Protection module and system comprising a plurality of such protection modules

Abstract

A protection module (1) according to the invention comprises – at least two input-side bidirectional terminal elements (3a, 3b) which are electrically connected to one another and which are each designed for optional electrical connection to an electrical current source (12a, 12b) or to an input-side bidirectional terminal element of another protection module (1a), – at least two output-side terminal elements (4a, 4b,... 4n), each designed for electrical connection to an electrical load, wherein the output-side terminal elements (4a, 4b,... 4n) are connected via respective separate electrical branches (5a, 5b,... 5n) to the input-side terminal elements (3a, 3b), into each of which a switching element (6) is switched. The bidirectional terminal elements (3a, 3b) are electrically connected to one another and to the branches (5a, 5b,... 5n) via respective separate electrical paths (7a, 7b). Electrical current values detected in the electrical path (7a and / or 7b, respectively) are monitored and, if a threshold value is exceeded, the currents in the branches (5a, 5b,... 5n) are limited and / or switched off according to a predefined or predefinable temporal order in order to protect the input-side terminal elements (3a, 3b) against an overload. As a result, on the input side, the protection module (1) can be flexibly supplied with current or else supply other protection modules with unrequired current. As a result, when a facility is extended or modernized, the outlay on components and the space requirement, in particular for additional current sources, are minimized.

Description

[0001] Description

[0002] Security module and system with several such security modules

[0003] The invention relates to a security module according to patent claim 1 and to a system with several such security modules according to patent claim 9.

[0004] Fuse modules are primarily used in automation systems in industrial plants and buildings to supply critical consumers. They distribute a load current provided by a power source across multiple feeders and reliably monitor it for overload and short circuit. The fuse module permits short-term current peaks in the feeders, e.g. due to high inrush current. Feeders with longer overloads or short circuits, on the other hand, have their current limited or are switched off, while the remaining feeders and the consumers connected to them continue to receive an uninterrupted supply. This can prevent a total failure of the automation system and any system it controls. Due to these selective protective measures with regard to the individual feeders, such fuse modules are often also referred to as "selectivity modules".The limiting and / or switching of the currents in the branches is usually carried out with the help of electronic switching elements that are connected in the branches.

[0005] The power source is usually an electronic switching power supply which provides a direct current with a regulated direct voltage of 24 V or 48 V on the output side.

[0006] For example, common fuse modules offer up to eight branches or outputs with a maximum output current of up to 10 A each and with individually adjustable protection characteristics. The load can be, for example, a sensor, actuator, relay, contactor, solenoid valve, drive unit for a motor, servomotor, controller, or display unit.

[0007] For this purpose, fuse modules known from the prior art comprise an input-side connection element (e.g. a terminal) for electrical connection to an electrical power source and at least two output-side connection elements, each designed for electrical connection to an electrical consumer, wherein the output-side connection elements are each connected to the input-side connection element via a separate electrical branch (sometimes also referred to as a "channel"), and wherein a switching element is connected into the branch.

[0008] Such a fuse module or selectivity module is known, for example, from the brochure "Selectivity and fast fault location in 24 V feeders", Siemens AG, Edition 04 / 20, BR 0420 0 . 75 TVS 8 De.

[0009] Such a safety module or selectivity module is also known, for example, from EP 2 764 592 B1. It is also disclosed therein that several selectivity modules can be connected in parallel to a power source.

[0010] EP 4 148 510 A1 discloses an arrangement for a power supply of a system control system in a technical system, with which a power distribution in load circuits of the system control system can be monitored and controlled. At least one or more electronic security modules are connected downstream of a switched-mode power supply unit.

[0011] DE 10 2020 101 193 A1 discloses an electrical circuit breaker system comprising an input terminal for connecting an electrical power source, a plurality of output terminals each for connecting electrical loads, wherein each output terminal has an electrical switch for interrupting a power supply and a current measuring device for measuring an individual current. A current detection unit is used to detect the individual currents measured at the plurality of output terminals and to determine a total current that corresponds to the sum of the individual currents.

[0012] If the total current exceeds a certain total current limit, one of the plurality of output connections is selected based on a ranking of the output connections and the power supply to the selected output connection is interrupted by means of the corresponding electrical switch. The circuit breaker system can be of modular construction, comprising at least two circuit breaker modules, each comprising at least one of the plurality of output connections, and a control module. The total current can correspond to the value of the current flowing at the input connection of the electrical circuit breaker system. Optionally, the circuit breaker system can comprise a further current measuring device at the input connection, which is designed to measure the total current directly at the input connection.

