Withdrawable DC Switchgear Layout for Easier Circuit Maintenance

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Solution Overview

Problem

DC switchgear complexity hinders efficient maintenance due to its increased component count and layout, making overhaul and maintenance processes cumbersome compared to AC switchgear.

Innovation Solution

The DC switchgear design incorporates a handcart with a current-carrying, commutation, and energy-absorbing branch, featuring movable contacts that facilitate circuit structure arrangement within compartments, allowing for easier access and maintenance by separating the circuit components from the main structure.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If DC switchgear uses more components to achieve flexible DC power transmission, then the functionality and adaptability are improved, but the device complexity and maintenance difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveflexible DC power transmission capabilityVSAvoidcomponent count and structure layout
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The DC switchgear is divided into multiple functional compartments: instrument compartment, busbar compartment, cable compartment, and handcart compartment. This segmentation isolates different functional components, making the overall complex system more manageable and maintainable while preserving full DC power transmission functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The handcart is designed to be movable within the handcart compartment, allowing dynamic repositioning of the circuit structure. This mobility enables easy access for maintenance operations while maintaining the complete circuit functionality including current-carrying branch, commutation branch, and energy-absorbing branch.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If DC switchgear includes complete circuit structure with current-carrying branch, commutation branch and energy-absorbing branch, then the reliability is improved, but the ease of repair deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecircuit structure completenessVSAvoidmaintenance accessibility
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The complete circuit structure including current-carrying branch, commutation branch, and energy-absorbing branch is extracted and mounted on a movable handcart that can be positioned within the handcart compartment. This extraction allows the circuit structure to be accessed, examined, and repaired independently while maintaining its complete functionality for reliable operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The handcart with the complete circuit structure can be moved in and out of the handcart compartment, providing dynamic accessibility. When maintenance is needed, the handcart can be positioned for easy access to all circuit components, ensuring that the complete circuit structure remains reliable while being easy to repair.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP4300736A1Direct current switchgear
Publication Date: 2024.01.03 SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC IND SAS
  • EP4300736A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4300736A1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP4300736A1 patent drawing

AI summary

A DC switchgear is provided, which comprises: an instrument compartment in which secondary components for monitoring, protecting and measuring are arranged; a busbar compartment in which a main busbar and a first fixed contact connected with the main busbar is arranged; a cable compartment in which a conductor is arranged for connecting to a cable, and a second fixed contact connected with the conductor is further arranged in the cable compartment or the busbar compartment; and a handcart compartment in which a handcart capable of moving in and out of the handcart compartment is arranged, wherein a current-carrying branch, a commutation branch and an energy-absorbing branch are arranged on the handcart, a first movable contact and a second movable contact respectively for contacting with the first fixed contact and the second fixed contact are further arranged on the handcart, and the first movable contact and the second movable contact are respectively connected to both ends of the current-carrying branch.