DESCRIPTION

TECHNICAL SECTOR OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a technical solution which allows a voltage transformer, useful for supplying network services, to be mounted on a high voltage support; thanks to this solution, however, the continuity of the transmission of high voltage electrical energy is ensured in the event of a failure.

STATE OF THE ART

As is known, the distribution of electricity to users is achieved through an electricity distribution network, which includes low-voltage power lines (between 50 and 1 ,000 V), powered by high-voltage lines (between 35 and 400 kV). The transmission of electrical energy over long distances is more efficient by operating at high voltage while, approaching the end user, the voltage needs to be progressively lowered for safety reasons (the risk of electrocution is lowered) and also because generally the electrical loads of domestic users work at low voltage.

The power line is the network infrastructure intended for the transmission of high voltage electrical energy and can comprise, for example, a plurality of overhead power lines supported by a plurality of pylons.

The conversion, from high voltage electricity to low voltage electricity, takes place by means of voltmeter transformers, housed in special cabins located on the ground near the supports of the power line.

For obvious reasons of land occupation and, consequently, for authoritative reasons, as well as for aspects of social and environmental sustainability (just think that often the power line pylons can also be located adjacent to cultivated fields), recently a solution has been taken into consideration that provides for the positioning of the voltage transformers directly on the support.

As is known, a plurality of devices act on high voltage networks, known as line switches, which are capable of interrupting the major electric currents that are being generated, in the event of a fault, by means of automatic actions controlled by special measuring devices called protection relays. In other words, by means of the line breakers it is possible to quickly disconnect the faulty portion of the network, limiting as much as possible the thermal and mechanical effects that the fault currents cause on the other network elements. If, for example, a fault occurs on the line of the voltage transformer used to transform energy from high voltage to low voltage, the line switches open to isolate the portion of the high voltage line involved, thus interrupting the passage of electric current.

Obviously, an interruption in the passage of electric current and therefore in the operation of a high voltage backbone is highly inconvenient, and therefore there is a need to have a solution which, following a fault on the transformer voltmeter, connected in a branch on the high voltage electric line, allows the almost immediate restoration of the operation of the high voltage lines. In other words, there is a need for a technical solution that guarantees the continuity of transmission of electrical energy on the high voltage backbones even in the event of a fault on a voltage transformer located directly on the high voltage support.

The inventors of the present invention have created an electro-mechanical safety disconnector for the rapid restoration of operation of the high voltage backbone in the situation in which the voltage transformer connected to it is mounted directly on the support of the high voltage electric line. OBJECT AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is an electro-mechanical disconnector installed between a conductor of a high voltage overhead power line (hereinafter the term "high voltage" is rendered by the acronym "HV") and a voltage transformer mounted on a support for support of HV overhead power line conductors; said electro-mechanical disconnector being characterized in that it comprises a sectioning element and a sacrificial element disposed in series with each other for electrically connecting said conductor to said voltage transformer; said sacrificial element is made of a material able to melt when a fault current passes; said isolating element is able to place itself at an electrical insulation distance in the air from said conductor following the melting of said sacrificial element.

Preferably, said isolating element comprises an operating arm having a first end connected to said sacrificial element and a second end included in a hinge assembly able to allow rotation of the operating arm itself.

The operating arm can consist of a rigid rod or a flexible element, such as for example a rope.

Preferably, said sacrificial element is made of a material subject to melting due to the passage of a fault electric current and which has such a mechanical strength as to resist the action of the wind; more preferably this material is included in the group consisting of steel, copper and conductive alloys.

Preferably, said electro-mechanical disconnector comprises a collection cup, arranged to surround said sacrificial element supposed to undergo fusion. More preferably, the collection cup is fixed to said first end of the operating arm.

For a better understanding of the present invention, a particular embodiment is described below for illustrative and non-limiting purposes with the aid of the accompanying figures, in which:

- Figure 1 illustrates a support, for example of the trellis type, for the support of HV overhead electric line conductors on which an electro-mechanical disconnector according to the present invention is mounted;

- Figures 2a and 2b illustrate the electro-mechanical disconnector of Figure 1 in two operating phases and with parts represented in schematic form; and

- Figure 3 is an enlargement of a detail of the electro-mechanical disconnector of Figure 1 .

