Arc Behaviours in Vacuum Interrupters with Axial Magnetic Field Electrodes

To improve the limiting current interruption capability and minimizing vacuum interrupter with axial magnetic field （AMF） electrodes, it is significant to investigate the vacuum arc behaviours between the contacts. AMF distributions of the slot type electrodes were studied by both numerical analysis and experiments. Furthermore, the behaviours of vacuum arcs for different parameters of the slot type AMF electrodes were investigated by using high-speed CCD camera. The influences of gap distance, contact diameter and phase shift time between AMF and arc current on the vacuum arc were investigated. The results provide a reference for research and development of vacuum interrupters with slot type or other types of AMF electrode.

Vacuum interrupter,high reliability component of distribution switches,circuit breakers and contactors

The use of vacuum interrupters(VIs)as the current interruption component for switches,circuit breakers,reclosers and contactors operating at distribution voltages has escalated since their introduction in the mid-1950’s.This electrical product has developed a dominating position for switching and protecting distribution circuits.VIs are even being introduced into switching products operating at transmission voltages.Among the reasons for the VI’s popularity are its compactness,its range of application,its low cost,its superb electrical and mechanical life and its ease of application.Its major advantage is its well-established reliability.In this paper we show how this reliability has been achieved by design,by mechanical life testing and by electrical performance testing.We introduce the“sealed for life”concept for the VI’s integrity.We discuss this in terms of what is meant by a practical leak rate for VIs with a life of over 30 years.We show that a simple high voltage withstand test is an easy and effective method for monitoring the long-term vacuum integrity.Finally we evaluate the need for routine inspection of this electrical product when it is used in adverse ambient environments.

Influence of Gap Distance on Vacuum Arc Characteristics of Cup Type AMF Electrode in Vacuum Interrupters

The greenhouse effect of SFe is a great concern today. The development of high voltage vacuum circuit breakers becomes more important. The vacuum circuit breaker has minimum pollution to the environment. The vacuum interrupter is the key part of a vacuum circuit breaker. The interrupting characteristics in vacuum and arc-controlling techniue are the main problems to be solved for a longer gap distance in developing high voltage vacuum interrupters. To understand the vacuum arc characteristics and provide effective technique to control vacuum arc in a long gap distance, the arc mode transition of a cup-type axial magnetic field electrode is observed by a high-speed charge coupled device （CGD） video camera under different gap distances while the arc voltage and arc current are recorded. The controlling ability of the axial magnetic field on vacuum arc obviously decreases when the gap distance is longer than 40 ram. The noise components and mean value of the arc voltage significantly increase. The effective method for controlling the vacuum arc characteristics is provided by long gap distances based on the test results. The test results can be used as a reference to develop high voltage and large capacity vacuum interrupters.

Investigation on X-Radiation for 126 kV Vacuum Interrupters

When subjected to high voltages between opened contacts, vacuum interrupters may emit X-rays. In order to ensure that these are of an acceptable level, vacuum interrupters should comply with the limits for X-ray emission and the test procedures to be carried out to verify this based on relevant standards and specifications. In this paper, a comprehensive experimental study has been performed for 126 kV vacuum interrupters used in a transmission system to understand the X-radiation level and its influence by three main parameters, namely applied power-frequency voltage, contact gap and power=frequency voltage conditioning. The radiation instrument is an FJ347 radiometer and the X-radiation dose was measured at the power-frequency test voltage. These tests demonstrated that the X-radiation emission level for a 126 kV vacuum interrupter did not exceed the following： 5 μSv per hour at a rated voltage of 126 kV and 150 μSv per hour at a power-frequency voltage of 230 kV at 1 m distance. The X-radiation dose increased with the applied power-frequency voltage increasing and decreased with the contact gap increasing. The X- radiation dose for 126 kV vacuum interrupters decreased by 57% after the conditioning procedure with a certain power-frequency voltage. During the conditioning procedure, the average value of the X-radiation dose was 4.49 mSv, which means if a professional conditions 180 interrupters per year, it will be safe at the 6.4 m distance.

