Ceramic Catalyst Circuit Breaker for CO2 Recombination
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current medium- and high-voltage circuit breakers using sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) as arc-control gas face environmental concerns due to high global warming potential, and alternative gases like carbon dioxide (CO2) do not effectively recombine carbon monoxide (CO) formed during arcing in oxygen-free environments.
Innovation Solution
A circuit breaker employing a ceria-based catalytic material with a precious metal, such as gold or platinum, that converts carbon monoxide into carbon dioxide at low temperatures in an oxygen-free medium, maintaining the dielectric properties of the gas and extending its longevity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If carbon dioxide (CO2) is used as arc-control gas instead of SF6, then environmental impact is reduced and arc-extinction capabilities are improved, but carbon monoxide (CO) accumulates due to incomplete recombination
Solution Approach 1:
A catalytic converter containing precious metal (such as platinum or palladium) supported on ceria (cerium oxide) is introduced as an intermediary component. The catalyst facilitates the conversion of CO back to CO2 by providing an alternative reaction pathway with lower activation energy, enabling the recombination reaction to proceed efficiently at the relatively low temperatures present in the circuit breaker environment.
Solution Approach 2:
The catalyst modifies the chemical parameters of the gas mixture by catalyzing the oxidation reaction CO + 1/2O2 → CO2. The ceria support material plays a crucial role by storing and releasing oxygen, maintaining the oxidizing capability of the gas mixture even when oxygen concentration is low, thus enabling continuous CO conversion.
2Stability of the object's composition
If CO conversion catalyst is added to maintain CO2 levels, then gas composition stability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The catalyst is designed with a porous structure, where precious metal particles are dispersed on the surface of porous ceria particles. The porous structure provides high surface area for catalytic activity while maintaining a compact form factor. This allows the catalyst to be effectively integrated into the existing circuit breaker gas chamber without requiring additional space or complex installation arrangements.
Solution Approach 2:
The catalytic converter employs a composite material system consisting of precious metal particles (0.1-10 wt%) dispersed on ceria support particles (1-5 mm diameter). This composite structure combines the high catalytic activity of precious metal with the oxygen storage capacity and structural stability of ceria, creating a synergistic system that achieves effective CO conversion while maintaining physical stability under arc conditions.
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 ceria-based catalyst efficiently converts CO to CO2 at low temperatures, stabilizing the volume of CO2 and maintaining its insulating properties, even in oxygen-free conditions, thus addressing the recombination issue and reducing environmental impact.
Implementation Method 1
a catalytic converter, which converts carbon monoxide into carbon dioxide, said catalytic converter comprising ceria and a precious metal
Implementation Method 2
converts carbon monoxide that forms after ionization of the carbon dioxide during arcing, into carbon dioxide
Data Source
AI summary
A circuit breaker, comprising an enclosure comprising: —at least two arcing contacts that are movable axially relative to each other, between an open position of the circuit breaker in which the arcing contacts are separated from each other and a closed position of the circuit breaker in which the arcing contacts are in contact with each other; and —a gas inlet configured to blow an arc-control gas in order to interrupt an electric arc that is likely to form during movement of the arcing contacts from the closed position to the open position of the circuit breaker, wherein the arc-control gas comprises at least 80% of carbon dioxide; wherein the enclosure further comprises a catalytic material, which converts carbon monoxide that forms after ionization of the carbon dioxide during arcing, into carbon dioxide, said catalytic material comprising ceria and a precious metal.