Method and arrangement for direct current circuit interruption
US6075684A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 23, 1998 |
| Grant date | Jun 13, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 23, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH03K17/168
- WIPO fieldBasic communication processes
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
In the direct current circuit interruption arrangements disclosed in the specification, a solid state circuit interrupter interrupts the connection in a circuit path between a power source and a load. The stored energy in the circuit is dissipated in a resistive commutation circuit by using controllable power semiconductors such as Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistors to increase resistance between the terminals of the circuit interruption arrangement. An in-line power semiconductor switch acts as the circuit disconnecting device and is shunted by a resistive commutation circuit consisting of a plurality of solid state commutation switches and resistors in various configurations which act to dissipate the energy. In one embodiment the solid state switches in the commutation circuit are connected to a common circuit interrupter terminal and to a resistor through a series of taps on the resistor and the resistor is connected to the other circuit interrupter terminal. In another embodiment, the commutation circuit consists of parallel branches each having a solid state switch in series with a resistor and each branch is shunted across the circuit interrupter. In a further embodiment, th…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.