The jointing stress analysis of one-shot seal-off high-voltage vacuum interrupters

The free shrinkage of ceramic or metal is restricted due to solidification of the solder. Hence the shrinkage stress arises and the jointing strength is reduced during the brazing of high-voltage vacuum interrupters （HVVIs）. The solder bound contour was gained by solved energy bound equation. The finite element model of weld beads was established with Surface Evolver software. Then the stress in two different cooling techniques （ natural cooling and force cooling） was calculated with ANSYS. Comparing the stress, a better cooling technique was selected for HVVIs. Its cooling time is shortened by 3 hours while the jointing stress doesn＇ t increase and the tensile strength of ceramic to metal seal is not decreased. The stress-rupture tests have validated the calculated results. More important, a method is found, by which the brazing technique could be improved in advance instead of blind experiments.

Dynamic dielectric recovery performance of serial vacuum and SF6 gaps in HVDC interruption and its regulation method

Vacuum gaps have rapid dynamic dielectric recovery speed while SF6 gaps have high insulation strength. The series-connected vacuum and SF6 gaps are used as the main switch(MS), which combines their advantages. The work aims to verify the feasibility of serial vacuum and SF6 gaps in mechanical HVDC interruption. The test circuit of the dynamic dielectric recovery performance(DDRP) is set up. The DDRP is tested under free recovery condition by the high voltage pulse source. The DDRP of the vacuum circuit breaker(VCB) and SF6 gas circuit breaker(GCB) in DC interruption with active current injection is analyzed and compared. The test results indicate that the dielectric recovery duration of the VCB is below 30 μs while that of the GCB is above 100 μs. In order to achieve the cooperation between the VCB and GCB, a novel hybrid HVDC circuit breaker(CB) based on series-connected vacuum and SF6 gaps is proposed. The ‘voltage-zero’ duration is created by introducing the follow current loop and there more recovery time for the dielectric recovery of the MS. The voltage distribution is controlled by the voltage dividing method so that the VCB undertakes the initial transient recovery voltage(TRV) and the later TRV is took by the GCB. The theoretical synergy characteristic of the novel HVDC CB is obtained. The paper supplies a new method to improve the custom mechanical HVDC CB, which is useful to achieve the HVDC CB with less serial breaks.

A fuse-based DC circuit breaker with vacuum interrupter enhanced by an external transverse magnetic field

Due to the increasing power system capacity,the interruption of large fault currents has gradually become a major challenge in power systems.At the moment,such currents are interrupted mainly via circuit breakers based on the method of active current commu-tation.However,these types of circuit breakers tend to be costly and oversized.One possible alternative—a fuse-based circuit breaker with current commutation process enhanced by an external transverse magnetic field(ETMF)—is proposed by the authors.Its main advantage lies in the fast current commutation achieved by an ETMF-enhanced three-stage increase of the vacuum arc voltage.The study of the current commutation process is mainly represented by the authors,and the influencing factors of the current commutation—contact opening speed and ETMF current—are discussed.At last,the proposed circuit breaker is verified by an experiment,whose results show that a short-circuit current of 42 kA can be interrupted within just 2 ms.

Vacuum Switching Technology for Future of Power Systems

Even though switching in vacuum is a technology with almost 100 years of history,its recent develop-ments are still changing the future of power transmission and distribution systems.First,current switch-ing in vacuum is an eco-friendly technology compared to switching in SF 6 gas,which is the strongest greenhouse gas according to the Kyoto Protocol.Vacuum,an eco-friendly natural medium,is promising for reducing the usage of SF 6 gas in current switching in transmission voltage.Second,switching in vacuum achieves faster current interruption than existing alternating current(AC)switching technolo-gies.A vacuum circuit breaker(VCB)that uses an electromagnetic repulsion actuator is able to achieve a theoretical limit of AC interruption,which can interrupt a short-circuit current in the first half-cycle of a fault current,compared to the more common three cycles for existing current switching technologies.This can thus greatly enhance the transient stability of power networks in the presence of short-circuit faults,especially for ultra-and extra-high-voltage power transmission lines.Third,based on fast vacuum switching technology,various brilliant applications emerge,which are benefiting the power systems.They include the applications in the fields of direct current(DC)circuit breakers(CBs),fault current lim-iting,power quality improvement,generator CBs,and so forth.Fast vacuum switching technology is promising for controlled switching technology in power systems because it has low variation in terms of opening and closing times.With this controlled switching,vacuum switching technology may change the“gene”of power systems,by which power switching transients will become smoother.

