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WO1999000811A1 - Procede de connexion/deconnexion d'une charge a une tension c.a. - Google Patents

Procede de connexion/deconnexion d'une charge a une tension c.a. Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO1999000811A1
WO1999000811A1 PCT/DK1998/000277 DK9800277W WO9900811A1 WO 1999000811 A1 WO1999000811 A1 WO 1999000811A1 DK 9800277 W DK9800277 W DK 9800277W WO 9900811 A1 WO9900811 A1 WO 9900811A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
relay
load
voltage
control
measuring circuit
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/DK1998/000277
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Morten Bruun-Larsen
Erling Nielsen
Niels Anderskouv
Original Assignee
Nkt Research Center A/S
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Nkt Research Center A/S filed Critical Nkt Research Center A/S
Priority to AU79075/98A priority Critical patent/AU7907598A/en
Publication of WO1999000811A1 publication Critical patent/WO1999000811A1/fr

Links

Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H9/00—Details of switching devices, not covered by groups H01H1/00 - H01H7/00
    • H01H9/54—Circuit arrangements not adapted to a particular application of the switching device and for which no provision exists elsewhere
    • H01H9/56—Circuit arrangements not adapted to a particular application of the switching device and for which no provision exists elsewhere for ensuring operation of the switch at a predetermined point in the AC cycle
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H47/00—Circuit arrangements not adapted to a particular application of the relay and designed to obtain desired operating characteristics or to provide energising current
    • H01H47/22—Circuit arrangements not adapted to a particular application of the relay and designed to obtain desired operating characteristics or to provide energising current for supplying energising current for relay coil
    • H01H47/32—Energising current supplied by semiconductor device
    • H01H47/325—Energising current supplied by semiconductor device by switching regulator
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
    • H02H—EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS
    • H02H9/00—Emergency protective circuit arrangements for limiting excess current or voltage without disconnection
    • H02H9/001—Emergency protective circuit arrangements for limiting excess current or voltage without disconnection limiting speed of change of electric quantities, e.g. soft switching on or off
    • H02H9/002—Emergency protective circuit arrangements for limiting excess current or voltage without disconnection limiting speed of change of electric quantities, e.g. soft switching on or off limiting inrush current on switching on of inductive loads subjected to remanence, e.g. transformers

