CONTROL FUNCTIONALITIES DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to a high voltage Disconnecting Circuit Breakers, in particular to high voltage Disconnecting Circuit Breakers having integrated digital control and communication functionalities. For the purposes of the present invention, the term“high voltage” is used to designate operating voltages above 1000 volts AC.

It is known from the state of the art that high voltage apparatuses can be associated in integrated switchgears that combine a number of functionalities, e.g. circuit breaker functionalities, disconnecting functionalities earthing/fast-earthing functionalities and similar functionalities. Examples of multi-functional switchgears are the Gas Insulated Switchgears, the hybrid modules (e.g. the ABB PASS modules), the Air Insulated Switchgears, the Disconnecting Circuit Breakers combined with earthing switches, and similar switchgears.

In the case of the Disconnecting Circuit Breakers, the circuit breaker functionality is combined with the disconnecting functionality within the same set of contacts. The Disconnecting Circuit Breakers is then combined with remotely operated earthing switches that can be positioned on the circuit breaker structure or as a free standing unit.

When during operation the circuit breaker is opened, the open contacts are designed to provide insulation in accordance with the standards for disconnectors. The contacts are then electrically interlocked and mechanically blocked to provide safe closure of the earthing switches. When the earthing switches are closed, electrical interlocking inhibits removal of the mechanical blocking system.

The blocking mechanism is operated with a separate operating mechanism, normally consisting of a motor operated mechanical actuator, which is provided with corresponding position switches, motor protection circuits and interlocking relays for the control of the operation. The mechanical operating mechanism is adapted to block the circuit breaker in the open position according to the desired interlocking criterion. A relatively complex circuitry and related wiring is normally necessary to ensure the proper functionality.

The earthing switches are also operated by an individual operating mechanism. Also in this case, the operating mechanism contains a motor operated mechanical actuator, which is provided with corresponding position switches, motor protection circuits and interlocking relays for the control of the operation. Also in this case, a relatively complex circuitry and related wiring is normally necessary to ensure the proper functionality.

The circuit breaker operating mechanism can be of hydraulic, spring or servo motor type, and controls and delivers the force to operate the circuit breaker contacts. The Disconnecting Circuit Breakers operating device also contains local operating switches for the circuit breaker, blocking mechanism and earthing switches. The operating device is also provided with wiring to provide the desired interlocking functionality.

In particular, the interlocking system is provided with circuitry and wiring in order to block the earthing switches operation when the circuit breaker is closed or when the circuit breaker is open and not blocked, and to interlock the circuit breaker operation when the earthing switches are closed or when the mechanical block is engaged.

In practice, the conventional Disconnecting Circuit Breakers normally need complex circuitry and wiring at the circuit breaker operating device as well as at the blocking mechanism operating device and earthing switches operating device, in order to achieve the desired interlocking functionalities. Moreover, in the conventional Disconnecting Circuit Breakers a number of cubicles (e.g. a central control cubicle and one or more drive cubicles) are normally needed to house the various equipment needed.

On the basis of the above considerations, there is a need to have available technical solutions for high voltage Disconnecting Circuit Breakers that will enable the limits and the problems set forth above to be overcome.

Hence, the present disclosure is aimed at providing a high voltage Disconnecting Circuit Breaker with control functionalities, in particular with digital control functionalities, which allows overcoming at least some of the above-mentioned shortcomings.

In particular, the present disclosure is aimed at providing an integrated high voltage Disconnecting Circuit Breaker, in which the circuitry and wiring is reduced and simplified with respect to the conventional high voltage switchgears.

Furthermore, the present disclosure is aimed at providing an integrated high voltage Disconnecting Circuit Breaker, in which the operating mechanisms to achieve a desired functionality are simplified.

Moreover, the present disclosure is aimed at providing an integrated high voltage Disconnecting Circuit Breaker, in which the number of analogic components is reduced, and at the same time the functionalities are increased - or at least maintained - with respect to the conventional high voltage switchgears.

Furthermore, the present disclosure is aimed at providing an integrated high voltage Disconnecting Circuit Breaker, which have a more simple and compact structure, in terms of both the number of cubicles needed and the volume occupied by the components inside the cubicle(s). Also, the present disclosure is aimed at providing an integrated high voltage Disconnecting Circuit Breaker, which has a compact structure with a reduced number of components, is reliable and relatively easy to produce at competitive costs.

