High Voltage Circuit Breaker with Particle Trap

Abstract

To provide an improved high-voltage circuit breaker.SOLUTION: A high-voltage circuit breaker (1) comprises: a first main contact (2) and a second main contact (3), which extend along a central longitudinal axis (A) and are at least partially enclosed by an insulator (5), where the insulator (5) has an inner surface (18) facing the central longitudinal axis (A) and arranged at a first distance (d1) from the central longitudinal axis (A); and at least one particle trap (8, 9) for trapping particles generated during an operation of the circuit breaker, where the particle trap (8, 9) has an inner surface (19) facing the central longitudinal axis (A) and arranged at a second distance (d2) from the central longitudinal axis (A), the second distance (d2) being larger than the first distance (d1).SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to high voltage circuit breakers, which may be, for example, part of gas insulated switchgear. [Background technology]

[0002] During mechanical opening and closing and power shots, particles may be generated within the circuit breaker. As an example, the particles may be metal particles generated from the mechanical interaction of moving parts. Additionally, dust may accumulate within the circuit breaker. Such particles and dust may accumulate on the insulation surfaces, leading to degradation or even bridging of the insulation gap.

[0003] U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2011 / 0180514 discloses a gas-insulated switchgear having an insulating case that houses a fixed contact and a movable contact of the switchgear. The insulating case has a flange on its inner circumferential surface, and the flange has a collection groove formed therein for collecting metal particles generated during contact or separation operations of the contacts. Summary of the Invention [Means for solving the problem]

[0004] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to an improved high voltage circuit breaker. According to a first aspect, a high-voltage circuit breaker includes first and second main contacts extending along a central longitudinal axis and an insulator at least partially surrounding the contacts. The insulator has an inner surface facing the central longitudinal axis, and the inner surface is disposed a first distance from the central longitudinal axis. The insulator may be, for example, cylindrical. The circuit breaker also includes at least one particle trap for capturing particles generated during operation of the circuit breaker, the particle trap having an inner surface facing the central longitudinal axis and disposed a second distance from the central longitudinal axis, the second distance being greater than the first distance.

[0005] The particle trap is therefore located at a radially outward position relative to the insulator, which ensures that particles are captured within the particle trap and thereby prevented from escaping during internal movement or vibration within the circuit breaker.

[0006] The circuit breaker may include at least one insulator flange for connecting the insulator to additional components of the circuit breaker. For example, the insulator flange may establish a connection to a contact support of the circuit breaker. The contact support supports first and / or second main contacts of the circuit breaker. The particle trap may be formed by the insulator flange. The insulator flange may be located on an outer surface of the insulator, the outer surface facing away from the central longitudinal axis.

[0007] Therefore, the insulator flange may have the dual function of connecting the insulator to the contact support and trapping particles generated during operation. The insulator flange may include a connecting portion for connecting to the contact support. The particle trap may be separate from the connecting portion. Therefore, the particle trap itself does not have the dual function of collecting and connecting particles.

[0008] The particle trap may include an inlet through which particles can enter the particle trap, the inlet being located at an axial end of the insulator. The particle trap may be closed to the outside of the circuit breaker so that particles cannot leave the particle trap toward the outside. The particle trap may be accessible only via the inlet.

[0009] The particle trap may include a pocket located behind the insulator when viewed radially outward from the central longitudinal axis, such that particles cannot easily return from the pocket toward the inner surface of the insulator.

[0010] The pocket may be shielded from the electric field by a metal shield positioned between the pocket and the insulator to prevent particles from being drawn out of the particle trap by the electric field, and the metal shield may be formed by an insulator flange.

[0011] The particle trap may be located at the bottom of the insulator flange, the bottom being lowest with respect to gravity in the installed position of the circuit breaker, thereby allowing particles to enter the particle trap by gravity and preventing particles from exiting the particle trap by gravity.

[0012] The circuit breaker may include at least two particle traps located at opposite axial ends of the insulator, each of which may be formed by a flange and may have any of the functional and structural characteristics described above.

[0013] Further features, improvements, and advantages will become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which elements of the same structure and / or function may be referred to by the same reference numerals. It should be understood that the embodiments shown in the drawings are illustrative representations and are not necessarily drawn to scale. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0014] [Figure 1] 1 illustrates, in cross section, one embodiment of a high voltage circuit breaker with a particle trap. [Figure 2] 1 illustrates an embodiment of a particle trap in perspective view. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0015] Figure 1 shows in cross section a high voltage circuit breaker 1. The circuit breaker 1 may be part of a gas insulated switchgear.

