this variant, the oscillator circuit 40 comprises at least one permanent resistor R' permanently inserted in the oscillator circuit 40 and arranged in electrical series with the inductor 42, the capacitor 44 and the oscillation trigger 46. The permanent resistor R' is not associated with a bypass switch. In this example, the permanent resistor R' determines the minimum value of the resistance of the oscillator circuit when the damping resistor 48 is short-circuited in the oscillator circuit 40. When the damping resistor 48 is inserted in the oscillator circuit 40, for example when the associated bypass switch 50 is open, the resistance of the oscillator circuit is determined by the sum of the electrical resistance of the permanent resistor R' and the electrical resistance of the damping resistor 48. The permanent resistor R' may be formed by an assembly of several discrete elements arranged electrically in series and / or in parallel.

[0066] In Fig. 5 a second variant of the oscillator circuit 40 of the interrupter device 10 according to the invention is depicted. In this variant, the oscillator circuit 40 comprises at least one second damping resistor 48' and at least one second bypass switch 50' associated with the second damping resistor 48'. The second bypass switch 50' can be switched between an open state and an on state. The second damping resistor 48' and the second bypass switch 50' are here arranged in parallel with each other such that in one state of the second bypass switch 50' the second damping resistor 48' is electrically in series with the oscillator circuit 40 and is electrically in series with the inductor 42, the capacitor 44 and the oscillation trigger 46, and is electrically in series with the first damping resistor 48 when the first damping resistor 48 is inserted in the oscillator circuit 40. In another state of the second bypass switch 50' the second damping resistor 48' is short-circuited in the oscillator circuit 40. When the two damping resistors 48, 48' are inserted in the oscillator circuit 40, i.e. in this example when the two associated bypass switches 50, 50' are open, the resistance value of the oscillator circuit is determined by the sum of the electrical resistance values ​​of the two damping resistors 48, 48'.

[0067] Of course, the variation of Fig. 5 can be generalized to more than two damping resistors and therefore more than two bypass switches. The oscillator circuit 40 may include a plurality of damping resistors, each of which is associated with its respective bypass switch, and each bypass switch may be switched between an open state and an on state. The damping resistors and associated bypass switches are arranged in parallel with each other, for example, such that when the bypass switch is in one state, the damping resistor associated with the switch is inserted in electrical series with the oscillator circuit 40 and is in electrical series with the inductor 42, the capacitor 44 and the oscillation trigger 46, while when the bypass switch is in another state, the damping resistor associated with the switch is shorted in the oscillator circuit 40.

[0068] By having multiple damping resistors, each associated with a bypass switch, the bypass switches can be controlled simultaneously. Conversely, at least some of the multiple bypass switches of the oscillator circuit can be switched with a time lag relative to one another. More than two resistance steps can be applied to the total resistance of the oscillator circuit.

[0069] It should be noted that the two variants of Figures 4 and 5 can be incorporated into an oscillator circuit that simultaneously includes at least one permanent resistor and multiple damping resistors, all of which are or can be inserted in series with each other in the oscillator circuit.

[0070] The role of such an oscillator circuit 40 and the advantages of the presence of such an oscillator circuit 40 will become clear in particular from the description of the operation of a device provided with such an oscillator circuit 40. For this purpose, reference is made to FIG. 3, which shows the evolution of some parameters of the device of FIG. 1 during a breaking operation implemented with such a breaking device 10. However, before describing the role of such an oscillator circuit 40 and the advantages of the presence of such an oscillator circuit 40, in the following supplementary elements of another variant of the breaking device 10 are generally described. These supplementary elements are optional.

[0071] In some embodiments as shown in FIG. 1, the interruption device 10 according to the present invention may include a capacitive buffer circuit 34 without a dedicated inductive element, which is provided between the first point 12 and the second point 14, electrically in parallel with the assembly formed by the first switch 18 and the second switch 24, and electrically in parallel with the assembly formed by the first surge suppressor 30 and the second surge suppressor 32. The capacitive buffer circuit 34 includes an operating switch 36 and a buffer capacitor 38. In the illustrated example, the circuit comprises an electric line 35. One end of the electric line 35 is electrically connected to the main line 16 at a point having the same potential as the first point 12 and the same potential as the first terminal 20 of the first switch 18. The other end of the electric line 35 is electrically connected to the main line 16 at a point having the same potential as the second point 14 and the same potential as the second terminal 28 of the second switch 24. The operating switch 36 and the buffer capacitor 38 are electrically inserted in series in the line 35. The buffer capacitor 38 may, for example, comprise or be formed by one or more capacitors having a total electrical capacitance C38.

