Objective
DEVELOPMENT OF A NEW TYPE OF SWITCHGEAR IN LOW VOLTAGE POWER ENGINEERING WHICH TOTALLY AVOIDS THE USE OF SILVER IN THE CONTACT SYSTEM.
UP TO PRESENT, SILVER-BASED CONTACT MATERIALS HAVE MOSTLY BEEN USED IN SWITCHGEAR FOR LOW POWER ENGINERRING WHEN THE SWITCHGEAR IS OPERATED IN AIR.
THE REASON FOR THIS IS THAT SILVER DOES NOT FORM STABLE OXIDES, THUS GUARATEEING A LOW CONTACT RESISTANCE.
HOWEVER, THE SILVER IN THE CONTACT MATERIAL CAN BE SUBSTITUTED BY COPPER IF THE SWITCHING TAKES PLACE IN A PROTECTIVE ATMOSPHERE RATHER THAN IN AIR.
THIS TYPE OF SWITCHGEAR IS EXPECTED TO FILL A GAP BETWEEN REED RELAYS FOR LOW POWER AND VACUUM SWITCHES, FOR HIGH POWER APPLICATION, AND FORMS THE MAJOR PART OF THE PRESENT WORK. PROTECTIVE ATMOSPHERE SWITCHGEAR FO THIS TYPE SHOULD PROVE ESPECIALLY USEFUL IN MEDIUM AND HIGH VOLTAGE APPLICATIONS.
THE RESEARCH WORK WILL BE PERFORMED IN TWO STEPS:
FIRSTLY: - BASIC RESEARCH WILL BE CARRIED OUT TO SELECT THE MOST FAVOURABLE COMBINATION OF CONTACT MATERIAL AND PROTECTIVE ATMOSPHERE;
- DEVELOPMENT AND PRODUCTION OF TEST SAMPLES OF DIFFERENT CU-BASE CONTACT MATERIALS (CU MEO, CUC). ANALYSIS OF THE CONTAMINATION FORMED ON THE CONTACT PIECES DURING ARCING SITUATIONS;
- INVESTIGATION OF ARC EROSION OF COPPER-BASED CONTACT MATERIALS UNDER DIFFERENT PROTECTIVE ATMOSPHERES IN ACCELERATED AC 3 TYPE TESTS USING SPECIAL TEST EQUIPMENT.
SECONDLY: - OPTIMIZATION OF CONTACT MATERIALS AND DESING AND INCLUSION IN A SEALED CONTACT ENCLOSURE;
- MANUFACTURE OF A PROTOTYPE AND ITS COMPARISON WITH CLASSICAL AIR-OPERATED SWITCHGEAR.
THE WORK WILL BE CARRIED OUT AS A JOINT EFFORT WITH TELEMECANIQUE, FRANCE, (SUM-019-F) WHO WILL CONCENTRATE ON THE LATTER PART OF THIS PROJECT.
Programme(s)
Topic(s)
Data not availableCall for proposal
Data not availableFunding Scheme
Data not availableCoordinator
75181 Pforzheim
Germany