Dead tank circuit breaker surge arrester

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10896797-B2
Application number	US-201916432122-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 5, 2019
Priority date	Jun 5, 2019
Publication date	Jan 19, 2021
Grant date	Jan 19, 2021

Abstract

Embodiments of the disclosure can include systems and methods for limiting transient over-voltages occurring across a circuit breaker. These embodiments include providing a middle tank portion. They further include providing a first portion coupled to a first side of the middle tank portion, and a second portion coupled to a second side of the middle tank portion. They further include providing a first high voltage terminal coupled to the first portion, and a second high voltage terminal coupled to the second portion. They further include providing a post insulator supported and extending from the middle tank portion. They further include providing a first surge arrester connecting the first high voltage terminal to a first connector extending from the post insulator, and a second surge arrester connecting the second high voltage terminal to a second connector extending from the post insulator.

First claim

That which is claimed:

1. A circuit breaker apparatus comprising:
a middle tank portion;
a first portion coupled to a first side of the middle tank portion, and a second portion coupled to a second side of the middle tank portion;
a first high voltage terminal coupled to the first portion, and a second high voltage terminal coupled to the second portion;
a post insulator supported and extending from the middle tank portion; and
a first surge arrester connecting the first high voltage terminal to a first connector extending from the post insulator, and a second surge arrester connecting the second high voltage terminal to a second connector extending from the post insulator; wherein either the first surge arrester or the second surge arrestor can limit transient over-voltages occurring across the respective first high voltage terminal or second high voltage terminal when the circuit breaker is open.

2. The circuit breaker apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a bifurcation component connecting the post insulator to the first surge arrester and connecting the post insulator to the second surge arrester.

3. The circuit breaker apparatus of claim 2 , further comprising one or more current sensors attached to the bifurcation component, wherein the one or more current sensors measure
a first current in the first surge arrestor, and
a second current in the second surge arrestor.

4. The circuit breaker apparatus of claim 3 , further comprising an optical fiber connecting the one or more current sensors to a data collection device connected to the middle tank, wherein the optical fiber transfers current sensor measurements from the one or more current sensors to the data collection device.

5. The circuit breaker apparatus of claim 3 , further comprising an optical fiber connecting the one or more current sensors to a data collection device connected to the middle tank, wherein the optical fiber transfers surge arrester commands from a remote server to the first surge arrester or the second surge arrester via a processor in the data collection device.

6. The circuit breaker apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the post insulator supports the first surge arrester and the second surge arrester in response to a seismic event or high wind.

7. The circuit breaker apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the circuit breaker apparatus surge opens in response to an increase in reactive power above an upper reactive power threshold or a decrease in reactive power below a lower reactive power threshold in the circuit breaker apparatus.

8. The circuit breaker apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the first surge arrester or second surge arrester limit the voltage across the circuit breaker responsive to the increase in reactive power above the upper reactive power threshold or the decrease in reactive power below the lower reactive power threshold.

9. The circuit breaker apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the circuit breaker apparatus surge opens in response to a voltage exceeding a voltage threshold.

10. The circuit breaker apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the first surge arrester or second surge arrester limit the voltage across the circuit breaker responsive to the voltage exceeding the upper voltage threshold.

11. The circuit breaker apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the circuit breaker apparatus closes in response to a voltage being below a voltage threshold, and the first surge arrester or second surge arrester allow the voltage across the circuit breaker.

12. A surge arrester structure comprising:
a post insulator supported and extending from a middle tank portion of a dead tank circuit breaker;
a first surge arrester connecting a first high voltage terminal of a first bushing of the dead tank circuit breaker to a first connector extending from the post insulator, and a second surge arrester connecting a second high voltage terminal of a second bushing of the dead tank circuit breaker to a second connector extending from the post insulator;
wherein either the first surge arrester or the second surge arrestor can limit transient over-voltages occurring across the respective first high voltage terminal or second high voltage terminal when the circuit breaker is open.

13. The surge arrester structure of claim 12 , further comprising a bifurcation component connecting the post insulator to the first surge arrester and connecting the post insulator to the second surge arrester.

14. The surge arrester structure of claim 13 , further comprising one or more current sensors attached to the bifurcation component, wherein the one or more current sensors measure:
a first current in the first surge arrestor, and
a second current in the second surge arrestor.

15. The surge arrester structure of claim 14 , further comprising an optical fiber connecting the one or more current sensors to a data collection device connected to the middle tank, wherein the optical fiber transfers current sensor measurements from the one or more current sensors to the data collection device.

16. The surge arrester structure of claim 14 , further comprising an optical fiber connecting the one or more current sensors to a data collection device connected to the middle tank, wherein the optical fiber transfers surge arrester commands from a remote server to the first surge arrester or the second surge arrester via a processor in the data collection device.

17. The surge arrester structure of claim 12 , wherein the post insulator supports the first surge arrester and the second surge arrester in response to a seismic event or high wind.

18. The surge arrester structure of claim 12 , wherein the dead tank circuit breaker opens in response to an increase in reactive power above an upper reactive power threshold or a decrease in reactive power below a lower reactive power threshold in the dead tank circuit breaker.

19. A method for limiting transient over-voltages occurring across a respective first high voltage terminal or second high voltage terminal of a circuit breaker comprising:
providing a middle tank portion;
providing a first portion coupled to a first side of the middle tank portion, and a second portion coupled to a second side of the middle tank portion;
providing a first high voltage terminal coupled to the first portion, and a second high voltage terminal coupled to the second portion; providing a post insulator supported and extending from the middle tank portion; and
providing a first surge arrester connecting the first high voltage terminal to a first connector extending from the post insulator, and a second surge arrester connecting the second high voltage terminal to a second connector extending from the post insulator; wherein either the first surge arrester or the second surge arrestor limit transient over-voltages occurring across the respective first high voltage terminal or second high voltage terminal when the circuit breaker is open.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the first surge arrester or second surge arrester limit transient over-voltages occurring across the respective first high voltage terminal or the second high voltage terminal responsive to a voltage across the respective first high voltage terminal or the second high voltage terminal exceeding an upper voltage threshold.

Assignees

• General Electric Technology Gmbh

Inventors

• Chovanec Andrew
• Hermosillo Victor Federico

Classifications

• H01C7/12

  Overvoltage protection resistors; Arresters · CPC title

• H01H83/10 Primary

  operated by excess voltage, e.g. for lightning protection · CPC title

• H01H33/025

  Terminal arrangements (for vacuum switches H01H33/6606) · CPC title

• H01H33/161

  Variable impedances · CPC title

• G05F1/10

  Regulating voltage or current  (G05F1/02 takes precedence) · CPC title