[0072] The capacitive buffer circuit 34, like any other circuit, may have a parasitic inductance resulting in particular from the nature of the electrical elements it comprises and from the geometry of the circuit. However, in an exemplary embodiment, the capacitive buffer circuit 34 does not include a dedicated inductive element, i.e. does not include any discrete elements with the desired inductive function, and therefore does not include any elements with an inductance greater than the parasitic inductance, in particular does not include any coils or inductive ferromagnetic cores. The inductance of the capacitive buffer circuit may therefore be very low, for example less than 50 microhenries, or even less than 1 microhenry, per 10 kilovolt range of nominal network voltage.

[0073] In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 1, the capacitive buffer circuit 34 may include a circuit for discharging the buffer capacitor 38. In the example of FIG. 1, the discharge circuit is a passive discharge circuit and does not have an active element. In this example, the discharge circuit includes a resistor 39 arranged in parallel with the buffer capacitor 38. Preferably, the resistor 39 has a high electrical resistance value R39. The electrical resistance value R39 is such that the dipole of the parallel buffer capacitor 38 and resistor 39, inserted in the electrical line 35, has a time constant that is important compared to the electrical interruption time of the second switch 24. This time constant is, for example, a time constant greater than 50 ms, preferably greater than 100 ms. In this example, the time constant is equal to the product R39×C38. Other types of discharge circuits, not shown, may include at least one active element, such as a controlled switch. The discharge circuit may comprise a control switch connected directly to and electrically in series with the resistor 39, the assembly of these two elements being arranged in parallel with the buffer capacitor 38. When the control switch is switched on and current is flowing, a discharge circuit may be formed between the two plates of the buffer capacitor 38.

[0074] 1 shows the optional presence of a third surge suppressor 37 in the capacitive buffer circuit 34, which is arranged in parallel with the activation switch 36. The third surge suppressor 37 is advantageously arranged to be connected directly to the terminals of the activation switch 36 and across only the area between the terminals, as shown, and is electrically connected in series with the buffer capacitor 38 in the line 35 of the capacitive buffer circuit 34, in the sense that it is arranged on the opposite side (the third surge suppressor 37 can be used either directly or in series with the buffer capacitor 38, as shown in the figure, by directing and uniquely connecting the activation switch 36 to the line 35 of the capacitive buffer circuit 34). The third surge suppressor 37 may advantageously be sized to limit the voltage across the terminals of the actuation switch 36. For example, a surge suppressor may be selected that has a protection voltage in the range of 10,000 volts (10 kV) to 100,000 volts (100 kV). By selecting a third surge suppressor 37 that has a protection voltage in this voltage range, the voltage across the terminals of the actuation switch 36 will be maintained within this voltage range, thereby allowing the use of a switch that has significantly less cost and space requirements than an equivalent higher voltage system.

[0075] However, it should be noted that if such a third surge suppressor 37 is present in the capacitive buffer circuit 40, the third surge suppressor is preferably selected to have a transition voltage greater than the protection voltage of the first surge suppressor 30.

