Influence of Oxygen-containing Filling Gas Mixtures on the Interruption Capability of MV Load Break Switches

Authors

  • M. Castiñeira Suárez Institute of High Voltage Equipment and Grids, Digitalization and Energy Economics, RWTH Aachen University, Schinkelstr. 6, 52056 Aachen, Germany
  • T. Ballweber Institute of High Voltage Equipment and Grids, Digitalization and Energy Economics, RWTH Aachen University, Schinkelstr. 6, 52056 Aachen, Germany
  • A. Moser Institute of High Voltage Equipment and Grids, Digitalization and Energy Economics, RWTH Aachen University, Schinkelstr. 6, 52056 Aachen, Germany
  • M. Schaak Siemens AG, Energy Management Division, Carl-Benz-Str. 22, 60386 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
  • K. Ermeler Siemens AG, Energy Management Division, Nonnendammallee 104, 13629 Berlin, Germany

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14311/ppt.2023.2.107

Keywords:

Load break switch, Medium voltage, SF6 alternatives, thermal interruption capability

Abstract

Nowadays SF6 is commonly used as filling gas for medium voltage load break switches due to its outstanding insulating and arc-quenching properties. However, due to its high global warming potential the interrupting performance of alternative eco-friendly gases are investigated for such devices. This contribution investigates the thermal interruption capability of a medium voltage load break switch using two different oxygen-containing gas mixtures: dry air and a mixture of nitrogen, oxygen and carbon dioxide. The findings indicate an improved performance in comparison to pure nitrogen when considering an admixture of oxygen. In gas mixtures containing 80\% nitrogen, the addition of oxygen results in an enhanced thermal interruption capability compared to an equivalent proportion of carbon dioxide.

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Published

2023-08-31

Issue

Vol. 10 No. 2 (2023)

Section

Articles

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Copyright (c) 2023 M. Castiñeira Suárez, T. Ballweber, A. Moser, M. Schaak, K. Ermeler

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