Bus-Bar System Magnetic Field Attenuation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Electrical cabinets emit strong magnetic fields due to their bus-bar systems, exceeding safety limits and causing interference, with existing solutions either requiring costly metallic shielding or relocation, which are inefficient and complex.

Innovation Solution

The design rearranges internal wiring and bus-bar systems within electrical cabinets to form self-protective structures where magnetic fields from different elements destructively interfere, reducing the overall magnetic field strength, allowing for the use of regular materials and placement in populated areas.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If thick metal sheets are used to shield the electrical cabinet, then magnetic field attenuation is improved, but device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemagnetic field attenuationVSAvoidshielding structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the harmful magnetic fields generated by bus-bars into a beneficial self-shielding effect by strategically positioning parallel bus-bars carrying different phases adjacent to each other. The magnetic fields from these adjacent bus-bars destructively interfere with each other, automatically attenuating the overall magnetic field emission without requiring external shielding materials.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

The electrical cabinet's own bus-bar system provides the shielding function through its inherent configuration. The bus-bars are arranged to generate opposing magnetic fields that cancel each other out, making the cabinet self-shielding and eliminating the need for separate metallic shielding structures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the electrical cabinet is relocated to distant locations, then magnetic field exposure is reduced, but ease of operation and accessibility deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemagnetic field exposureVSAvoidcabinet accessibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The harmful magnetic fields are converted into a self-attenuating phenomenon through the strategic arrangement of parallel bus-bars. By positioning bus-bars carrying different phases adjacent to each other, the system generates opposing magnetic fields that destructively interfere, reducing exposure without requiring relocation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If metallic protective elements are used to enclose distribution connectors, then local magnetic field protection is improved, but device complexity increases and front access must be left open

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelocal magnetic field protectionVSAvoidprotective element complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of using metallic protective elements to shield distribution connectors, the patent employs the bus-bar arrangement to generate self-canceling magnetic fields throughout the cabinet. This eliminates the need for localized shielding around connectors while maintaining overall magnetic field attenuation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

The bus-bar system serves dual functions: electrical power distribution and magnetic field attenuation. The same bus-bars that carry electrical current are strategically positioned to create opposing magnetic fields, providing both functional and protective roles without requiring separate shielding components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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

This approach effectively attenuates magnetic fields to safe levels without the need for metallic shielding or relocation, enabling the use of conventional electrical cabinets in any location while maintaining safety and reducing exposure.

Implementation Method 1

the sub-bus-bar elements are arranged such that each sub-bus-bar element is located adjacent at least one other sub-bus-bar element associated with different electrical phase, to thereby cause magnetic fields emanating from the sub-bus-bar elements to destructively interfere with each other

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDestructive interference: Interference

Data Source

PatentEP2915229B1Methods and arrangements for attenuating magnetic fields of electrical cabinets
Publication Date: 2019.09.18 GREEN ELMF CABLES
  • EP2915229B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2915229B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP2915229B1 patent drawingFigure 2C~3A

AI summary

A bus-bar system usable for electrical cabinets for distributing electrical power supplied by an electrical supply cable comprising two or more electrically conducting wires. In some embodiments the bus-bar system comprises a predetermined number of bus-bar elements each electrically connectable to at least one of the wires of the electrical supply cable. At least one of the bus-bar elements may be formed by a group of at least two sub-bus-bar elements electrically connectable to each other in parallel. Each group of the sub-bus-bar elements may be electrically connectable to at least one of the wires of the electrical supply cable, where each of said bus-bar and sub-bus-bar elements being located adjacent at least one other bus-bar or sub-bus-bar element associated with either different electrical phase or different electrical current direction to thereby cause magnetic fields emanating from said bus-bar and sub-bus-bar elements to destructively interfere with each other.