[0076] In FIG. 3, the variation over time of the following parameters is depicted for the interruption device shown in FIG. 1 switching from a closed state in which current flows through the device to an open state in which the first point 12 is electrically isolated from the second point 14: - the voltage V24 across the terminals of the second switch 24; - the intensity I24 of the current through the second switch 24; - intensity I46 of the current through the oscillation trigger 46; - intensity I50 of the current through the bypass switch 50; - voltage V18 across the terminals of the first switch 18 - intensity I18 of the current through the first switch 18; - the intensity I30 of the current flowing through the first surge suppressor 30; - the intensity I32 of the current through the second surge suppressor 32; - the intensity I12 of the current passing through the device 10; and - voltage V1214 between the terminals of the device 10;

[0077] The control method for controlling the interrupting device 10 according to the invention comprises the step of mechanically opening the first switch 18 and, for the embodiment of FIG. 1, the second switch 24, with a view to transitioning the device from the closed state to the open state. The two switches may be mechanically opened simultaneously or successively in any order. In the example of FIG. 3, the opening is considered to be effective at time t0. The step of opening one or both switches may be initiated by a simple request to open the interrupting device, for example at nominal load with a nominal current flowing through the device 10, in order to electrically isolate a part of the electrical installation electrically connected to the first point 12 of the device 10 from another part of the electrical installation electrically connected to the second point 14 of the device 10. The step of opening one or both switches may be initiated by the occurrence of an electrical fault in the electrical installation, for example with a fault current flowing through the interrupting device 10. The fault current may be greater than the maximum nominal current flowing through the device 10. Such opening upon occurrence of a fault may be based on detection of the fault, in particular detection of one or more parameters of the current flowing through the device 10, for example detection of the intensity of the current flowing through the device 10. As mentioned above, it is noted that the mechanical opening of one or two switches 18, 24 may not by itself result in an electrical opening in the sense of interrupting the flow of current through the interruption device 10 due to the formation of an electric arc in the first switch or in each of the two switches. The following method description is based on this premise.

[0078] With this premise, the method interrupts the current in the open first switch 18 and generates a voltage across the terminals of the first switch that is higher than the transition voltage of the first surge suppressor 30 and suitable for switching the first surge suppressor 30 to a current-carrying mode.

[0079] In one aspect of the invention, any of the variations of the oscillator circuit 40 described above, in accordance with what is described below, may be used to interrupt the current through the open first switch 18. In the example of Figure 3, implementation of the oscillator circuit 40 begins at time t1, which corresponds to the actuation of the oscillation trigger 46, and the electrical opening of the first switch 18 is effective at time t3.

[0080] It is therefore proposed to implement the oscillator circuit 40 depicted in Figures 1 and 2 or 4 and 5 and described above. Such an arrangement allows at least one damping resistor 48 to be inserted, if desired in a controllable manner, even temporarily, in the oscillation loop formed by the oscillator circuit 40 and the part of the main line 16 including the first switch 18. This allows the oscillation current injected into the oscillation loop by the oscillator circuit 40 to be changed at lower cost, without charging the oscillation capacitor 44, increasing its initial charge level, or charging the inductor 42.

[0081] In some embodiments, the presence of a bypass switch 50 associated with the damping resistor 48 allows the oscillator circuit 40 to be instantly changed from an RLC series circuit to an LC series circuit, and from an LC series circuit to an RLC series circuit, while in other embodiments, the presence of a bypass switch 50 associated with the damping resistor 48 allows the oscillator circuit 40, which is an RLC series circuit, to be instantly changed to another RLC series circuit having a different total electrical resistance.

[0082] Depending on the fault current flowing through the main line 16, an oscillating current can be injected into the oscillation loop, either resulting from the discharge of one RLC series circuit, the discharge of one LC series circuit, or the discharge of another RLC series circuit with a different total electrical resistance, with a view to achieving effective electrical interruption in the first switch 18.

[0083] In this manner, a control method can be provided for controlling a circuit breaking device 10 including an oscillator circuit 40 as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 or 4 and 5, which includes determining at least one parameter of the current to be interrupted flowing through the device at a certain time, for example determining the value of the intensity of this current. This determination can be direct, for example by the presence of a current intensity sensor in the part of the main line 16 including the first switch 18. This determination can be indirect, for example by analyzing other parameters of the circuit breaking device or of the installation. This determination can be a combination of both direct and indirect determination. This determination can be made before the start of the process of opening the circuit breaking device, in particular before the mechanical opening of the first switch 18. This determination can be made after the start of the process of opening the circuit breaking device, in particular after the mechanical opening of the first switch 18. Of course, for this determination, parameters determined before and after the start of the process of opening the circuit breaking device 10 can also be taken into account.

