IP Library Granted Patent US 9,412,541
Granted Patent B2
US 9,412,541 · App. 14/304,335 · Granted Aug 9, 2016

Circuit breaker with fluid injection

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,412,541
App. No.
14/304,335
Granted
Aug 9, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

A circuit breaker including an ejection device with a compartment, in which an arc-extinction medium for improving circuit breaker operation is contained, and having an ejection orifice through which the arc-extinction medium is to be ejected, wherein the ejection orifice opens out into an injection zone of the circuit breaker in which the pressure is lower than in an arcing zone when an arc is present, and wherein the arc-extinction medium and/or exhaust-cooling medium is at least partially present in liquid form, when it is contained in the ejection device.

Claims (61)

1. A circuitbreaker comprising at least one ejection device, said ejection device comprising a compartment, in which an arc-extinction medium and/or exhaust-cooling medium for improving circuit breaker operation is contained, and having at least one ejection orifice through which the arc-extinction medium and/or exhaust-cooling medium is to be ejected, wherein the ejection orifice opens out into an injection zone of the circuit breaker in which the pressure is lower than in an arcing zone when an arc is present, and wherein the arc-extinction medium and/or exhaust-cooling medium is at least partially present in liquid form, when it is contained in the ejection device,

wherein the arc-extinction medium and/or exhaust-cooling medium comprises an organofluorine compound having a boiling point Tb at 1 bar higher than −60° C.,

wherein the organofluorine compound comprises a fluoroketone or a mixture of fluoroketones, including a fluoromonoketone.

2. The circuit breaker according to claim 1 , wherein the organofluorine compound comprises in addition at least one atom selected form the group consisting of oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen, and iodine.

3. The circuit breaker according to claim 1 , wherein the fluoromonoketone contains 5 to 15 carbon atoms.

4. The circuit breaker according to claim 1 , wherein the fluoromonoketone contains from 5 to 9 carbon atoms.

5. The circuit breaker according to claim 1 , wherein the fluoromonoketone contains exactly 5 or exactly 6 or exactly 7 or exactly 8 carbon atoms.

6. The circuit breaker according to claim 1 , wherein at least one background gas is present which is selected from the group consisting of: CO 2 , N 2 , O 2 , SF 6 , CF 4 , a noble gas, and mixtures thereof.

7. The circuit breaker according to claim 1 , wherein the circuit breaker is a high voltage circuit breaker, a medium voltage circuit breaker, a generator circuit breaker, or a load-break switch.

8. The circuit breaker according to claim 1 , wherein the boiling point Tb at 1 bar is higher than −10° C.

9. A circuitbreaker comprising at least one ejection device, said ejection device comprising a compartment, in which an arc-extinction medium and/or exhaust-cooling medium for improving circuit breaker operation is contained, and having at least one ejection orifice through which the arc-extinction medium and/or exhaust-cooling medium is to be ejected, wherein the ejection orifice opens out into an injection zone of the circuit breaker in which the pressure is lower than in an arcing zone when an arc is present, and wherein the arc-extinction medium and/or exhaust-cooling medium is at least partially present in liquid form, when it is contained in the ejection device,

wherein the ejection device is designed such that the arc-extinction medium and/or exhaust-cooling medium is ejected at a rate in a range from 0.1 ml/ms to 15 ml/ms.

10. The circuit breaker according to claim 9 , wherein the circuit breaker further comprises, outside the ejection device, a dielectric insulation medium comprising an organofluorine compound selected from the group consisting of: a fluoroether; a fluoroamine; a fluoroketone; and mixtures thereof, wherein the organofluorine compound is at least partially in gaseous state at operational conditions of the circuit breaker.

11. The circuit breaker according to claim 9 , wherein at least one background gas is present which is selected from the group consisting of: CO 2 , N 2 , O 2 , SF 6 , CF 4 , a noble gas, and mixtures thereof.

12. The circuit breaker according to claim 9 , wherein the circuit breaker is a high voltage circuit breaker, a medium voltage circuit breaker, a generator circuit breaker, or a load-break switch.

13. A gas-insulated switchgear, comprising a circuit breaker according to claim 9 .

14. The circuit breaker according to claim 9 , wherein the ejection device is designed such that the arc-extinction medium and/or exhaust-cooling medium is ejected at a rate in a range from 1 ml/ms to 10 ml/ms.

15. The circuit breaker according to claim 9 , wherein the ejection device is designed such that the arc-extinction medium and/or exhaust-cooling medium is ejected at a rate in a range from 3 ml/ms to 6 ml/ms.

16. The circuit breaker according to any claim 9 , wherein the arc-extinction medium and/or exhaust-cooling medium comprises an organofluorine compound having a boiling point Tb at 1 bar higher than −60° C.

17. The circuit breaker according to claim 9 , wherein the arc-extinction medium and/or exhaust-cooling medium comprises a fluoromonoketone containing 5 to 15 carbon atoms.