[0016] The circuit breaker 1 includes a first main contact 2 and a second main contact 3. The first main contact 2 and the second main contact 3 are movable from a closed state in which the main contacts 2, 3 are in electrical contact with each other to an open state in which the electrical connection is interrupted. For example, the first main contact 2 may be a movable contact, and the second main contact 3 may be a fixed contact. The circuit breaker 1 further includes a first arcing contact 22 and a second arcing contact 23 for extinguishing an electric arc that may form between the main contacts 2, 3 when the main contacts 2, 3 are separated. Figure 1 shows the circuit breaker 1 in an open state.

[0017] The primary contacts 2, 3 extend about a central longitudinal axis A. To close and open the primary contacts 2, 3, the primary contacts 2, 3 move toward and away from each other along the central longitudinal axis A.

[0018] The main contacts 2, 3 are at least partially surrounded by an insulator 5 in both the open and closed states. The insulator 5 is cylindrical. The insulator 5 may be permanently fixed to the contact supports 6, 7 of the first main contact 2 and the second main contact 3 by flanges 10, 11. The first main contact 2 may be axially movable relative to the contact supports 6, 7, and the second main contact 3 may be fixed relative to the contact supports 6, 7. The first contact support 6 is a support for the first main contact 2, and the second contact support 7 is a support for the second main contact 3. The contact supports 6, 7 may be current-carrying components.

[0019] The insulator 5 has an inner surface 18 facing the central longitudinal axis A and positioned a first distance d1 from the central longitudinal axis A.

[0020] During mechanical switching and power shots, conductive particles may be generated, for example, due to friction at the main contacts 2, 3. Particles and dust may accumulate on surfaces in the gas-filled insulating gap 4 and inside the circuit breaker 1. The particles or dust may vary, for example, in size, conductivity, and material. Depending on the amount, size, and location of the particles, particles may result in flashover. As an example, particles may accumulate on the surface of the insulator 5, which may lead to a degradation of the insulating function.

[0021] To avoid particle accumulation in locations that could lead to flashover, particle traps 8, 9 are provided in the insulator 5. The particle traps 8, 9 are configured to collect and trap particles so that the insulator 5 and the entire circuit breaker 1 are kept clean of particles, particularly in the vicinity of the insulating gap 4.

[0022] The particle traps 8, 9 are integrated into insulator flanges 10, 11 located at opposite ends of the insulator 5. The insulator flanges 10, 11 are configured to secure the insulator 5 to the contact supports 6, 7. The insulator flanges 10, 11 surround the insulator 5 at both axial ends of the insulator 5. The insulator flanges 10, 11 are directly adjacent to the outer surface of the insulator 5, with the outer surface facing away from the central longitudinal axis A. The insulator flanges 10, 11 also abut the axial end faces of the insulator 5.

[0023] In the following, the structure of the insulator flanges 10, 11 and particle traps 8, 9 will be described in more detail with reference to one insulator flange 10 and one particle trap 8. However, the same structure can be used for the other insulator flanges 11 and particle traps 9.

[0024] The particle trap 8 has an inner surface 19 facing the central longitudinal axis A, and the inner surface 19 is disposed a second distance d2 from the central longitudinal axis A. The second distance d2 is greater than the first distance d1.

[0025] The particle trap 8 is accessible to particles coming from the insulating gap 4 via an inlet 13. The inlet 13 is located beyond the axial end of the insulator 5. The inlet 13 is defined in a radially outward direction by an outer wall 14 of the flange 10. In the axial direction away from the insulator 5, the inlet 13 is defined by the contact support 6, and in the axial direction towards the insulator 5, the inlet 13 is defined by the insulator 5.

[0026] The particle trap 8 further comprises a pocket 15 formed by an undercut in the flange 11. The pocket 15 is located beyond the insulator 5 when viewed from the central longitudinal axis A.

[0027] The insulator 5 may be made of an insulating material such as insulating paper. The insulator flanges 10, 11 may be made of metal. By way of example, the insulator flanges 10, 11 may include or consist of aluminum. This provides a metal shield 19 that electrically shields the particle trap 8. It is also possible for the metal shield 19 to be formed by a separate component. In particular, the particle trap 8 is at least partially shielded from the electric field inside the circuit breaker 1, thereby preventing particles from being drawn out of the particle trap 8 by the electric field.

[0028] 2 shows details of the insulator 5 with integral particle trap 8 and the insulator flange 10. The inlet 13 is formed by a recess in the inner wall 16 of the insulator flange 10. The inner wall 16 is therefore axially recessed relative to the outer wall 14.