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a method of connecting and disconnecting an AC voltage to/from a load, wherein an actuator voltage from an actuation circuit is applied to a relay connected to the load, and wherein the actuation voltage may be delayed by means of a control and measur- ing circuit.
  • the invention moreover relates to a switch comprising a relay having two terminals, wherein an actuator voltage may be applied across the terminals to a circuit having a load, and the switch additionally has a control and measuring circuit which is adapted to delay the actuation voltage to the circuit.
  • EP 0 571 122 Al discloses a switch in which, in order to improve the service life of the switch, a time delay has been introduced from the time when an actuation voltage is applied to the switch and to the time when it actually performs the switching.
  • the principle is that the contact springs of the switch are closed when the voltage difference between the contact springs is ap- proximately zero, while the contact springs are opened preferably when the current through these is 0.
  • EP 0 353 986 Bl discloses another way of controlling a switch, using an optical sensor for determining the size of the arc which is generated when the switch is actuated, and determining, on the basis of this, a delay in the switch which allows it to switch at zero crossings of voltage or current.
  • an object of the invention is to provide a method of the type stated in the opening paragraph for connecting and disconnecting an AC voltage to/ from a relay which is extremely flexible and gives a multitude of possible applications.
  • control and measuring circuit which controls the actuation circuit, is adapted to actu- ate the relay at an optimum time on the basis of the type of load connected to the relay.
  • Connection and disconnection of an AC voltage by means of a relay may hereby be performed extremely rapidly and precisely with a minimum of wear on the relay which is incorporated in the switching arrangement.
  • the time may be determined such that the connection of the relay takes place in that the optimum time is immediately before the zero crossing of a voltage, as stated in claim 3.
  • the measuring circuit is adapted to determine the type of load connected to the contact on the basis of the phase difference between voltage and current, and to save information on this specific type of load in a storage, which provides the advantage that the contact faces of the switch may be switched to specific phase angles of load current and load voltage, respectively, and that the type of load is determined by apply- ing a short voltage pulse to the load immediately before voltage crossing on the load and then measuring the pulse response.
  • the measuring circuit contains calibration facilities for calibrating variations in mechanical as well as electronic time constants of the switch, a signal from the relay being fed back. This makes it possible to detect the time at which the contact faces of the relay are opened and closed. Changes, if any, in the mechanical time constants cause the measuring circuit to calculate a new delay which is used in future switchings.
  • this may be determined, as stated in claim 7, by applying a short voltage pulse to the load immediately before voltage zero crossing on the load, and then measuring the pulse response when disconnecting immediately before current zero crossing. This provides very safe information on which load is incorporated.
  • phase difference may be deter- mined directly on the basis of the zero crossings of the AC voltage and current applied to the load.
  • the clock frequency of the control and measuring circuit is derived from the zero crossing of the AC voltage applied to the load, it is ensured that the time conditions in the switch always follow the time conditions in the connected AC voltage, which means that the switch is automatically calibrated to 50 or 60 Hz power frequency, and also provides a very high precision of control signals to the relay.
  • control and measuring circuit is adapted to determine an arbitrary distance between two contact faces of the relay on the basis of a signal fed back from the actuation coil of the relay, and to maintain the two contact faces at a specified distance. This gives the very great advantage that the contact faces of the relay may assume a standby position, as the two con- tact faces may be caused to be very close to each other before being moved, which results in a very rapid switching.
  • this method which is stated in claim 10, may be improved when, as stated in claim 11, the control and measuring circuit is adapted to detect the times at which the contact faces of the relay are opened or closed on the basis of a feedback signal from the relay, as this enables changes in the mechanical time constants to be calculated and a new coupling time to be inserted for fu- ture switching on the basis of the switch characteristic existing at any time.
  • control and measuring circuit is adapted such that the relay can both connect and disconnect voltage or current to/from the load when this is positive and negative, respec ⁇ tively.
  • control and measuring circuit is adapted such that the tem ⁇ perature of the contact faces of the relay may be deter ⁇ mined.
  • beginning error states in the relay may be detected, which may e.g. be wear on the contact faces of the relay resulting in an increased contact resistance.
  • Information on the state of the relay may be utilized for disconnecting the relay in case of fire risks, or for signalling that the relay should be replaced in the near future.
  • a particularly elegant way of determining the temperature in the relay is, as stated in claim 13, when the control and measuring circuit is adapted to detect the voltage drop across the contact faces of the relay, when these are closed, as this provides an indication of the dissipated power and thereby the temperature of the relay.
  • the invention also relates to a switch which is of the type stated in the introductory portion of claim 16.
  • This switch is characterized in that the control and measuring circuit has detection means for detecting the type of the load incorporated in the circuit.
  • Such a switch is versatile in use of course and provides advantages in terms of production, as stocks of several different switches may be reduced quite considerably to ' a few standard types .
  • fig. 2 shows how the switching times may be calibrated
  • fig. 3a shows how closing and opening of the switch take place at a capacitive and a resistive load
  • fig. 3b shows how closing and opening of the switch take place at an inductive load
  • fig. 3c shows how closing and opening of the switch take place when this connects or disconnects an electric mo- tor, or a resistance with a positive coefficient of temperature