[0013] The entire electrical circuit breaker system can thus be protected from overload, for example by monitoring and, if necessary, taking measures (such as interruption) when the current supplied by the electrical power source exceeds a maximum current, in this case the total current limit.

[0014] The document US 2015 / 0311752 A1 discloses a microgrid system in which distributed power sources and loads are connected to one another via distribution managers and a bidirectional inter-microgrid connection system. Overloads in the inter-microgrid connection system are detected and eliminated. The power sources are each connected to the respective distribution manager via a source main breaker. For this purpose, the distribution managers each have two connection elements for connecting the inter-microgrid connection system and one connection for a power source. With the help of switches, the current is measured via the two connection elements for the inter-microgrid connection system and in the event of an overcurrent, either a power source is switched on, a load is switched off, or the tripping curve of a switch is adjusted.

[0015] Document DE 10 2012 207 624 A1 discloses a vehicle electrical system with a network of protection modules connected to a ring line of the vehicle electrical system. The energy flow through the protection modules is unidirectional, and short-circuit monitoring is performed using input-side measured current and voltage values ​​of adjacent modules.

[0016] If, in the state of the art, more consumers have to be supplied with electrical power in a system - for example as part of an extension or modernization of the system - than there are outputs or branches in the modules that are supplied with electrical power from the common upstream power source, or if there is an increased power requirement from consumers, an additional power source and further modules connected downstream of this additional power source must be used, which is associated with corresponding component expenditure and space requirements.

[0017] Based on this, the object of the present invention is to be able to supply a different number of consumers with electrical current and to protect them selectively in a flexible manner with little component complexity and space requirement, in particular in the case of an increase in the number of consumers or an increased power requirement of consumers, such as in the case of system extensions or modernizations.

[0018] This object is achieved by a security module according to claim 1 and a system with several such security modules according to claim 9. Advantageous embodiments are the subject of the dependent claims. A security module according to the invention comprises

[0019] - at least two input-side bidirectional connection elements which are electrically connected to one another and which are each designed for selective electrical connection to an electrical power source or an input-side bidirectional connection element of another electronic security module,

[0020] - at least two output-side connection elements, each designed for electrical connection to an electrical consumer, wherein the output-side connection elements are each connected to the input-side connection elements via a separate electrical branch, and wherein a switching element is connected in each branch.

[0021] Since, according to the invention, at least two input-side connection elements are provided, which are also bidirectional, the fuse module can be flexibly supplied on the input side with power from a (first) power source, additionally with power from another power source or additionally or exclusively with power from other fuse modules, or can also supply other fuse modules with power that is not required themselves.

[0022] If the number of branches is increased, it is not necessarily necessary to use an additional power source. Instead, the power reserves of an existing power source can be made accessible and used to supply additional branches or modules. Conversely, if the electrical power of a consumer is increased, another power source or a power supply from another fuse module can simply be provided. Overall, this keeps the component complexity and space requirements, especially for additional power sources, to a minimum.

[0023] According to the invention, the input-side bidirectional connection elements are designed to selectively supply the fuse module with electrical current from the power source or with electrical current from the other fuse module, or to supply the other fuse module with electrical current.

[0024] According to an advantageous embodiment, a branch current measuring device for measuring the current in the branch is connected to the branch. This allows the current in each of the branches to be individually monitored and limited, switched off, or interrupted if threshold values ​​are exceeded.

[0025] According to the invention, the input-side bidirectional connection elements are each electrically connected to one another and to the branches via a separate electrical path, wherein an input current measuring device for measuring the current through the input-side electrical path is connected in at least one of the input-side electrical paths. This allows the input current to be monitored, and if threshold values ​​are exceeded, individual branches or consumers can be switched off by means of the switching units, thus protecting the fuse module, in particular the connection elements (e.g., terminals), from overload.

[0026] If the currents in the branches are known with the help of the branch current measuring device, then no input current measuring device must be connected to one of the input-side electrical paths, since the electrical current in this path can be calculated from the measured current in the branches and the measured current in the other input-side path (or paths).

