US 12,437,944 B2
Hybrid circuit breaker with a vacuum interrupter
Mahesh Varrier, Perambra (IN); Tanmay Pralhad Tamboli, Hadapsar (IN); and Matthias Katzensteiner, Vienna (AT)
Assigned to Eaton Intelligent Power Limited, Dublin (IE)
Appl. No. 18/559,507
Filed by Eaton Intelligent Power Limited, Dublin (IE)
PCT Filed May 6, 2022, PCT No. PCT/EP2022/025212
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Nov. 7, 2023,
PCT Pub. No. WO2022/238009, PCT Pub. Date Nov. 17, 2022.
Claims priority of application No. 202111021278 (IN), filed on May 11, 2021; and application No. 2108896 (GB), filed on Jun. 21, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2024/0258050 A1, Aug. 1, 2024
Int. Cl. H01H 33/666 (2006.01); H01H 33/59 (2006.01)
CPC H01H 33/6661 (2013.01) [H01H 33/59 (2013.01)] 10 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A hybrid circuit breaker, the hybrid circuit breaker comprising:
an input connector configured to be connected to a power grid;
an output connector configured to be connected to a load;
a current path connecting the input connector and the output connector;
an electro-mechanical bypass switch being arranged in the current path;
a semiconductor circuit in parallel with the electro-mechanical bypass switch; and
a control unit being configured to control a commutation from the current path, in which the electro-mechanical bypass switch is arranged, to the semiconductor circuit in case of a switch off operation,
wherein the electro-mechanical bypass switch is a vacuum interrupter, which comprises a switching contact and an actuator being configured to drive the switching contact of the vacuum interrupter,
wherein the hybrid circuit breaker further comprises a first capacitor bank, which is electrically connected to the actuator of the vacuum interrupter in a switchable manner and which is configured to assist opening the switching contact of the vacuum interrupter when the first capacitor bank is switched to the actuator,
wherein the control unit is additionally configured to switch the first capacitor bank to the actuator of the vacuum interrupter in a first polarity in case of a switch off operation, and
wherein the control unit is additionally configured to switch the first capacitor bank to the actuator of the vacuum interrupter in a second opposite polarity in case of a switch on operation.