Passenger Conveyor Deep Sleep Mode Power Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing passenger conveyor systems, such as elevators and escalators, face challenges in reducing power consumption during periods of inactivity, leading to inefficiencies and increased energy costs.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a deep sleep mode that de-energizes hardware components, including the conveyor control and motor drive, while maintaining power to a signal circuit and wake-up circuit, which can restart the system upon receiving signals from call devices, monitoring centers, or time-based triggers, using parallel relays and a current limiting component to recharge the intermediate DC circuit and re-establish power supply.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the conveyor control and motor drive are kept powered during inactivity, then the system can respond quickly to activation signals, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into two independent power domains: a permanently powered signal circuit domain and a controllable power domain (conveyor control and motor drive). This segmentation allows the signal circuit to remain active for immediate signal detection while the main system can be de-energized during inactivity, resolving the contradiction between response readiness and power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
A wake-up circuit acts as an intermediary between the permanently powered signal circuit and the controllable power domain. When the signal circuit detects a activation signal, it triggers the wake-up circuit to close the relay and restore power to the conveyor control and motor drive, enabling quick response without continuous power consumption.
2Use of energy by moving object
If the relay is opened to de-energize the frequency converter during deep sleep mode, then power consumption is reduced, but the system cannot be reactivated quickly
Solution Approach 1:
The signal circuit is pre-powered independently of the main system, and the wake-up circuit is pre-configured to close the relay immediately upon detecting an activation signal. This preliminary preparation of the signal path eliminates reactivation delay while maintaining power savings during deep sleep mode.
Solution Approach 2:
The wake-up circuit serves as an intermediary that bridges the powered signal circuit and the de-energized main system. It maintains a ready-to-act state by having the relay closure mechanism pre-positioned, enabling instantaneous reactivation when signaled without requiring continuous power to the main system.
3Device complexity
If the intermediate DC circuit is used to power the conveyor control, then power supply is simplified, but the control cannot operate during deep sleep mode
Solution Approach 1:
The power supply system is segmented into two independent sources: the intermediate DC circuit for the conveyor control and a separate permanent power source for the signal circuit. This segmentation allows the signal circuit to remain operational during deep sleep mode while the conveyor control can be de-energized, resolving the contradiction between power supply simplification and control availability.
Solution Approach 2:
The wake-up circuit acts as an intermediary that restores power flow from the intermediate DC circuit to the conveyor control after a deep sleep period. It detects activation signals and triggers the relay closure to re-establish power supply, ensuring control availability is restored without requiring continuous power during normal operation.
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 significantly reduces power consumption by switching off essential hardware during inactivity and allows for quick reactivation when needed, enhancing energy efficiency and operational readiness.
Implementation Method 1
a frequency converter with a rectifier bridge, an intermediate DC circuit and a converter bridge
Implementation Method 2
connected to mains via at least one relay or contactor, which relay is controlled by the conveyor control
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
The invention relates to a passenger conveyor (10), e.g. an elevator, comprising a conveyor motor (16) being controlled by a conveyor control (12) via a motor drive (14), the motor drive (14) comprising a frequency converter with a rectifier bridge (32), an intermediate DC circuit (34) and a converter bridge (38) connected with the conveyor motor (16). The rectifier bridge (32) is configured to be connected to mains (26) via at least one relay (28), which relay (28) is controlled by the conveyor control, the conveyor comprises a deep sleep mode, in which the frequency converter as well as at least a major part of conveyor control (12) is switched off, in which conveyor the intermediate DC circuit (34) forms the power supply for the conveyor control (12). During the activation of the deep sleep mode the conveyor control (12) is configured to open the relay (28), whereby at least one signal circuit (42) of the conveyor is configured to remain powered at least during the deep sleep mode. The conveyor comprises a wake-up circuit (60) which is connected to the signal circuit (42) and which is configured to be permanently powered at least during the deep sleep mode, which wake-up circuit (60) is configured to close the relay (28) dependent on a signal received from the signal circuit (42).