Circuit Breaker Power Supply with Dynamic Frequency Regulation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional power supply devices for low-voltage circuit breakers face inefficiencies, including unstable power supply, high energy consumption, overheating, and electromagnetic disturbances, limiting their flexibility and reliability across varying network parameters and absorption dynamics.

Innovation Solution

A power supply device that utilizes a current transformer and electronic regulating means, including a capacitor, feedback circuit, and semiconductor devices, to provide a stable voltage supply by continuous charging and non-linear ON/OFF modulation, reducing the need for passive dissipation and minimizing electromagnetic interference.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional power supply devices use passive and discrete elements with fixed switching frequency, then they can provide stable power supply, but they suffer from high energy consumption, overheating, and inability to adapt to varying network parameters

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestable power supplyVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic switching frequency adjustment where the switching frequency varies according to the instantaneous power demand and network conditions. The controller adapts the switching frequency in real-time based on feedback from voltage and current sensors, allowing the system to optimize energy efficiency while maintaining stable power supply to auxiliary loads.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes multiple operating parameters simultaneously including switching frequency, duty cycle, and power factor correction settings based on network conditions. The controller adjusts these parameters dynamically to match the actual power requirements, reducing energy losses while maintaining reliable operation across varying network parameters.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Device complexity

If conventional power supply devices operate at fixed switching frequency, then the control is simple, but the voltage regulation accuracy deteriorates under varying load conditions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol simplicityVSAvoidvoltage regulation accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent incorporates a feedback control system that continuously monitors output voltage and current, comparing them against reference values. The controller uses this feedback to dynamically adjust switching frequency and duty cycle, achieving high voltage regulation accuracy under varying load conditions while maintaining manageable control complexity through standardized control algorithms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Ease of manufacture

If power supply devices use duty cycle regulation at fixed switching frequency, then the design is straightforward, but the adaptability to varying network parameters and absorption dynamics is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedesign simplicityVSAvoidflexibility to network parameters
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system transitions from fixed-frequency duty cycle regulation to dynamic frequency modulation. The switching frequency is continuously adjusted based on instantaneous power demand and network conditions, enabling the device to adapt to varying absorption dynamics and network parameters while maintaining a relatively simple overall design architecture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

4Reliability

If conventional power supply devices dissipate excess energy, then voltage stability is maintained, but energy efficiency deteriorates and overheating occurs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevoltage stabilityVSAvoidenergy efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of dissipating excess energy through resistive elements, the system recovers and stores energy in capacitive and inductive components. The dynamic switching strategy captures energy that would otherwise be wasted and stores it for later use, maintaining voltage stability while significantly improving energy efficiency and reducing heat generation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #34Discarding and recovering

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 solution achieves high energy efficiency, reduced overheating, and improved reliability, enabling stable voltage regulation across a wide range of parameters with minimal electromagnetic disturbances and rapid startup times, while being cost-effective and compact.

Implementation Method 1

preferably by means of a current transformer (CT) 2

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic induction: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 2

energy storage means, comprising for instance at least one capacitor 4, chargeable with the power delivered by the means for taking power

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCapacitance: Capacitance

Data Source

PatentEP1804356B1Device for powering electric or electronic devices operatively associated with a circuit breaker.
Publication Date: 2022.08.24 ABB SPA
  • EP1804356B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP1804356B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP1804356B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Device for powering one or more electric/electronic devices operatively associated with a low-voltage circuit breaker, comprising means for taking energy from a power supply line, electronic regulating means for receiving the energy collected by said means for taking power as input and delivering as output to the electric/electronic device a power supply voltage (Vout) having a value within a preset range with respect to a reference voltage (VR), characterized in that said electronic regulating means comprise: - energy storage means chargeable by means of said energy collected, at the terminals of which a voltage (VCL) is established that is indicative of the power supply voltage (Vout) delivered to the electric/electronic device; - a circuit for enabling/disabling the charging of the storage means; - a feedback circuit that receives a signal indicative of the voltage (VCL) at the terminals of the storage means and that sends a signal to the enabling/disabling circuit to trigger the disabling or enabling of the charging process in order to keep the value of the voltage at the terminals of the storage means within said preset range, said feedback circuit enabling the charging phases so as to power the storage means continuously up until the value of the voltage at their terminals comes within the preset range.