Search

EP-4740283-A1 - PROTECTION MODULE AND SYSTEM COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF SUCH PROTECTION MODULES

EP4740283A1EP 4740283 A1EP4740283 A1EP 4740283A1EP-4740283-A1

Abstract

A protection module (1) according to the invention comprises – at least two input-side bidirectional terminal elements (3a, 3b) which are electrically connected to one another and which are each designed for optional electrical connection to an electrical current source (12a, 12b) or to an input-side bidirectional terminal element of another protection module (1a), – at least two output-side terminal elements (4a, 4b,... 4n), each designed for electrical connection to an electrical load, wherein the output-side terminal elements (4a, 4b,... 4n) are connected via respective separate electrical branches (5a, 5b,... 5n) to the input-side terminal elements (3a, 3b), into each of which a switching element (6) is switched. The bidirectional terminal elements (3a, 3b) are electrically connected to one another and to the branches (5a, 5b,... 5n) via respective separate electrical paths (7a, 7b). Electrical current values detected in the electrical path (7a and/or 7b, respectively) are monitored and, if a threshold value is exceeded, the currents in the branches (5a, 5b,... 5n) are limited and/or switched off according to a predefined or predefinable temporal order in order to protect the input-side terminal elements (3a, 3b) against an overload. As a result, on the input side, the protection module (1) can be flexibly supplied with current or else supply other protection modules with unrequired current. As a result, when a facility is extended or modernized, the outlay on components and the space requirement, in particular for additional current sources, are minimized.

Inventors

  • PAUL, WOLFGANG

Assignees

  • Siemens Aktiengesellschaft

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20240711

Claims (13)

  1. 1. Security module (1) comprising - at least two input-side bidirectional connection elements (3a, 3b) which are electrically connected to one another and which are each designed for selective electrical connection to an electrical power source (12a, 12b) or an input-side bidirectional connection element of another security module (la), - at least two output-side connection elements (4a, 4b, ... 4n), each designed for electrical connection to an electrical consumer, wherein - the output-side connection elements (4a, 4b, ... 4n) are each connected to the input-side connection elements (3a, 3b) via a separate electrical branch (5a, 5b, ... 5n), and a switching element (6) is connected in each branch (5a, 5b, ... 5n), - the input-side bidirectional connection elements (3a, 3b) are designed to selectively supply the fuse module (1) with electrical current from the power source (12a, 12b) or with electrical current from the other fuse module (la) or to supply the other fuse module (la) with electrical current, - the input-side bidirectional connection elements (3a, 3b) are electrically connected to each other and to the branches (5a, 5b, ... 5n) via a separate electrical path (7a, 7b), - an input current measuring device (9) for measuring the current through the electrical path (7a, 7b) is connected in at least one of the electrical paths (7a, 7b), - it comprises a module control unit (10) which is designed to monitor values of the electrical current detected by the input current measuring device (9) in the electrical path (7a or 7b) and, when a threshold value is exceeded, to control the switching units (6) in such a way that they control the currents in the branches (5a, 5b, ... 5n) according to a predetermined or predeterminable temporal sequence limit and/or switch off in order to protect the input-side connection elements (3a, 3b) from overload.
  2. 2. Fuse module (1) according to claim 1, wherein a branch current measuring device (8) for measuring the current in the branch (5a, 5b, ... 5n) is connected in each case to the branch (5a, 5b, ... 5n).
  3. 3. Fuse module (1) according to claim 1, wherein no input current measuring device (8) is connected in exactly one of the electrical paths (7a, 7b).
  4. 4. Fuse module (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a current carrying capacity of the input-side bidirectional connection elements (3a, 3b) is smaller than a maximum current that can be provided by an electrical power source (12a, 12b) connectable thereto.
  5. 5. Fuse module (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a current carrying capacity of the input-side bidirectional connection elements (3a, 3b) is smaller than a maximum current that can be provided by another fuse module (la) connectable thereto.
  6. 6. Safety module (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein it has an interface (11) which is designed to provide values of measured and/or calculated electrical currents in the electrical paths (7a, 7b), preferably also in the branches (5a, 5b, ... 5n), to a higher-level control unit (20) and to receive switching commands for the switching units (6) from the higher-level control unit (20).
  7. 7. Security module (1) according to claim 6, wherein it is designed to control the switching units (6) in dependence on the received switching commands.
  8. 8. Security module (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein it has a housing (2) on which the input-side connection elements (3a, 3b) and the output-side connection elements (4a, 4b, ... 4n) are arranged.
  9. 9. System (20) comprising a plurality of security modules (1, la, 1b) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein in each case a plurality, preferably two, of the security modules (1, la, 1b) are electrically connected to one another via one of their at least two input-side bidirectional connection elements (3a, 3b), wherein at least one of the security modules, preferably exactly two of the security modules, is electrically connected to a power source (12a, 12b) via a different one of its at least two input-side bidirectional connection elements (3a, 3b).
  10. 10. System (20) according to claim 9, comprising a higher-level control unit (22) which is designed to receive from the security modules (1, la, 1b) values of measured and/or calculated electrical currents in the electrical paths (7a, 7b), preferably also in the branches (5a, 5b, ... 5n), and to generate switching commands for the switching units (6) of the security modules (1, la, 1b) depending on the received values.
  11. 11. System (20) according to claim 10, wherein the higher-level control unit (22) is designed to monitor the electrical currents in the electrical paths (7a, 7b) of the fuse modules (1, la, 1b) on the basis of the received values and, when a threshold value is exceeded, to generate switching commands for the switching units (6) of the fuse modules (1, la, 1b), which cause a limitation or shutdown of the current in the branches (5a, 5b, ... 5n) by their respective switching units (6) according to a predetermined or predeterminable chronological sequence.
  12. 12. System (20) according to one of claims 9 to 11, wherein the power source (12a, 12b) is designed as a switching power supply.
  13. 13. System (20) according to claim 12, wherein the switching power supply provides a regulated DC voltage of 24 V or 48 V.

