Thermally Conductive Plastic Arc Quenching Device
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional arc quenching chambers in switchgears are complex, costly, and prone to thermal and electrical failures due to multiple metal plates, which can cause short circuits and delayed heat emission damaging plastic parts.
Innovation Solution
A simplified arc quenching device made from a low number of plastic parts, eliminating the need for metal plates, featuring a non-conductive arc barrier and gas outlet design that extinguishes arcs efficiently without the risk of thermal or electrical damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple metal plates are used in the arc quenching chamber to extinguish the arc, then the arc extinguishing capability is improved, but the device complexity and assembly effort increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple separate metal plates into a single integrated arc quenching element made of thermally conductive plastic. This merging reduces the number of individual parts from multiple metal plates and insulating body components to a single integrated component, thereby reducing assembly complexity while maintaining arc extinguishing capability through the material's inherent thermal conductivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the material parameter from metal to thermally conductive plastic, fundamentally altering the approach to arc quenching. Instead of relying on multiple metal plates for thermal conduction, the solution uses a single plastic component with sufficient thermal conductivity to achieve arc extinction, thereby reducing device complexity while preserving the essential function.
2Temperature
If metal plates are used in the arc quenching chamber, then thermal energy is stored for arc cooling, but delayed heat emission can damage surrounding plastic parts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the thermal parameter by selecting a thermally conductive plastic with optimized conductivity between 0.5 and 5 W/(m·K). This parameter adjustment allows the material to store sufficient thermal energy for arc cooling while conducting heat away at a controlled rate, preventing dangerous heat accumulation that would damage surrounding plastic components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by ensuring the arc quenching element has sufficient thermal conductivity in the regions adjacent to the arc to rapidly conduct heat away from the arc zone. This localized thermal management prevents heat buildup at critical locations while maintaining overall thermal energy storage capacity for effective arc extinction.
3Reliability
If multiple metal plates and insulating bodies are used, then the arc quenching function is achieved, but the manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple expensive metal plates and insulating body components into a single thermally conductive plastic component. This integration reduces material costs by eliminating the need for expensive metals and complex multi-part constructions, while maintaining the arc quenching function through the plastic's inherent thermal properties.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces expensive metal plates with a more cost-effective thermally conductive plastic material. This substitution reduces manufacturing costs by using cheaper materials that still provide sufficient thermal conduction for arc quenching, making the overall device more economically viable while preserving the essential arc extinguishing 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 reduces assembly complexity and costs, decreases the risk of electrical and thermal failures, and effectively extinguishes arcs using a compact, cost-effective plastic-based design.
Implementation Method 1
The used metal plates are expensive, and they cause the further problem of possible short circuits between some of them. Metal plates further store thermal energy.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
A switchgear (1) at least one first contact (2) and one second contact (3) is proposed, the switchgear (1) comprises a first arc running electrode (4) and a second arc running electrode (5), an arc quenching device (6) of the switchgear (1) is arranged at least partially in a space between the first arc running electrode (4) and the second arc running electrode (5), the arc quenching device (6) comprises an arc entrance (7) and at least one gas outlet (8), the arc quenching device (6) comprises at least one stationary non-conductive arc barrier (9), which arc barrier (9) is embodied and positioned to cross an arc traveling path (10) from the arc entrance (7) to the gas outlet (8)