Thus, the present disclosure relates to an integrated High Voltage disconnecting circuit breaker comprising: as a first electrical apparatus, a circuit breaker with a corresponding first motor- actuated operating device; as a second electrical apparatus, an earthing switch with a corresponding second operating device; and as a third electrical mechanism a blocking mechanism for said circuit breaker with a corresponding third operating device. The integrated High Voltage disconnecting circuit breaker of the present invention is characterized in that said first motor-actuated operating device is operatively connected to an electrical drive control system which is adapted for controlling said first motor- actuated operating device and at least one of said second and third operating devices.

As better explained in the following description, thanks to the innovative structure of the control system of the integrated High Voltage disconnecting circuit breaker of the present invention - in which a number of functionalities are integrated in the electrical/digital operating mechanism - the above-mentioned problems can be avoided, or at least greatly reduced.

In practice, in the integrated High Voltage disconnecting circuit breaker of the present disclosure, a number of functionalities related to a number of different electrical apparatuses and mechanisms, e.g. the interlocking functionalities between said earthing switch and circuit breaker, can be integrated in one and the same electrical drive control system, thereby making unnecessary the complex wiring and circuitry for functionally connecting the various operating devices to a central control cubicle.

In other words, the interlocking functionalities which are managed by the conventional central control cubicles based on analogic components of the prior art disconnecting circuit breakers, in the presently disclosed integrated High Voltage disconnecting circuit breaker are managed by an electrical drive control system present in the switchgear. In this way, some of the electromechanical components currently used in prior art systems can be replaced by more simple and cheap sensors.

Thus, as better explained in the following description, in a typical embodiment of an integrated High Voltage disconnecting circuit breaker according to the present disclosure, said electrical drive control system is adapted to send control signals to said first motor- actuated operating device and to at least one of said second and third operating device, and to receive from them signals indicative of an operative condition of said first motor-actuated operating device and second and/or third operating device, thereby carrying out the position sensing and control functionalities on a number of operating devices.

In particular, in an embodiment of an integrated High Voltage disconnecting circuit breaker, according to the present disclosure, one or more of said plurality of electrical apparatuses and mechanisms comprises one or more auxiliary equipment adapted to send a signal indicative of an operative condition of one or more of the electrical apparatuses and mechanisms to said electrical drive control system. For instance, said signal indicative of an operative condition of said one or more electrical apparatuses can be a signal indicative of an open or closed status of an earthing switch, or a signal indicative of the position of a blocking mechanism in the interlocking system, or similar signals.

In a particular embodiment of an integrated High Voltage disconnecting circuit breaker, one or more of said operating devices comprises a digital interface adapted to send a digital signal indicative of an operative condition of said one or more operating devices to said electrical drive control system.

In this way, the electrical drive control system can manage a certain number of operating device (e.g., electro-mechanical drives) with a single board, without A/D conversion, saving space, costs and strongly reducing the variability.

In a preferred embodiment of the presently disclosed integrated High Voltage disconnecting circuit breaker said electrical drive control system is also adapted to provide power supply to one or more of said electrical apparatuses and mechanisms.

In a greatly preferred embodiment of the integrated High Voltage disconnecting circuit breaker, the electrical drive control system is also adapted to programming a control logic for one or more of said electrical apparatuses and mechanisms. In practice, according to this embodiment, if modifications of functionalities for one or more operating devices are required, e.g. modification of interlocking functionalities for earthing switches and blocking mechanisms, such modifications can be easily carried out without any physical change by reprogramming of logical functions of the electrical drive control system.

In an exemplary embodiment of an integrated High Voltage disconnecting circuit breaker, according to the present disclosure, the electrical drive control system controls said earthing switch, circuit breaker and blocking mechanism and coordinates the interlocking functionalities between said earthing switch and circuit breaker.

Moreover, in the disconnecting circuit breaker thus conceived, the electrical drive control system is adapted to send/receive position and control signals to/from said earthing switch, circuit breaker and blocking mechanism, thereby carrying out also monitoring functions of the circuit breaker, earthing switches and blocking system and send a corresponding alarm if a problem is detected.