铁心式双极纵磁触头纵向磁场测量及磁场饱和特性研究

铁心式双极纵磁触头是高压真空灭弧室中常用的触头类型之一。为探究铁心式双极纵磁触头真空灭弧室燃弧过程中真空电弧不可控模式出现的成因,对铁心式双极纵磁触头的纵向磁场特性进行了实验与仿真研究。采用霍尔效应传感器阵列搭建了触头磁场测量平台,对1~15 kA下铁心式双极纵磁触头的纵向磁场分布进行了测量,基于实测结果验证了铁心式双极纵磁触头磁场仿真模型的准确性,并利用该仿真模型进一步仿真分析了1~40 kA电流下的触头磁场饱和特性及40 kA电流等级下燃弧过程中触头间纵向磁场的动态变化规律。结果显示,铁心式双极纵磁触头的纵向磁场在电流大于10 kA后开始呈现出显著的饱和趋势,由于磁场饱和现象的存在,大电流燃弧过程中触头磁场随时间的变化曲线在电流峰值附近将出现数毫秒的畸变。铁心式双极纵磁触头的纵向磁场饱和现象及纵向磁场随触头开距增大的衰减共同导致了该触头大电流燃弧过程中电流峰值附近真空电弧不可控模式的出现。文中的研究加深了对铁心式双极纵磁触头控弧过程的理解,并对该触头的设计具有指导价值。

真空与气体一体化串联机械开关及其直流快速转移应用

为提升中压混合式直流断路器的自然换流性能,该文提出一种真空与气体一体化串联机械开关,分析真空与气体一体化串联用于电流转移性能的工作原理。并基于此设计了双超程联动的真空与气体一体化串联开关实验样机,研究了气体类型、气压、触头结构、触头材料等参数对电弧电压特性的影响规律,确定了W70Cu桥式两触点结构,采用H2和N2体积比为2:3、气压为0.3 MPa的氢氮混合气体,弧压可由20 V提升到120 V,电流转移时间由1 900μs缩短至300μs。同时测试了静态瞬态开断电压(TIV)分布特性,真空间隙承担主要电压(55%),串联整机耐压水平为20 kV。验证了真空与气体一体化串联开关应用于中压混合式直流断路器的可行性和有效性。

金属罐体对真空灭弧室内部电场分布的影响

利用真空开断技术以及环保气体绝缘技术开发罐式真空断路器是高压真空断路器的一个重要发展方向。为此,建立了126 kV单断口真空灭弧室以及罐式断路器的电场仿真模型,分别从触头表面电场分布、触头间隙有效击穿面积以及内部电场分布对称性三个方面,探究了布置在金属罐中的真空灭弧室内部电场的变化。结果表明,金属罐体引起真空灭弧室内部动、静两侧的电场分布不对称,出现高电位侧电场强度增大,而低电位侧电场强度减小的情况。针对这一情况,建立等效电路模型,从电路层面分析。结果表明,对地杂散电容增大引起了主屏蔽罩的电位降低。进一步地,通过将主屏蔽罩电位设置为一系列的固定值,研究了主屏蔽罩电位对于真空灭弧室内部电场分布的影响。当控制主屏蔽罩电位相同时,布置在金属罐中的真空灭弧室与单个真空灭弧室相比,两者内部电场分布基本一致,这为罐式断路器中的真空灭弧室内部电场的优化提供了参考。

带铁心横磁-纵磁触头结构的优化设计

触头作为真空灭弧室的核心元件,其灭弧能力会直接影响直流开断过程。该文通过有限元仿真软件建立了三种触头模型,计算了高频电流下触头产生的磁场分布。电流峰值时的触头间隙中心可产生约为21 mT的纵向磁场,横向磁感应强度约为71 mT,纵向磁场分布不均匀。为了进一步提高触头间隙磁场强度以及分布均匀度,在触头模型中增加铁心及改变铁心结构来提升触头产生的磁场强度,基于BP神经网络与智能优化算法联合的方法对触头模型进行优化设计。优化结果显示:当触头的结构参数外触头非径向开槽夹角α为31.8°、外触头内外半径差值Δ为8.3 mm、内触头片半径r为15.2 mm、外触头杯斜槽高度h为16.1 mm、铁心结构开槽宽度d为1.1 mm时,触头间隙中心产生了74.99 mT的横向磁场;电流峰值时刻的触头间隙中心可产生44.02 mT的纵向磁场,不均匀度从优化前的7.44减小到4.67,均匀度得到了较大提升,提高了磁场对真空电弧的调控能力。

