Electrical energy saving device

Abstract

Electrical energy saving device comprising a core (100) of magnetic material, characterized in that the core (100) comprises an annular geometry, and in which the device comprises a single coil (200) wound around the core (100), in which the coil (100) is configured to be inserted in a phase conductor of a single-phase, two-phase or three-phase power system, between an AC power supply and an electrical appliance.

Description

Title of the invention: Electrical energy saving device Subject of the invention

[0001] The present invention relates to an electrical energy saving device designed to reduce the active energy consumption of a single-phase, two-phase or three-phase motor, while maintaining its performance.

[0002] The electrical energy saving device is configured to be inserted between the motor, for which it is desired to obtain a reduction in the active energy consumed, and the electrical energy source (network or generator) which supplies it.

[0003] The electrical energy saving device which is the subject of the present invention finds a particular application in industries devoted to the design, manufacture and marketing of electrical appliances, and in particular in the design and manufacture of inductive devices provided with a core made of magnetic material.

[0004] Background of the invention and technical problem to be solved

[0005] Today, when energy prices are subject to significant fluctuations and considerable uncertainty, it is more necessary than ever to control the energy consumption of household appliances and / or any device requiring electrical power for its operation. Not to mention the environmental benefits of reduced energy consumption.

[0006] In the state of the art, we know electrical energy stabilization devices that make it possible to achieve active energy saving, such as the device described in document ES 1074816 U. In a device such as that described in this document, energy losses derived from the dispersive magnetic flux are observed, as well as losses produced by currents induced in the material itself, constituting the magnetic core (the "iron") around which the working coil (or coils, in the case of the three-phase version) is wound, as well as the damping loop (or phantom loop).

[0007] Thus, in order to optimize the active energy savings that can be achieved in an appliance or motor requiring electrical power, it would be desirable to have a device configured to be inserted between the power supply (or the network) and the appliance, and which would minimize the internal losses produced by the currents induced in the core of magnetic material and / or which would optimize the ratio of transferred energy to internal losses. Description of the invention

[0008] To overcome the aforementioned drawbacks, the present invention relates to a device for evaluating electrical energy savings.

[0009] The electrical energy saving device which is the subject of the present invention comprises a core (also commonly called "iron") made of magnetic material (for example a ferrite).

[0010] Innovatively, the device comprises a single coil wound around the core (conforming to the core), wherein the coil is configured to be inserted into a phase conductor of a single-phase, two-phase or three-phase power system, between a power supply and an electrical appliance.

[0011] The device described above makes it possible to save active energy consumed by an inductive motor, by minimizing losses compared to other electrical energy saving devices using a phantom coil (or floating coil) in addition to the main coil.

[0012] According to a first preferred configuration of the subject of the electrical energy saving device of the invention, the core comprises an annular geometry (a closed annular geometry, of the toroidal type or of the prismatic type with a central cavity), in which the coil comprises a plurality of sections regularly distributed along the core.

[0013] By means of the device described above, as the sections of the coil are wound regularly along the core, an optimal exploitation of the magnetic field to induce currents in each of the sections of the coil is achieved, minimizing the losses in the core and also minimizing the stray magnetic field, in comparison with other electrical energy saving devices in the state of the art.

[0014] Preferably, in the electrical energy saving device which is the subject of the present invention, all sections of the coil are wound around the core in the same winding direction.

[0015] This has the consequence that the electric current (the main current) flowing through one of the sections of the coil induces or generates a varying magnetic field flowing through the core (a main magnetic field) in the same direction of flow as the varying magnetic field generated or induced by the electric current flowing through each of the other sections of the coil.

[0016] The fact that the winding direction of all sections is concomitant means that, as the main magnetic field generated by each of the sections of the coil varies, a response magnetic field is induced in each of the other sections of the coil, in opposition to the main magnetic field and slightly out of phase (delayed) with respect to the main magnetic field.

[0017] This response or opposition magnetic field is generated by the response electric currents induced in each of the sections of the coil, when the main magnetic field varies. These response electric currents have an opposite direction to the variation of the magnetic field created by the main electric current passing through the coil, and are slightly out of phase (delayed) with respect to the main electric energy.

[0018] Thus, the electrical energy ultimately required from the network is reduced by a magnitude equal to the response electrical energy.

[0019] Since the sections of the coil are distributed along the core, the entire main magnetic field can be used to generate (by variation of the main magnetic field) the response current.

[0020] In this first preferred configuration, according to a first embodiment, the core is formed of four branches made of magnetic material connected (or linked) together at their ends, forming a prismatic body with a rectangular plan (a parallelepiped body) with a central cavity, and in which the coil comprises four sections, a first section of the coil being wound around a first branch of the core, a second section of the coil being wound around a second branch of the core, a third section of the coil being wound around a third branch of the core, a fourth section of the coil being wound around a fourth branch of the core.