18. The circuit breaker according to claim 17 , wherein the fluoromonoketone contains from 5 to 9 carbon atoms.

19. The circuit breaker according to claim 17 , wherein the fluoromonoketone contains exactly 5 or exactly 6 or exactly 7 or exactly 8 carbon atoms.

20. A circuitbreaker comprising at least one ejection device, said ejection device comprising a compartment, in which an arc-extinction medium and/or exhaust-cooling medium for improving circuit breaker operation is contained, and having at least one ejection orifice through which the arc-extinction medium and/or exhaust-cooling medium is to be ejected, wherein the ejection orifice opens out into an injection zone of the circuit breaker in which the pressure is lower than in an arcing zone when an arc is present, and wherein the arc-extinction medium and/or exhaust-cooling medium is at least partially present in liquid form, when it is contained in the ejection device,

wherein the ejection device is designed such that the arc-extinction medium and/or exhaust-cooling medium is ejected during an ejection time shorter than 25 ms.

21. The circuit breaker according to claim 20 , wherein the circuit breaker further comprises, outside the ejection device, a dielectric insulation medium comprising an organofluorine compound selected from the group consisting of: a fluoroether; a fluoroamine; a fluoroketone; and mixtures thereof, wherein the organofluorine compound is at least partially in gaseous state at operational conditions of the circuit breaker.

22. The circuit breaker according to claim 20 , wherein at least one background gas is present which is selected from the group consisting of: CO 2 , N 2 , O 2 , SF 6 , CF 4 , a noble gas, and mixtures thereof.

23. The circuit breaker according to claim 20 , wherein the circuit breaker is a high voltage circuit breaker, a medium voltage circuit breaker, a generator circuit breaker, or a load-break switch.

24. A gas-insulated switchgear, comprising a circuit breaker according to claim 20 .

25. The circuit breaker according to claim 20 , wherein the ejection time is in a range from 5 ms to 15 ms.

26. The circuit breaker according to claim 20 , wherein the ejection time is about 10 ms.

27. The circuit breaker according to any claim 20 , wherein the arc-extinction medium and/or exhaust-cooling medium comprises an organofluorine compound having a boiling point Tb at 1 bar higher than −60° C.

28. The circuit breaker according to claim 20 , wherein the arc-extinction medium and/or exhaust-cooling medium comprises a fluoromonoketone containing 5 to 15 carbon atoms.

29. The circuit breaker according to claim 28 , wherein the fluoromonoketone contains from 5 to 9 carbon atoms.

30. The circuit breaker according to claim 28 , wherein the fluoromonoketone contains exactly 5 or exactly 6 or exactly 7 or exactly 8 carbon atoms.

31. A circuitbreaker comprising at least one ejection device, said ejection device comprising a compartment, in which an arc-extinction medium and/or exhaust-cooling medium for improving circuit breaker operation is contained, and having at least one ejection orifice through which the arc-extinction medium and/or exhaust-cooling medium is to be ejected, wherein the ejection orifice opens out into an injection zone of the circuit breaker in which the pressure is lower than in an arcing zone when an arc is present, and wherein the arc-extinction medium and/or exhaust-cooling medium is at least partially present in liquid form, when it is contained in the ejection device,

the circuit breaker or the ejection device comprising an arc-extinction medium for improving extinction of an arc formed during a breaker operation, wherein the arc-extinction medium when contained in the ejection device comprises an auxiliary injection compound selected from the group consisting of: O 2 , CO 2 , N 2 , CF 4 , a noble gas, and mixtures thereof,

wherein the auxiliary injection compound is to be injected indirectly into the arcing zone via a heating volume and/or a compression volume and/or via an auxiliary volume,

wherein the auxiliary volume is arranged in close proximity to the arcing zone such that temperatures of the auxiliary compound above 2000 K are achievable when the auxiliary compound is injected into the auxiliary volume during a contact-opening operation of the circuit breaker.

32. The circuit breaker according to claim 31 , wherein the circuit breaker further comprises, outside the ejection device, a dielectric insulation medium comprising an organofluorine compound selected from the group consisting of: a fluoroether; a fluoroamine; a fluoroketone; and mixtures thereof, wherein the organofluorine compound is at least partially in gaseous state at operational conditions of the circuit breaker.

33. The circuit breaker according to claim 32 , wherein the organofluorine compound comprises in addition at least one atom selected form the group consisting of oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen, and iodine.

34. The circuit breaker according to claim 32 , wherein the organofluorine compound comprises a fluoromonoketone containing 5 to 15 carbon atoms.

35. The circuit breaker according to claim 31 , wherein at least one background gas is present which is selected from the group consisting of: CO 2 , N 2 , O 2 , SF 6 , CF 4 , a noble gas, and mixtures thereof.

36. The circuit breaker according to claim 31 , wherein the circuit breaker is a high voltage circuit breaker, a medium voltage circuit breaker, a generator circuit breaker, or a load-break switch.