  • fig. 4 shows a basic structure of a switch according to the invention
  • figs. 5a and 5b show time diagrams for the mode of operation of the switch
  • fig. 6 shows a set-up in which the switch is controlled by means of a pulse width modulated signal
  • figs. 7A-C show a temporal relation between the action of a pulse width modulated signal on the current of the actuation coils of a relay and the contact face distance of the contact faces of the relay.
  • 6 designates a current curve
  • 5 designates a voltage curve.
  • voltage and current are phase-shifted with respect to each other, as the voltage 5 lies ahead of the current 6.
  • 6 designates an external signal, which may be applied to a control circuit, as will be explained later, said control circuit being able to provide an internal signal 2 having a time delay 3 so that a relay in a switch may be connected at the time shown by the reference numeral 4. It is thus possible to vary the time when an external signal is ap- plied to an actuation coil, as a control circuit delays the current connection of a relay in a switch.
  • this time may be calibrated, it being possible, as will be explained later, to measure this changed time constant, as a signal is fed back from the relay to a measuring circuit, which allows optimization of the time of the connection or disconnection of the relay.
  • this figure also shows a cur- rent curve 6 and a voltage curve 5 as well as an inserted time delay 3 for coupling a relay.
  • the time t3 at which it has been possible to connect the relay optimally is shown schematically by the reference numeral 8. Owing to variations in the characteristic of the relay the optimum time has been changed to the time t2, as shown by the reference numeral 7.
  • This time t2 may be determined on the basis of measurements on the relay so that the time delay changes from t3 to t2, which in turn causes the re ⁇ lay to be subjected to less wear as a function of time.
  • connection and disconnection of a relay take place at a capacitive and a resistive load.
  • the voltage 5 and the current 12 are in phase at the resistive load, while the voltage 5 and the current 10 are phase-shifted with respect to each other at the capacitive load, the voltage being here rearward of the current.
  • the relay is connected immediately at the zero crossing of the voltage shown by the reference numeral 7. If an inductive load is involved, then the current 12 will be rearward of the voltage 5, as shown in fig. 3B . In this case, coupling of the relay will take place optimally at the time shown by the reference numeral 7, i.e. where the voltage difference between the contact faces of a relay is maximum.
  • fig. 3C shows how connection and disconnection of a relay take place when this is used for connecting or disconnecting an electric motor or a transformer with a coupled resistive load having a positive temperature characteristic .
  • the relay 19 may be of the so-called three-terminal type which forms the sub- ject-matter of Danish Patent Application No. 169/97. As will be seen in fig. 4, the relay 19 is intended to connect or disconnect an AC voltage shown by the reference numeral 20. Also a control and measuring circuit shown in dashed line by the reference numeral 16 is coupled to the relay 19. This circuit 16 consists of a control circuit 17 which is connected to a measuring circuit 18. The measuring circuit 18 is adapted to measure the current through the load 23 and the voltage shown by the refer ⁇ ence numerals 21 and 22.
  • the measuring circuit can hereby determine which type of load 23 is to be connected or disconnected to/from the relay 19. It should be noted that additional sensors may be connected to the measuring circuit 16, such as temperature sensors (not shown) which may be arranged on the relay 19. The measuring circuit 18 may thus send signals to the control circuit 17, which can then control the switching times of the relay, as is explained in connection with the preceding figures.
  • Fig. 5A shows a timing diagram for the relay when it is to operate at optimum times.
  • pulses show symbolic zero crossings for an AC voltage. It is shown below this line that an external signal is applied, which generates an internal signal V ⁇ nter nai after a short period of time to the previously mentioned control circuit, which delays the coupling of the relay shown on the fourth line, where it will be seen that the relay is coupled just before a zero crossing.
  • the relay is to be disconnected again, this also takes place at a zero crossing, as the external signal, which is fed to the control circuit, causes the internal signal V ⁇ nternal to be delayed so that disconnection of the relay takes place at a zero crossing.
  • Fig. 5B shows a corresponding timing diagram, but in this case the relay is set in a standby position, there being applied together with an external signal V e v te rnai an addi ⁇ tional signal V ⁇ nterna i from the control circuit, which, however, is not able to couple the relay, but merely moves the distance between the contact springs on the re- lay.
  • V e v te rnai an addi ⁇ tional signal V ⁇ nterna i from the control circuit, which, however, is not able to couple the relay, but merely moves the distance between the contact springs on the re- lay.
  • the internal signal V ⁇ ntern ai is increased, but simultaneously delayed before the relay is coupled at zero crossing.
  • the standby state is obtained by applying to the actuator coil 24 of the relay, cf. fig. 7A, a con- trollable supply voltage, which, in this case, is a pulse width modulated voltage source, e.g. as shown in fig. 7A.
  • a voltage level is applied to the actuator coil, causing the contact faces of the relay to have precisely the desired distance.
  • the control and measuring circuit regulates the actuator voltage, so that the actuator voltage exhibits precisely the inductance which is char ⁇ acteristic of the desired break distance.
  • the inductance of the actuator coil varies with the air gap in the yoke of the relay coil, and the size of the air gap determines the distance of the contact faces.
  • the inductance of the actuator coil may thus be used as an indication of the distance of the contact faces.
  • the inductance of the actuator coil may be determined by measuring the coil current and determining the first derivative.
  • the invention provides a relay which is extremely universal and may be used within all types of loads where accurate switching times, rapid switching times and least possible wear are desired.
  • the symbolic circuits in figs. 4 and 6 may also be produced with very small dimensions so that the switch with relay and circuit may be constructed as a self-con- tained component.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Power Engineering (AREA)
  • Relay Circuits (AREA)

