Study on the Hazard Limitation of Hybrid Circuit Breaker Actuator Operation

Abstract

The paper deals with a key issue, how to limit the hazard and assure reliability, safety and repeatability of operation of selected critical devices protecting electrical power systems. The main research is focused on the incorrect operation of hybrid switches caused by random disturbances of the thyristor gate signals in the electrodynamic drive coil power supply circuit. Firstly, a pilot experiment on the operation of hybrid circuit breaker actuators under random disturbance conditions was carried out and the results are presented. Next, an in-depth operation analysis, based on experimental and simulation research, according to setting conditions of the circuit breaker actuator parameters such as capacitance, voltage and switching time was performed. A simulation study with the use of a field–circumferential model in the Ansys Maxwell program of electrodynamic propulsion of rectilinear motion, which enables energy transfer from the capacitor bank to the actuator coil power supply at selected time intervals, was executed. The study analysed the impact of the discontinuity of energy transfer on the dynamic properties of the actuator and some recommendations for designers and users on how to limit this hazard are formulated.