Curcuit breaker and circuit breaking apparatus
AssigneeMitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
InventorHiroshi Yamamoto
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A circuit breaker for a distribution system includes a non-self-extinction type semiconductor switch, a current limiting element connected in series to the semiconductor switch for suppressing a fault current. The semiconductor switch and the current limiting element constitute a series circuit. A mechanical type high-speed switch is connected in parallel to the series circuit of the semiconductor switch and the current limiting element. Upon occurrence of a fault in the distribution system, an electric current flowing through the distribution system is commutated to the series circuit from the mechanical type high-speed switch.
Claims13
A circuit breaker for a distribution system, comprising:
- a non-self-extinction type semiconductor switch;
- a current limiting element connected in series to said semiconductor switch for suppressing a fault current, said semiconductor switch and said current limiting element constituting a series circuit;
- a mechanical type high-speed switch connected in parallel to the series circuit of said semiconductor switch and said current limiting element;
- and
- a control circuit coupled to said non-self-extinction type semiconductor switch and to said mechanical type high-speed switch to open said mechanical type high-speed switch while maintaining said non-self extinction type switch closed upon occurrence of a fault current in the distribution system, to commutate the fault current from said mechanical high-speed switch to the series circuit, and to open said non-self-extinction type semiconductor switch a preselected period of time after opening said mechanical type high-speed switch, the preselected amount of time being an amount of time required to open said mechanical type high-speed switch.
A circuit breaking apparatus for a distribution system, comprising:
- a circuit breaker including a non-self-extinction type semiconductor switch provided in said distribution system, a current limiting element connected in series to said semiconductor switch for suppressing a fault current, said semiconductor switch and said current limiting element constituting a series circuit, and a mechanical type high-speed switch connected in parallel to the series circuit of said semiconductor switch and said current limiting element, wherein upon occurrence of a fault in the distribution system, an electric current flowing through said distribution system is commutated to said series circuit from said mechanical high-speed switch;
- detecting means for detecting a fault current flowing through said distribution system;
- and
- control means for controlling said semiconductor switch and said mechanical high-speed switch of said circuit breaker on the basis of detection output of said detecting means such that said mechanical high-speed switch is opened when the fault current is detected and said semiconductor switch is opened a short time after said mechanical high-speed switch is opened.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.