Study on the Hazard Limitation of Hybrid Circuit Breaker Actuator Operation

Abstract

Abstract:The paper deals with a key issue, how to limit the hazard and assure reliability, safety and repeatability of operation of selected critical devices protecting electrical power systems. The main research is focused on the incorrect operation of hybrid switches caused by random disturbances of the thyristor gate signals in the electrodynamic drive coil power supply circuit. Firstly, a pilot experiment on the operation of hybrid circuit breaker actuators under random disturbance conditions was carried out and the results are presented. Next, an in-depth operation analysis, based on experimental and simulation research, according to setting conditions of the circuit breaker actuator parameters such as capacitance, voltage and switching time was performed. A simulation study with the use of a field-circumferential model in the Ansys Maxwell program of electrodynamic propulsion of rectilinear motion, which enables energy transfer from the capacitor bank to the actuator coil power supply at selected time intervals, was executed. The study analysed the impact of the discontinuity of energy transfer on the dynamic properties of the actuator and some recommendations for designers and users on how to limit this hazard are formulated.

Modeling of Electrodynamic Phenomena in an Ultra-Rapid Inductive–Dynamic Actuator as Applied to Hybrid Short-Circuit Breakers—A Review Study

“…The above advantages of the IDD resulted in its taking over from other types of drives (e.g., spring ones) in many circuit breakers, especially in the so-called hybrid circuit breakers (Figure 1b) of both DC [20][21][22][23][24][25][26] and AC used in synchronous switchingoff [27][28][29][30][31][32][33]. The interest of the authors in the study of this type of drive is mainly related to their application in the class of circuit breakers considered [30,[32][33][34][35][36][37][38][39][40][41]. The authors' noted works can be divided into those focusing on the study of electromagnetic [35,40], mechanical [34,38], and thermal [41] phenomena of the drive.…”

“…References [36][37][38] present the development of measurement systems that allow the experimental determination of the basic drive quantities. Finally, articles [30,39] describe the results of tests on hybrid switches in which the basic element is the actuator. More detailed descriptions can be found later in the article, where most of the papers [30][31][32][33][34][35][36][37][38][39][40][41] are further referenced.…”

“…Finally, articles [30,39] describe the results of tests on hybrid switches in which the basic element is the actuator. More detailed descriptions can be found later in the article, where most of the papers [30][31][32][33][34][35][36][37][38][39][40][41] are further referenced. IDD-type drives are able to meet such strict requirements owing to the enormous momentary accelerations achieved, provided that such IDD parameters are selected that do not exceed critical values.…”

“…Another approach used, e.g., in [2, 3,52,57], was to determine the DC resistance, but to do it for a reduced cross-section of the cable, taking into account the skin effect. This method was used by the authors of [39]. Capacitance is a preset parameter (specified by the manufacturer-checked by measurement also in the dynamic discharge state by a specified resistance).…”

Static Voltage Sharing Design of a Sextuple-Break 363 kV Vacuum Circuit Breaker

“…To date, the commonly used SF 6 circuit breakers in 330 kV and 500 kV AC power systems have a long remove fault time of approximately 50 ms [4]. During this period, the fault current reaches its peak several times [5]. According to the dielectric strength, SF 6 behaves better than VCBs; hence, VCBs have higher dielectric strength restoration after the current is turned to zero, in comparison with other types of circuit breakers.…”