Publication

A DC hybrid circuit breaker with ultra fast contact opening and integrated gate-commutated thyristors (IGCT)

Alfred Rufer
2000
Conference Papers

Abstract

Air-magnetic circuit breakers are widely used for short-circuit protection in DC electric railways or industrial plants. The well-known drawbacks of these breakers are mainly a slow breaking action, a short lifetime and high maintenance costs due to the destructive effects of the arc. The use of power semiconductors in a full-static circuit breaker configuration allows to eliminate these disadvantages but is limited by excessive conduction losses. The paper will present a so called hybrid breaker, drawing its name from the combination of a high-speed mechanical switch and a bi-directional IGCT assembly connected in parallel.

Official source

https://infoscience.epfl.ch/entities/publication/34d8d080-a81a-4dc5-be83-b24dcffe6f65

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Alfred Rufer
2000
Conference Papers

Abstract

Official source

https://infoscience.epfl.ch/entities/publication/34d8d080-a81a-4dc5-be83-b24dcffe6f65

About this result

Related concepts (32)

Circuit breaker

A circuit breaker is an electrical safety device designed to protect an electrical circuit from damage caused by overcurrent. Its basic function is to interrupt current flow to protect equipment and to prevent the risk of fire. Unlike a fuse, which operates once and then must be replaced, a circuit breaker can be reset (either manually or automatically) to resume normal operation. Circuit breakers are made in varying sizes, from small devices that protect low-current circuits or individual household appliances, to large switchgear designed to protect high voltage circuits feeding an entire city.

Power semiconductor device

A power semiconductor device is a semiconductor device used as a switch or rectifier in power electronics (for example in a switch-mode power supply). Such a device is also called a power device or, when used in an integrated circuit, a power IC. A power semiconductor device is usually used in "commutation mode" (i.e., it is either on or off), and therefore has a design optimized for such usage; it should usually not be used in linear operation. Linear power circuits are widespread as voltage regulators, audio amplifiers, and radio frequency amplifiers.

Switchgear

In an electric power system, a switchgear is composed of electrical disconnect switches, fuses or circuit breakers used to control, protect and isolate electrical equipment. Switchgear is used both to de-energize equipment to allow work to be done and to clear faults downstream. This type of equipment is directly linked to the reliability of the electricity supply. The earliest central power stations used simple open knife switches, mounted on insulating panels of marble or asbestos.

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A DC hybrid circuit breaker with ultra fast contact opening and integrated gate-commutated thyristors (IGCT)

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