Electrically insulated tuned mass damper

Abstract

A system includes: an electrical component; the insulation supporting structure supports the electrical component to be at a first potential, and the first potential is higher than an electrical grounding potential; and an insulating pendulum having a proximal end connected to the electrical component and extending from the electrical component in a suspended manner to at least partially span a first potential, the insulating pendulum further including a tuned mass disposed at a distal end of the pendulum at a second potential lower than the first potential. The system may also include a damping mechanism.

Description

Background Art

[0001] Electrical equipment installed on power transmission facilities may be affected by periodic lateral load demands, such as high winds and seismic activity. There are several ways to overcome the problem of periodic lateral load demands on such electrical equipment, including, for example, using stronger insulators, using more insulators, orienting the insulators so that the resulting loads align with the anisotropic properties of the strengths of specific insulators, or adding "frequency tuning" devices, as described, for example, in IEEE Standard 693-2018. Summary of the Invention

[0002] A system includes an electrical component, an insulating support structure, and an insulating pendulum. The insulating support structure supports the electrical component at an insulating support structure at a first potential that is higher than an electrical ground potential, and the insulating pendulum has a proximal end connected to the electrical component and extends pendulously from the electrical component to at least partially span the first potential. The insulating pendulum also includes a tuned mass block that is at a second potential lower than the first potential at the distal end of the pendulum. The system may also include a damping mechanism. Brief Description of the Drawings

[0003] To facilitate the identification of any particular element or act under discussion, one or more of the most significant digits in the reference numerals denote the drawing number in which the element is first introduced.

[0004] Figure 1 An aspect of a technical solution according to an embodiment is shown. Detailed Description

[0005] Before explaining in detail any embodiments of the present invention, it is to be understood that the application of the present invention is not limited to the details of construction and arrangement of components set forth in this specification or shown in the following drawings. The present invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Further, it should be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

[0006] Various techniques related to systems and methods will now be described with reference to the drawings, where like reference numerals represent like elements. The drawings discussed below, as well as the various embodiments used to describe the principles of the present disclosure in this patent document, are merely exemplary and should not in any way be construed as limiting the scope of the present disclosure. Those skilled in the art should understand that the principles of the present disclosure may be implemented in any appropriately arranged device. It should be understood that functions described as being performed by certain system elements may be performed by multiple elements. Similarly, for example, an element may be configured to perform functions described as being performed by multiple elements. Multiple innovative technical aspects of the present application will be illustrated with reference to exemplary non-limiting embodiments.

[0007] In addition, it should be understood that the words or phrases used herein should be construed broadly, unless specifically limited in certain instances. For example, the terms "comprising," "having," and "including," and their derivatives, mean inclusion without limitation. The singular forms "a," "an," and "the" are also intended to include the plural forms, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Additionally, the term "and / or" as used herein refers to any and all possible combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. The term "or" is inclusive and means "and / or," unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. The phrases "associated with" and "associated therewith," and their derivatives, can mean including, being included within, interconnected, containing, being contained within, connected to, coupled to, communicable with, cooperating with, interlacing, juxtaposed, adjacent to, bound to, having, having the characteristics of, etc. Further, although multiple embodiments or configurations may be described herein, any feature, method, step, component, etc. described with respect to one embodiment is equally applicable to other embodiments, unless there is a specific statement to the contrary.

[0008] In addition, although the terms "first," "second," "third," etc. may be used to refer to various elements, information, functions, or actions, these elements, information, functions, or actions should not be limited by these terms. Instead, these numerical adjectives are used to distinguish different elements, information, functions, or behaviors. For example, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure, a first element, information, function, or action may be referred to as a second element, information, function, or action, and similarly, a second element, information, function, or action may be referred to as a first element, information, function, or action.

[0009] In addition, the term "proximate" may mean that one element is relatively close to but not in contact with another element, or that the element is in contact with the other part, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Additionally, the phrase "based on" is intended to mean "at least partially based on," unless otherwise clearly stated. The term "about" or "substantially" or similar terms are intended to cover variations in values within the normal industrial manufacturing tolerances for that dimension. If there are no available industry standards, unless otherwise stated, a twenty percent variation will fall within the meaning of these terms.

[0010] To overcome the problem of periodic lateral load requirements on electrical equipment, such as external lateral accelerations caused by wind or seismic activity, the inventors have innovatively developed a tuned mass damper system for spanning potentials, providing a solution that is both feasible and economical. Setting the damper at ground potential simplifies the technical and economic solution. In one exemplary embodiment, the tuned mass damper is configured such that it spans potentials and can thus be configured for use in electrical equipment.

[0011] The potentials used herein are well understood in the electric power transmission industry. Generally, in the electric power industry, insulators are used to support devices between different potentials. To continuously span the potential, such insulators must have two main characteristics: (1) sufficient length such that the potential does not form an arc to the ground body, commonly referred to as the "breakdown distance" or "dry arc distance", and (2) sufficient length such that the potential does not form an arc along the dielectric surface in adverse weather or polluted environments, commonly referred to as the "creepage distance".