高电压等级真空断路器研究现状及展望

针对绿色电网发展需求,总结对比了现阶段SF6完全替代技术和部分替代技术路线的特点及相关技术,指出真空开断技术是电网绿色低碳发展的有效手段。对比分析现阶段多断口真空断路器的技术特点及研究现状,认为单断口真空断路器在结构及可靠性方面具有显著优势。目前商业化单断口真空灭弧室已经发展到145 kV/40 kA,综述了高电压大电流单断口真空灭弧室内外绝缘技术、电弧形态演变规律及分合闸控制、温升特性和真空灭弧室焊接质量稳定性的研究现状及未来发展趋势。结果表明:真空灭弧室内部真空间隙的均压设计及长真空间隙绝缘“饱和”问题是制约灭弧室电压等提升的关键因素;耐烧蚀触头材料的制备及磁场设计对触头表面阳极斑点的形成过程和真空断路器分合闸速度匹配至关重要;选取低回路电阻的触头结构、优化真空断路器散热结构能够有效提升真空灭弧室额定通流能力;此外,总结了真空灭弧室焊接质量和稳定性的影响因素,指出陶瓷金属化并选取合适的钎焊温度和焊料能够显著提升焊接强度;最后指出真空断路器趋向于大容量、小型化、智能化、低过电压、免维护、专用化和多功能化发展。

电极旋转开断方式对真空电弧形态及电极表面烧蚀的影响

真空开关中电弧形态是影响电极表面烧蚀情况的主要因素之一。聚集型电弧对电极表面作用的能量较为集中,扩散型电弧能量较为分散,不同电弧形态导致的电极表面烧蚀程度有所不同,而电极表面的烧蚀情况是关乎开关电器寿命的重要指标。文章基于可拆卸真空灭弧实验平台,在工频交流200 A等级下对无氧铜平板触头分别进行直拉开断实验与旋转开断实验,同时对电极烧蚀进行仿真分析,实验与仿真结果表明:在交流小电流下,旋转开断方式有利于电弧提前达到分散形态,减少了电弧向电极表面中心作用的时间,从而减少了电极烧蚀质量损失,并且随着电极旋转角度的增加,烧蚀质量损失越小。

基于多目标灰狼优化算法与RBF神经网络的真空灭弧室触头结构优化设计

在真空灭弧室触头开断过程中,合适的磁场分布有利于提高其开断性能;在合闸过程中,动、静触头间存在的电动斥力会导致触头出现弹跳现象。针对以上问题,首先建立了带铁芯式杯状纵磁触头的三维模型,进行了磁场分布与电动力的计算;为了进一步提高触头的性能,然后构建了以触头片开槽长度、开槽宽度、径向偏转角度、杯座斜槽高度及单个斜槽上下旋转角度为输入,电流峰值时刻触头间隙中心平面纵向磁场强度最大值、过零时刻中心点处磁滞时间、合闸时动静触头间的电动斥力分别为输出的RBF神经网络模型;最后结合RBF神经网络模型与多目标灰狼优化算法(MOGWO)对触头结构进行了优化。结果表明:与初始结构参数相比,当触头片开槽长度为19.74mm、宽度为3.94mm、径向偏转角为19.9°、杯座斜槽高度为18.0mm、斜槽上下旋转角为119.2°时,触头具有更好的磁场分布特性,且动、静触头间的电动斥力明显减小,有利于提高触头的工作性能。