[0021] Also, in this first preferred configuration, according to an alternative embodiment (not shown in the figures), the core is formed of three branches of magnetic material connected together at their ends, forming a prismatic body with a triangular plan and with a central cavity, and where each of the sections of the coil is wound respectively to each of the branches of the core.

[0022] Also, in this first preferred configuration, according to another alternative embodiment (not shown in the figures), the core comprises a geometry of annular shape of circular or elliptical type.

[0023] According to a second configuration of the electrical energy saving device which is the subject of the present invention, the core comprises a geometry with three branches (or bars) and two cavities between each pair of branches, where the coil is wound on the central branch.

[0024] The core may comprise a rectangular section. Alternatively, the core may comprise a circular or elliptical section.

[0025] According to a possible embodiment of the device, the core can be formed by stacked plates of magnetic material. Brief description of the figures

[0026] Certain figures are briefly described here, as non-limiting examples, in order to better understand the invention:

[0027] [Fig.l] shows a schematic view of a first configuration of the electrical energy saving device, the subject of the present invention.

[0028] [Fig.2] shows a schematic view of the electrical energy saving device of [Fig.l], where the loops and the winding direction of each of the four sections of the coil of the device are observed.

[0029] [Fig. 3] shows an electrical circuit diagram, according to the first embodiment of the invention, with an electrical apparatus symbolized by a resistor (R2) and an inductance (L2), and with the device of the invention connected to said apparatus, in which the device of the invention is symbolized by a resistor (RI) and an inductance (L1).

[0030] [Fig.4] shows a second configuration of the electrical energy saving device, object of the present invention, where the device comprises a core having a geometry with three branches and two central notches. Detailed description

[0031] The following is a description of some possible embodiments of the electrical energy saving device:

[0032] As shown in [Fig.l], according to a first configuration of the device, the device comprises a core (100) made of magnetic material, which can be formed from a set of stacked plates of ferromagnetic material.

[0033] The core (100) of magnetic material comprises an annular geometry (i.e. a closed geometry (defining a closed path for the circulating magnetic flux) with a central cavity).

[0034] This ring-shaped geometry of the core (100) may be a square or rectangular ring-shaped geometry (which defines a square or rectangular path for the magnetic flux), as shown in [Fig.l].

[0035] Alternatively, and although not shown in the figures, this annular geometry of the core (100) may be a triangular annular-shaped geometry, or any other closed polygonal geometry (defining a triangular-shaped path or any other closed polygonal geometry for the magnetic flux).

[0036] Alternatively, and although not shown in the figures, this annular geometry of the core (100) may be a circular or elliptical annular-shaped geometry (defining a circular or elliptical path for the magnetic flux).

[0037] The core (100) may comprise a rectangular section, formed by a single body or by several prismatic bodies (or branches (101)) of rectangular section, connected at their ends, forming a parallelepiped body with a cavity in its center (as shown in [Fig.l]).

[0038] Alternatively, and although not shown in the figures, the core (100) (or each of the branches (101) of the core (100)) may comprise a circular or elliptical section.

[0039] Thus, and although not shown in the figures, the core (100) may comprise an annular geometry of circular or elliptical arrangement and with a circular or elliptical cross-section, thus forming a toroidal geometry.

[0040] Thus, [Fig.l] presents a possible embodiment in which the core (100) is formed by four prismatic bodies which form each of the branches (101) of the core (100).

[0041] The device comprises a coil (200) wound around the core (100).

[0042] The coil (200) is divided into four sections (201), each of the sections (201) being wound around each of the four legs (101) of the core (100).

[0043] A first leg (201a) of the coil (200) is wound around a first leg (101a) of the core (100).

[0044] A second leg (201b) of the coil (200) is wound around a second leg (101b) of the core (100).

[0045] A third leg (201c) of the coil (200) is wound around a third leg (101c) of the core (100).

[0046] A fourth leg (20Id) of the coil (200) is wound around a fourth leg (1Old) of the core (100).

[0047] All sections (201) of the coil (200) are wound around respective branches (101) of the core (100) in the same winding direction, i.e., the electric current passing through one of the sections (201) of the coil (200) induces a magnetic field flowing through the core (100) in the same direction of flow as the magnetic field induced by the electric current flowing through each of the other sections (201) of the coil (200).

[0048] [Fig.2] shows a schematic view of an embodiment of the device of the invention, analogous to that of [Fig.l], in which the loops of each of the sections (201) of the coil (200), as well as the concomitant winding direction of all the loops of all the sections (201) of the coil (200) can be observed.

[0049] [Fig. 3] shows an electrical circuit diagram, where the object of the electrical energy saving device of the invention is represented by a resistance (RI) and an inductance (Ll).

[0050] In [Fig.3], the electrical energy saving device which is the subject of the present invention is shown as being connected to an inductive load represented by a resistor (R2) and an inductance (L2).

