Contactless Power Feeding Facility Phase Synchronization
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing contactless power feeding facilities require numerous signal transmission devices and lines to synchronize alternating currents, increasing material and installation costs, as well as maintenance costs, due to the need for synchronizing signals across multiple power supply apparatuses.
Innovation Solution
The facility employs a coupling unit for electromagnetic coupling between feeder lines, using a phase detector and phase controller in each power supply apparatus to synchronize alternating currents without signal transmission devices, by detecting the induced current phase and adjusting the phase of the alternating current supplied to the target feeder line to match the adjacent feeder line.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If optical transmission devices and transmission lines are used to synchronize power supply apparatuses, then alternating currents can be synchronized across feeder lines, but material cost and installation cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the optical transmission devices and transmission lines from the system. Instead of using external signaling infrastructure, the synchronization function is achieved through electromagnetic induction between adjacent feeder lines, eliminating the need for separate signal transmission infrastructure and reducing material and installation costs.
Solution Approach 2:
The feeder lines serve dual functions: power transmission and synchronization signal transmission. The alternating current flowing through adjacent feeder lines generates magnetic fields that induce voltages in target feeder lines, providing synchronization information without requiring dedicated signal lines. This multi-functionality reduces system complexity and cost.
2Reliability
If optical transmission devices are deployed for synchronizing power supply apparatuses, then alternating currents can be synchronized, but maintenance cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes optical transmission devices from the system, eliminating components that require maintenance such as optical connectors, transmitters, and receivers. The synchronization function is achieved passively through electromagnetic induction, reducing maintenance requirements.
3Reliability
If a large number of signal transmission devices are used for synchronizing power supply apparatuses, then alternating currents can be synchronized, but the number of devices requiring maintenance increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates signal transmission devices from the system. Synchronization is achieved through direct electromagnetic coupling between feeder lines, removing the need for intermediate signaling devices and reducing system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The feeder lines perform multiple functions: power delivery and synchronization signaling. The magnetic field generated by current in adjacent feeder lines serves as the synchronization signal, eliminating the need for separate signaling devices and reducing overall system 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
This configuration effectively synchronizes alternating currents across feeder lines, reducing material and installation costs, and maintaining costs, while ensuring stable power supply to movable bodies, such as article transport vehicles, without the need for signal transmission devices.
Implementation Method 1
a coupling unit configured to electromagnetically couple the target feeder line and the adjacent feeder line
Implementation Method 2
a phase detector configured to detect an induced current phase, which is the phase of an induced current flowing through the target feeder line by electromagnetic induction via the coupling unit
Data Source
AI summary
A contactless power feeding facility includes a coupling unit electromagnetically coupling a target feeder line and an adjacent feeder line. A target power supply apparatus includes: a phase detector detecting the induced current phase which is the phase of an induced current flowing through the target feeder line by the electromagnetic induction via the coupling unit while an alternating current is supplied to the adjacent feeder line by an adjacent power supply apparatus; an alternating-current generator generating the alternating current to be supplied to the target feeder line; and a phase controller controlling the alternating-current generator such that the phase of the alternating current to be supplied to the target feeder approaches the induced current phase detected by the phase detector.