[0084] Based on this determination, for example depending on the determined value of the fault current intensity, the control method can determine the state to which the bypass switch 50 associated with the damping resistor 48 should be switched, and in particular whether and when the bypass switch 48 should switch, in order to adapt the total electrical resistance of the oscillating circuit 40.

[0085] 3, more specifically with respect to the operation of the device shown in FIG. 1, illustrates an example in which the oscillator circuit 40 is driven by closure of the oscillation trigger 46 at time t1. Note that at this time and immediately thereafter, the current I50 through the bypass switch 50 remains zero, indicating that the bypass switch 50 is open until time t2. Between times t1 and t2, the damping resistor 48 is effectively inserted into the oscillator circuit 40, forming an RLC series circuit. The start of the discharge of the oscillation capacitor 44 corresponds to the discharge of the RLC series circuit. From time t2, the bypass switch 50 is switched to an on state so as to short out the damping resistor 48. The remainder of the discharge of the oscillation capacitor 44 corresponds to the discharge of the LC series circuit.

[0086] Of course, it is possible to determine the period or time interval d1t between times t1 and t2, which is the time interval during which the damping resistor 48 is effectively inserted into the oscillator circuit 40. This period d1t may be predetermined or may be determined based on some parameters of the currents in the device, in particular the parameters of the fault current flowing through the first switch 18.

[0087] The interruption device 10 including the oscillator circuit 40 according to the invention can be controlled in such a way that at least one damping resistor 48 is inserted in the oscillator circuit 40 when the oscillation trigger 46 is turned on, or conversely, at least one damping resistor 48 is shorted in this circuit. When the damping resistor 48 is inserted in the oscillator circuit 40, the rate of change d(I18) / dt of the intensity of the current in the first switch 18 generated by the oscillator circuit 40, particularly at the beginning of the discharge of the oscillation capacitor 44, can be limited. In the example in which the damping resistor 48 is effectively inserted in the oscillator circuit when the oscillation trigger 46 is turned on, the damping resistor 48 can be selected to be shorted after a certain time interval, including before the electrical interruption in the first switch 18 is effective, as shown in FIG. 3, or conversely, the damping resistor 48 is selected in such a way that the damping resistor 48 remains inserted in the oscillator circuit during the entire operation period of the oscillator circuit 40.

[0088] In the device shown in Figure 1, the optimum relationships between the characteristic parameters of the oscillator circuit are:

number

[0089] In the interrupting device shown in FIG. 2, which includes only the first switch 18, a voltage can be generated across the terminals of the first switch 18 due to the interruption of the current through the first switch 18. This voltage is reflected across the terminals of the first surge suppressor 30. The first surge suppressor 30 serves to limit the voltage across the terminals of the first switch 18, which can limit the risk of re-ignition of the electric arc. The protective voltage of the first surge suppressor 30 is greater than the nominal voltage of the network as long as there is a current through the surge suppressor, i.e. as long as the current I30 is not zero. This is closely related to the absorption of energy into the network. When this energy is absorbed, the interrupting device 10 of FIG. 2 is considered to be opened, since only leakage currents can flow through the device 10 through the first surge suppressor 30. In this regard, it is to be noted that the voltage across the terminals of the interrupting device 10 is equal to the voltage across the terminals of the first surge suppressor 30. In steady state conditions, when the interrupting device 10 is open, this voltage is usually equal to the nominal voltage of the installation. It is therefore prudent to select the first surge suppressor 30 so that its transition voltage is equal to or greater than the nominal voltage of the installation.

[0090] In the interruption device shown in FIG. 1, when the current through the first switch 18 is interrupted, the current through the device 10 charges the capacitor 44, which causes a rise in voltage across the terminals of the capacitor 44, which in turn causes the same voltage across the terminals of the first surge suppressor 30 and thus across the terminals of the first switch 18. If the fault current is large, this voltage reaches the transition voltage of the first surge suppressor 30 at time t4 in FIG. 3, and the resistance of the first surge suppressor 30 changes, limiting the rise in voltage and resulting in a plateau in the voltage. At this stage, the first surge suppressor 30 is considered to be conducting current. From time t4, the current through the device 10 flows through the first surge suppressor 30, but continues to flow through the second switch 24 due to the presence of an arc between the contacts of the second switch 24.

