Design of a Combined Mechanical and Electrical Damper to Reduce Contact Speed at the Moment of Collision at the Endpoint

Abstract

Today, with the growth of industry and domestic demand, the use of renewable energy such as wind and solar energy is very popular in different countries. In addition, the distance between the consumer and the power plant is long. Accordingly, the use of HVDC networks is expanding and developing. Circuit Breakers (CBs) are one of the essential equipment of the power grid. The reliable and fast operation of CB is so essential owing to the rapid increase in short-circuit current in DC networks. Hybrid DC CBs, including ultra-fast disconnector (UFD), as providing require insulation distance, are so popular. The high speed of UFDs causes collisions with the endpoints of the contact opening and closing process, which in the long term causes wear, breakage, and damage to various parts of the UFD components. Therefore, mechanical and electrical dampers are employed to reduce the contact speed at the moment of endpoint impact. This paper model the dynamic behavior of contacts in ANSYS MAXWELL software environment, the effect of mechanical and electrical damping in reducing the contact speed at the moment of impact is investigated, and a suitable mechanical and electrical damping is provided for successful damping of contact tension.