Abstract: A switching apparatus for electric power distribution grids including: a withdrawable first switching unit having one or more first electric poles; a withdrawable second switching unit having one or more second electric poles and electrically connected ins series with said first switching unit; and a controller implementing control strategies directed to increase the safety of the withdrawal manoeuvres of said first and second switching units.

Abstract: Systems, methods, techniques and apparatuses of power switches are disclosed. One embodiment is a power switch comprising a first reverse blocking integrated gate-commutated thyristor (RB-IGCT); a second RB-IGCT coupled in an antiparallel configuration with the first RB-IGCT; a transient voltage suppressor coupled in parallel with the first RB-IGCT and the second RB-IGCT; and a controller. The controller is structured to determine a direction of a current flowing through the power switch, determine a magnitude of the current flowing through the power switch exceeds a threshold, and turn off the one of the first RB-IGCT and the second RB-IGCT receiving a current flowing in a reverse direction in response to determining the magnitude of the current flowing through the power switch exceeds the threshold.

Abstract: A switching apparatus for electric power distribution grids including: a withdrawable first switching unit having one or more first electric poles; a withdrawable second switching unit having one or more second electric poles and electrically connected ins series with said first switching unit; and a controller implementing control strategies directed to increase the safety of the withdrawal manoeuvres of said first and second switching units.

Abstract: A surge arrester system includes a surge arrester, and an active cooling system having a cooling interface in contact with the surge arrester and operative to transfer heat from the surge arrester. The active cooling system includes a forced convection apparatus operative to provide forced convection cooling. A circuit breaker system includes a power semiconductor switch and an active cooling system constructed to cool the power semiconductor switch. The active cooling system includes a forced convection apparatus configured to provide forced convection cooling. The power semiconductor switch is in contact with the active cooling system. A surge arrester is disposed adjacent to and in contact with the active cooling system. The active cooling system includes a cooling interface constructed for contact with the surge arrester and operative to provide cooling to the surge arrester. The power semiconductor switch and the surge arrester dissipate power alternatively.

Abstract: Cooling arrangements are disclosed for solid state circuit breakers. In one arrangement, a MOV is disposed between two pulsating heat pipes. An IGCT is disposed on the other side of each pulsating heat pipe away from the MOV. In another arrangement, a bus bar is integral with a heat spreader disposed between a pulsating heat pipe and an IGCT.

Abstract: Systems, methods, techniques and apparatuses of power switches are disclosed. One embodiment is a power switch comprising a first reverse blocking integrated gate-commutated thyristor (RB-IGCT); a second RB-IGCT coupled in an antiparallel configuration with the first RB-IGCT; a transient voltage suppressor coupled in parallel with the first RB-IGCT and the second RB-IGCT; and a controller. The controller is structured to determine a direction of a current flowing through the power switch, determine a magnitude of the current flowing through the power switch exceeds a threshold, and turn off the one of the first RB-IGCT and the second RB-IGCT receiving a current flowing in a reverse direction in response to determining the magnitude of the current flowing through the power switch exceeds the threshold.

Abstract: A surge arrester system includes a surge arrester, and an active cooling system having a cooling interface in contact with the surge arrester and operative to transfer heat from the surge arrester. The active cooling system includes a forced convection apparatus operative to provide forced convection cooling. A circuit breaker system includes a power semiconductor switch and an active cooling system constructed to cool the power semiconductor switch. The active cooling system includes a forced convection apparatus configured to provide forced convection cooling. The power semiconductor switch is in contact with the active cooling system. A surge arrester is disposed adjacent to and in contact with the active cooling system. The active cooling system includes a cooling interface constructed for contact with the surge arrester and operative to provide cooling to the surge arrester. The power semiconductor switch and the surge arrester dissipate power alternatively.

Abstract: An electric switching device for a low voltage circuit includes an electronic unit configured to be operatively connected to a first communication bus implementing a first communication protocol, a communication module configured to be operatively connected to the first communication bus and to a second communication bus implementing a second communication protocol, which is different than the first communication protocol. The communication module is configured to place the first communication bus in communication with the second communication bus, and to detect a condition of the switching device and make it available externally thereto by means of the first communication bus and/or the second communication bus.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for protecting a power grid against electric faults. A first circuit breaker is associated with a first electronic unit and positioned at a first hierarchy level. One or more additional circuit breakers, each including a corresponding second electronic unit, are positioned at one or more additional levels hierarchically lower than the first level and cascaded to each other. The first circuit breaker includes at least one semiconductor electronic breaking device. The first electronic unit is configured to, upon the appearance of an electric fault in a grid area, drive the breaking device to limit the current flowing through it for a predetermined period of time, and send to the circuit breakers on lower hierarchy levels an intervention command to allow intervention, among the circuit breakers that detected the fault, of the closest circuit breaker positioned immediately upstream from the area where the fault occurred.

Abstract: An electric switching device for a low voltage circuit includes an electronic unit configured to be operatively connected to a first communication bus implementing a first communication protocol, a communication module configured to be operatively connected to the first communication bus and to a second communication bus implementing a second communication protocol, which is different than the first communication protocol. The communication module is configured to place the first communication bus in communication with the second communication bus, and to detect a condition of the switching device and make it available externally thereto by means of the first communication bus and/or the second communication bus.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for protecting a power grid against electric faults. A first circuit breaker is associated with a first electronic unit and positioned at a first hierarchy level. One or more additional circuit breakers, each including a corresponding second electronic unit, are positioned at one or more additional levels hierarchically lower than the first level and cascaded to each other. The first circuit breaker includes at least one semiconductor electronic breaking device. The first electronic unit is configured to, upon the appearance of an electric fault in a grid area, drive the breaking device to limit the current flowing through it for a predetermined period of time, and send to the circuit breakers on lower hierarchy levels an intervention command to allow intervention, among the circuit breakers that detected the fault, of the closest circuit breaker positioned immediately upstream from the area where the fault occurred.

Abstract: A method for a user to establish a wireless connection between a wireless portable computing device and a wireless-equipped device in an industrial or electrical power or distribution plant. Actions of the method are carried out by a second computer program that provides information in a graphical user interface display to a user and opens a wireless connection with a selected industrial device. In other aspects a human-machine interface and a system are also described.

Abstract: Protection unit for an AC or DC low-voltage power supply line, comprising means for detecting the current circulating in one or more power supply line conductor(s) and at least first electronic protection means operatively coupled to a circuit breaker with at least one pole for inserting along said conductor, characterized in that said detection means comprise at least one resistor suitable for electrical connection in series with said circuit breaker pole and for enabling the passage of the current circulating in said conductor, and at least a first electronic processing circuit that receives a signal indicative of the voltage at the terminals of said resistor and delivers to said first electronic protection means a signal that is indicative of the current circulating in said line conductor.

Abstract: Protection unit for an AC or DC low-voltage power supply line, comprising means for detecting the current circulating in one or more power supply line conductor(s) and at least first electronic protection means operatively coupled to a circuit breaker with at least one pole for inserting along said conductor, characterized in that said detection means comprise at least one resistor suitable for electrical connection in series with said circuit breaker pole and for enabling the passage of the current circulating in said conductor, and at least a first electronic processing circuit that receives a signal indicative of the voltage at the terminals of said resistor and delivers to said first electronic protection means a signal that is indicative of the current circulating in said line conductor.

Abstract: A method for a user to establish a wireless connection between a wireless portable computing device and a wireless-equipped device in an industrial or electrical power or distribution plant. Actions of the method are carried out by a second computer program that provides information in a graphical user interface display to a user and opens a wireless connection with a selected industrial device. In other aspects a human-machine interface and a system are also described.