[0027] The input current measurement and the resulting possible protection against overload is particularly advantageous when the current carrying capacity of the input-side bidirectional connection elements is smaller than the maximum electrical current that can be provided by the electrical power source or other fuse module that can be connected to these connection elements. According to the invention, the fuse module comprises a module control unit that is designed to monitor values ​​of the electrical current detected by the input current measuring device in the input-side electrical path or by the input current measuring devices in the input-side electrical paths and, when a threshold value is exceeded, to control the switching units in such a way that they limit and / or switch off the currents in the branches according to a predetermined or predeterminable chronological sequence in order to protect the input-side connection elements from overload.The module control unit can then, in accordance with this chronological sequence, cause as many branches to limit, switch off or interrupt the current until an overload in the electrical paths or in the input-side connection elements is eliminated (e.g. the monitored threshold values ​​are again undershot).

[0028] Preferably, the module control unit is also designed to monitor the values ​​of the electrical currents in the branches detected by the measuring devices and, if a threshold value is exceeded, to control the switching units in such a way that they limit and / or switch off the currents in the branches.

[0029] The safety module can have an interface designed to provide values ​​of measured and / or calculated electrical currents in the input-side electrical paths, preferably also in the branches, to a higher-level control unit and to receive switching commands for the switching units from the higher-level control unit. Such a switching command can, for example, relate to limiting or switching off the current in a branch.

[0030] The safety module is then advantageously also designed to control the switching units depending on the received switching commands in order to limit or switch off the current in the branches in accordance with the switching commands.

[0031] The security module preferably has a housing on which the connection elements are arranged. The aforementioned interface is also advantageously arranged on the housing.

[0032] A system according to the invention comprises a plurality of security modules as described above, wherein in each case a plurality of, preferably two, of the security modules are electrically connected to one another via one of their at least two input-side bidirectional connection elements, wherein at least one of the security modules, preferably exactly two of the security modules, is electrically connected to a power source via a different one of its at least two input-side bidirectional connection elements.

[0033] According to an advantageous embodiment, the system comprises a higher-level control unit which is designed to receive values ​​of measured and / or calculated electrical currents in the electrical paths of the fuse modules, preferably also in the branches, from the fuse modules and to generate switching commands for the switching units of the fuse modules depending on the received values.

[0034] According to a further advantageous embodiment, the higher-level control unit is designed to monitor the electrical currents in the electrical paths of the fuse modules based on the received values ​​and, if a threshold value is exceeded, to generate switching commands for the switching units of the fuse modules, which cause the current in the branches to be limited or switched off by their respective switching units according to a predetermined or predeterminable chronological sequence. The higher-level control unit can then cause as many branches to limit or switch off the current across modules according to this chronological sequence until an overload in the electrical paths or in the input-side connection elements is eliminated (e.g. the monitored threshold values ​​are again undershot).

[0035] Preferably, the power source is designed as a switching power supply and can thereby provide a stable and regulated output voltage.

[0036] The switching power supply advantageously provides a regulated DC voltage of 24 V or 48 V.

[0037] The invention and further advantageous embodiments of the invention according to the features of the dependent claims are explained in more detail below with reference to an exemplary embodiment in the figures. They show:

[0038] FIG 1 shows a security module according to the invention and

[0039] FIG 2 shows a system according to the invention with three fuse modules and two power sources.

[0040] FIG. 1 shows a simplified, schematic representation of a security module 1, which has two input-side bidirectional connection elements 3a, 3b and n output-side connection elements 4a, 4b, ... 4n on a housing 2. For example, n = 8, i.e., there are 8 output-side connection elements.

[0041] The output-side connection elements 4a, 4b, ... 4n are each connected to the input-side connection elements 3a, 3b via a separate electrical branch 5a, 5b, ... 5n, with a switching element 6 (e.g. a semiconductor switch) being connected to each branch 5a, 5b, ... 5n. Electrical loads (not shown in detail) can be connected to the output-side connection elements 4a, 4b, ... 4n and supplied with output currents IA1, IA2, ... lAn.

[0042] The input-side bidirectional connection elements 3a, 3b are electrically connected to one another and to the branches 5a, 5b, ... 5n via input-side electrical paths 7a, 7b and are each designed for optional electrical connection to an electrical power source or an input-side bidirectional connection element of another fuse module (see FIG 2).

[0043] In operation, the connection element 3a is connected, for example, to a power source which is designed as a switching power supply and thereby provides a stable and regulated DC voltage of 24 V or 48 V to the connection element, and the connection element 3b is connected to an input-side bidirectional connection element of another security module.