[0012] In terms of electrical equipment, the electrically insulated tuned mass damper has two advantages. First, it reduces the periodic load on the primary mass (such as an electrical component) by a secondary mass (such as a suspended tuned mass block) that oscillates at a frequency similar to that of the primary mass. Second, since the damping mechanism does not need to be at a potential, the electrically insulated tuned mass damper provides damping and provides damping in a very economical way.

[0013] The electrical component can be supported by a conventional insulator that meets or exceeds the electrical requirements of the device. There may or may not be a lifting base below the conventional insulator. In an exemplary embodiment, the electrical component is at a potential. Thus, the component must be supported by an insulator of appropriate size to isolate it from the ground body (physically grounded in one embodiment).

[0014] The insulating pendulum is movably suspended from the electrical component and meets or exceeds the electrical requirements of the device. It can be a rigid or flexible insulator.

[0015] A selected tuned mass block is connected to the insulating pendulum to combine with the tuned mass damper insulator and have an oscillation period or oscillation frequency similar to that of the electrical component itself. For example, the oscillation frequency of the tuned mass block should lag slightly behind the primary mass frequency.

[0016] The tuned mass block may or may not provide additional damping. The additional damping can be provided in a viscous and / or frictional manner. On the one hand, the damping mechanism is at ground potential.

[0017] Figure 1An example embodiment of a system 102 for providing an electrically insulated tuned mass damper is shown. In one aspect, the system 102 includes an electrical component 104. In an example embodiment, the electrical component 104 may include a reactor. The system 102 may also include an insulating support structure 106, such as a plurality of insulating legs, which supports the electrical component 104 at a first potential 118 that is higher than the electrical ground potential 122. The system 102 may also include an insulating pendulum 108 having a proximal end 114 connected to the electrical component 104 and hanging therefrom to at least partially span the first potential 118. The insulating pendulum 108 also includes a tuned mass block 110 disposed at a distal end 116 of the insulating pendulum 108 at a second potential 120 that is lower than the first potential. In one embodiment, the second potential 120 may be the electrical ground potential 122. In an example embodiment, the tuned mass block 110 may include a damping mechanism 112. In another embodiment, the damping mechanism 112 may be disposed at the electrical ground potential 122. In another aspect, the damping mechanism 112 may include at least one of a viscous damper (e.g., a fluid dashpot or a dissipative damper), a Coulomb damper (e.g., a hanging chain), and a hysteretic damper (e.g., an elastomeric damper).

[0018] Although the exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail, those skilled in the art should understand that various changes, substitutions, variations, and improvements can be made to the present invention without departing from the essence and scope of the broadest form of the present invention.

[0019] Any description in this application should not be construed as implying that any particular element, step, action, or function is an essential element that must be included within the scope of the claims: the scope of patentable subject matter is defined only by the authorized claims. Additionally, none of the claims in this application are intended to invoke a means-plus-function claim construction unless the exact phrase "means for" is followed by a participle, unless the exact phrase "means for" is followed by a participle.

[0020] List of Reference Numerals

[0021] System 102

[0022] Electrical Component 104

[0023] Insulating Support Structure 106

[0024] Insulating Pendulum 108

[0025] Tuned Mass Block 110

[0026] Damping Mechanism 112

[0027] 114 Proximal end

[0028] 116 Distal end

[0029] 118 First potential

[0030] 120 Second potential

[0031] 122 Electrical ground potential

Claims

1. A system, comprising: an electrical component; an insulating support structure that supports the electrical component at a first potential that is higher than an electrical ground potential; and an insulating pendulum having a proximal end connected to the electrical component and extending pendulously from the electrical component to at least partially span the first potential, the insulating pendulum further including a tuned mass disposed at a distal end of the pendulum at a second potential that is lower than the first potential.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein, the tuned mass includes a damping mechanism.

3. The system according to claim 2, wherein, the damping mechanism is disposed at the electrical ground potential.

4. The system according to claim 2, wherein, the damping mechanism includes a viscous damper.

5. The system according to claim 3, wherein, the viscous damper includes at least one of a fluid damper and a dissipative damper.

6. The system according to claim 2, wherein, the damping mechanism includes a Coulomb damper.

7. The system according to claim 6, wherein, the Coulomb damper includes a suspension chain.

8. The system according to claim 2, wherein, the damping mechanism includes a hysteretic damper.

9. The system according to claim 8, wherein, the hysteretic damper includes an elastic damper.

10. The system according to claim 1, wherein, the electrical component includes at least one of an electric coil, a reactor, and a capacitor.

11. The system according to claim 1, wherein, the insulating support structure includes a plurality of insulating legs.

12. The system according to claim 1, wherein, the second potential is the electrical ground potential.

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