Number 1 in Figure 1 indicates a support, for example of the trellis type, useful for supporting conductors 2 of an HV overhead electric line. In particular, the support of Figure 1 is an anchor support, in which a plurality of brackets 3 support the conductors 2 through the insertion of suitable insulators 4. As known to a person skilled in the art, electrical continuity at the insulators 4 is ensured by an electrical connection 5, known in the jargon as a "dead neck".

On the support 1 a voltage transformer 6 is mounted for the conversion of electrical energy from high voltage to low voltage. The voltage transformer 6 is supported by a special bracket 7 on which a discharger 8 is also positioned, necessary to protect the voltage transformer 6 from overvoltages.

An electro-mechanical disconnector 9 is mounted on the support 1 , arranged between the voltage transformer 6 and a conductor 2. In particular, in its closed operating phase, the electro-mechanical disconnector 9 electrically connects the voltage transformer 6 to an electrical connection 5 of a related conductor 2.

As illustrated in Figures 2a and 2b, the electro- mechanical disconnector 9 comprises an operating arm 10, composed of a rod of conductive material, and a sacrificial element 1 1 (illustrated schematically) connected both to a first end 12 of the moving arm 10 and to the electrical connection 5 by means of, for example, a T- clamp.

According to a preferred embodiment, the operating arm 10 is a rigid rod. However, different from what has been described above, the operating arm 10 can consist of a cord or other flexible element, also of conductive material.

The sacrificial element 1 1 is composed of an electrically conductive element, which is made of a material apt to melt due to the passage of a fault electric current and which, at the same time, has a suitable mechanical performance such as to resist the action of the wind.

According to one aspect of the invention the sacrificial element 1 1 is made of steel or copper or other conductive alloy with suitable mechanical and electrical properties.

From the illustration in Figure 2a, in the operating phase of closing the electromechanical disconnector 9, the assembly consisting of the operating arm 10 and the sacrificial element 1 1 constitutes an electrical connection line between the conductor 2 (with its related electrical connection 5) and the voltage transformer 6.

A second end 13 of the operating arm 10 is connected to a hinge assembly 14, illustrated schematically. As may be obvious to a person skilled in the art, the hinge assembly 14 also comprises a flexible conductor braid 16 useful for ensuring the connection also at the hinge gear.

The hinge group 14 is made in such a way that, once the sacrificial element 1 1 melts, the operating arm 10 performs a rotation moving into its opening phase as illustrated in Figure 2b. In other words, when the sacrificial element 1 1 melts, the first end 12 of the operating arm 10 will no longer be constrained and the hinge assembly forces the operating arm 10 itself to rotate. The rotation of the operating arm 10 leads to obtaining a suitable electrical insulation distance d, which guarantees the electrical insulation between the electrical connection 5 and the voltage transformer 6.

In greater detail, the distance d is greater than 1 .5 m if the operating voltage of the HV line is equal to 150 kV and greater than 3.5 m if the operating voltage of the HV line is equal to 380 kV.

Differently from what has been described above, the isolating element according to the invention can be different from an operating arm, provided it is capable of guaranteeing that the aforementioned electrical insulation distance in the air will be reached. In fact, the electrical insulation distance in the air is necessary for carrying out the opening operating phase of the electro-mechanical disconnector which must be able to guarantee the absolute absence of an electrical connection between the high voltage overhead power line and the voltage transformer involved in the fault.

In the event of a fault inside the voltage transformer 6, the line switches at the ends of the HV backbone open to isolate the section of line involved while, at the same time, the sacrificial element 1 1 melts as a fault current flows through it. The fusion of the sacrificial element 1 1 frees the first end 12 of the operating arm 10 which, consequently, opens, creating the necessary electrical insulation distance in the air. At this point, the faulty component is disconnected, and the line switches close automatically, restoring electrical operation of the HV backbone. All this is sorted out, therefore, with a voltage dip of a few milliseconds.

As illustrated in Figure 3, the electro-mechanical disconnector 9 comprises a collection cup 15 fixed to the first end 12 of the operating arm 10 and arranged to surround the sacrificial element 1 1 . In this way, when the sacrificial element 1 1 melts, the dissolved material is not dispersed in the environment but is deposited on the walls of the collection cup 15. This prevents problems both in terms of safety for third parties and in terms of potential environmental pollution.

Advantageously, the collection cup 15 also has the function of reducing the electric field around the sacrificial element which otherwise, due to its small section, would give rise to an intense electric gradient value on the surface, noise problems and radio interference due to the corona effect.