Load tap changer

US9087635B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• General Electric Company · US

Inventors

• Sebastian Pedro Rosado · Cork, IE
• Tiziana Bertoncelli · Munich, DE
• Piniwan Thiwanka Bandara Wijekoon · Nuremberg, DE
• Ara Panosyan · Munich, DE
• Manoj Ramprasad Shah · Latham, US
• Paolo Soldi · Munich, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Aug 24, 2012
• Grant date: Jul 21, 2015
• Expiry date: Aug 24, 2032

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H01H9/548
• WIPO field: Electrical machinery, apparatus, energy
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

A load tap changer includes a mechanical switch, a semiconductor switch and an impedance branch or an uncontrolled semiconductor switch. The mechanical switch is connected to a power terminal of a voltage conversion device to carry an electric current and is activated to switch from a first tap to a second tap of the voltage conversion device when a tap change signal is received. The semiconductor switch is then connected between the first tap and the power terminal of the voltage conversion device and is disconnected before the mechanical switch is connected to the second tap. The impedance branch or the uncontrolled semiconductor switch is connected between the second tap and the power terminal of the voltage conversion device before the mechanical switch is connected to the second tap. The impedance or the uncontrolled semiconductor switch is disconnected after the mechanical switch is connected to the second tap.