Capacitive Voltage Sensor Segmented PCB for Gas-Insulated Substations
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing capacitive devices for measuring high voltage elements in gas-insulated electrical substations are costly, require significant space, and lack flexibility in transmission rate adjustment, with prior art devices either being unsuitable for redundant systems or failing to provide consistent output signals across different application conditions.
Innovation Solution
A capacitive device with an elongated shape featuring separate conductive sectors connected in parallel, a grounded first layer, and contact bridges for output connection, allowing for adjustable transmission rates and self-powering capabilities, enabling reliable and redundant voltage measurement in high voltage environments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a capacitive device uses a cylindrical printed circuit with rings to press it against the internal surface, then the device can maintain electrical contact, but the device requires large space and has high cost
Solution Approach 1:
The capacitive device is divided into three separate layers (first conductive layer, second insulating layer, third layer with conductive sectors) that can be manufactured independently and then assembled. This segmentation allows each layer to be optimized separately and reduces the overall complexity and space requirements compared to a monolithic cylindrical structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanical pressing system using rings to force the printed circuit against the internal surface is replaced by a layered capacitive structure where electrical contact is maintained through the inherent geometry and assembly of the layers themselves, eliminating the need for complex mechanical compression components.
2Device complexity
If the device uses a fixed geometrical configuration, then the device structure is simple, but the transmission rate cannot be adjusted for different operating conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The device incorporates adjustable transmission rate capability through the configurable connection of conductive sectors in the third layer. By selectively connecting or disconnecting sectors, the effective capacitive area can be dynamically adjusted to match different operating conditions and voltage ranges, providing adaptability without requiring complete redesign of the device structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The transmission rate of the device can be modified by changing the configuration of conductive sectors and their connections to contact bridges. This allows the same physical device to operate across different voltage ranges (e.g., 4V to 100V output) by reconfiguring which sectors are active, effectively changing the capacitive parameters without altering the basic device geometry.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the device connects to control equipment through a long cable, then the device can be positioned flexibly, but the signal voltage becomes influenced by cable capacitance and secondary capacities
Solution Approach 1:
Contact bridges are introduced as intermediary connection points between the conductive sectors and the output cable. These contact bridges provide defined, low-capacitance connection points that minimize the influence of cable capacitance on the measurement signal, thereby improving measurement precision while maintaining positioning flexibility.
4Device complexity
If the device uses a single conductive surface, then the device structure is simple, but redundancy cannot be achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The third layer is divided into multiple separate conductive sectors instead of using a single continuous conductive surface. These sectors can be independently connected to contact bridges, enabling redundant measurement paths. If one sector or its connection fails, other sectors can continue to provide measurement signals, thereby achieving system redundancy.
Solution Approach 2:
Different conductive sectors can be positioned and configured to have different local characteristics, allowing some sectors to serve as primary measurement elements while others provide redundancy or backup. This local differentiation enables reliability through diversity without requiring a complete duplicate of the entire device structure.
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 device achieves redundancy, reduces signal distortion, powers displays without external energy, and adapts to various application conditions, ensuring accurate and efficient voltage measurement with minimal space and cost, suitable for use in gas-insulated substation environments.
Implementation Method 1
capacitive device for measuring the voltage of a high voltage element
Implementation Method 2
the characteristics of this device, and in particular its transmission rate, must be easily adjustable in order to obtain output voltages and currents in a given range for different operating conditions of the application
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 2~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
The device (10) has an oblong printed circuit board including an insulating layer (12) and a conductive layer (11) connected to ground potential. The printed circuit board has another conductive layer (13) formed of separated conductor sectors (14-17) that are connected in parallel to a control equipment (25) and an optical luminous display (26) i.e. LED display, via signal output cables (20, 21), respectively. The printed circuit board has contact bridges that connect the conductor sectors to the corresponding signal output cables. An independent claim is also included for a gas insulated electric substation comprising a capacitive device for measuring voltage of a high voltage element.