[0029] 2, the insulator flange 10 comprises a coupling portion 12 for coupling the insulator 5 to the contact support 6. The coupling portion 12 may, for example, comprise a receiving hole for a bolt connection.

[0030] The particle traps 8 may be located only on a limited radial portion of the circumferential flange 10, as shown in Figure 2, or may be located circumferentially along the entire flange 10. It is also possible for each of the flanges 10, 11 to be provided with several particle traps 8 located at different angular positions around the longitudinal axis A. The particle traps 8, 9 may be located at least at the lowermost portions of the flanges 10, 11, i.e., at the portions that are lowest with respect to gravity in the installed position of the circuit breaker 1.

[0031] Particles generated in the main contacts 2, 3 or elsewhere inside the circuit breaker 1 may fall onto the insulator 5. Mechanical movement, vibration or gas flow causes the particles to be forced against the sides of the insulator 5 and, by gravity, through the inlet 13 into the pocket 15. The mechanical movement and vibration cause the particles to at least partially enter the pocket 15 where they can safely accumulate. It is also possible for the pocket 15 to have a recess relative to the adjacent portion of the flange 10 which may further prevent particles from leaving the pocket 15.

[0032] Overall, the particle trap 8 reliably captures particles in a manner that does not degrade the insulation and improves the performance of the circuit breaker 1 . [Explanation of symbols]

[0033] Reference sign 1 High Voltage Circuit Breaker 2 First main contact 3 Second Main Contact 4 Insulation gap 5. Insulators 6 Contact support 7 Contact support 8 Particle Trap 9 Particle Trap 10 Insulator flange 11 Insulator flange 12 Connecting part 13 Entrance 14 Exterior Wall 15 pockets 16 Inner wall 18 Inner surface of insulator 19 Inner surface of particle trap 20 Outer surface of insulator 21 Metal Shield 22 First Arc Contact 23 Second Arc Contact d1: Distance between the inner surface of the insulator and the central longitudinal axis d2 is the distance between the inner surface of the particle trap and the central longitudinal axis

Claims

1. A high voltage circuit breaker (1), A first main contact (2) and a second main contact (3) extending along a central longitudinal axis (A) and at least partially surrounded by an insulator (5), the insulator (5) facing the central longitudinal axis (A) and at a first distance (d １ a first main contact (2) and a second main contact (3) having an inner surface (18) disposed on the At least one particle trap (8, 9) for capturing particles generated during operation of the high voltage circuit breaker (1), facing the central longitudinal axis (A) and at a second distance (d ２ ), and the second distance (d ２ ) is the first distance (d １ ) at least one particle trap (8, 9) larger than at least one insulator flange (10, 11) for connecting the insulator (5) to a further component of the high voltage circuit breaker (1), the particle trap (8, 9) being formed by the insulator flange (10, 11); High voltage circuit breaker (1).

2. 2. The high-voltage circuit breaker (1) according to claim 1, wherein the insulator flanges (10, 11) are located on an outer surface (20) of the insulator (5), the outer surface (20) facing away from the central longitudinal axis (A).

3. 3. The high voltage circuit breaker (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the particle trap (8, 9) comprises a pocket (15), the pocket (15) being located behind the insulator (5) when viewed radially outward from the central longitudinal axis (A).

4. 4. The high voltage circuit breaker (1) according to claim 3, wherein the pocket (15) is shielded from electric fields by a metal shield (21) located on the outer surface (20) of the insulator (5).

5. 5. The high voltage circuit breaker (1) according to claim 4, wherein the metal shield (21) is formed by an insulator flange (10, 11).

6. 3. The high voltage circuit breaker (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the particle trap (8, 9) comprises an inlet (13) through which particles can enter the particle trap (8, 9), the inlet being located at an axial end of the insulator (5).

7. 3. The high voltage circuit breaker (1) of claim 1 or 2, wherein the particle trap (8, 9) is radially confined by inner and outer walls (16, 14) of the insulator flanges (10, 11), the inner wall (16) being recessed relative to the outer wall (14) along the central longitudinal axis (A).

8. 3. A high voltage circuit breaker (1) according to claim 1 or 2, comprising at least two particle traps (8, 9) located at opposite axial ends of the insulator (5).

9. 3. The high voltage circuit breaker (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the particle trap (8, 9) is located at the lowest part of the insulator flange (10, 11), the lowest part being lowest with respect to gravity in an installed position of the high voltage circuit breaker (1).

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