[0044] The input-side bidirectional connection elements 3a, 3b are designed to selectively supply the security module 1 with electrical current from the power source or with electrical current from the other electronic security module, or to supply the other electronic security module with electrical current.

[0045] A branch current measuring device 8 is connected to each of the branches 5a, 5b, ... 5n, which is designed to measure the current in the respective branch 5a, 5b, ... 5n and to provide measured values ​​Ml, M2, ... Mn of these currents for a module control unit 10.

[0046] The module control unit 10 records the measured values ​​M1, M2, ... Mn and monitors them for exceeding threshold values ​​that are individually defined for each of the branches 5a, 5b, ... 5n and stored in the module control unit 10. If a threshold value is exceeded in one of the branches 5a, 5b, ... 5n, the module control unit 10 controls the switching unit 6 of this branch via a switch-off signal A1, A2 or An in such a way that the switching unit 6 selectively limits or switches off the current in the branch. An input current measuring device 9 is connected to one of the input-side electrical paths 7a, 7b, here the electrical path 7a, which input current measuring device 9 measures the current through this path 7a and provides measured values ​​ME of this current for the module control unit 10.

[0047] In a corresponding manner, an input current measuring device can also be installed in the other input-side electrical path 7b

[0048] 9, which measures the current through this path 7b and provides measured values ​​of this current for the module control unit 10.

[0049] However, it is advantageous - as in the exemplary embodiment of FIG 1 - that no input current measuring device is connected in exactly one of the paths 7a, 7b, here the electrical path 7b, since with knowledge of the measured values ​​ME of the input current measuring device of the other path 7a and with knowledge of the measured values ​​Ml, M2, ... Mn of the currents in the branches 5a, 5b, ...5n, the values ​​of the currents in the path 7b can be calculated by the module control unit 10.

[0050] By measuring or calculating values ​​of the electrical currents in the paths 7a, 7b and thus through the connection elements 3a, 3b, these currents can be measured by the module control unit

[0051] 10 is individually monitored and, when a threshold value is exceeded, the switching units 6 selectively limit or switch off the currents of individual branches 5a, 5b, ... 5n or the consumers connected to them, thus reducing the input current or current via the connection element. The fuse module 1, in particular the connection elements 3a, 3b (e.g. terminals), can thus be protected from overload. The branches 5a, 5b, ... 5n can have their current limited and / or switched off by the module control unit 10 in a predetermined or predeterminable chronological sequence. The module control unit 10 can then select as many branches 5a, 5b, ... 5n according to this chronological sequence and cause them to limit or switch off the current until an overload in the connection elements 3a, 3b is eliminated (e.g. the monitored threshold values ​​are again undershot).

[0052] The input current measurement and the resulting protection against overload is particularly advantageous when the current carrying capacity of the input-side bidirectional connection elements 3a, 3b (e.g. the terminals) is smaller than the maximum electrical current that can be provided by a connected power source or another fuse module at the respective connection element 3a or 3b. This is relevant, for example, if a power source at a terminal of one of the connection elements 3a, 3b can provide a current of 80 A, so that at the eight outputs 4a, 4b, ... 4n, for example, a maximum current of 80 / n A (e.g. 10 A where n = 8) can flow for a consumer, but the terminal only has a current carrying capacity of 60 A.

[0053] The security module 1 further comprises a communication interface 11 which is designed to provide the values ​​ME, Ml, M2, ... Mn of the measured and / or calculated electrical currents in the input-side electrical paths 7a, 7b and in the branches 5a, 5b, ... 5n to a higher-level control unit and to receive switching commands for the switching units 6 from the higher-level control unit (see FIG 2).

[0054] Such a switching command can, for example, relate to limiting or shutting off the current in one of the branches 5a, 5b, ... 5n. The fuse module 1 is designed to control the switching units 6 depending on the received switching commands in order to limit or shut off the current in the branches 5a, 5b, ... 5n in accordance with the switching commands.

[0055] A system 20 according to the invention shown in FIG. 2 comprises a plurality of security modules 1, 1a, 1b described above, wherein two of the modules (here modules 1 and 1a as well as modules 1a and 1b) are electrically connected to one another via one of their two input-side bidirectional connection elements 3a, 3b via connecting lines 21a, 21b. In detail, here the module 1 is electrically connected to the connection element 3a of the module 1a via its connection element 3b and the connecting line 21a, and the module 1a is in turn electrically connected to the connection element 3a of the module 1b via its connection element 3b and the connecting line 21b.