Abstract

Pour connecter/déconnecter à une tension c.a. par l'intermédiaire d'un relais (19), une charge (23) à laquelle on applique une tension de déclenchement fournie par un circuit de déclenchement, on raccorde ce dernier à un circuit de commande et de mesure (16, 17, 18) commandant le circuit de déclenchement pour qu'il actionne le relais au meilleur moment, ledit circuit de commande et de mesure (16, 17, 18) étant conçu pour détecter le type de charge reliée au relais (19). Le meilleur moment pour opérer les séquences de connexion et de déconnexion des différents types de charges peut être déterminé en fonction des valeurs mesurées par le circuit de commande et de mesure de manière à ce que le relais (19) et ses surfaces de contact puissent être commandés avec précision pour en réduire le plus possible l'usure. Le circuit de commande et de mesure (16, 17, 18) peut de plus commander le relais pour que les surfaces de ses contacts puissent être maintenues à une distance inférieure à celle de leur écartement maximum (position d'attente). L'invention porte donc sur un commutateur muni d'un relais (19) et d'un circuit de commande et de mesure (16, 17, 18) et réalisable sous de très faibles dimensions et d'emploi universel.
PCT/DK1998/000277 1997-06-25 1998-06-24 Procede de connexion/deconnexion d'une charge a une tension c.a. WO1999000811A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU79075/98A AU7907598A (en) 1997-06-25 1998-06-24 A method of connecting and disconnecting an ac voltage to/from a load, as well as a switch comprising a relay

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US8231497P 1997-06-25 1997-06-25
US60/082,314 1997-06-25
DK75597 1997-06-25
DK0755/97 1997-06-25

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO1999000811A1 true WO1999000811A1 (fr) 1999-01-07

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ID=26064589

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Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/DK1998/000277 WO1999000811A1 (fr) 1997-06-25 1998-06-24 Procede de connexion/deconnexion d'une charge a une tension c.a.

Country Status (1)

Country Link
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Cited By (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1081727A1 (fr) * 1999-09-01 2001-03-07 ABB T&D Technologies Ltd. Procédé de contrôle du fonctionnement d'un appareil de commutation
EP3018687A3 (fr) * 2014-11-06 2016-07-13 Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc. Commutation électromagnétique basée sur des paramètres de bobine d'opérateur
US9722513B2 (en) 2014-11-06 2017-08-01 Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc. Torque-based stepwise motor starting
US9726726B2 (en) 2014-11-06 2017-08-08 Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc. Single-pole, single current path switching system and method
US9748873B2 (en) 2014-11-06 2017-08-29 Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc. 5-pole based wye-delta motor starting system and method
US9806642B2 (en) 2014-11-06 2017-10-31 Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc. Modular multiple single-pole electromagnetic switching system and method
US9806641B2 (en) 2014-11-06 2017-10-31 Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc. Detection of electric motor short circuits
US10141143B2 (en) 2014-11-06 2018-11-27 Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc. Wear-balanced electromagnetic motor control switching
US10250032B2 (en) 2015-04-24 2019-04-02 Vertiv Corporation Intelligent power strip with management of bistable relays to reduce current in-rush
US10361051B2 (en) 2014-11-06 2019-07-23 Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc. Single pole, single current path switching system and method
US10677823B2 (en) 2017-01-06 2020-06-09 Vertiv Corporation System and method of identifying path of residual current flow through an intelligent power strip

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4864157A (en) * 1988-05-12 1989-09-05 Spatron Corporation Reduced arcing contact switching circuit
WO1990010942A1 (fr) * 1989-03-06 1990-09-20 Sinvent A/S Procede et appareil de connexion ou de deconnexion d'un circuit de charge electrique
DE4231242A1 (de) * 1992-09-18 1994-03-24 Buderus Heiztechnik Gmbh Verfahren zum Verringern des Verschleißes von elektromechanischen Relais
US5563459A (en) * 1989-11-15 1996-10-08 Hitachi, Ltd. Apparatus for controlling opening and closing timings of a switching device in an electric power system

