Corrugated Conductor for High Voltage Disconnector Ice Removal

Solution Overview

Problem

High voltage disconnectors face challenges in reducing weight while maintaining operational safety and efficiency under conditions of ice accumulation and seismic stress, leading to increased costs and reduced seismic resilience.

Innovation Solution

A conductor with an elongate section of electrically conductive material featuring corrugations or fluting that increase the heat dissipation surface area, facilitating ice removal through thermal conduction and convection, thereby reducing weight and mechanical stress.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If the right section of the movable contact is increased to reduce electrical resistance and prevent heating, then thermal stress resistance is improved, but weight increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The invention transitions from increasing weight (one dimension) to increasing surface area through corrugations (another dimension). The corrugated surface increases the heat dissipation area without significantly increasing the cross-sectional area or weight of the movable contact, thus resolving the contradiction between thermal stress resistance and weight.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the surface geometry parameter by introducing corrugations, which increases the effective surface area for heat dissipation. This parameter change allows the movable contact to dissipate heat more efficiently without increasing its mass, thereby maintaining thermal stress resistance while reducing weight.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If mechanical parts are over-dimensioned to withstand ice weight, then operational safety under icing conditions is improved, but cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The invention replaces the mechanical approach (over-dimensioning parts to bear ice weight) with a thermal approach (using corrugations to enhance heat dissipation and melt ice). This substitution allows the equipment to operate safely under icing conditions without requiring oversized mechanical components, thereby reducing cost.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention converts the harmful effect of ice accumulation into a beneficial process by using the corrugated surface to facilitate heat dissipation and ice melting. The ice that would normally increase mechanical stress is instead melted by the enhanced thermal dissipation, converting a harmful load into a self-clearing mechanism.

Inventive Principle:

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

3Strength

If parts are made heavier to withstand mechanical stress from ice, then strength is improved, but seismic resilience deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention replaces the mechanical solution of increasing mass to resist ice loads with a thermal solution using corrugations. This substitution maintains the ability to withstand ice loads through heat dissipation rather than mechanical strength, thereby preserving seismic resilience while ensuring ice load resistance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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 solution effectively reduces the weight of the disconnector blade by up to 30% while maintaining operational efficiency and enhancing seismic resilience, allowing for smaller mechanical parts and reduced costs.

Implementation Method 1

The corrugations or fluting or grooves lengthen the perimeter of the outside surface and increase the surface area for dissipating heat energy from the section member to the ambient air or to any ice (and/or snow) that has become deposited thereon

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectConvection: Convection

Implementation Method 2

facilitating ice removal through thermal conduction and convection

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 3

increase the surface area for dissipating heat energy from the section member to the ambient air or to any ice (and/or snow) that has become deposited thereon

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeat dissipation: Heat Sink

Data Source

PatentUS9941080B2Self-deicing lightweight conductor

Publication Date: 2018.04.10

AI summary

The invention relates to a conductor (2) for electrical equipment, the conductor comprising at least one hollow section member (2) of electrically conductive material that is elongate along a longitudinal axis (Y), the conductor having an outside surface in which at least a portion forms corrugations (23, 24) in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The conductor may advantageously form a movable contact (blade) (2) of a high voltage disconnector.