Method for mains-synchronous switching of circuit breakers, and an apparatus for carrying out this method

1. An apparatus for mains-synchronous connecting of a disconnected circuit breaker irrespective of a load flow direction, having a current transformer and having a voltage transformer on a first side of a circuit breaker,

wherein a further voltage transformer is provided on a second side of the circuit breaker,

wherein the circuit breaker is comprised in a switchgear assembly, which is configured such that the load flow direction is not defined by the circuit breaker,

wherein connections to a control device exist for reception of measurement signals from the current transformer and from the two voltage transformers,

wherein the control device has means for processing and comparing the voltage measurements on both sides of the circuit breaker,

wherein the control device has a memory with data which is characteristic of all possible switching situations, which data is used to decide which voltage measurement signal is used as a reference value for the mains-synchronous tripping of the circuit breaker, and

wherein the control device has means for generating a switching command which initiates the mains-synchronous switching of the circuit breaker such that a timing characteristic of its tripping is controllably varied based on a detected switching situation for improved mains-synchronous switching.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 , comprising sensors to detect alterations to the present operating state of the circuit breaker that affect the timing of the circuit breaker and are dependent on operation or erosion-dependent changes to a contact separation, the sensors relaying data relating to the present operating state of the circuit breaker to the control device.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein mains-synchronous switching of the circuit breaker is ensured even during normal operation for either flow direction through the circuit breaker.

4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the power that flows through the line, which is interruptible by the circuit breaker, is dependent on the operating state of the power distribution network and can change direction quickly.

5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 4 , wherein, when the voltage on both sides is the same, the control device identifies this and connection is carried out.

6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 4 , wherein, when there is no voltage on one side of the circuit breaker, the control device chooses the other side, where the voltage is present, as the reference value for mains-synchronous connection.

7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 4 , wherein the circuit breaker is initiated by the control device such that contact is made in such a way that no switching-on overvoltages, or only small switching-on overvoltages or inrush overcurrents, occur.

8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein, when the voltage on both sides is the same, the control device identifies this and connection is carried out.

9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein, when there is no voltage on one side of the circuit breaker, the control device chooses the other side, where the voltage is present, as the reference value for mains-synchronous connection.

10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the circuit breaker is initiated by the control device such that contact is made in such a way that no switching-on overvoltages, or only small switching-on overvoltages or inrush overcurrents, occur.

11. A method for mains-synchronous connecting of a disconnected circuit breaker irrespective of a load flow direction, in which a voltage on a first side of the circuit breaker is measured to produce a voltage measurement signal,

wherein a voltage measurement is additionally carried out on a second side of the circuit breaker to produce another voltage measurement signal,

wherein the circuit breaker is comprised in a switchgear assembly, which is configured such that the load flow direction is not defined by the circuit breaker,

wherein the two voltage measurement signals are fed to a control device, and the voltage measurements on both sides of the circuit breaker are compared with one another,

wherein characteristic data which is stored in the control device for all possible switching situations is used by the control device to decide which voltage measurement signal is used as the reference value for the mains-synchronous tripping of the circuit breaker,

wherein a switching command, which initiates the mains-synchronous switching of the circuit breaker, is generated in the control device on the basis of this decision, and

wherein the circuit breaker carries out the switching command such that a timing characteristic of its tripping is controllably varied based on a detected switching situation for minimizing contact wear or a risk of restriking in the circuit breaker.

12. The method as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the power that flows through the line, which is interruptible by the circuit breaker, is dependent on the operating state of the power distribution network and can change direction quickly.

13. The method as claimed in claim 12 ,

wherein the control device detects all possible switching situations and initiates the mains-synchronous switching of the circuit breaker associated with the respective switching situation.

14. The method according to claim 12 , wherein two power supply units being operated asynchronously as a result of a defect are prevented from being connected based on the voltage measurement on both sides of the circuit breaker and the comparison of the measurement values.

15. The method according to claim 12 , wherein if capacitive loads are to be connected, then the circuit breaker is initiated to prevent a high inrush current.

16. The method as claimed in claim 12 , wherein, when the voltage on both sides is the same, the control device identifies this and connection is carried out.

17. The method as claimed in claim 12 , wherein, when there is no voltage on one side of the circuit breaker, the control device chooses the other side, where the voltage is present, as the reference value for mains-synchronous connection.

18. The method as claimed in claim 11 , wherein, when the voltage on both sides is the same, the control device identifies this and connection is carried out.

19. The method as claimed in claim 11 , wherein, when there is no voltage on one side of the circuit breaker, the control device chooses the other side, where the voltage is present, as the reference value for mains-synchronous connection.

20. The method as claimed in claim 19 , wherein the circuit breaker is initiated by the control device such that contact is made in such a way that no switching-on overvoltages, or only small switching-on overvoltages or inrush overcurrents, occur.

21. The method as claimed in claim 11 ,

wherein the control device detects all possible switching situations and initiates the mains-synchronous switching of the circuit breaker associated with the respective switching situation.

22. The method according to claim 11 , wherein two power supply units being operated asynchronously as a result of a defect are prevented from being connected based on the voltage measurement on both sides of the circuit breaker and the comparison of the measurement values.

23. The method according to claim 11 , wherein if capacitive loads are to be connected, then the circuit breaker is initiated to prevent a high inrush current.

24. The method as claimed in claim 11 , wherein data relating to the present state of the circuit breaker, that affect the timing of the circuit breaker and are dependent on operation or erosion-dependent changes to the contact separation, are also detected by sensors and are taken into account in an appropriate manner by the control device.

25. An apparatus for mains-synchronous disconnecting of a circuit breaker, having a current transformer and having a voltage transformer on a first side of a circuit breaker,

wherein a further voltage transformer is provided on a second side of the circuit breaker,

wherein connections to a control device exist for reception of measurement signals from the current transformer and from the two voltage transformers,

wherein the control device has a memory with data which is characteristic of all possible switching situations, which data is used to decide which voltage measurement signal is used as a reference value for the mains-synchronous tripping of the circuit breaker,

wherein the control device has means for generating a switching command which initiates the mains-synchronous switching of the circuit breaker such that a timing characteristic of its tripping is controllably varied based on a detected switching situation for improved mains-synchronous switching, and

wherein when lines on which there is no load are being disconnected, this switching situation is detected by the control device and the circuit breaker is tripped such that no premature disconnection of small inductive currents occurs.

26. The apparatus according to claim 25 , comprising sensors to detect alterations to the present operating state of the circuit breaker that affect the timing of the circuit breaker and are dependent on operation or erosion-dependent changes to a contact separation, the sensors relaying data relating to the present operating state of the circuit breaker to the control device.

27. The apparatus according to claim 25 , wherein mains-synchronous switching of the circuit breaker is ensured even during normal operation for either flow direction through the circuit breaker.