[0056] The module 1 is connected with its connection element 3a to a first power source 12a and the module 1b is connected with its connection element 3b to a second power source 12b.

[0057] Consumers 25 are also shown, which are connected to the output-side connection elements 4a, 4b, ... 4n.

[0058] The system 20 further comprises a higher-level control unit 22, which is designed to receive the values ​​of the measured and / or calculated electrical currents in the paths 7a, 7b and the branches 5a, 5b, ... 5n of the fuse modules from the fuse modules 1, 1a, 1b and to generate switching commands for the switching units 6 of the fuse modules depending on the received values. For this purpose, the higher-level control unit 22 has a communication interface 23, which is in communication connection with the communication interfaces 11 of the modules 1, 1a, 1b.

[0059] The higher-level control unit 22 is designed to monitor the electrical currents in the input-side electrical paths 7a, 7b of the fuse modules 1, 1a, 1b on the basis of the received values ​​and, if threshold values ​​stored in the higher-level control unit 22 are exceeded, to generate switching commands for the switching units 6 of the fuse modules 1, 1a, 1b such that these limit or switch off the current in the branches 5a, 5b, ... 5n by their respective switching unit 6 according to a predetermined or predeterminable chronological sequence. The higher-level control unit 22 can then cause as many branches to limit or switch off the current according to this chronological sequence across modules until an overload occurs in an electrical path 7a, 7b or in an input-side connection element 3a, 3b is eliminated (e.g. the monitored threshold values ​​are again undershot).

[0060] A chronological sequence of the limitations or shutdowns of the currents can, for example, be defined as follows: a) Initial setting: All outputs 4a, 4n, ... 4n of the modules are in the "Standard" priority class. The shutdown takes place across all modules in sequence from the outputs located on the right in system 1 to the outputs located on the left. Within the "Standard" priority class, an output therefore has a higher priority the further to the left in system 1 it is located. This means that output 4n of module 1b has the lowest priority and output 4a of module 1 has the highest priority. b) An operator of system 20 can prioritize individual outputs higher or lower by deliberately assigning them a "high" or "low" priority class in the higher-level control unit, e.g. via a user interface 24.In the event of an overload, outputs in the "low" priority class are switched off first, again from right to left across all modules within this class. Outputs in the "high" priority class are only switched off when all lower and standard priority outputs are switched off.

[0061] The current sources 12a, 12b are preferably each designed as a switched-mode power supply which, for example, provides a regulated direct voltage of 24 V or 48 V on the output side. The current sources 12a or 12b can, however, also be a system of several current sources connected in parallel. The current sources can, for example, be connected in parallel for redundancy reasons. Such current sources connected in parallel for redundancy reasons can, for example, also be connected together on the output side via a so-called redundancy module. If two current sources are present for redundancy reasons, then in fault-free operation only one of the two current sources is active and provides current. If this power source fails, the other power source takes over and provides the current.If, in the event of a fault in this application, both power sources mistakenly provide power to an input-side connection element at the same time, then the modules 1, 1a, 1b can be safely protected from overload by monitoring the input currents using the overload protection explained above.

[0062] Since, according to the invention, two input-side connection elements 3a, 3b are provided for the modules 1, 1a, 1b, which are also bidirectional, each of the fuse modules 1, 1a, 1b can be flexibly supplied on the input side with power from a (first) power source, additionally with power from another power source or additionally or exclusively with power from other fuse modules, or can also supply other fuse modules with power that is not required.

[0063] If the number of consumers to be supplied via feeders increases, it is not necessarily necessary to use an additional power source. Instead, power reserves from an existing power source can be made accessible and used to supply additional feeders or modules. Conversely, if the electrical output of a consumer increases, another additional power source or a power supply from another fuse module can simply be provided. When expanding or modernizing a system, this can minimize the component costs and space requirements, particularly for additional power sources.

[0064] The system 20 is only an example. It is of course possible to connect a larger or smaller number of modules to one another via their connection elements 3a, 3b and via connecting cables and to monitor them via the higher-level control unit 20. There can also be more than two input-side connection elements. Accordingly, only a single power source or several power sources can be connected to connection elements. The higher-level control unit 20 can be a separate component, but it can also be integrated into one of the modules. For example, one of the modules can be a higher-level module and the other modules can be subordinate modules that are monitored and controlled by the higher-level module.

