Circuit Breaker Information Module for Automatic Data Retention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing circuit breakers lack an efficient method to automatically save and retrieve protection settings and breaker information, leading to potential inaccuracies and increased configuration time during maintenance and component replacements.
Innovation Solution
A circuit breaker with a breaker information module (BIM) that automatically saves and retrieves protection settings and breaker information upon powering on, using a communication module and non-transitory memory device to ensure up-to-date data retention and facilitate seamless replacements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If protection settings and breaker information are stored only in the trip unit, then the circuit breaker can operate with basic functionality, but data accuracy and reliability deteriorate during component replacements
Solution Approach 1:
The storage system is segmented into two parts: the trip unit (field replaceable) and the breaker information module (permanent, attached to circuit breaker body). This segmentation allows the permanent storage of critical breaker information in the BIM while the trip unit can be replaced without losing data, thus improving reliability without excessive complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The breaker information module acts as an intermediary between the trip unit and the permanent storage requirement. The BIM receives data from the trip unit via communication module and stores it permanently, mediating between the temporary trip unit storage and the need for permanent preservation of breaker information.
2Productivity
If manual configuration is used during field replacements, then device complexity remains low, but configuration time and potential for errors increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by automatically saving protection settings and breaker information to the BIM when the trip unit is powered on or replaced. This preliminary automatic saving eliminates the need for manual configuration later, reducing configuration time and potential for errors during field replacements.
Solution Approach 2:
The circuit breaker system performs self-service through the automatic marrying process. When a trip unit is replaced, the new trip unit automatically retrieves breaker information from the BIM and configures itself without requiring manual intervention, thus improving productivity while keeping the mechanism relatively simple.
3Loss of information
If breaker information is not permanently stored, then the circuit breaker structure remains simple, but information loss occurs during trip unit replacements
Solution Approach 1:
The breaker information is copied from the trip unit to the breaker information module's permanent storage. This copying mechanism ensures that critical breaker information is preserved independently of the trip unit, preventing information loss during replacements while using simple permanent memory technology.
Data Source
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AI summary
A circuit breaker (100) is described herein. In one aspect, the circuit breaker includes a communication module (230), a non-transitory memory device (210), and a memory controller (220). The communication module is configured to receive protection settings and breaker information from a trip unit (110) coupled to the communication module. The protection settings and the breaker information are received upon powering-on the trip unit. The non-transitory memory device is configured to store the protection settings and the breaker information associated with the circuit breaker. The memory controller is configured to cause the protection settings and the breaker information received to be written to the non-transitory memory device.