Protective circuit arrangement for capacitor voltage transformers
This is a continuation, of application Ser. No. 336,239 filed Feb. 27, 1973, now abandoned. 
    
    
     The present invention concerns an improved protection circuit arrangement for capacitor voltage transformers which contain a switchable damping load. 
     The use of a load to attenuate relaxation oscillations and subsynchronous oscillations due to the saturation of the iron core of the transformer is already known. These oscillations will occur in connection with voltage increases at the terminals of the capacitor transformer, for example, during circuit-closing, a disconnection of a short-circuit on the secondary side etc., but never in case of a voltage breakdown. This arrangement has the disadvantage that the transient reactions in case of a short-circuit at the terminals on the primary side of the capacitor voltage transformer are controlled by the characteristic of the capacitor voltage transformer including its attached load. For this reason it had been suggested heretofore to load the transformer as lightly as possible (see CIGRE report No. 318, Session 1960, especially Section IV, as well as CIGRE report No. 31-14, Session 1968), in order to insure proper transient reactions. 
     Therefore, the above-mentioned damping load was, for example, not connected permanently, but for short periods of time only, by switching means whenever relaxation- or subsynchronous oscillations did occur. But even in case of such measures, there will still occur transient reactions which can have a very disturbing effect on the operations of the network-protecting relays, especially the quick-acting electronic relays. 
     The principal object of the invention is to reduce the undesirable transient reactions which will occur at the capacitor voltage transformer after a short-circuit at its primary terminals by means of a protective circuit arrangement. 
     This reduction in the transient reactions is accomplished, according to the invention, in that manner that as rapidly as possible after a voltage breakdown at the primary terminals of the transformer, but not later than 5 milliseconds after such voltage breakdown, a switchable damping load, its value a multiple of the rated burden of the transformer, will be added to the intermediate transformer T. 
     In most instances the damping load will be connected to the intermediate transformer T within a period of 1 to 3 milliseconds. This protective circuit arrangement of the invention will increase greatly the service reliability of the high-voltage network and avoid faulty trippings and delays in the response of the network-protecting relays. 
     It will be advisable to use an ohmic resistance of ##EQU1## for the damping load and to connect this  load to the intermediate transformer T by means of a &#34;Triac&#34; or antiparallel-wired thyristors. In this formula, u T   represents the ratio of transformation of the intermediate transformer T, L is the magnetizing inductance of this transformer on the primary side, and C is the equivalent capacity C 1  + C 2  of the capacitor divider. 
     The connection of the damping load can be triggered, in accordance with preferred arrangements, either by the voltage drop U L .sbsb.2 at an auxiliary inductance L 2 , which is connected in series with the capacitive divider C 1  C 2 , or by the voltage drop U R .sbsb.2 across a resistance R 2 , which is placed in series with a parallel oscillating circuit L 3  C 3 , tuned to the rated value of the power frequency. 
     It is also advantageous if the connection of the damping load is accomplished by utilization of the voltage at a condenser C 4 , which is placed in series with a resistor R 3 . This series circuit R 3  C 4  is connected to the voltage U s  which is stabilized and has a constant value by means of a Zener diode. The time constant τ of the series circuit R 3  C 4  is computed preferably by the equation ##EQU2## , wherein a is a safety factor 
     bU 2  is the lowest secondary voltage at which the protective circuit arrangement must still be operative, 
     U 2  is the rated value of the secondary voltage of the capacitor voltage transformer, 
     U&#39; 2  is the cut-off value of the instantaneous value of the secondary voltage (U 2 ) at which the charge of the condenser (C 4 ) begins or ends respectively, 
     U s  is a stabilized d.c. voltage feeding the series circuit (R 3  C 4 ), 
     u lmin  is the minimum charging voltage of the condenser (C 4 ) which will trip the protective circuit arrangement, 
     f n  is the rated value of the capacitor voltage transformer power frequency, and 
     l n  denotes the natural logarithm. 
     An NPN-switching transistor is connected in parallel with the condenser C 4 , and the transistor will discharge this condenser when the voltage U 2  reaches the instantaneous value U&#39; 2 . 
