US 12,283,809 B2
Cutoff device for high-DC-voltage electric current with plasma tube
Yang Yang, Villeurbanne (FR)
Assigned to SUPERGRID INSTITUTE, Villeurbanne (FR)
Appl. No. 18/552,842
Filed by SUPERGRID INSTITUTE, Villeurbanne (FR)
PCT Filed Mar. 31, 2022, PCT No. PCT/FR2022/050608
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Sep. 27, 2023,
PCT Pub. No. WO2022/208029, PCT Pub. Date Oct. 6, 2022.
Claims priority of application No. 2103336 (FR), filed on Mar. 31, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2024/0170951 A1, May 23, 2024
Int. Cl. H02H 7/26 (2006.01); H01H 9/54 (2006.01); H02H 3/08 (2006.01); H02H 3/087 (2006.01); H02H 3/20 (2006.01)
CPC H02H 7/268 (2013.01) [H01H 9/54 (2013.01); H02H 3/08 (2013.01); H02H 3/087 (2013.01); H02H 3/202 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A cut-off device for electric current under high DC voltage including:
a main circuit, in which flows, in a conduction configuration of the cut-off device, an electric current under a high DC nominal operating voltage of the device;
at least one cut-off module interposed in the main circuit between a first point and a second point of the main circuit, for the cut-off module, the cut-off module comprising:
a main branch, between the first point and the second point of the cut-off module, with at least one main electrical cut-off apparatus, of mechanical type and interposed in the main branch between the first point and the second point,
an absorption branch, electrically in parallel with the main branch between the first point and the second point of the cut-off module, with at least one general surge protector interposed in the absorption branch between the first point and the second point,
a changeover branch, electrically in parallel with the main branch and the absorption branch between the first point and the second point of the cut-off module, with at least a first changeover capacitor arranged in the changeover branch, between the first point and the second point of the cut-off module, and a changeover switch capable of authorizing the flow of current in the changeover branch,
a loop formed by the main branch and the changeover branch of the cut-off module, said loop of the cut-off module having a changeover inductance;
wherein:
the changeover switch includes at least a first plasma tube switch including an anode, a cathode and a control grid, the first plasma tube switch being interposed in the changeover branch between the first point and the second point of the cut-off module so as to separate the changeover branch into a first section, linked to the cathode of the first plasma tube switch and a second section, linked to the anode of the first plasma tube switch, the first changeover capacitor being arranged in the first section of the changeover branch which is linked to the cathode of the first plasma tube switch,
a control system of the first plasma tube switch is electrically supplied by the first changeover capacitor,
the first changeover capacitor includes a proximal armature linked to the cathode of the first plasma tube switch, and a distal armature opposite to the cathode of the first plasma tube switch relative to the proximal armature,
the device includes a circuit for pre-charging the first changeover capacitor,
the cut-off module includes a first changeover surge protector which has a protection voltage lower than a nominal operating voltage of the cut-off module and which is electrically connected in parallel with the first changeover capacitor,
and in that the control system of the first plasma tube switch includes at least a first pilotable switch which, in a closed state, supplies the control grid of the first plasma tube switch by a voltage derived from an electrical voltage between the armatures of the first changeover capacitor.