De-exciting system for inductive circuits

A de-exciting system for dissipating energy from an inductive circuit that comprises at least one coil, adapted to be attached to said inductive circuit and comprising:

• a series connection of a discharge resistor and a unidirectional discharge switching element, said series connection being arranged such that, if the de-exciting system is attached to the inductive circuit and the discharge switching element is in a conducting state, a closed conducting path comprising the coil and the discharge resistor is formed;
• a unidirectional bypass switching element that is connected in parallel to the discharge resistor such that, when the de-exciting system is attached to the inductive circuit and both the discharge switching element and the bypass switching element are in a conducting state, a closed conducting path comprising the coil, the discharge switching element, and the bypass switching element is formed;
• and
• a control device configured to:
• in a first de-excitation phase, switch both the discharge switching element and the bypass switching element into a conducting state, and in a second de-excitation phase, switch the bypass switching element into a non-conducting state, while keeping the discharge switching element in the conducting state.