     The control voltage between base and emitter of the switching transistor is obtained in the form of a pulsating direct current voltage from, and proportional to, the secondary voltage U 2  by way of a voltage divider R 4  R 5  and a bridge rectifier or by way of a transformer with center tap and two rectifiers. The emitter can be additionally biased with a stabilized voltage U D . In order to suppress the influence of oscillations higher than the power frequency upon the circuits controlling the connection of the damping load, special means are provided, preferably filtering circuits, block circuits and the like. Thus, it will be possible to attain shorter time periods for the connection of the damping load. 
     It will be expedient to subdivide the damping load into several partial loads. This arrangement makes it possible first, to attain a damping in conformity with the actual need only, and secondly to utilize this damping load for the attenuation of the relaxation and subsynchronous oscillations by staggered disconnection of the partial loads, thereby avoiding generation of new, undesirable transient reactions which could be caused by the disconnection of excessively large damping loads. A particularly smooth disconnection of the damping load can be accomplished if the last partial load comprises a resistor R 7  in front of, and in series with a parallel oscillating circuit L 4  C 5 , tuned to the power frequency. The condenser of the parallel oscillating circuit L 4  C 5  should possess at least a capacity value C 5  &gt; 1/7 . u.sub. T 2  . C. 
     In order to disconnect the partial loads, one or more time networks are employed in known manner, whereby the partial load circuits maintain their own connections until the disconnect commands are given by the time networks. The voltage drop at one or more of the parallel loads is utilized to maintain the closed-circuit condition of the switch elements. 
     In accordance with a further development there is preferably arranged a condenser C 6  as the storage component for the first half-wave, with the instantaneous value of the subsequent half-wave being subtracted from the voltage of the condenser C 6 . Thus, there is established the difference between the peak amplitudes of two successive half-waves of the secondary voltage U 2 , and this value is utilized for triggering the connection of the damping load in that manner that a triggering command will be forthcoming whenever a half-wave surpasses the preceding half-wave by a value in excess of a preset value. 
     Identical circuits are arranged for the two polarities. It is possible to combine an excess voltage protection for the medium voltage part of the capacitor voltage transformer. For example: The storage-condenser C 6  is discharged in case of voltage surges by a thyristor which is controlled by the voltage U 2 , and the primary current of the intermediate transformer T can be combined with the circuit thusly that the damping loads will be connected whenever this current exceeds a specific value. This can be accomplished, for example, by discharging the storage condenser C 6  by means of a thyristor when the primary current of the intermediate transformer T reaches a preset value. 
     Practical examples of the circuitry proposed by the invention are shown in the accompanying drawings wherein: 
    
    
     FIG. 1 shows a capacitor voltage transformer with a switchable damping burden R 1  ; 
     FIG. 2 shows the capacitor voltage transformer of FIG. 1 with a protective circuit which utilizes the voltage drop U L .sbsb.2 across an inductance L 2  which is connected in series with the capacitor voltage transformer C 1  C 2  ; 
     FIG. 3 shows the capacitor voltage transformer of FIG. 1 with a protective circuit which utilizes the voltage drop U R .sbsb.2 across a resistor R 2  which is connected in series with an oscillating circuit L 3  C 3  ; 
     FIGS. 4 and 5 show the capacitor voltage transformer of FIG. 1 with a protective circuit which utilizes the voltage drop across a condenser C 4  ; 
     FIG. 6 depicts graphically the charging time t of a condenser C 4 , the sinusoidal secondary voltage U 2  of the capacitor voltage transformer as shown by FIG. 4 and the voltage limits ± U 2  &#39;; 
     FIG. 7 shows the capacitor voltage transformer with a protective circuit as depicted by FIG. 4 with its bias stabilized by means of a Zener diode D; 
     FIG. 8 shows the capacitor voltage transformer of FIG. 1 with a protective circuit which comprises a damping burden R 1  which can be cut off in three staggered steps: and 
     FIG. 9 shows the capacitor voltage transformer of FIG. 1 with a protective circuit which utilizes a storage condenser C 6 . 
    
    
     The mode of operation of the arrangement proposed by the invention is explained in detail by using eight practical examples based on FIGS. 1 to 9. 