Preferably, the electrical drive control system of such disconnecting circuit breaker can be advantageously adapted to supply power to said earthing switch, circuit breaker and blocking mechanism, as well as to programming a control logic for said earthing switch and/or for said circuit breaker and/or for said blocking mechanism.

In a further exemplary embodiment, said earthing switch and/or blocking mechanism can be conveniently provided with corresponding motor-actuated operating devices (Drives) which are in digital communication with said electrical drive control system.

To this purpose, one or more of said motor-actuated operating devices conveniently comprises a digital interface which is adapted to send a digital signal indicative of an operative condition of said one or more of said motor-actuated operating devices to said electrical drive control system.

In this way, the electrical drive control system (Local Control Cubicle) can conveniently manage a certain number of motor- actuated operating device with a single board, without A/D conversion, saving space and costs and strongly reducing the variability.

Further features and advantages of the present invention will be more clear from the description of preferred but not exclusive embodiments of a multi-functional integrated High Voltage switchgear of the present invention, shown by way of examples in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a schematic block representation of a general embodiment of an integrated High Voltage disconnecting circuit breaker, according to the invention;

Figure 2 is a schematic block representation of a further general embodiment an integrated High Voltage disconnecting circuit breaker, according to the invention; Figure 3 is a schematic block representation of a first exemplary embodiment of an integrated High Voltage disconnecting circuit breaker, according to the invention; Figure 4 is a schematic representation of a first exemplary embodiment of an integrated High Voltage disconnecting circuit breaker, according to the invention.. With reference to the attached figures, the integrated High Voltage disconnecting circuit breaker of the present disclosure, designated by the reference numerals 1, 10 in its more general definition, comprises a plurality of electrical apparatuses and mechanisms 2, 3, 4; 102, 103, 104 having corresponding operating devices 21, 31, 41; 121, 131, 141.

Said electrical apparatuses and mechanisms 2, 3, 4; 102, 103, 104 are the following: a circuit breaker 2, 102, an earthing switch 3, 103, and a blocking mechanisms 4, 104. The operating devices 21, 31, 41; 121, 131, 141 are operatively connected 210, 310, 410 to an operating member 5, 6, 7; 105, 106, 107, which is, respectively, the movable contact assembly 5, 105 of the circuit breaker 2, 102, the earthing blade 7, 107 of an earthing switch 3, 103, the blocking member 6, 106 of the block mechanism 4, 104.

One of the distinguishing features of the integrated High Voltage disconnecting circuit breaker 1, 10 of the present disclosure is given by the fact that at least the operating device of the circuit breaker 2, 102 is a mo tor- actuated operating device 21; 121 which is operatively connected to an electrical drive control system 20; 120.

A further distinguishing features of the integrated High Voltage disconnecting circuit breaker 1, 10 of the present disclosure is given by the fact that the electrical drive control system 20; 120 is adapted for controlling not only said motor-actuated operating device 21; 121 of said circuit breaker, but also at least one of said second and third operating devices 31, 41; 131, 141. The electrical drive control system 20; 120 is also conveniently provided with digital communication means 200, and/or analogue communication means 85 for customer interface, as well as with power supply means 8.

In this way, with reference to figure 1, a number of functionalities related to the different electrical apparatuses and mechanisms 2, 3, 4, can be integrated in one and the same electrical drive control system 20, reducing the number of components needed and simplifying circuitry and wiring of the system.

The electrical drive control system 20 is conveniently adapted to send control signals 202, 203, 204 to said first mo tor- actuated operating device 21 of the circuit breaker 2, as well as to the operating device 31, 41 of the earthing switch 3 and blocking mechanism 4. Moreover, the electrical drive control system 20 is also conveniently adapted to receive from the apparatuses and mechanisms 2, 3, 4 signals 202, 203, 204 which are indicative of an operative condition of the corresponding operating devices 21, 31, 41, thereby carrying out full control and monitoring of the various apparatuses and mechanisms 2, 3, 4.

To this purpose, one or more of said electrical apparatuses and mechanisms 2, 3, 4 conveniently comprise one or more auxiliary equipment which are adapted to send to the electrical drive control system 20 a signal 202, 203, 204 which is indicative of an operative condition of said electrical apparatuses and mechanisms 2, 3, 4.