Description

Description Security module and system with several such security modules The invention relates to a security module according to patent claim 1 and a system with several such security modules according to patent claim 9. Fuse modules are used primarily in automation systems in industrial plants and buildings to supply critical consumers. They divide a load current provided by a power source between several branches and reliably monitor it for overload and short circuit. The fuse module allows for short-term current peaks in the branches, e.g. due to high inrush current. Branches with longer overloads or short circuits, on the other hand, have their current limited or switched off, while the other branches and the consumers connected to them continue to be supplied without interruption. In this way, a total failure of the automation system and a system controlled by it can be avoided. Due to these selective protective measures in relation to the individual branches, such fuse modules are often also referred to as "selectivity modules". The currents in the branches are usually limited and/or switched using electronic switching elements that are connected to the branches. The power source is usually an electronic switching power supply, which provides a direct current with a regulated direct voltage of 24 V or 48 V on the output side. Known fuse modules, for example, offer up to eight branches or outputs with a maximum output current of up to 10 A each and with individually adjustable protection characteristics. The consumer is, for example, a sensor, actuator, relay, contactor, solenoid valve, drive unit for a motor, servomotor, controller or a display unit. For this purpose, fuse modules known from the prior art comprise an input-side connection element (e.g. a terminal) for electrical connection to an electrical power source and at least two output-side connection elements, each of which is designed for electrical connection to an electrical consumer, wherein the output-side connection elements are each connected to the input-side connection element via a separate electrical branch (sometimes also referred to as a "channel"), and wherein a switching element is connected into the branch. Such a fuse module or selectivity module is known, for example, from the brochure "Selectivity and fast fault location in 24 V feeders", Siemens AG, Edition 04/20, BR 0420 0 . 75 TVS 8 De. Such a safety module or selectivity module is also known, for example, from EP 2 764 592 B1. It is also disclosed therein that several selectivity modules can be connected in parallel to a power source. EP 4 148 510 A1 discloses an arrangement for a power supply of a system control in a technical system, with which a power distribution in load circuits of the system control can be monitored and controlled. At least one or more electronic security modules are connected downstream of a clocked power supply unit. DE 10 2020 101 193 A1 discloses an electrical circuit breaker system comprising an input connection for connecting an electrical power source, a plurality of output connections each for connecting electrical consumers, each output connection having an electrical switch for interrupting a power supply and a power measuring device for measuring an individual current strength. A current detection unit is used to detect the individual current strengths measured at the several output connections and to determine a total current strength which corresponds to the sum of the individual current strengths. If the total current exceeds a certain total current limit, one of the several output connections is selected based on a ranking of the output connections and the power supply to the selected output connection is interrupted by means of the corresponding electrical switch. The circuit breaker system can be of modular construction, comprising at least two circuit breaker modules, each of which comprises at least one of the several output connections, and a control module. The total current can correspond to the value of the current flowing at the input connection of the electrical circuit breaker system. Optionally, the circuit breaker system can comprise a further current measuring device at the input connection, which is designed to measure the total current directly at the input connection. The entire electrical circuit breaker system can thus be protected against overload, for example by monitoring and, if necessary, taking measures (such as interruption) when the current provided by the electrical power source exceeds a maximum current, in this case the total current limit. The document US 2015/ 0311752 Al discloses a microgrid system in which distributed power sources and loads are connected to one another via distribution managers and a bidirectional inter-microgrid connection system. Overloads in the inter-microgrid connection system are detected and eliminated. The power sources are each connected to the respective distribution ma