Coil-Driven Circuit Breaker Switching for Fast Arc-Free Breaking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional circuit breakers face limitations in achieving fast short-circuit breaking speed, high conduction loss, and increased costs due to complex mechanical linkage and high energy requirements in both mechanical and solid-state designs.
Innovation Solution
A circuit breaker design incorporating a mechanical switch circuit with a movable and stationary coil system that repels or attracts to control contact switching, reducing switching time and eliminating electric arcs through a parallel solid-state switch circuit, optimizing switching performance and reducing energy consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a mechanical circuit breaker uses linkage apparatuses (spring, hook, lever, armature) to implement switching, then the circuit breaker can achieve reliable contact conduction and disconnection, but the linkage time becomes long and switching speed is slow (milliseconds)
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical linkage apparatus (spring, hook, lever, armature) with a solid-state circuit breaker that uses power electronic devices for switching. This substitution eliminates the mechanical inertia and linkage time, achieving microsecond-level switching speed while maintaining reliable contact conduction and disconnection through solid-state semiconductor components.
2Ease of operation
If a mechanical circuit breaker uses contact to implement circuit conduction and disconnection, then the circuit can be controlled, but an electric arc is generated in the contact gap which extends arcing time and slows down breaking speed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical contact-based switching with solid-state power electronic devices that switch without physical contact. This eliminates the generation of electric arcs entirely, removing the arcing time delay and enabling faster circuit control in the microsecond range while maintaining full circuit control capability.
3Speed
If a solid-state circuit breaker uses power electronic devices for switching, then switching time is very fast, but conduction loss is high and water-cooled heat sink is required which increases volume and costs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the conduction loss parameters of the solid-state circuit breaker by selecting power electronic devices with lower on-resistance and improving the thermal management system. This reduces the conduction loss to acceptable levels, eliminating or reducing the need for large water-cooled heat sinks, thereby decreasing volume and cost while maintaining microsecond-level switching speed.
4Loss of time
If a solid-state circuit breaker uses power electronic devices, then switching time is reduced, but manufacturing costs increase due to high conduction loss requirements and cooling systems
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the design parameters to use power electronic devices with optimized conduction loss characteristics and implements improved thermal management. This allows the circuit breaker to achieve microsecond switching time without requiring expensive water-cooled heat sinks, thereby reducing manufacturing costs while maintaining fast switching performance.
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 solution enables faster switching times, lower conduction losses, and reduced costs by simplifying linkage apparatuses and integrating a solid-state switch to avoid electric arcs, thereby enhancing the circuit breaker's efficiency and service life.
Implementation Method 1
the movable coil and the stationary coil are placed adjacently, so that the movable coil and the stationary coil repel or attract each other based on whether current directions are the same, and the movable coil is configured to drive the movable contact to be in contact with or disconnected from the stationary contact
Data Source
AI summary
A circuit breaker and a power supply system are disclosed. The circuit breaker includes a mechanical switch circuit, where the mechanical switch circuit includes a busbar, a power module, and a drive module. The power module includes a movable contact and a stationary contact, where the stationary contact is electrically connected to the busbar, the movable contact is movable, when the movable contact is in contact with the stationary contact, the mechanical switch circuit is conducted, and the drive module includes a movable coil and a stationary coil, where the movable coil and the stationary coil are placed adjacently, so that the movable coil and the stationary coil repel or attract each other based on whether current directions are the same, and the movable coil is configured to drive the movable contact to be in contact with or disconnected from the stationary contact.