Pyrotechnic High Voltage Switch with Silicone Oil Arc Extinguishing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrical interrupting switching elements fail to reliably switch off high currents at high voltages without causing arcs, which can lead to hazardous conditions such as fires and explosions, and require significant amounts of pyrotechnic material, posing safety and cost concerns.
Innovation Solution
A pyrotechnic interrupting switching element with a housing surrounding a contact unit, utilizing a small amount of gas-generating or shock-wave-generating pyrotechnic material that ignites to separate the contact area, surrounded by a filling material like silicone oil to extinguish arcs and prevent discharge phenomena, allowing for efficient and safe operation at high voltages.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional pyrotechnic fuses with metallic housing and explosive charge are used to interrupt high currents, then the circuit can be interrupted, but the device poses high hazard potential from hot gas, particles, projectiles, and escaping plasma
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful high-temperature arc into a beneficial tool by using it to activate the pyrotechnic material, which then generates pressure to separate the contacts. The harmful plasma and hot gas from the arc are now utilized to trigger the switching mechanism rather than being merely dangerous byproducts
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary pyrotechnic material (such as aluminum powder) that acts as a mediator between the electrical arc and the mechanical separation process. The pyrotechnic material absorbs the energy from the arc and converts it into mechanical pressure, thereby isolating the harmful electrical plasma from the mechanical switching components
2Reliability
If the housing is filled with insulating fluid to extinguish plasma, then arc extinction is improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the insulating fluid from the housing and replaces it with a solid pyrotechnic material positioned at the contact point. This eliminates the need for fluid filling and sealing operations, significantly simplifying manufacturing while maintaining arc extinction capability through the pyrotechnic material's pressure generation and decomposition products
3Extent of automation
If a self-triggering mechanism is implemented by heating the entire sleeve to detonation temperature, then automatic overload protection is achieved, but the energy requirement becomes prohibitively high and reliable detonation cannot be achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by concentrating the pyrotechnic material only at the critical contact separation point rather than distributing it throughout the entire sleeve. This localized application reduces the total energy required for activation while ensuring reliable detonation at the most critical location for circuit interruption
4Reliability
If large amounts of pyrotechnic material are used to ensure reliable circuit interruption, then switching reliability improves, but safety concerns and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses local quality by placing a small, concentrated amount of pyrotechnic material precisely at the contact separation point where it is most needed. This localized concentration achieves reliable circuit interruption with minimal material, reducing safety hazards and costs while maintaining switching effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a disposable pyrotechnic element that is consumed during the switching operation. This single-use approach allows for using highly effective but potentially hazardous materials in controlled, minimal quantities, as each element is designed for one reliable activation rather than repeated use
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 effectively interrupts high currents at high voltages while minimizing pyrotechnic material usage, ensuring safe operation and reducing the risk of arcs and explosions, thus addressing the safety and cost concerns of existing technologies.
Implementation Method 1
a gas-generating and/or shock-wave-generating activatable pyrotechnic material is provided in the housing
Implementation Method 2
a gas-generating and/or shock-wave-generating activatable pyrotechnic material is provided in the housing
Implementation Method 3
upon ignition of the pyrotechnic material, the separation zone is subjected to a gas pressure and/or shock wave generated by the activatable pyrotechnic material
Implementation Method 4
At least one chamber in the interrupting switching element is at least partially bounded by the disconnection zone and is essentially completely filled with a filler material, preferably silicone oil
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to an electrical interruption switch, in particular for interrupting high currents at high voltages, especially high direct currents, comprising a housing that surrounds a contact unit defining the current path through the interruption switch, and comprising a pyrotechnical material that includes a gas-generating and/or shock wave-generating activatable material; the contact unit includes a first terminal contact, a second terminal contact and a disconnection region; the pyrotechnical material and the contact unit are designed in such a way that a current which is to be interrupted can be fed to the contact unit via the first terminal contact and be discharged therefrom via the second terminal contact, or vice versa, and in such a way that the disconnection region is subjected to a gas pressure and/or a shock wave generated by the activatable material when the pyrotechnical material is ignited, causing the disconnection region to tear open, cave in or be severed and the at least one chamber in the interruption switch that is at least partly delimited by the disconnection region to fill at least substantially in its entirety with a filling material, preferably silicone oil, so that the disconnection region comes into contact with the filling material in order for the highest possible bursting pressure to be exerted on the disconnection region using a minimum amount of gas-generating mass or - if a shock wave-generating pyrotechnical compound is used - for said shock wave-generating pyrotechnical compound to be coupled with as little loss as possible to the disconnection region that is to be disconnected. An insertable central electrode relieves the disconnection point and/or indicates the successful triggering of the interruption switch following the initial disconnection.