Plasma Chamber Cut-Off Structure for High-Voltage Current Interruption
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pyrotechnically actuated electrical cut-off devices face limitations at high voltages and intensities due to plasma generation when a conductive bar breaks, leading to unreliable electrical cut-off.
Innovation Solution
A cut-off device design featuring a movable piston that breaks a conductive element, with additional cavities and channels to divert plasma away from the receiving cavity, ensuring quick and effective current interruption by relocating plasma to separate cavities, thus preventing piston slowdown and maintaining electrical continuity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the piston breaks the conductive element to cut off current, then electrical cut-off is achieved, but plasma is generated that slows down the piston and maintains electrical continuity
Solution Approach 1:
The receiving cavity is divided into a receiving cavity and at least one additional cavity separated by a partition. This segmentation allows plasma to be contained in the additional cavity while keeping the receiving cavity clear for piston movement, resolving the contradiction between achieving electrical cut-off and preventing plasma-related harmful effects.
Solution Approach 2:
The harmful plasma is extracted from the receiving cavity and relocated to the additional cavity through the partition structure. This extraction removes the harmful factor (plasma) from the critical area (receiving cavity) where it would otherwise slow down the piston and maintain electrical continuity.
2Speed
If the piston moves quickly to break the conductive element, then rapid current interruption is achieved, but plasma accumulates in the receiving cavity and slows down the piston
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the receiving cavity into a receiving cavity and an additional cavity with a partition, the plasma generated during rapid piston movement is directed into the additional cavity. This prevents plasma accumulation in the receiving cavity, maintaining high piston movement speed while managing plasma quantity.
Solution Approach 2:
The partition acts as an intermediary structure that allows the piston to move rapidly through the receiving cavity while preventing plasma from following into the receiving cavity. The partition mediates between the piston movement and plasma generation, enabling speed while controlling plasma quantity.
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 enhances the reliability of electrical cut-off at high voltages and intensities by efficiently discharging plasma, ensuring rapid and effective current interruption and maintaining electrical continuity.
Implementation Method 1
a pyrotechnic initiator configured, when triggered, to set in motion a piston
Implementation Method 2
the generation of plasma caused when the conductive bar breaks tends to limit the electrical cut-off
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a cut-off device comprising: a conductive element and a movable piston, the piston being able to move between a first position in which the current passes in the conductive element and a second position in which the current is cut off, the piston being configured to break the conductive element when moving from its first position to its second position, the piston being positioned in a receiving cavity of a receiving element when said piston is in its second position,characterized in that the receiving element further comprises at least one additional cavity separate from the receiving cavity and linked to said receiving cavity by at least one channel, said at least one channel being open when the conductive element is broken by the piston.