     Example 1 (see FIG. 1): 
     A capacitor voltage transformer, comprises an intermediate transformer T having its primary winding T 1  connected through an inductive reactance L 1  across a section C 2  of a capacitive voltage divider constituted by a plurality of capacitors C 1 ,C 2  connected in series between a high voltage source and ground. A secondary winding T 2  is provided and to the terminals of which is connected, after a breakdown of voltage U 1  at the primary terminals, the damping load R 1  by means of the switch element S, preferably a Triac. 
     Example 2 (see FIG. 2): 
     A capacitor voltage transformer as in FIG. 1 where the connection of the damping load is accomplished by the utilization of the voltage drop U L .sbsb.2 across the auxiliary inductance L 2 , placed in series with the capacitive divider C 1  C 2 . 
     Example 3 (see FIG. 3): 
     A capacitor voltage transformer according to the embodiment of FIG. 1, where the connection of the damping load is accomplished by the utilization of the voltage drop U R .sbsb.2 across the resistor R 2 , placed in series with a parallel oscillating circuit L 3  C 3  which is tuned to the rated value of the power frequency. 
     Examples 4 and 5 (see FIGS. 4, 5 and 6) 
     FIG. 4 shows a capacitor voltage transformer, comprising the capacitor voltage divider C 1  C 2 , the main choke L 1  and the intermediate voltage transformer T where a switch element S connects and disconnects the damping burden R 1 . A d.c. voltage U s  supplies a series circuit R 3  C 4 . The condenser C 4  is charged through resistor R 3  at a time constant τ = R 3  C 4  only during the period of time when a switch transistor 1, placed in parallel with the condenser C 4 , is blocking i.e. so long as the instantaneous value of the secondary voltage lies between the limits ± U 2  &#39;. The control of the switch transistor 1 takes place by way of an ohmic voltage divider R 5  R 4  and a rectifier using a bridge circuit 7. As soon as the voltage across the condenser C 4  reaches the value U Lmin , the damping burden R 1  will be added and switched on by means of a switch element S. 
     In FIG. 5 is an alternative solution for the control of the switch transistor 1 which take place by way of an ohmic voltage divider R 5  R 4  an auxiliary transformer T H  with center tap and two rectifiers 7. FIG. 6 shows graphically the charging time t of the condenser C 4 , the sinusoidal secondary voltage U 2  and the limit values ±U 2  &#39; of the capacitor voltage transformer. 
     Example 6 (see FIG. 7): 
     Using a circuit of example 4 as the basis, there is connected additionally a Zener diode D which generates the stabilized bias voltage U D  at the emitter of the switch transistor 1. This bias is obtained for example, from the secondary voltage by way of the auxiliary transformer T H , a rectifier using a bridge circuit 8 and a series resistor R 6 . 
     Example 7 (see FIG. 8): 
     As previously stated, the damping burden may be advantageously sub-divided into several partial loads. The capacitor voltage transformer shown here, comprises the capacitor voltage divider C 1  C 2 , the main inductance L 1 , the intermediate transformer T and three switch elements S 1  , S 2 , S 3  each of which will switch one stage of the damping burden. The first two stages R 1  &#39; and R 1  &#34; of the damping burden R 1  are completely ohmic, and the last stage is a parallel resonant circuit L 4  C 5  in series with an ohmic resistance R 7 . The time component 6 triggers in known manner a staggered cut-off of the three stages of the damping burden The voltage drop across the resistor R 1  &#39; energizes the time component 6. 
     Example 8 (see FIG. 9): A capacitor voltage transformer as in FIG. 1 where the connection of the damping load R 1  is accomplished by the utilization of the difference in voltage U C .sbsb.6-R.sbsb.8 between the voltage across the condenser C 6  and the instantaneous value of the voltage across a resistor R 8 . The storage condenser C 6  is charged during the first half-wave of the secondary voltage U 2 . The next half-wave will then generate through the auxiliary transformer T H  a voltage drop across the ohmic resistor R 8 . 
     The novel concept of the present invention is applicable to all capacitive voltage transformer independent of the art with which the voltage dividers C 1 , C 2  or high voltage condeners C 1  are associated. Thus, the concept of the present invention can be applied to coupling condensers, cables, lead-through, current transformers and bus bars.