Direct-current breaker for high power for connection into a direct-current carrying high-voltage line

• US 5,517,378 A
• Filed: 12/05/1994
• Issued: 05/14/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Asea Brown Boveri AB (ABB Limited)
• Original Assignee: Asea Brown Boveri AB (ABB Limited)
• Inventors: Solver, Carl E., Asplund, Gunnar, Lescale, Victor
• Primary Examiner(s): Pellinen, A. D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Medley, Sally C.
• Application Number:
  US08/353,265
• Time in Patent Office: 526 Days
• Field of Search: 361/2, 361/4, 361/5, 361/6, 361/8, 361/9, 361/13
• US Class Current: 361/4
• 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 33/596 for interrupting dc

Abstract

A high power d.c. breaker for connection into a d.c. carrying high-voltage line (L), has two normally closed and electrically series-connected mechanical breaks (BSI, BSII) adapted to be traversed by the line current (I) and to be opened for breaking the current. A capacitor (CB) is connected in parallel with the series connection of the breaks. A semiconductor member (HO) is connected in parallel with one of the breaks (BSI). Upon opening the breaks, a control member (SO) controls the semiconductor member such that a zero crossing of the current through the second break (BSII) is obtained, whereby the line current (I) is commutated over to the capacitor. (FIG. 1)

Claims

1. A d.c. breaker for high power and for connection into a high-voltage d.c, line, and with a breaking member which comprises:

a) a controllable semiconductor device,

b) control members to control the semiconductor member such that a zero crossing of the current through the breaking member is obtained,

and with a capacitor which is connected in parallel with the breaking member and to which the current in said line is commutated over to said capacitor after a zero crossing of the current through the breaking member,

the breaking member comprises first and second normally closed electrically series-connected mechanical breaks traversed by the current in said line and opened for breaking of said current,

the capacitor is in parallel with the series connection of the two breaks,

the semiconductor member is connected in parallel with said first break,

the breaker comprises an inductive member which is connected in a circuit with the capacitor and the first and second breaks for forming an oscillating circuit comprising the inductive member, the capacitor and the first and second breaks, and

the control members, in connection with the opening of the series-connected breaks, control the semiconductor member periodically for generating a growing oscillation in the oscillating circuit and hence a zero crossing of the current through the second break.

2. A breaker according to claim 1, further comprising voltage-limiting members connected in parallel with the breaking member, for limiting the voltage across the breaking member.

3. A breaker according to claim 1, wherein the control members are supplied with the voltage across the first break for power supply of the control members.

4. A breaker according to claim 1, wherein the control members are, in dependence on the voltage across the first break, activated for generating said oscillation.

5. A breaker according to claim 1, further comprising an a.c. circuit breaker and the mechanical breaks consist of breaks in the a.c. circuit breaker.

6. A breaker according to claim 5, wherein the semiconductor member and the control members are mounted at the potential level on the a.c. circuit breaker at the same potential level as said first and second breaks.

7. A breaker according to claim 1, wherein the control members comprise an oscillator to generate control signals for periodically turning on and off the semiconductor member with a frequency of the oscillating circuit.

8. A breaker according to claim 1, further comprising voltage-limiting members connected in parallel with said first break, for limiting the voltage across the break and the semiconductor member.