Actively Driven Pressure Relief Panel for Arc Faults

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional pressure relief panels in containers, buildings, and enclosures with electrical installations are passive systems that suffer from significant time delays in opening, allowing pressure to rise to critical levels before venting, which can cause damage and require larger flap areas for effective relief.

Innovation Solution

An actively driven pressure relief system that includes a fault detection device for arc faults and a triggering unit to initiate the opening of a panel before pressure buildup, allowing for faster and more controlled pressure release, reducing the need for larger flap areas and minimizing damage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If a passive pressure relief panel is used, then the panel structure is simple, but the opening time is delayed until overpressure hits the wall

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepanel structureVSAvoidopening time
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by using a fault detection device to detect arc faults before they generate significant overpressure, and a triggering unit to activate the panel opening mechanism in advance. This allows the panel to open before the pressure wave hits the wall, eliminating the time delay inherent in passive systems while maintaining structural simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Device complexity

If a passive pressure relief panel is used, then the device complexity is low, but the pressure peak inside the container reaches critical levels

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem complexityVSAvoidpressure peak
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary detection of arc faults and preliminary activation of the panel before critical pressure levels are reached. The fault detection device identifies electrical faults early, and the triggering unit activates the panel opening mechanism proactively, preventing pressure peaks from reaching dangerous levels while keeping the overall system complexity manageable.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements feedback through the fault detection device that continuously monitors the electrical installation for arc faults. When a fault is detected, the system provides feedback to the triggering unit, which then activates the panel opening mechanism. This closed-loop feedback system enables proactive pressure relief before critical levels are reached.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Area of stationary object

If a larger flap area is used in passive systems, then the pressure relief capacity is increased, but the material and costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveflap areaVSAvoidmaterial and costs
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

By opening the panel in advance before the pressure wave arrives, the system maximizes the effectiveness of the existing flap area. The proactive opening allows pressure to be relieved more efficiently, reducing the need to oversize the flap area to compensate for delayed response. This reduces material usage and associated costs while maintaining adequate pressure relief capacity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The actively driven system reduces damage and repair time, saves material and costs, and enhances security by opening the panel before pressure peaks, making the system more effective and efficient compared to passive systems.

Implementation Method 1

a fault detection device for detecting an arc fault in the electrical installation of the container, the building, the enclosure or the cubicle

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectArc fault detection: Electric Arc

Data Source

PatentEP3847728B1Pressure relief system and a container, building, enclosure or cubicle including a pressure relief system
Publication Date: 2023.11.01 ABB (SCHWEIZ) AG
  • EP3847728B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3b
  • EP3847728B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

It is proposed an actively driven pressure relief system (100) for a container, a building, an enclosure, or a cubicle (110) with an electrical installation (105). The actively driven pressure relief system includes a panel and further includes a fault detection device (102) for detecting an arc fault in the electrical installation of the container, the building, the enclosure or the cubicle; and a triggering unit (103) for triggering an opening signal for the panel upon detection of an arc fault by the fault detection device. A panel opening mechanism opens the panel in a destructive manner. Further, a container, building, enclosure or cubicle with an actively operated pressure relief system is described. A method for relieving pressure from a container with a panel and an electrical installation inside the container is also described.