Gas-Insulated Circuit Breaker Expanded Discharge Path
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Solution Overview
Problem
Gas-insulated circuit breakers face challenges in efficiently cooling high-temperature insulation gas after arc extinction, leading to degraded insulating properties and potential electrical breakdowns due to narrow discharge channels and low cooling efficiency.
Innovation Solution
The design includes extension parts on the fixed-side and movable-side conductors to expand the discharge path for insulation gas, enhancing cooling by increasing the volume and reducing pressure, along with a puffer cylinder to spray insulation gas between arc contacts, and discharge apertures for efficient gas release.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If the discharge path for insulation gas is narrow (cylindrical configuration), then the electrical field formation is facilitated, but the cooling efficiency of the insulation gas is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a narrow cylindrical discharge path to a multi-dimensional expanded discharge path using plate-shaped conductors with lateral extension parts. This dimensional expansion increases the discharge path volume and surface area, enabling more effective heat dissipation from the high-temperature insulation gas while maintaining reliable insulating properties.
2Productivity
If the discharge path volume is small, then the device structure is compact, but the cooling rate of the insulation gas is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The discharge path is segmented into multiple regions by dividing the conductors into fixed-side and movable-side conductors, each with extension parts. This segmentation creates a distributed discharge path network that increases total volume and surface area for heat exchange, thereby improving the cooling rate of the insulation gas without requiring a single large-volume structure.
3Reliability
If the insulation gas is not cooled efficiently, then the device structure remains simple, but electrical breakdown may occur between phases or to earth
Solution Approach 1:
The extended discharge path acts as an intermediary cooling channel between the arc extinction zone and the enclosure. This intermediate structure provides sufficient residence time and surface area for heat dissipation, allowing the insulation gas to cool down to safe temperature levels before re-entering the enclosure, thereby preventing electrical breakdown without excessive structural complexity.
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
This configuration improves the cooling rate of the insulation gas, effectively lowering its temperature and preventing electrical breakdowns by expanding the discharge path and utilizing a puffer cylinder to manage gas flow.
Implementation Method 1
a puffer cylinder to spray insulation gas between arc contacts
Implementation Method 2
an insulation gas heated to a high temperature may be induced to flow within the movable contact part
Implementation Method 3
the sprayed insulation gas may be in a high-temperature and high-pressure state due to the arc
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
A gas-insulated circuit breaker may include: a fixed contact having a hollow formed therein; a fixed arc contact disposed in the hollow of the fixed contact; a fixed-side conductor provided to surround the fixed contact and configuring a gap between the fixed-side conductor and the fixed contact as a discharge path for an insulation gas; a movable contact having a hollow formed therein; a movable arc contact disposed in the hollow of the movable contact; a movable-side conductor provided to surround the movable contact and configuring a gap between the movable-side conductor and the movable contact as a discharge path for an insulation gas; a first extension part formed on the fixed-side conductor and extending the discharge path for the insulation gas of the fixed-side conductor; and a second extension part formed on the movable-side conductor and extending the discharge path for the insulation gas of the movable-side conductor.