37. A gas-insulated switchgear, comprising a circuit breaker according to claim 31 .

38. The circuit breaker according to claim 31 , wherein timing means for timed injection of the auxiliary compound into the arcing zone are present such that a boosting of arc-blowing pressure occurs in a time window of less than 15 ms.

39. The circuit breaker according to claim 38 , wherein the boosting of the arc-blowing pressure occurs in a time window of less than 10 ms.

40. The circuit breaker according to claim 38 , wherein the boosting of the arc-blowing pressure occurs in a time window of less than 5 ms.

41. The circuit breaker according to claim 38 , wherein the boosting of the arc-blowing pressure occurs in a time window of less than 3 ms.

42. A circuitbreaker comprising at least one ejection device, said ejection device comprising a compartment, in which an arc-extinction medium and/or exhaust-cooling medium for improving circuit breaker operation is contained, and having at least one ejection orifice through which the arc-extinction medium and/or exhaust-cooling medium is to be ejected, wherein the ejection orifice opens out into an injection zone of the circuit breaker in which the pressure is lower than in an arcing zone when an arc is present, and wherein the arc-extinction medium and/or exhaust-cooling medium is at least partially present in liquid form, when it is contained in the ejection device,

the circuit breaker or the ejection device comprising an arc-extinction medium for improving extinction of an arc formed during a breaker operation, wherein the arc-extinction medium when contained in the ejection device comprises an auxiliary injection compound selected from the group consisting of: O 2 , CO 2 , N 2 , CF 4 , a noble gas, and mixtures thereof,

wherein timing means for timed injection of the auxiliary compound into the arcing zone are present such that a boosting of arc-blowing pressure occurs close to current-zero.

43. The circuit breaker according to claim 42 , wherein the circuit breaker further comprises, outside the ejection device, a dielectric insulation medium comprising an organofluorine compound selected from the group consisting of: a fluoroether; a fluoroamine; a fluoroketone; and mixtures thereof, wherein the organofluorine compound is at least partially in gaseous state at operational conditions of the circuit breaker.

44. The circuit breaker according to claim 43 , wherein the organofluorine compound comprises in addition at least one atom selected form the group consisting of oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen, and iodine.

45. The circuit breaker according to claim 43 , wherein the organofluorine compound comprises a fluoromonoketone containing 5 to 15 carbon atoms.

46. The circuit breaker according to claim 42 , wherein at least one background gas is present which is selected from the group consisting of: CO 2 , N 2 , O 2 , SF 6 , CF 4 , a noble gas, and mixtures thereof.

47. The circuit breaker according to claim 42 , wherein the circuit breaker is a high voltage circuit breaker, a medium voltage circuit breaker, a generator circuit breaker, or a load-break switch.

48. A gas-insulated switchgear, comprising a circuit breaker according to claim 42 .

49. The circuit breaker according to claim 42 , wherein the boosting of the arc-blowing pressure occurs in a time window of less than 15 ms.

50. The circuit breaker according to claim 42 , wherein the boosting of the arc-blowing pressure occurs in a time window of less than 10 ms.

51. The circuit breaker according to claim 42 , wherein the boosting of the arc-blowing pressure occurs in a time window of less than 5 ms.

52. The circuit breaker according to claim 42 , wherein the boosting of the arc-blowing pressure occurs in a time window of less than 3 ms.

Assignments (6)
MERGER Recorded Nov 13, 2023
From: HITACHI ENERGY SWITZERLAND AG
To: HITACHI ENERGY LTD
Reel/Frame 065549/0576 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE CONVEYING PARTY "ABB TECHOLOGY LTD."SHOULD READ "ABB TECHOLOGY AG" PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 040621 FRAME: 0792. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE MERGER. Recorded May 11, 2022
From: ABB TECHNOLOGY AG
To: ABB SCHWEIZ AG
Reel/Frame 059927/0620 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Dec 31, 2021
From: ABB POWER GRIDS SWITZERLAND AG
To: HITACHI ENERGY SWITZERLAND AG
Reel/Frame 058666/0540 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 6, 2020
From: ABB SCHWEIZ AG
To: ABB POWER GRIDS SWITZERLAND AG
Reel/Frame 052916/0001 →
MERGER Recorded Nov 15, 2016
From: ABB TECHNOLOGY LTD.
To: ABB SCHWEIZ AG
Reel/Frame 040621/0792 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 15, 2014
From: PISU, FRANCESCO; GALINDO-LOZANO, FRANCIA; MANTILLA, JAVIER; BUERGLER, MATHIAS-DOMINIC; GARIBOLDI, NICOLA; COSSALTER, OLIVER; STOLLER, PATRICK; GROB, STEPHAN; KOTILAINEN, SAMI
To: ABB TECHNOLOGY AG
Reel/Frame 033312/0963 →