Claims

Patent claims 1. Security module (1) comprising - at least two input-side bidirectional connection elements (3a, 3b) which are electrically connected to one another and which are each designed for selective electrical connection to an electrical power source (12a, 12b) or an input-side bidirectional connection element of another security module (1a), - at least two output-side connection elements (4a, 4b, ... 4n), each designed for electrical connection to an electrical consumer, wherein - the output-side connection elements (4a, 4b, ... 4n) are each connected to the input-side connection elements (3a, 3b) via a separate electrical branch (5a, 5b, ... 5n), and a switching element (6) is connected to each branch (5a, 5b, ... 5n), - the input-side bidirectional connection elements (3a, 3b) are designed to selectively supply the fuse module (1) with electrical current from the power source (12a, 12b) or with electrical current from the other fuse module (1a) or to supply the other fuse module (1a) with electrical current, - the input-side bidirectional connection elements (3a, 3b) are each electrically connected to one another and to the branches (5a, 5b, ... 5n) via a separate electrical path (7a, 7b), - an input current measuring device (9) for measuring the current through the electrical path (7a, 7b) is connected into at least one of the electrical paths (7a, 7b), - it comprises a module control unit (10) which is designed to monitor values ​​of the electrical current detected by the input current measuring device (9) in the electrical path (7a or 7b) and, when a threshold value is exceeded, to control the switching units (6) in such a way that they switch the currents in the branches (5a, 5b, ... 5n) according to a predetermined or predeterminable temporal sequence limit and / or switch off in order to protect the input-side connection elements (3a, 3b) from overload.

2. Fuse module (1) according to claim 1, wherein a branch current measuring device (8) for measuring the current in the branch (5a, 5b, ... 5n) is connected in each branch (5a, 5b, ... 5n).

3. Fuse module (1) according to claim 1, wherein no input current measuring device (8) is connected in exactly one of the electrical paths (7a, 7b).

4. Fuse module (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a current carrying capacity of the input-side bidirectional connection elements (3a, 3b) is smaller than a maximum current that can be provided by an electrical power source (12a, 12b) connectable thereto.

5. Fuse module (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a current carrying capacity of the input-side bidirectional connection elements (3a, 3b) is smaller than a maximum current that can be provided by another fuse module (1a) connectable thereto.

6. Fuse module (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein it has an interface (11) which is designed to provide values ​​of measured and / or calculated electrical currents in the electrical paths (7a, 7b), preferably also in the branches (5a, 5b, ... 5n), to a higher-level control unit (20) and to receive switching commands for the switching units (6) from the higher-level control unit (20).

7. Security module (1) according to claim 6, wherein it is designed to control the switching units (6) in dependence on the received switching commands.

8. Fuse module (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein it comprises a housing (2) on which the input-side connection elements (3a, 3b) and the output-side connection elements (4a, 4b, ... 4n) are arranged.

9. System (20) comprising a plurality of security modules (1, 1a, 1b) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein in each case a plurality, preferably two, of the security modules (1, 1a, 1b) are electrically connected to one another via one of their at least two input-side bidirectional connection elements (3a, 3b), wherein at least one of the security modules, preferably exactly two of the security modules, is electrically connected to a power source (12a, 12b) via a different one of its at least two input-side bidirectional connection elements (3a, 3b).

10. System (20) according to claim 9, comprising a higher-level control unit (22) which is designed to receive values ​​of measured and / or calculated electrical currents in the electrical paths (7a, 7b), preferably also in the branches (5a, 5b, ... 5n), from the security modules (1, 1a, 1b) and to generate switching commands for the switching units (6) of the security modules (1, 1a, 1b) depending on the received values.

11. System (20) according to claim 10, wherein the higher-level control unit (22) is designed to monitor the electrical currents in the electrical paths (7a, 7b) of the fuse modules (1, 1a, 1b) on the basis of the received values ​​and, when a threshold value is exceeded, to generate switching commands for the switching units (6) of the fuse modules (1, 1a, 1b), which cause a limitation or switching off of the current in the branches (5a, 5b, ... 5n) by their respective switching units (6) according to a predetermined or predeterminable chronological sequence.

12. The system (20) according to any one of claims 9 to 11, wherein the power source (12a, 12b) is configured as a switching power supply.

13. The system (20) according to claim 12, wherein the switching power supply provides a regulated DC voltage of 24 V or 48 V.

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