Thermal-Electrical Study of an Ultra-fast Disconnect Switch with a Piezoelectric Actuator

L. Graber[1], C. Widener[1], S. Smith[1], M. Steurer[1]
[1]Center for Advanced Power Systems (CAPS), Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, USA
Published in 2014

A research team at FSU CAPS is developing a novel fast disconnect switch based on a piezoelectric actuator for use in next-gen electric power distribution systems. COMSOL Multiphysics® software was used to optimize geometry and material selection of the disconnect switch. Current conduction, mechanical stress, and electrostatic simulations were performed to confirm that design requirements of the switch had been satisfied. The thermal field was calculated in a transient model, allowing for the effect of temporary over-current to be studied. Structural analysis helped determine optimum thickness of insulator features holding moving contact elements, thus keeping von Mises stresses to a safe level. The electrostatic field calculations confirmed that the chosen hemispherical contact geometry resulted in minimum field enhancement in the gap.