Low energy reclosing pulse test

A method for performing a reclosing fault testing operation in a power distribution network using a vacuum interrupter including a fixed contact and a movable contact, the method comprising:

• energizing a magnetic actuator to move the actuator against the bias of at least one spring coupled to the movable contact towards the fixed contact to make contact therebetween, wherein AC fault current conducts across a gap between the movable contact and the fixed contact before the movable contact and the fixed contact make contact;
• and
• de-energizing the magnetic actuator or reversing the voltage on the magnetic actuator when the movable contact makes contact with the fixed contact so as to allow the bias of the at least one spring to move the movable contact away from the fixed contact so that the amount of time that the current conducts between the movable contact and the fixed contact is about one fundamental frequency cycle of the fault current.

A method for performing a low energy pulse testing operation in a power distribution network using a vacuum interrupter including a fixed contact and a movable contact, the method comprising:

• energizing a magnetic actuator to move the actuator against the bias of at least one spring coupled to the movable contact towards the fixed contact to make contact therebetween, wherein AC fault current conducts across a gap between the movable contact and the fixed contact before the movable contact and the fixed contact make contact;
• and
• de-energizing the magnetic actuator or reversing the voltage on the magnetic actuator so as to allow the bias of the at least one spring to move the movable contact away from the fixed contact, wherein energizing the magnetic actuator occurs at a time so that when the movable contact and the fixed contact begin conducting an applied voltage on the switch assembly is at or near a peak of the voltage wave so that the fault current is symmetric.

A system for using a magnetically actuated switch assembly to produce a low energy pulse test, the switch assembly including a fixed contact and a movable contact, the system comprising:

• means for energizing a magnetic actuator to move the actuator against the bias of at least one spring coupled to the movable contact towards the fixed contact to make contact therebetween, wherein AC current conducts across a gap between the movable contact and the fixed contact before the movable contact and the fixed contact make contact;
• and
• means for de-energizing the magnetic actuator or reversing the voltage on the magnetic actuator when the movable contact makes contact with the fixed contact so as to allow the bias of the at least one spring to move the movable contact away from the fixed contact so that the amount of time that the current conducts between the movable contact and the fixed contact is about one fundamental frequency cycle of the current, wherein energizing the magnetic actuator occurs at a time so that when the movable contact and the fixed contact begin conducting an applied voltage on the switch assembly is at or near a peak of the voltage wave so that the current is symmetric.