[0091] In either example, the electrical resistance value of the damping resistor 48 need not be large. Therefore, the element or elements forming the damping resistor or resistors may be compact and inexpensive. Furthermore, with a low resistance value, the value of the voltage applied to the bypass switch 50 associated with the resistor is also relatively low. Therefore, the element or elements forming the bypass switch 50 may be compact and inexpensive.

[0092] In order to interrupt the electric arc in the second switch 24, the capacitive buffer circuit 34 is activated by closing the activation switch 36. This corresponds to the time t5 in FIG. 3. In other words, the activation switch 36 is switched so that in the capacitive buffer circuit 34, a suitable current flows to charge the buffer capacitor 38 and to divert the current from the second switch 24. In the initial state, the buffer capacitor 38 is discharged due to the presence of a discharge circuit, for example formed here by the discharge resistor 39. Therefore, and due to the presence of a potential difference between the terminals of the first surge suppressor 30, the current flowing through the device 10 is switched to the capacitive buffer circuit 34 and charges the buffer capacitor 38. First, in the illustrated example, the resistance value R39 of the resistor 39 is sufficiently large so that the discharge current flowing through the resistor can be neglected. On the contrary, the value of the electrical impedance of the capacitive buffer circuit 34 is significantly smaller than its value before the time t5. The charging period of the buffer capacitor 38, which in FIG. 3 lasts until the time t6, is of great importance. This is because, during this period, the current through the device 10, in the form of the current I36 through the actuation switch 36, flows substantially through the capacitive buffer circuit 34, which reduces or cancels the current through the second switch 24. It should be recalled that the second switch 24 is now in a mechanically disconnected state with its contacts separated from each other. The reduction or even cancellation of the current I24 through the second switch 24 advantageously causes the extinction of the electric arc in the second switch 24. It should be noted that the period from time t5, during which the current should be diverted from the second switch 24 to the buffer circuit 34, does not have to be very long. It is sufficient that the period during which the capacitive buffer circuit 34 passes the current is longer than the period required for the deionization of the gas present between the separated contacts of the second switch 24. Once the gas is deionized, the gap of the contacts of the second switch 24 is sufficient to prevent the re-ignition of the arc. This period is on the order of a few microseconds, preferably less than 20 microseconds.

[0093] The diversion period d2t, from time t5 to time t6, during which the current I24 in the second switch 24 is reduced or even cancelled, can be adjusted to the required duration by appropriately sizing the circuit elements. Typically, an increase in the total electrical capacitance C38 of the buffer capacitor 38 tends to increase the diversion period.

[0094] In a first approximation, the deviation period d2t, which is from time t5 to time t6, can be assumed to be governed by the following laws: d2t=Vt30×C38 / Idef, where: d2t is the desired deviation period; Vt30 is the transition voltage of the first surge suppressor 30; C38 is the total electrical capacitance of the buffer capacitor 38; Idef is the value of the fault current through the device.

[0095] As an indication, an advantageous value for the total electrical capacitance C38 of the buffer capacitor 38 is this value multiplied by the maximum fault current value Idefmax expected to flow through the device during the desired deflection period d2t divided by the transition voltage Vt30 of the first surge suppressor 30, i.e.: C38=d2t×Idefmax / Vt30 It can be determined so that the above is the case.

[0096] After time t6, the second switch 24 is electrically opened and it is considered that a voltage can appear across the terminals of the second switch 24 without the risk of re-igniting the electric arc. This voltage is reflected across the terminals of the second surge suppressor 32. The second surge suppressor 32 can be responsible for limiting the voltage across the terminals of the second switch. The sum of the voltage across the terminals of the surge suppressor 30 and the voltage across the terminals of the surge suppressor 32 is the voltage 1214. The sum of the voltages can be greater than the nominal voltage of the network as long as there is a current flowing through the surge suppressor, i.e. as long as the current I32 is different from zero. This has a direct connection with the absorption of energy into the network.

