Insulated bus bar assembly in a voltage source converter

• US 7,053,302 B2
• Filed: 03/26/2002
• Issued: 05/30/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: ABB AB (ABB Limited)
• Original Assignee: ABB AB (ABB Limited)
• Inventors: Björklund, Anders, Larsson, Tomas, Bergström, Tommy
• Primary Examiner(s): Reichard, Dean A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEE, JINHEE J
• Application Number:
  US10/473,408
• Publication Number:
  US 20040112626A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,526 Days
• Field of Search: 174/68.2, 174/68.1, 439/212, 439/211, 439/138, 439/207
• US Class Current: 174/68.2
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 5/025 Supporting structures
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/003 Constructional details, e.g. physical layout, assembly, wiring or busbar connections

Abstract

The invention relates to a voltage source converter system, and includes a plane parallel bus bar assembly having conductor bars closely related for reducing induced voltage in the assembly. Each gap that is formed between adjacent conductor bars is completely filled by a polymer insulator which is formed for providing complete freedom of access to fully exposed external sides of the bus bar assembly. The invention also relates to a molded, single piece polymer insulator including an elongate rib member of continuous height and thickness, and elongate wing members angularly extended from each longitudinal periphery of the rib member.

Claims

1. An insulated bus bar assembly in a voltage source converter system, the bus bar assembly comprising:

conductor bars closely spaced for minimizing the generation of induced voltage in the assembly, the conductor bars comprising an elongated central conductor bar sandwiched between two side conductor bars in a plane parallel assembly, wherein a gap between adjacent conductor bars is completely filled by a polymer insulator that is braced in longitudinal contact with a planar side of the central conductor bar and an opposing, planar side of the adjacent side conductor bar, respectively, said polymer insulator comprising a single piece polymer insulator including a trough-like configuration for surrounding coverage of each side conductor bar about three sides thereof leaving a fourth side open for free access.

2. The bus bar assembly according to claim 1, wherein the insulator is formed by extrusion of a silicon-rubber composition to define a homogenous, elongated body having a trough-like sectional profile.

3. The bus bar assembly according to claim 1, wherein the single piece polymer insulator comprises an elongate rib member of continuous height and thickness, and elongate wing members angularly extended from each longitudinal periphery of the rib member.

4. The bus bar assembly of claim 3, wherein the wing members extend substantially at right angles relative to the rib member.

5. A voltage source converter system comprising:

a direct voltage source, converter valves and a bus bar assembly for supplying direct current from the direct voltage source through the converter valves;

said bus bar assembly having plane parallel conductor bars closely spaced in side by side alignment, and

an insulator element braced in longitudinal contact with each planar side of a central conductor bar and an opposing, planar side of each one of two adjacent side conductor bars, respectively, of the bus bar assembly;

the conductor bars and insulator elements being clamped together to form an insulated, plane parallel bus bar assembly, wherein

each insulator element is a molded, single piece polymer insulator having a trough-like configuration for substantially surrounding coverage of each side conductor bar about three sides thereof, leaving a fourth side open for free access and connection of associated equipment.

6. The voltage source converter system of claim 5, wherein each gap that is formed between adjacent conductor bars of the plane parallel bus bar assembly is defined by the continuous thickness of a rib member of said insulator element, the insulator element having wing members extending angularly from each longitudinal periphery of the rib member in such way, that a longitudinal connection rail formed on said side conductor bar is completely free for access and for connection of associated equipment.