The self actuating vacuum interrupter (SAVI): A new concept in vacuum interrupter technology

This paper describes a new approach to the design of Vacuum Interrupters. Presently a Vacuum Interrupter (VI) is a component of electrical switchgear, which relies on an external mechanism to provide the movement of the contacts required for switching operation. The Self Actuating Vacuum Interrupter (SAVI) is a concept whereby the contact movement is performed by means of an internal mechanism within the Vacuum Interrupter. This gives a number of significant advantages over conventional designs including: removing the need for a bellows, eliminating the drive insulator and creating a switching device which has no external moving components. It is believed that these significant advantages will result in a new generation of switchgear which is no longer constrained by the conventional difficulties of an external mechanism. If a SAVI device is fitted with appropriate sensors and controls, such as Rogowski Coils, voltage sensors, CT, VT, Relay, etc. then it, in effect, becomes a single device circuit breaker. The SAVI concept is generally applicable to all applications where Vacuum Interrupters and switches are presently used and is fully scalable. In addition, the new concept will open up new possible solutions to applications which were previously extremely difficult or impracticable. In this paper we introduce the SAVI concept and show a number of designs of Vacuum Interrupters and Vacuum Circuit Breakers (VCB) which are designed around the new concept.