JP2000013989A - Current limiter - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an economical current limiter which can surely suppress burst current through a simple means at of a short-circuit accident and is able to maintain a current-limiting function for a relatively long time. SOLUTION: For a current limiter, AC terminals 12 and 13 of a rectifier bridge circuit 11 are connected in series to a power system, and a DC reactor 16 is connected between the DC terminals 14 and 15 of the rectifier bridge circuit 11. Then, a current limiting element 17, such as a positive temperature characteristic(PTC) thermistor, etc., which generates heat from overcurrent and turns into high resistance from its temperature rise is connected in series to the DC reactor 16, and a current-limiting reactor 18 is connected in parallel with the rectifying bridge circuit 11.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a current limiting device, and more particularly to a current limiting device which is used in all power systems from a low voltage, a high voltage, an extra-high system to a main system, and is provided with an overcurrent caused by a system short circuit accident,
Inrush current when transformer or capacitor equipment is turned on,
The present invention relates to a current limiting device for suppressing an inrush current when a load is applied to a low-voltage system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, in all power systems from a low voltage, a high voltage, an extra high system to a main system, an overcurrent due to a system short circuit accident, an inrush current when a transformer or a capacitor is turned on, and a load input to a low voltage system. Generally, a current limiting device is generally provided to suppress the inrush current.

Conventionally, this type of current limiting device includes, for example, a current limiting device using a thermal current limiting element of a positive temperature characteristic (PTC) thermistor and a rectifier type current limiting device.

[0005] The current limiting device shown in FIG. 5 uses a thermal current limiting element 3 connected in series between a system power supply 1 and a load 2 of a power system. This element generates heat when a large current flows, and increases the resistance by increasing the temperature. As the thermal current limiting element 3, there is an element having a composition of a polymer material or a barium titanate material having resistance-temperature characteristics as shown in FIG.

For example, as shown in FIG. 5, when a short circuit a occurs and an overcurrent flows, the thermal current limiting element 3 generates heat and its temperature rises to increase the resistance. As a result, as shown in FIG. Overcurrent flowing in the power system can be suppressed. FIG. 3 shows the interconnection current flowing through the thermal current limiting element 3.
Is the time T ₂ has elapsed from the generation time point T ₁ of the short circuit a shown in Fig predetermined time, since it has the property of exerting a limiting effect overcurrent is suppressed, the current limiting effect of the slow response It is suitable when necessary.

The rectifier type current limiting device comprises a rectifying bridge circuit 4 connected in series to a power system as shown in FIG. 8, and the rectifying bridge circuit 4 includes diodes D _{1 to} D _1.
4 , a diode D ₁ , D ₂ is connected to one AC terminal 5, diodes D ₃ , D ₄ are connected to the other AC terminal 6, and a DC voltage is applied between the DC terminals 7, 8. It has a configuration in which a reactor 9 is connected.

[0007] In the rectifier-type current-limiting device having such a configuration, the limiting effect of excessive current is suppressed from generating time T ₁ of the short circuit a in real as shown in FIG. 9 (a) (b) Since it has characteristics to be exhibited, it is suitable when a current limiting effect of high-speed response is required. 2A shows the interconnection current flowing between the AC terminals 5 and 6 of the rectifier bridge circuit 4, and FIG. 2B shows the DC coil current flowing between the DC terminals 7 and 8 of the rectifier bridge circuit 4, respectively. .

In this rectifier type current limiting device, the diodes D ₁ and D ₂ are in a conducting state similarly to the diodes D ₃ and D ₄ because the diodes D ₁ and D ₂ receive an alternating current on which a DC bias current is superimposed. The impedance seen from the AC side is zero.

[0009] However, if exceeds the DC current alternating current by the occurrence of short circuit a flows in the DC reactor 9, one of a pair of diodes D ₁ and D ₄ of the pair or diodes D ₂ and D ₃ is stopped. When viewed from the AC terminals 5 and 6, this means that the DC reactor 9 has been inserted in series into the AC circuit during this time, and the terminal current of the DC reactor 9 is generated to start the current limiting operation.

