Circuit Breaker Vibration Monitoring for Switching Time Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current vibration monitoring systems for circuit breakers rely on expensive sensors like potentiometers and encoders to evaluate switching times, making it challenging and costly to assess the operational health and timing information effectively.
Innovation Solution
A circuit breaker monitoring system utilizing a vibration sensor, processing unit, and output unit to analyze temporal vibration signals during closing and opening operations, identifying physical switch events and characteristic times to determine operational functionality without the need for costly sensors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If expensive sensors like potentiometers or encoders are used to evaluate switching times, then measurement precision is improved, but device cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces expensive mechanical sensors (potentiometers, encoders) with a vibration sensor that detects mechanical events through vibration signals. The processing unit analyzes these vibration signals to identify switching events and calculate switching times, thereby substituting a complex mechanical measurement system with a simpler vibrational detection system that achieves comparable measurement precision.
2Measurement precision
If multiple sensors are used to evaluate characteristic features like closing and opening times, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The vibration sensor serves multiple functions: it detects latch release events, contact touch events, and opening events, all through a single sensor. The processing unit analyzes the vibration signal to extract multiple characteristic features (closing time, opening time, switching events) that would traditionally require multiple specialized sensors, thereby achieving multi-functionality with a single device.
3Measurement precision
If current sensors are used to evaluate switching times, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the timing information from the vibration signal itself rather than requiring separate current measurements. By analyzing changes in the vibration signal envelope, the system identifies switching events and calculates switching times directly from mechanical vibration data, eliminating the need for current sensors and their associated complexity.
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
Enables accurate and cost-effective evaluation of switching events and times, facilitating condition monitoring and maintenance by extracting timing information from vibration signals, reducing the reliance on expensive sensors and improving reliability and robustness.
Implementation Method 1
a vibration sensor is provided. The vibration sensor is configured to be mounted to a circuit breaker. The vibration sensor is configured to acquire a temporal vibration signal
Data Source
AI summary
A circuit breaker monitoring system and method includes a vibration sensor, a processing unit, and an output unit. The vibration sensor is configured to be mounted to a circuit breaker and to acquire a temporal vibration signal over at least a temporal portion of a closing operation of the circuit breaker. The closing operation comprises: initiation of the closing operation; latch release; movement of a moveable contact towards a fixed contact; contact touch of the moveable contact with the fixed contact; stop of movement of the moveable contact. The sensor provides the temporal vibration signal to the processing unit, which determines a plurality of physical switch events and corresponding plurality of time points of the plurality of physical switch events over the closing operation of the circuit breaker.