Galvanically Isolated Pyrotechnic Short-Circuiting Device
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional IGBT modules with bonding wires and screw contacts face safety issues during turn-off failures, particularly in series connections and multilevel converters, leading to potential arc ignition and collateral damage due to lack of safe electrical conductivity.
Innovation Solution
An electrical short-circuiting device with an electrically isolated pyrotechnic drive device and a two-part insulating system, comprising a stationary and moving insulating element, ensures potential separation and safe switching, even under different potentials, using a telescopic structure with a conductive intermediate sleeve for electromagnetic shielding.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional IGBT modules with bonding wires and screw contacts are used, then electrical connection is achieved, but safety issues occur during turn-off failures leading to arc ignition and collateral damage
Solution Approach 1:
A movable contact piece is introduced as an intermediary element between the first and second contacts. This contact piece can be positioned to either connect or disconnect the contacts electrically. In the event of a turn-off failure, the contact piece can be moved to disconnect the contacts, preventing arc ignition and collateral damage while maintaining normal electrical connection during operation
Solution Approach 2:
The short-circuiting device is pre-configured with the movable contact piece in a disconnected position before any failure occurs. This preliminary disconnection state ensures that if a turn-off failure is detected, the contacts are already isolated, preventing arc ignition and collateral damage before they can occur
2Adaptability or versatility
If the drive device is electrically isolated from the contacts, then the device can be used in four-quadrant controllers with different potentials, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
An insulating device acts as an intermediary barrier between the drive device and the electrical contacts. This insulating device electrically isolates the drive device from the contacts, enabling the short-circuiting device to be safely used in four-quadrant controllers where contacts may be subjected to different potentials, while the drive device operates from an isolated potential reference
Solution Approach 2:
The insulating device is divided into multiple segments: a first insulating element connected to the first contact, a second insulating element connected to the movable contact piece, and optionally a third insulating element connected to the drive device. This segmentation provides comprehensive electrical isolation while allowing each segment to be optimized for its specific function
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 provides safe and reliable electrical switching in various circuit configurations, including converters, by ensuring electrical isolation and preventing arc ignition, thus reducing collateral damage and enhancing operational safety.
Implementation Method 1
an electrically triggerable drive device in the form of a pyrotechnic drive
Implementation Method 2
the drive device being electrically isolated from the first and second contact by means of an insulating device made of insulating material
Implementation Method 3
With regard to electromagnetic shielding, according to the invention such an intermediate sleeve consists of a conductive material
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention relates to, among others, an electric short-circuiting device (10) with an electric contact arrangement, having the following: a first and a second contact (20, 30) which are mutually spaced, a moving contact piece (50) which leaves the two contacts (20, 30) separate in a separation position and connects the first and the second contact (20, 30) together in a contact position, and an electrically triggerable drive device (60) for moving the moving contact piece (50) from the separation position into the contact position. According to the invention, the electrically triggerable drive device (60) is galvanically isolated from the first and the second contact (20, 30) by means of an insulating device (100) which consists of an insulating material or at least has an insulating material.