[0010]

The conventional current limiting device having the thermal current limiting element 3 and the conventional current limiting device having the rectifying bridge circuit 4 have the following problems.

In the case of the thermal limiting element 3 of a positive temperature characteristic (PTC) thermistor, the thermal limiting element 3 itself is a simple and economical current limiting element. Although this method is to generate heat and exert a current limiting effect, it has a disadvantage that an operation delay of inevitably several tens of milliseconds occurs and a sudden current cannot be suppressed.

On the other hand, in the rectifier type current limiting device, the overcurrent at the time of a short circuit accident can be accurately exerted by the inductance of the DC reactor 9 in the current limiting effect, but the change in the DC current flowing through the DC reactor 9 increases every half cycle. Therefore, during a certain period of time, for example, 50 to 100 msec, the cost and the loss are large in order to expect the current limiting effect, and when the current limiting function is to be maintained for a relatively long time, the larger DC reactor 9 is required.
Has to be installed, which is disadvantageous in that it is not economical in terms of cost.

In view of the above, the present invention has been proposed in view of the above-mentioned problems. In the event of a short-circuit accident, sudden current can be reliably suppressed by simple means, and a current limiting function for a relatively long time is maintained. It is to provide an economical current limiting device that can be used.

[0014]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present applicant has paid attention to complementing the characteristics of a thermal current limiting element and a rectifier type current limiting device with each other, and has taken technical measures to achieve the above-mentioned object. The present invention has the following features in a current limiting device in which an AC terminal of a rectifier bridge circuit is connected in series with a power system, and a DC reactor is connected between DC terminals of the rectifier bridge circuit. In addition, a positive temperature characteristic (PTC) thermistor is suitable as a thermal current limiting element described later. A thermal current limiting element that generates heat due to overcurrent and increases resistance by increasing its temperature is connected in series with the DC reactor, and the current limiting reactor is connected in parallel with the rectifier bridge circuit. A heat-limiting element that generates heat due to overcurrent and increases resistance by increasing its temperature is connected in series to the AC side of the rectifier bridge circuit. On the AC side of the rectifier bridge circuit, a thermal current limiting element that generates heat due to overcurrent and increases resistance due to its temperature rise is connected in series, and a current limiting reactor is connected in parallel with the series circuit of the rectifier bridge circuit and the thermal current limiting element. Connected.

In the current limiting device of the present invention, the thermal current limiting element and the rectifying bridge circuit exhibit a function of complementing each other, and when a short circuit occurs, the sudden current can be suppressed by the rectifying bridge circuit and the high-speed response can be achieved. In addition, the current limiting effect can be maintained, and the thermal current limiting element can maintain the current limiting function for a relatively long time, thereby exhibiting the current limiting effect of low-speed response.

In the above-mentioned feature, the current limiting reactor is connected in parallel to the rectifying bridge circuit, so that when a short circuit occurs, the current is limited at a high speed by the DC reactor and then commutated to the current limiting reactor. Thereby, the current limiting function for suppressing the short-circuit current can be continued without disconnecting the interconnection of the power system.

Further, in the characteristic point, the thermal limiting element is connected in series to the AC side of the rectifying bridge circuit, so that the thermal limiting element is connected in series with the DC reactor as in the characteristic point. In addition, the loss (steady-state loss) in the thermal current limiting element during steady operation can be reduced to half.

[0018]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the current limiting device according to the present invention will be described in detail below.

Each of the current limiting devices in the first, second and third embodiments shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and ₄ is bridged by _four diodes D _{1 to} D ₄ , and its AC terminals 12 and
13 is a rectifying bridge circuit 11 in which a power system is connected in series and a DC reactor 16 is connected between DC terminals 14 and 15.
The rectifying bridge circuit 11 is provided with a thermal limiting element 17.
Is added to the basic configuration. As the thermal current limiting element 17, a positive temperature characteristic (PTC) thermistor composed of a polymer material or a barium titanate material having resistance-temperature characteristics as shown in FIG. 6 is preferable. Each of the following embodiments differs depending on the connection location of the thermal current limiting element 17 and the presence or absence of the current limiting reactor 18.