[0097] From time t7, the interruption device 10 is considered to be open, since only leakage current can flow through the device 10, via the first surge suppressor 30 and the second surge suppressor 32. In this regard, it should be noted that the voltage across the terminals of the interruption device 10 is the sum of the voltage across the terminals of the first surge suppressor 30 and the voltage across the terminals of the second surge suppressor 32. Normally, this voltage is equal to the nominal voltage of the installation in the steady state with the interruption device 10 open. It is therefore wise to select the first surge suppressor 30 and the second surge suppressor 32 such that the sum of their transient voltages is equal to or greater than the nominal voltage of the installation.

[0098] It should be noted that the interrupting device 10 according to the invention may be associated in electrical series with other interrupting devices in the electrical installation, for example of the disconnector type, which are able to interrupt the current in the line in a complete and reliable manner, and which may be dimensioned such that their insulating performance is optimized without the need to optimize their current interrupting capacity, since this is primarily ensured by the interrupting device according to the invention.

[0099] It should further be noted that the interruption device according to the invention is a bidirectional device capable of interrupting current flowing through the device regardless of its direction of flow, and therefore capable of interrupting current flowing in both directions through the device, and thus such an interruption device may be implemented in an installation that includes a mesh network in which direct current may flow in either direction on the line, depending on the configuration of the network at a given time.

[0100] The device according to the invention makes it possible to realize electrical opening in a fast and reliable manner, stopping the flow of high-intensity (particularly greater than 10 kA) fault currents at high voltages, especially voltages higher than 100 kV. However, once the device has been opened, it is necessary to be able to electrically reclose the interrupting device 10 in order to restore the current, if the cause of the fault seems to have disappeared. In the example of the device of FIG. 1, the device 10 is controlled in such a way that the first switch 18 and the second switch 24 are mechanically closed, preferably sequentially and in that order, i.e. the first switch 18 is mechanically closed and then the second switch 24. It should be noted that by observing this sequence, the second surge suppressor 32 makes it possible to limit the inrush current when the first switch 18 is mechanically closed again.

[0101] Immediately after the first switch 18 has been closed, one or more parameters of the current through the interruption device 10 and / or of the phase-to-ground voltage or in the installation may be determined in order to verify, inter alia, that the fault has been cleared. However, the fault may not have been cleared. Depending on the detected parameters of the current through the device and / or the phase-to-ground voltage, a rapid reopening of the device may then be triggered without waiting for the reclosing of the second switch 24, which is a complete reclosing of the device 10.

Claims

1. A current interruption device (10) for high voltage direct current, comprising: - a main line (16) between a first point (12) and a second point (14), the main line (16) including at least one first mechanical switch (18) inserted in said main line (16); - a first surge suppressor (30) arranged in parallel with said first switch (18); and an oscillator circuit (40) arranged electrically in parallel with the first switch (18) and electrically in parallel with the first surge suppressor (30), the oscillator circuit (40) including at least an inductor (42), a capacitor (44) and an oscillation trigger (46) arranged electrically in series; of a type including The current interruption device (10) is characterized in that the device (10) includes a controllable device (50, 50') for changing a resistance value, which is inserted in series with the oscillator circuit (40).

2. 2. The interrupting device according to claim 1, further comprising at least a bypass switch (50, 50') and a damping resistor (48, 48'), the bypass switch (50, 50') being switchable between an open state and an on state, and the damping resistor (48, 48') and the bypass switch (50, 50') being arranged such that when the bypass switch (50, 50') is in a certain state, the damping resistor (48, 48') is inserted electrically in series with the oscillation circuit (40) and is electrically in series with the inductor (42), the capacitor (44) and the oscillation trigger (46) of the oscillation circuit (40), while when the bypass switch (50, 50') is in another state, the damping resistor (48) is short-circuited in the oscillation circuit.

3. 3. The interrupter device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the oscillator circuit (40) includes at least one permanent resistor (R') permanently inserted in the oscillator circuit (40) and electrically in series with the inductor (42), the capacitor (44) and the oscillation trigger (46) of the oscillator circuit (40).