For example, said auxiliary equipment can be one or more of the following: auxiliary contacts, positions switches, position indicators, contactors, operating device protection relays, interlocking relays.

Preferably, as shown in figures 2-4, the electrical drive control system 20 is also adapted to provide power supply 82, 83, 84 to one or more of said electrical apparatuses and mechanisms 2, 3, 4.

With reference to figures 3 and 4, a first exemplary embodiment of the presently disclosed multi-functional integrated High Voltage switchgear is a disconnecting circuit breaker 10.

The disconnecting circuit breaker 10 comprises a circuit breaker 102 with a contact system 105 that in the open position provide insulation in accordance with the standards for disconnectors. The circuit breaker 102 operations are actuated by a first motor- actuated operating device 121. The disconnecting circuit breaker 10 then comprises an earthing switch 103 with contact blades 107 that can be positioned on the circuit breaker structure or as a free standing unit. The operations of the earthing switch 103 are actuated by a second motor- actuated operating device 131. Finally, the disconnecting circuit breaker 10 also comprises a blocking mechanism 104 for said circuit breaker 102, which is provided with a mechanical block 106 actuated by a third motor- actuated operating device 141, to carry out the interlocking functionalities 45, 46 between the circuit breaker 102 and the earthing switch 103.

As shown in figures 3 and 4, the electrical drive control system 120 is operatively connected to the earthing switch 103, circuit breaker 102 and blocking mechanism 104, and is adapted to send and receive position and control signals 202, 203, 204 to/from said earthing switch 103, circuit breaker 102 and blocking mechanism 104, thereby realizing full control of said earthing switch 103, circuit breaker 102 and blocking mechanism 104, as well as coordination of the interlocking functionalities between said earthing switch 103 and said circuit breaker 102.

The electrical drive control system 120 controls and monitors the operations of the whole disconnecting circuit breaker, so as to ensure that the functionalities of the various apparatuses and mechanisms are properly carried out.

Under normal operation, the circuit breaker 102 is closed, the earthing switch 103 is open and the blocking mechanism 104 is unblocked. In case of fault switching of the circuit breaker 102, said circuit breaker 102 opens to clear the fault currents, the earthing switch 103 is open and the blocking mechanism 104 is unblocked.

In case of maintenance of the line, opening of the disconnecting circuit breaker 10 and earthing of the line is necessary.

The following sequence of operation is therefore carried out under the control of the electrical drive control system 120:

1. Opening of the circuit breaker 102 (opening signal sent to the first motor- actuated operating device 121).

2. Remotely blocking of circuit breaker 102 in the open position.

At fully opened position, the circuit breaker 102 indicates the open position; a remote command engages the mechanical blocking of the circuit breaker 102 in open position by the mechanical block 106 of the blocking mechanism 104 actuated by the mo tor- actuated operating device 141; logical interlocking then notifies the engaged blocking and inhibits a closing operation of the circuit breaker 102 from local or remote commands.

3. Closing of earthing switch.

The blocking mechanism 104 signals the blocking state and this will allow remote command to close the earthing switch 103. The motor- actuated operating device 131 of the earthing switch 103 then signals the closed position of the earthing blades 107. Operation of the circuit breaker 102 and blocking mechanism 104 are now interlocked from operation by the earthing switch 103 closed state signal.

The following table describes the different operation modes of the disconnecting circuit breaker, with blocking and earthing switch, and shows the required signal and states for operation.

The interlocking criterions is controlled by the electrical drive control system 120, which is adapted to programming a control logic for said earthing switch 103, circuit breaker 102 and blocking mechanism 104. Configuration of interlocking is therefore made with logical blocks and is easily reconfigurable if any specific application requires a modified functionality, thereby providing more simple operating mechanisms with less electrical components and wiring to replace the complex wiring for interlocking of the conventional disconnecting circuit breaker.

Several variations can be made to the integrated High Voltage disconnecting circuit breaker thus conceived, all falling within the scope of the attached claims. In practice, the materials used and the contingent dimensions and shapes can be any, according to requirements and to the state of the art.