First, the current limiting device according to the first embodiment (see FIG. 1) includes a thermal limiting element 17 connected to a DC reactor 16.
And a current limiting reactor 18 is connected in parallel with the rectifier bridge circuit 11.

In this current limiting device, the thermal current limiting element 17 and the rectifier bridge circuit 11 are connected in series with the DC reactor 16 of the rectifier bridge circuit 11.
Mutually complement the characteristics of the and. That is, when a short circuit accident occurs, the rectifying bridge circuit 11 can surely suppress the sudden current and exhibit a high-speed response current limiting effect, and the thermal current limiting element 17 limits the operation until the circuit breaker 19 operates. Flow function can be maintained.

When it is required to immediately suppress the overcurrent flowing when a short circuit occurs and to maintain its current limiting function for a relatively long time, according to this current limiting device,
For example, FIG. 2 (a) (b) in the order of several tens of msec from the short-circuit accident time T ₁ as shown relatively short period between the causes have limiting effect by the inductance of the DC reactor 16, the predetermined time period There elapsed time T ₂ later, to have a limiting effect by the high resistance of the heat current-limiting device 17 due to excessive current flowing so far.

FIG. 2A shows a connection current flowing between the AC terminals 12 and 13 of the rectifying bridge circuit 11, and FIG. 2B shows a DC coil current flowing between the DC terminals 14 and 15 of the rectifying bridge circuit 11. Are respectively shown.

By adding the thermal limiting element 17 having such a simple structure and connecting it in series with the DC reactor 16, the DC reactor 16 of the rectifying bridge circuit 11 is connected.
Even if it is required to immediately suppress the overcurrent at the time of a short circuit accident and maintain its current limiting function for a relatively long time without increasing the inductance value of the short circuit, it is possible to reliably cope with the case.

On the other hand, when a short-circuit accident occurs, after the DC current is limited by the DC reactor 16 and the thermal current limiting element 17, the circuit breaker 19 is opened while the current limiting function is being performed to release the rectifying bridge circuit 11. Line up. By commutating the short-circuit current to the current limiting reactor 18 by the disconnection by the circuit breaker 19, the current limiting function for suppressing the short-circuit current can be continued without disconnecting the interconnection of the power system.

[0026] To explain more current limiting operation in FIG. 2, a short circuit from the accident point T ₁ (up to the point T ₂₎ for up to about 1.5 cycles flow limited by the DC reactor 16, then up to about 3 cycles during the (up to the point T ₃₎ is thermally limiting element 17
After 3 cycles, the circuit breaker 19 is opened, and commutated to the current limiting reactor 18 side.

Next, the current limiting device according to the second embodiment (see FIG. 3) has a configuration in which a thermal current limiting element 17 is connected in series to the AC side of the rectifying bridge circuit 11. Also, the third
In the current limiting device (see FIG. 4) in the embodiment, the thermal limiting element 17 is connected in series to the AC side of the rectifying bridge circuit 11, and furthermore, the thermal limiting element 17 is connected in parallel with the serial circuit of the thermal limiting element 17. With a current limiting reactor.

In the current limiting devices of the second and third embodiments, the characteristics of the thermal current limiting element 17 and the rectifying bridge circuit 11 complement each other as in the case of the first embodiment. . That is, when a short-circuit accident occurs, the sudden current can be reliably suppressed by the rectifying bridge circuit 11 to exhibit a current limiting effect of a high-speed response, and until the circuit breaker 19 operates.
The current limiting function can be maintained by the thermal current limiting element 17.

As a result, without increasing the inductance value of the DC reactor 16 of the rectifier bridge circuit 11, an overcurrent at the time of a short circuit accident is immediately suppressed, and its current limiting function is maintained for a relatively long time. Can be surely dealt with even when is requested.

