HVDC HYBRID CIRCUIT BREAKER WITH SNUBBER CIRCUIT

• US 20140313628A1
• Filed: 11/18/2011
• Published: 10/23/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hitachi Energy Limited
• Original Assignee: ABB Technology AG (ABB Limited)
• Inventors: Hfner, Jrgen, Hassanpoor, Arman
• Granted Patent: US 8,891,209 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/91.5
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2009/544 the static switching means being an insulated gate bipolar transistor, e.g. IGBT, Darlington configuration of FET and bipolar transistor
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2009/546 the static switching means being triggered by the voltage over the mechanical switch contacts
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 33/596 for interrupting dc
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/541 Contacts shunted by semiconductor devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 3/22 of short duration, e.g. lightning

Abstract

A high voltage direct current (HVDC) hybrid circuit breaker is provided. The circuit breaker includes a solid-state main breaker, a mechanical fast disconnector and a solid-state auxiliary breaker connected in series, the series-connection of the disconnector and the auxiliary breaker being connected in parallel to the main breaker, a snubber circuit including a capacitor, and a switching device being arranged for disconnecting the snubber capacitor in response to the auxiliary breaker being opened. By disconnecting the snubber capacitor, an uncontrolled discharging of the capacitor through the disconnector and the main breaker, and the resulting non-zero current flowing through the disconnector during the breaking action, may be avoided. Further, a method of an HVDC hybrid circuit breaker is provided.

Claims

1. A direct current, DC, circuit breaker comprising:

a main breaker,

a disconnector and an auxiliary breaker connected in series, the series-connection of the disconnector and the auxiliary breaker being connected in parallel to the main breaker, and

a snubber circuit comprising a capacitor, the capacitor being connected in parallel to the auxiliary breaker,

wherein the circuit breaker further comprises switching means being arranged for disconnecting the snubber capacitor in response to the auxiliary breaker being opened.

2. The DC circuit breaker according to claim 1, wherein the switching means is connected in series with the snubber capacitor.

3. The DC circuit breaker according to claim 1, wherein the switching means comprises a power semiconductor switching element.

4. The DC circuit breaker according to claim 3, wherein the power semiconductor switching element comprises an insulated gate bipolar transistor, IGBT.

5. The DC circuit breaker according to claim 3, wherein the power semiconductor switching element comprises a bi-mode insulated gate transistor, BiGT.

6. The DC circuit breaker according to claim 1, wherein the main breaker comprises a plurality of series-connected power semiconductor switching elements.

7. The DC circuit breaker according to claim 1, wherein the disconnector comprises a mechanical switch.

8. The DC circuit breaker according to claim 1, wherein the auxiliary breaker comprises a power semiconductor switching element.

9. A method of a direct current, DC, circuit breaker, the circuit breaker comprising:

a main breaker,

a disconnector and an auxiliary breaker connected in series, the series-connection of the disconnector and the auxiliary breaker being connected in parallel to the main breaker, and

a snubber circuit comprising a capacitor, the capacitor being connected in parallel to the auxiliary breaker,

wherein the method comprises disconnecting the snubber capacitor in response to the auxiliary breaker being opened.