Circuit breakers for overcurrent protection of semiconductor converters limit the duration and amplitude of the overcurrent at such a level that its thermal effect does not exceed the maximum allowable thermal protection index of the protected semiconductor device. The limitation of the thermal action of the short-circuit current is achieved by reducing the operation time of the circuit breaker. The design of the circuit breaker is changed in such a way that instead of the basic electromagnetic release is used an induction-dynamic release, which consists of an inductor with a ferromagnetic core and a rotary armature in the form of a copper disk. The electrodynamic force producing by the induction-dynamic release for quick operation is determined by the coefficient of mutual inductance of the inductor coil and the armature. Using of a ferromagnetic core entailed an increase in the coefficient of mutual inductance of the coil and armature, therefore, an increase in the electrodynamic force producing by the release, and a decrease in own tripping time of the circuit breaker. On a prototype, an experimental study of the proper operation time of the release was carried out at various values of the electrical parameters of the capacitor bank of the inductor power supply, the winding parameters of the inductor coil and the disk dimensions. The research results have proved both a decrease in the tripping time of the circuit breaker while conserving the energy of the capacitor bank of the inductor, and a decrease in the required energy of the capacitor bank to power the inductor while maintaining the minimum tripping time of the circuit breaker. Reducing the energy of the capacitor bank of the inductor made it possible to reduce the capacity and voltage of the capacitor bank of the supply of the release, and, consequently, its dimensions.
Experimental research of the influence of a ferromagnetic core on the speed of an induction-dynamic release with turning anchor type