However, in the first embodiment, the thermal limiting element 1
7 is connected in series to the DC reactor 16, whereas in the second and third embodiments, the thermal limiting element 17 is connected in series to the AC side of the rectifying bridge circuit 11, so that There are differences like:

That is, the steady loss in the thermal current limiting element during the steady operation is (current flowing through the thermal current limiting element) ² × (resistance value). Here, in the second and third embodiments, since the thermal limiting element 17 is connected to the AC side, the thermal limiting element 1
While the current flowing through 7 is the effective value of the alternating current,
In the first embodiment, the DC current is equal to the peak value of the AC current.

As a result, comparing the steady loss A in the second and third embodiments with the steady loss B in the first embodiment, A / B = (effective value) ² × (resistance value) / (Peak value) ² × (resistance value) = (effective value) ² / (peak value) ² = (effective value) ² / (√2 × effective value) ² = 1/2, and the thermal current limiting element 17 is rectified. The case in which the thermal limiter element 17 is connected in series to the DC reactor 16 (the first embodiment) is connected to the AC circuit of the bridge circuit 11 in series (the second and third embodiments). And the steady loss is 1
/ 2, and reduction can be achieved.

In the current limiting device according to the third embodiment, the rectifying bridge circuit 1 is provided in the same manner as in the first embodiment.
Since the current limiting reactor 18 is connected in parallel with the series circuit of the thermal limiting element 1 and the thermal limiting element 17, when a short-circuit fault occurs, the current limiting is performed by the DC reactor 16 and the thermal limiting element 17, Breaker 19 while functioning
And open the rectifier bridge circuit side. By commutating the short-circuit current to the current limiting reactor 18 by the disconnection by the circuit breaker 19, the current limiting function for suppressing the short-circuit current can be continued without disconnecting the interconnection of the power system. Thus, in the first and third embodiments, the thermal current limiting element 17 can be returned to the steady state without disconnecting the interconnection.

In each of the above-described embodiments, the case where a positive temperature characteristic (PTC) thermistor is used as the thermal limiting element 17 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and other thermal limiting elements may be used. It is also possible to apply an element.
Further, the rectifying bridge circuit 11 can be configured not only with a diode bridge configuration but also with, for example, a single-phase mixed bridge of a diode and a thyristor.

[0035]

According to the present invention, when a thermal limiting element having a simple structure is connected in series to a DC reactor of a rectifying bridge circuit, when a short circuit occurs, the rectifying bridge circuit reliably suppresses sudden current. As a result, the current limiting effect of high-speed response can be exhibited, and the current limiting function can be maintained for a relatively long time by the thermal current limiting element. From this, it is necessary to immediately suppress the overcurrent in the event of a short circuit and to maintain the current limiting function for a relatively long time without increasing the inductance of the DC reactor of the rectifier bridge circuit. Can be.

When a current limiting reactor is connected in parallel with the rectifier bridge circuit side, when a short circuit occurs, the current is limited at a high speed by a DC reactor and then commutated to the current limiting reactor, thereby connecting the power system. Since the current limiting function for suppressing the short-circuit current can be continued without disconnecting the system, it can be applied to a power system that cannot be disconnected, and the versatility is improved.

Further, when a thermal current limiting element is connected to the AC side of the rectifier bridge circuit, the loss (steady loss) of the thermal current limiting element during steady operation can be reduced by half, so that the operating efficiency is reduced. Can be improved.

Since there is no sensing unit such as a circuit for detecting and judging an overcurrent in the event of a short circuit, the overcurrent is limited in the self-operation mode, so that the reliability of the device in the current limiting operation is improved. .

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram showing a current limiting device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2A is a waveform diagram showing a connection current by the current limiting device according to the first embodiment; FIG. 2B is a waveform diagram showing a DC coil current by the current limiting device according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram showing a current limiting device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram showing a current limiting device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram showing a conventional example of a current limiting device using a thermal current limiting element.

FIG. 6 is a waveform chart showing resistance-temperature characteristics of the thermal limiting element.

