Circuit breaker for protecting an electrical system

摘要

The invention relates to a circuit breaker for protecting an electrical system. The circuit breaker comprises a semiconductor switching element (T1) with a first and a second electrical terminal connected to a mains supply line (LIN) and a control terminal. Such switching element (T1) is controlled by enabling/disabling a control signal (S) applied to the control terminal for switching between an open/closed status and a closed/open status for connecting/disconnecting at least one load (LD) to/from the supply line (LIN). Moreover, the circuit breaker comprises a drive (DV) adapted to enable/disable the control signal (S).

主权项

1. Circuit breaker for protecting an electrical system comprising a mains supply line (LIN) in alternating current, at least one electrical load (LD) and the circuit breaker, said breaker comprising:
a semiconductor switching element (T1) having a first and a second electrical terminal connected to the mains supply line (LIN) and a control terminal, said switching element (T1) being controlled by enabling/disabling a control signal (S) applied to the control terminal for switching between an open/closed status and a closed/open status for connecting/disconnecting at least one load (LD) to/from said supply line (LIN); a drive (DV) adapted to enable/disable said control signal (S); a current limiting circuit operatively associated with the mains supply line (LIN) configured for sending a first signal (S1) to said drive (DV) for disabling said control signal (S) switching the switching element (T1) from the closed status to the open status subsequent to the detection of a current value (Icc) indicative of a failure in the system; a voltage regulator circuit connected to said first and second electrical terminal of the switching element (T1) comprising: dissipation means of a residual electrical energy stored on the mains supply line (LIN) subsequent to the switching of the switching element (T1) from the closed status to the open status due to the detection of said failure current (Icc), means for detecting a failure voltage between said first and second terminal generated by peak values of the failure current (Icc) at said switching of the switching element (T1) from the closed status to the open status, wherein said detection means are configured for sending a second signal (S6) to said drive (DV) for keeping said control signal (S) disabled, and wherein said means for detecting a failure voltage comprise a first and a second electronic detection circuit equal to each other, respectively connected between the first electrical terminal and an intermediate electrical terminal of the circuit breaker and between the second electrical terminal and the same intermediate electrical terminal, said intermediate terminal being operatively associated with the control terminal.