[0051] [Fig.3] shows an alternating voltage source (V) connected to the electrical energy saving device. This alternating voltage source can be a domestic electrical installation.

[0052] The coil (100) of the device is configured to be inserted into a phase conductor of a single-phase, two-phase or three-phase alternating current power supply system, so that the current passing through said phase conductor passes through the coil (100) of the device, in one direction then in the other (according to the half-cycles of the voltage of the power supply system), between the power source (for example, a socket in a domestic electrical installation) and the equipment where active energy savings are desired.

[0053] The varying nature of the main magnetic field generated by the AC energy passing through each of the sections (201) of the coil (200) induces, in each of the other sections (201) of the coil (200), a response current flow which in turn generates a response magnetic field whose direction is opposite to that of the variation of the main magnetic field.

[0054] This response current and response magnetic field are slightly out of phase (delayed) with respect to the main current and main magnetic field.

[0055] Thus, at each instant, the resulting magnetic field circulating through the core (100) of the device is the sum of the main magnetic field and the response magnetic field, which is in the opposite direction to the variation of the main magnetic field.

[0056] Similarly, at each instant, the electric current required from the voltage source corresponds to the sum of the main electric current and the response electric current, which has a direction opposite to the variation of the magnetic field created by the main current.

[0057] Thus, when the electrical currents are subtracted, the electrical current required from the voltage source (e.g., from the electrical grid) is less than the current that would be required by the load in the absence of the device of the invention.

[0058] Furthermore, the particular configuration of the sections (201) of the coil (200), distributed along the four branches (101) of the core (100), makes it possible to optimize the use of the magnetic field which passes through the core (100) to induce a response (opposition) electromotive force and a response (opposition) current in each of the sections (201) of the coil (200), as the supply voltage varies in each half-cycle.

[0059] In this way, magnetic losses in the core are reduced, as well as the stray field, while maximizing the use of the magnetic field circulating through the core (100) to induce currents in the sections (201) of the coil (200).

[0060] According to a first embodiment, the coil (200) comprises 40 loops, and each of the four sections (201) of the coil (200) comprises 10 loops. With this configuration, compared to an alternative embodiment having a single coil (200) with a single section (201) wound around a single leg (101) of a core (100) with four legs (101), it is possible to reduce the length of the device from 200 mm to 120 mm.

[0061] Preferably, in the first embodiment mentioned above, the cross-sectional area of each loop is 2.5 mm2, or a diameter of about 1.78 mm, so that 10 contiguous loops without separation occupy 17.8 mm. A width of 40 mm is provided for the central window or hole of the core (100), effectively reserving about 30 mm for each section (201) of the coil (200), so that the 10 loops could even be placed in a slightly smaller location.

[0062] According to a second alternative configuration presented in [Fig.4], the device comprises a core (100) formed by three branches (101) and two central cavities, the coil (200) being wound around the central branch (101). This configuration also makes it possible to achieve good exploitation of the magnetic field, while minimizing the dispersion flux.

Claims

Claims

1. An electrical energy saving device comprising a core (100) of magnetic material, characterized in that the device comprises a single coil (200) wound on the core (100), the coil (100) being configured to be inserted into a phase conductor of a single-phase, two-phase or three-phase power system, between a power supply and an electrical appliance.

2. Electrical energy saving device, according to claim 1, characterized in that the core (100) comprises an annular geometry, and in that the coil (200) comprises a plurality of sections (201) regularly distributed along the core (100).

3. An electrical energy saving device according to claim 2, characterized in that all sections (201) of the coil (200) are wound on the core (100) in the same winding direction.

4. An electrical energy saving device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the core (100) is formed of four branches (101) of magnetic material connected together at their ends, forming a prismatic body of rectangular plan with a central cavity, and in that the coil (200) comprises four sections (201), a first section (201a) of the coil (200) being wound around a first branch (101a) of the core (100), a second section (201b) of the coil (200) being wound around a second branch (101b) of the core (100), a third section (201c) of the coil (200) being wound around a third branch (101c) of the core (100), and a fourth section (201d) of the coil (200) being wound around a fourth branch (101d) of the core (100).

5. An electrical energy saving device according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the core (100) is formed of three branches (101) of magnetic material connected together at their ends, forming a prismatic body of triangular plan and with a central cavity, and in which each of the sections (201) of the coil (200) is respectively wound around each of the branches (101) of the core (100).

6. An electrical energy saving device according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the core (100) comprises an annular-shaped geometry of the circular or elliptical type.

7. An electrical energy saving device according to claim 1, characterized in that the core (100) comprises a geometry with three branches (101), the coil (200) being wound around the central branch (101).

8. An electrical energy saving device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the core (100) comprises a rectangular cross-section.

9. An electrical energy saving device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the core (100) comprises a circular or elliptical cross-section.

10. An electrical energy saving device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the core (100) is formed by stacked plates of magnetic material.