Switch apparatus for high pressure environments and system having the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016126032-A1
Application number	US-201514882728-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 14, 2015
Priority date	Oct 31, 2014
Publication date	May 5, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A switch apparatus is provided. The switch apparatus includes a switch main body, a switch actuator, a housing and at least one pressure compensator. The switch main body includes multiple of contacts. The switch actuator is coupled with the switch main body and configured to trigger movement of the contacts. The housing accommodates the switch main body and the switch actuator and is filled with insulation fluid. The pressure compensator is in fluid communication with the housing and has a variable volume to regulate pressure inside the housing equal to external pressure surrounding the housing. A system having the switch apparatus is also provided.

First claim

1 . A switch apparatus, comprising:
a switch main body comprising a plurality of contacts; a switch actuator coupled with the switch main body and configured to trigger movement of the plurality of contacts; a housing accommodating the switch main body and the switch actuator and filled with insulation fluid; and at least one pressure compensator in fluid communication with the housing and having a variable volume to regulate pressure inside the housing equal to external pressure surrounding the housing.

2 . The switch apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a solid insulator being moveable between the plurality of contacts and operative to insulate the plurality of contacts.

3 . The switch apparatus of claim 2 , wherein a dielectric strength of the solid insulator is in the range of 80 kV/mm to 120 kV/mm.

4 . The switch apparatus of claim 2 , wherein a material of the solid insulator comprises at least one of polypropylene, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), poly dicyclopentadien (DCPD), solithane and silicon.

5 . The switch apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the switch actuator is coupled with the solid insulator to trigger movement of the solid insulator.

6 . The switch apparatus of claim 1 , wherein dielectric strength of the insulation fluid is in the range of 1 kV/mm to /100 kVmm.

7 . The switch apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the insulation fluid comprises at least one of mineral oils, silicone oils, MIDEL oil, organic esters and synthetic oils.

8 . The switch apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising one or more connectors fluid hermetically coupled to the housing and electrically connected with the switch main body.

9 . The switch apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises a cylindrical or spherical outer enclosure.

10 . The switch apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the switch actuator comprises one or more pressure tolerant components immersed in the insulation fluid.

11 . The switch apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the switch apparatus is a DC switch apparatus having an operation voltage of at least 5 kV.

12 . A system, comprising:
a main apparatus for use in an underwater environment;
a switch apparatus coupled to the main apparatus and exposed to the underwater environment and comprising:
a switch main body comprising a plurality of contacts;
a switch actuator coupled with the switch main body and configured to trigger movement of the plurality of contacts;
a housing accommodating the switch main body and the switch actuator and filled with insulation fluid; and
at least one pressure compensator in fluid communication with the housing and having a variable volume to regulate pressure inside the housing equal to external pressure surrounding the housing; and
a circuit breaking device coupled with the switch apparatus for breaking a circuit.

13 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the switch apparatus further comprises a solid insulator being moveable between the plurality of contacts and operative to insulate the plurality of contacts.

14 . The system of claim 13 , wherein dielectric strength of the solid insulator is in the range of 80 kV/mm to 120 kV/mm.

15 . The system of claim 13 , wherein a material of the solid insulator comprises at least one of polypropylene, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), poly dicyclopentadien (DCPD), solithane and silicon.

16 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the switch actuator is coupled with the solid insulator to trigger movement of the solid insulator.

17 . The system of claim 12 , wherein a dielectric strength of the insulation fluid is 1 kV/mm to /100 kVmm.

18 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the insulation fluid comprises at least one of mineral oils, silicone oils, MIDEL oil, organic esters and synthetic oils.

19 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the switch apparatus further comprises one or more connectors fluid tightly coupled to the housing and electrically connected with the switch main body.

20 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the switch apparatus is a DC switch apparatus having an operation voltage of at least 5 kV.

Assignees

• Ge Energy Power Conversion Technology Ltd

Inventors

• Sihler Christof
• Mao Saijun
• Shen Jie

Classifications

• H01H33/06 Primary

  Insulating body insertable between contacts · CPC title

• H02J4/00

  Circuit arrangements for mains or distribution networks not specified as AC or DC; Circuit arrangements for mains or distribution networks combining AC and DC sections or sub-networks (arrangements using intermediate DC-AC-DC conversion H02J1/002; arrangements using high-voltage DC [HVDC] links H02J3/36) · CPC title

• H01H9/54 Primary

  Circuit arrangements not adapted to a particular application of the switching device and for which no provision exists elsewhere · CPC title

• H01H33/68

  Liquid-break switches, e.g. oil-break · CPC title

• H01H33/555

  Protective arrangements responsive to abnormal fluid pressure, liquid level or liquid displacement, e.g. Buchholz relays (circuits H02H5/08; specially adapted for transformers H01F27/402) · CPC title