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US 12,316,095 B2Granted
Solid-state circuit breaker having a sealed vacuum gap section for providing an intrinsic safe operation
AssigneeSiemens Industry, Inc.
InventorGuang Yang
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A solid-state circuit breaker comprises a sensing and control circuit configured to realize designed functions, a power electronics section that includes solid-state switching components for normal operations and a vacuum gap section that includes a sealed vacuum tube. The vacuum gap section is disposed in series with the power electronics section. The vacuum gap section is configured to open to interrupt a current such that the associated arcs are contained in the sealed vacuum tube.
Claims18
A solid-state circuit breaker comprising:
- a sensing and control circuit configured to realize designed functions;
- a power electronics section that includes solid-state switching components for normal operations;
- a vacuum gap section that includes a sealed vacuum tube,
- wherein the vacuum gap section is disposed in series with the power electronics section, and
- wherein the vacuum gap section is configured to open to interrupt a current such that the associated arcs are contained in the sealed vacuum tube;
- a first overvoltage protection device in parallel to the solid-state switching components;
- wherein the solid-state switching components includes a first solid-state component and a second solid-state component and wherein the first overvoltage protection device is provided to protect the solid-state switching components during an overvoltage after interruptions;
- a second overvoltage protection device for protecting the sensing and control circuit;
- and
- a vacuum gap actuator placed in series with a switching component, and both disposed in parallel to the sensing and control circuit,
- wherein the first and second solid-state components may be a single component or multiple components connected in parallel.
8 more elements
A method for providing an intrinsic safe solid-state circuit breaker, the method comprising:
- providing a sensing and control circuit configured to realize designed functions;
- providing a power electronics section that includes solid-state switching components for normal operations;
- providing a vacuum gap section that includes a sealed vacuum tube,
- wherein the vacuum gap section is disposed in series with the power electronics section, and
- wherein the vacuum gap section is configured to open to interrupt a current such that the associated arcs are contained in the sealed vacuum tube;
- providing a first overvoltage protection device in parallel to the solid-state switching components,
- wherein the solid-state switching components includes a first solid-state component and a second solid-state component and wherein the first overvoltage protection device is provided to protect the solid-state switching components during an overvoltage after interruptions;
- providing a second overvoltage protection device for protecting the sensing and control circuit;
- and
- providing a vacuum gap actuator placed in series with a switching component, and both disposed in parallel to the sensing and control circuit,
- wherein the first and second solid-state components may be a single component or multiple components connected in parallel.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.