ARC severing and displacement method and apparatus for fault current interruption
OwnerWilliam R. Mahieuinventor
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Abstract
Current interrupters for high voltage networks are disclosed which sever the post-zero arc plasma, connecting a pair of arc terminating electrodes, near an upstream wall electrode and displace the severed plasma with a high dielectric strength gas, gaining dielectric strength faster than the transient network voltage recovers across the lengthening plasma discontinuity. Use of a high enthalpy dielectric displacement gas, created at the time of load or fault current interruption, makes plasma severing and displacement possible. High enthalpy displacement gas mixtures are preferably produced by combustion of solid propellants and/or ablation of solids rich in hydrogen.
Claims21
Apparatus for interrupting currents in a high voltage network, comprising:
- a source of a dielectric gas adapted for extinguishing an electric arc;
- conduit means defining a confined channel for conveying said dielectric gas along a path from said source through the confined channel;
- a first electrode disposed in said conduit means having an exposed surface in said confined channel generally parallel to the direction of gas flow therethrough;
- a second electrode in conductive relation with said first electrode during normal operation and disposed downstream from said first electrode at the time of current interruption;
- said first and second electrodes having means for conductive connection to a current path in the high voltage network;
- a dielectric surface exposed in said confined channel generally parallel to the direction of gas flow therethrough, downstream from said first electrode and contiguous with the exposed surface of said first electrode to form a substantially continuous surface;
- and
- means for releasing said dielectric gas from said source when the current in the network approaches zero so as to impart high velocity flow of the dielectric gas over said substantially continuous surface along a path intersecting an electrical arc formed between said first and second electrodes and so as to sever the electrical arc from said first electrode, and displace the severed arc portion toward said dielectric surface.
A method of severing and displacing an arc extending between a first electrode and a second downstream electrode, comprising:
- providing a confined channel for conveying a dielectric gas along a flow path between said first and said second electrodes;
- providing a surface on said first electrode exposed to the flow path generally parallel thereto;
- providing a dielectric surface exposed to the flow path, generally parallel thereto downstream of the first electrode surface and substantially continuous therewith;
- configuring the first and second electrodes so that an arc extending therebetween has an arc root portion which is generally perpendicular to the flow path at the electrode surface;
- flowing said dielectric gas over said dielectric surface and said first electrode surface at a high velocity when the current in the network approaches zero, so as to intersect the arc root portion and sever the electrical arc from said first electrode and displace the severed arc portion toward said dielectric surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.