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4864157A (en) * 1988-05-12 1989-09-05 Spatron Corporation Reduced arcing contact switching circuit
WO1990010942A1 (fr) * 1989-03-06 1990-09-20 Sinvent A/S Procede et appareil de connexion ou de deconnexion d'un circuit de charge electrique
US5563459A (en) * 1989-11-15 1996-10-08 Hitachi, Ltd. Apparatus for controlling opening and closing timings of a switching device in an electric power system
DE4231242A1 (de) * 1992-09-18 1994-03-24 Buderus Heiztechnik Gmbh Verfahren zum Verringern des Verschleißes von elektromechanischen Relais

Cited By (25)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1081727A1 (fr) * 1999-09-01 2001-03-07 ABB T&D Technologies Ltd. Procédé de contrôle du fonctionnement d'un appareil de commutation
WO2001016975A1 (fr) * 1999-09-01 2001-03-08 Abb T & D Technologies Ltd. Procede permettant de commander le fonctionnement d'un dispositif de commutation
US6693777B1 (en) 1999-09-01 2004-02-17 Abb T&D Technologies Ltd. Method for controlling the operation of a switching device
AU774917B2 (en) * 1999-09-01 2004-07-15 Abb Schweiz Ag Method for controlling the operation of a switching device
US9806641B2 (en) 2014-11-06 2017-10-31 Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc. Detection of electric motor short circuits
US10101393B2 (en) 2014-11-06 2018-10-16 Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc. Temperature-based electromagnetic switching
US9726726B2 (en) 2014-11-06 2017-08-08 Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc. Single-pole, single current path switching system and method
US9746521B2 (en) 2014-11-06 2017-08-29 Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc. 6-pole based wye-delta motor starting system and method
US9748873B2 (en) 2014-11-06 2017-08-29 Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc. 5-pole based wye-delta motor starting system and method
US9766291B2 (en) 2014-11-06 2017-09-19 Rockwell Automation Technologies Inc. Cleaning and motor heating electromagnetic motor control switching
US9772381B2 (en) 2014-11-06 2017-09-26 Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc. Synchronized reapplication of power for driving an electric motor
US9806642B2 (en) 2014-11-06 2017-10-31 Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc. Modular multiple single-pole electromagnetic switching system and method
EP3018687A3 (fr) * 2014-11-06 2016-07-13 Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc. Commutation électromagnétique basée sur des paramètres de bobine d'opérateur
US10018676B2 (en) 2014-11-06 2018-07-10 Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc. Electromagnetic switch interlock system and method
US10074497B2 (en) 2014-11-06 2018-09-11 Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc. Operator coil parameter based electromagnetic switching
US9722513B2 (en) 2014-11-06 2017-08-01 Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc. Torque-based stepwise motor starting
US10141143B2 (en) 2014-11-06 2018-11-27 Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc. Wear-balanced electromagnetic motor control switching
US10175298B2 (en) 2014-11-06 2019-01-08 Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc. Wellness monitoring of electromagnetic switching devices
EP3627529A3 (fr) * 2014-11-06 2020-09-09 Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc. Commutation électromagnétique basée sur des paramètres de bobine d'opérateur
US10361051B2 (en) 2014-11-06 2019-07-23 Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc. Single pole, single current path switching system and method
US10393809B2 (en) 2014-11-06 2019-08-27 Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc. Intelligent timed electromagnetic switching
US10250032B2 (en) 2015-04-24 2019-04-02 Vertiv Corporation Intelligent power strip with management of bistable relays to reduce current in-rush
US10998717B2 (en) 2015-04-24 2021-05-04 Vertiv Corporation Intelligent power strip with management of bistable relays to reduce current in-rush
US10677823B2 (en) 2017-01-06 2020-06-09 Vertiv Corporation System and method of identifying path of residual current flow through an intelligent power strip
US10996248B2 (en) 2017-01-06 2021-05-04 Vertiv Corporation System and method of identifying path of residual current flow through an intelligent power strip

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