基于两间隙异步联动的一体化高压真空灭弧室电场设计

输电等级真空灭弧室是迫切需要解决的行业级难题,为克服单断口真空灭弧室绝缘瓶颈和多断口串联结构复杂等问题,该文提出了一种基于两间隙异步联动的一体化高压真空灭弧室结构,该结构采用辅间隙与主间隙串联异步联动,辅间隙协助主间隙绝缘和灭弧,有望实现252kV及以上电压等级真空灭弧室的工程应用。建立了两间隙异步联动的一体化高压真空灭弧室电场仿真模型,分析了进出线方向、主辅间隙、屏蔽罩等对电场强度和电压分布关系的影响规律,并研究了屏蔽罩结构和环形陶瓷分压电容器等分压措施对电场提升的效果。研究表明:静端盖为出线端、动端盖为进线端时,主间隙开距为60 mm、辅助间隙开距为30 mm可以满足分压关系按照开距大小分布,最大电场强度相比于长间隙开距60 mm时降低27.3%。外部并联环形陶瓷分压电容器可以满足双向分断的要求,进线端在静端盖时外部并联环形陶瓷分压电容器灭弧室相较于未并联电容的灭弧室最大电场强度降低30%左右,初步说明了基于两间隙异步联动的一体化高压真空灭弧室结构的可行性和有效性,研究可为高电压等级真空灭弧室研制提供新思路和新方法。

72.5 kV快速真空断路器技术研究及开发

短路故障的快速切除对提高电网输电线路的输电能力和提高电力系统暂态稳定性至关重要。快速真空断路器是实现短路故障快速切除的理想选择。文中目标是设计一款新型单断口72.5 kV快速真空断路器并对其短路电流开断性能进行验证。采用具有多重悬浮屏蔽罩与轻量化技术的72.5 kV真空灭弧室用作灭弧器件,电磁斥力机构用作操动机构,一款特殊设计的油阻尼器用作速度调节器。为满足短路电流开断要求,依据阳极放电模式将分闸速度特性定量化调控为:前15 mm行程内平均分闸速度v1为5 m/s,满开距30 mm内平均分闸速度v2为1.59 m/s。经测试,开发的72.5 kV快速真空断路器的分合时间分别为(1.2±0.04)ms和(18±0.20)ms;进行了T100s(b)方式下的40 kA(rms)和80 kA(rms)的短路开断性能验证。开断结果显示,研制的72.5 kV单断口快速真空断路器满足了国标GB 1984—2014全燃弧时间窗口开断要求。

CuCr55电极触头真空电弧燃弧与烧蚀特性

铜铬合金材料作为电接触领域最重要的触头材料之一,在真空灭弧室中得到了广泛的应用。采用电弧熔炼方法制备了CuCr55触头材料,对比了熔铸CuCr25、熔渗CuCr50和电弧熔炼CuCr55材料的微观结构,并着重分析了电弧熔炼CuCr55触头的真空电弧燃弧与烧蚀特性。利用高速摄影机拍摄短路电流燃弧特性,得到了产生阳极斑点的临界电流。利用电子显微镜观察烧蚀过后的触头表面微观形貌,触头表面未出现材料断裂、细微裂痕或显著隆起。研究结果表明,电弧熔炼CuCr55触头具有铬颗粒细小均匀、显微组织球化弥散分布的微观结构,以及良好的均匀烧蚀特性。

真空灭弧室CuCr触头抗电弧烧蚀和抗熔焊研究与改进

CuCr触头材料的抗烧蚀和抗熔焊性是影响真空灭弧室寿命的重要因素。文中以CuCr触头材料在真空电弧下的烧蚀为立足点,对烧蚀过程和机理进行叙述,并从CuCr触头的微观组织以及真空灭弧室的磁场类型论述影响CuCr触头烧蚀的相关机理。同时指出抗熔焊性能与触头材料的抗拉以及热导率等因素有关。最后从表面改性和合金化角度总结了提高触头抗烧蚀的研究进展,并总结改进触头抗烧蚀性能的研究方向。

配用CuCr合金电极的真空介质开关电弧阳极热过程分析

真空介质开关电弧的主要成分源于故障电流开断过程中触头电极在极间产生的金属蒸气,且真空电弧的微观动力学行为直接影响开关的开断能力。文章通过建立真空介质电弧双温磁流体动力学模型,研究配用不同配比CuCr合金触头电极材料的真空介质开关在故障电流开断下阳极热过程的变化情况,得到阳极触头表面温度和熔池范围沿径向和轴向的分布。仿真结果表明,开断故障电流的增大及电极合金材料中Cu含量的增大均会导致输入阳极的能流密度增大。在200 A电弧电流作用下,阳极表面温度未达到CuCr合金的熔点,未发生熔化;而在6 kA电弧电流作用下,阳极温度先后达到Cu和Cr的熔点,电极熔化程度随合金中Cr含量的增大而减弱。