Air Circuit Breaker Arc Extinction with Segmented Gas Discharge
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing arc-extinguishing apparatuses for air circuit breakers often fail to prevent arcs from spreading to unintended paths, leading to decreased breaking performance and potential damage due to the arc being guided to the upper end of the grid instead of the predefined path.
Innovation Solution
An arc-extinguishing apparatus comprising a chamber unit with receiving grooves, a dividing unit with grids and insulating caps, a filter unit with multiple filters, and a cover unit with discharge holes, which guides the arc to a predefined path and prevents it from branching to the upper end of the grid, ensuring continuous arc extinguishing and reliable gas discharge.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If gas discharge paths are provided at both sides of the grid, then gas discharge reliability is improved, but arc spreading to unintended paths occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The gas discharge path is segmented into multiple controlled channels by the dividing unit with grids. The arc is divided into multiple segments that travel through predefined paths between grids, preventing uncontrolled spreading while ensuring reliable discharge through multiple segmented routes.
Solution Approach 2:
The dividing unit with grids and insulating caps acts as an intermediary structure that guides and controls the arc path. It mediates between the gas source and the discharge outlet, forcing the arc to follow predefined paths while preventing direct spreading to unintended areas.
2Device complexity
If arc guiding structure is simplified, then device complexity is reduced, but arc path control precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The arc guiding structure is segmented into multiple simple grid units rather than one complex continuous structure. Each grid unit is a simple repetitive component that collectively provides precise arc path control through their arranged configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the arc path have different structural characteristics. The grids are arranged to create localized guiding zones with specific properties, where each zone provides appropriate control for its specific function in the overall arc extinction process.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The apparatus effectively guides arcs to the predefined path, enhances current cutting-off quality, and prevents arc spreading to unintended paths, thereby improving the breaking performance and reliability of the circuit breaker.
Implementation Method 1
An arc occurs when the contacts that are being in contact with each other are removed from each other. When the contacts are removed from each other in the overheated state, a molten metal evaporates and thus arc discharge occurs.
Implementation Method 2
a chamber unit having a fluid outlet through which internal fluid is discharged out of the chamber unit
Implementation Method 3
a filter unit disposed at the outlet for filtering at least one predefined substance from the fluid passing through the outlet
Data Source
AI summary
An arc extinction apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure comprises a chamber unit, a division unit, a filter unit, and a cover unit. A discharge port is formed in the chamber unit such that a fluid in the chamber unit is discharged to the outside. An insertion groove is provided on inner faces of the chamber unit that face each other. The division unit is coupled to the inside of the chamber unit. In addition, the division unit divides a path of the fluid discharged through the discharge port into multiple paths. The filter unit is disposed in the discharge port and filters out at least one predetermined material from the fluid passing through the discharge port. The cover unit comprises a plurality of exhaust pipes and is coupled to the discharge port from the outside of the filter unit.