FIG. 7 is a waveform diagram showing an interconnection current by a thermal limiting element.

FIG. 8 is a circuit diagram showing a rectifier type current limiting device in another conventional example of the current limiting device.

9 (a) is a waveform diagram showing a connection current by a rectifier type current limiting device, and FIG. 9 (b) is a waveform diagram showing a DC coil current by a rectifier type current limiting device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Rectifier bridge circuit 12, 13 AC terminal 14, 15 DC terminal 16 DC reactor 17 Thermal current limiting element 18 Current limiting reactor

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[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] July 12, 1999 (1999.7.1)
2)

[Procedure amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] Claims

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[Claims]

[Procedure amendment 2]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0014

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[0014]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present applicant has paid attention to complementing the characteristics of a thermal current limiting element and a rectifier type current limiting device with each other, and has taken technical measures to achieve the above-mentioned object. The present invention has the following features in a current limiting device in which an AC terminal of a rectifier bridge circuit is connected in series with a power system, and a DC reactor is connected between DC terminals of the rectifier bridge circuit. In addition, a positive temperature characteristic (PTC) thermistor is suitable as a thermal current limiting element described later. Heat is generated by the overcurrent and the resistance rises due to the temperature rise
By connecting a low-speed response thermal current limiting element that maintains the current limiting function in series to the DC reactor of the high-speed response rectifying bridge circuit that suppresses sudden current , the current limiting reactor is connected in parallel with the rectifying bridge circuit. Connected. On the AC side of the rectifier bridge circuit with high-speed response that suppresses sudden current, a thermal current-limiting element with low-speed response that maintains the current-limiting function by generating heat due to overcurrent and increasing the resistance by increasing the temperature is connected in series. thing. On the AC side of the high-speed rectifier bridge circuit that suppresses sudden current, a low-speed response thermal current limiting element that maintains the current limiting function by generating heat due to overcurrent and increasing the resistance by increasing the temperature is connected in series. And a current limiting reactor connected in parallel with the series circuit of the rectifier bridge circuit and the thermal current limiting element.

[Procedure amendment 3]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0035

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[0035]

According to the present invention, when a thermal limiting element having a simple structure is connected in series to a DC reactor of a rectifying bridge circuit, when a short circuit occurs, the rectifying bridge circuit reliably suppresses sudden current. As a result, the current limiting effect of high-speed response can be exhibited, and the current limiting function can be maintained for a relatively long time by the thermal current limiting element. From this, it is necessary to immediately suppress the overcurrent in the event of a short circuit and to maintain the current limiting function for a relatively long time without increasing the inductance of the DC reactor of the rectifier bridge circuit. It is possible to provide an economical current limiting device capable of performing the operation .

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued on the front page (72) Noriaki Tokuda Inventor No. 47 Takanecho Umezu, Ukyo-ku, Kyoto, Japan F-term in Nissin Electric Co., Ltd.

Claims (3)

[Claims] In a current limiting device in which an AC terminal of a rectifier bridge circuit is connected in series with a power system and a DC reactor is connected between the DC terminals of the rectifier bridge circuit, heat is generated by an overcurrent and the temperature rises to increase the temperature. A current limiting device, wherein a thermal current limiting element to be changed in resistance is connected in series to the DC reactor, and a current limiting reactor is connected in parallel with the rectifying bridge circuit. 2. A current limiting device in which an AC terminal of a rectifier bridge circuit is connected in series with a power system, and a DC reactor is connected between the DC terminals of the rectifier bridge circuit. A current limiting device characterized by connecting in series a thermal current limiting element that generates heat and increases resistance by increasing its temperature. 3. A current limiting device in which an AC terminal of a rectifier bridge circuit is connected in series with a power system, and a DC reactor is connected between the DC terminals of the rectifier bridge circuit. A current limiting device characterized by connecting in series a thermal current limiting element that generates heat and increases resistance by increasing its temperature, and a parallel current limiting reactor with a series circuit of a rectifying bridge circuit and a thermal current limiting element. .