Porous Arc-Cooling Structure for High-Current Interruption
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Solution Overview
Problem
In disconnect devices like circuit breakers, arcs are often generated when conductors are broken under high current, leading to pressure increases and potential safety issues due to the lack of effective arc extinction mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
A disconnect device with a cooling body made of a porous material, such as metal or inorganic oxides, is integrated into the internal space to cool and extinguish arcs quickly by increasing the surface area for contact and preventing gas generation when melted.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conductor is broken under high current without arc cooling mechanism, then the conductor can be separated, but an arc is generated causing pressure increase and safety issues
Solution Approach 1:
A cooling body made of porous material is introduced as an intermediary substance between the arc and the surrounding environment. This cooling body absorbs heat from the arc through its porous structure, effectively cooling and extinguishing the arc without interfering with the conductor separation process.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling body is specifically designed with a porous structure made of metal oxide or inorganic oxide materials. The porous structure provides large surface area for heat absorption while allowing the material to melt without generating excessive gas pressure, thus cooling the arc effectively while maintaining safety.
2Reliability
If a cooling body is added to cool arcs, then arc extinction is accelerated, but the device structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling body is integrated into the existing housing structure of the disconnect device, merging the arc cooling function with the structural housing. This integration approach adds the necessary arc extinction capability while minimizing the increase in overall device complexity by combining multiple functions into a unified structure.
3Temperature
If porous material is used for cooling body, then surface area for cooling is increased, but gas generation when melted becomes a concern
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling body utilizes porous material with controlled pore structure that provides extensive surface area for heat absorption from the arc. The porous structure of metal oxide or inorganic oxide materials is specifically selected because these materials melt without generating excessive gas, thus achieving efficient cooling while minimizing harmful gas generation.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling body is made from composite or specific composition of metal oxide and/or inorganic oxide materials that combine the properties of high heat absorption capability with low gas generation during melting. This material selection optimizes both cooling efficiency and safety by preventing excessive gas pressure buildup.
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 device effectively accelerates arc extinction, reduces pressure increases, and enhances safety by ensuring efficient cooling and handling of arcs during conductor separation.
Implementation Method 1
a cooling body that is disposed in the internal space and cools an arc generated in the internal space. The cooling body includes a porous body configured with at least one of a metal oxide and an inorganic oxide
Data Source
AI summary
A disconnect device includes: a conductor connectable to an external conductive path; a housing that has an internal space and accommodates at least a part of the conductor; and a cooling body that is disposed in the internal space and cools an arc generated in the internal space. The cooling body includes a porous body configured with at least one of a metal oxide and an inorganic oxide.