4. The oscillator circuit (40) includes a plurality of damping resistors (48, 48'), each of the plurality of damping resistors (48, 48') associated with a separate bypass switch (50, 50') for that damping resistor (48, 48'), each bypass switch (50, 50') being switchable between an open state and a closed state, and the damping resistor (48, 48') and the associated bypass switch (50, 50') are 4. The circuit breaker according to claim 1, wherein the damping resistor (48, 48') associated with the bypass switch (50, 50') is inserted electrically in series with the oscillator circuit (40) and is electrically in series with the inductor (42), the capacitor (44) and the oscillation trigger (46), while the damping resistor (48, 48') associated with the bypass switch (50, 50') is short-circuited with the oscillator circuit (40) when the bypass switch (50, 50') is in another state.

5. 5. The interrupting device according to claim 1, further comprising a second mechanical switch (24) inserted in the main line (16), the first mechanical switch (18) and the second mechanical switch (24) being inserted in series in the main line (16) between the first point (12) and the second point (14) but positioned opposite each other as viewed from a midpoint (13) of the main line (16), each of the two mechanical switches (18, 24) being independently controlled between an open state and a closed state.

6. 6. The interruption device of claim 5, further comprising a second surge suppressor (32) electrically disposed between the intermediate point (13) and the second point (14) and electrically in parallel with the second switch (24).

7. 7. The interrupter device of claim 6, wherein the device (10) includes a capacitive buffer circuit (34) disposed between the first point (12) and the second point (14) in electrical parallel with an assembly formed by the first switch (18) and the second switch (24) and in electrical parallel with an assembly formed by the first surge suppressor (30) and the second surge suppressor (32), the capacitive buffer circuit (34) including an actuation switch (36) and a buffer capacitor (38).

8. 8. The interrupter device of claim 7, wherein the capacitive buffer circuit (34) does not include a dedicated inductive element.

9. 9. The interrupter device according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the actuation switch (36) and the buffer capacitor (38) are electrically arranged in series in a line (35) of the capacitive buffer circuit extending from the first point (12) to the second point (14).

10. 10. A circuit breaker device according to any one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that the capacitive buffer circuit (34) includes a circuit (39) for discharging the buffer capacitor (38).

11. 11. The circuit breaker device according to claim 7, wherein the capacitive buffer circuit (34) includes a third surge suppressor (37) arranged in parallel with the actuation switch (36).

12. The circuit breaker according to claim 11, wherein the third surge suppressor (37) is connected directly to a plurality of terminals of the operating switch (36) and across an area between the terminals.

13. Shut-off device according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the first switch (18) comprises at least one vacuum switch.

14. Shut-off device according to claim 5 or according to any one of claims 6 to 13 and claim 5, characterized in that the second switch (24) comprises at least one insulating gas switch.

15. Shut-off device according to claim 5 or according to any one of claims 6 to 13 and claim 5, characterized in that the second switch (24) comprises at least one vacuum switch.

16. A control method for controlling a shutoff device according to any one of claims 1 to 15, comprising the steps of: the interruption device includes at least a bypass switch (50, 50') and a damping resistor (48, 48'), the bypass switch (50, 50') is switchable between an open state and an on state, and the damping resistor (48, 48') and the bypass switch (50, 50') are arranged such that, when the bypass switch (50, 50') is in a certain state, the damping resistor (48, 48') is inserted electrically in series with the oscillation circuit (40) and is electrically in series with the inductor (42), the capacitor (44) and the oscillation trigger (46) of the oscillation circuit (40), while, when the bypass switch (50, 50') is in another state, the damping resistor (48) is short-circuited in the oscillation circuit; 2. The method for controlling a fault current in a power supply system, comprising: determining a value of a magnitude of a current flowing through the device that is to be interrupted; and determining a state to which the at least one bypass switch is to be switched depending on the determined value of a magnitude of a fault current.

17. 17. The method for controlling a tripping device according to claim 16, characterized in that all the bypass switches of the oscillator circuit are switched simultaneously.

18. 17. The method for controlling a cut-off device according to claim 16, characterized in that at least some of the bypass switches of the oscillator circuit are switched with a time difference from one another.

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