Solid-State Circuit Breaker Pre-Shutdown for Arc-Free Main Contacts

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional circuit breakers experience contact erosion and damage due to arcing when current is interrupted, leading to a need for a solution to reduce or eliminate arcing during current interruption.

Innovation Solution

A solid-state circuit breaker with a secondary switching system that turns off electronics before the primary main contacts open, utilizing a micro switch actuated by a handle mechanism to prevent arcing across the main contacts.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If main contacts are opened to interrupt current, then current interruption is achieved, but electrical arcing occurs causing contact erosion and damage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecurrent interruption capabilityVSAvoidelectrical arcing and contact erosion

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by turning off the electronics (semiconductors) before the main contacts are opened. The secondary switching system is configured to actuate the semiconductors to stop current flow through the electronics prior to contact separation, thereby eliminating or significantly reducing arcing when the contacts part. This sequential operation ensures that the harmful arcing phenomenon is prevented by preparing the system in advance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary secondary switching system that includes semiconductors and control circuitry positioned between the load and the main contacts. This intermediary system handles the current interruption function electronically, allowing the main contacts to remain closed or open without carrying the full current interruption duty, thus reducing arcing and erosion on the contacts.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If a secondary switching system is added to turn off electronics before contacts open, then arcing is reduced, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelectrical arcingVSAvoidswitching system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the purely mechanical contact-based current interruption system with an electronic switching system using semiconductors. The secondary switching system uses solid-state devices (MOSFETs, IGBTs, or other power semiconductors) controlled by microprocessors or logic circuits to interrupt current electronically before the mechanical contacts open, thereby reducing arcing while managing complexity through electronic control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS20240071703A1Solid-state circuit breaker that turns off electronics before primary main contacts are opened

Publication Date: 2024.02.29 SIEMENS INDUSTRY INC

AI summary

A solid-state circuit breaker configured to turn off electronics before a pair of opposing primary main contacts are opened. The solid-state circuit breaker includes a main mechanism including a pair of opposing primary main contacts. The solid-state circuit breaker further includes electronics including semiconductors and software algorithms that control the power and can interrupt currents. The solid-state circuit breaker further includes a switching system including a secondary switch that is configured to be actuated prior to opening of the primary main contacts. The secondary switch is configured to turn off the power to the electronics of the solid-state circuit breaker before the primary main contacts are opened to eliminate or reduce electrical arcing across the primary main contacts.