Decentralized Actuator Wireless Control Standby Power
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The automation of fittings in water, gas, district heating, district cooling, sewage disposal, and oil and gas transport lines is hindered by the lack of power and communication connections, making decentralized electrical control devices impractical due to high costs and limited battery life in existing solutions.
Innovation Solution
A decentralized actuator with low standby consumption, using energy-efficient DC motors, planetary gears, and internal control electronics combined with a wireless communication unit, which disconnects conventional electrical components during idle periods and wakes up only for control requests, allowing for extended battery life and self-sufficiency with economically justifiable battery capacities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If decentralized actuators are equipped with batteries for wireless operation, then autonomy and wireless control are improved, but battery capacity requirements become uneconomically large
Solution Approach 1:
The actuator operates in periodic cycles, alternating between sleep mode (low power consumption) and active mode (high power consumption for actuation and communication). This periodic operation pattern allows the battery to be recharged at specific intervals rather than requiring large capacity for continuous operation, making the solution economically viable.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes its power consumption parameters by switching between different operational states (sleep mode with minimal consumption vs. active mode with higher consumption). This parameter variation enables the same battery to support both long standby periods and periodic high-power operations.
2Ease of operation
If communication unit is continuously active for wireless data transmission, then accessibility and control responsiveness are improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The communication unit operates periodically rather than continuously. It remains in a low-power state during intervals between control requests and activates only when needed to receive commands or transmit status information. This periodic activation maintains system accessibility while dramatically reducing standby power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts its operational state based on external triggers (control requests). The communication unit transitions from a passive listening state to an active transmission/reception state only when a control request is detected, optimizing the balance between accessibility and energy consumption.
3Speed
If actuator components remain powered during idle periods for quick response, then response time is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system prepares for quick response by maintaining a listening state for control requests even in sleep mode. When a control request is detected, the actuator components are activated in advance of the actual actuation command, enabling fast response times without requiring continuous powering of all components.
Solution Approach 2:
The actuator components are powered periodically - remaining in a low-power state during idle periods and activating only when control requests are received. This periodic powering strategy maintains the ability to respond to control commands while minimizing energy consumption during extended idle periods between actuations.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The device has a communication unit (4) designed for wireless bidirectional communication. The device is switched without a current and/or a voltage in a standby operation. The device controls an actuating drive (1) in an active operation based on control signals received via the communication unit. A control unit switches the device from the standby operation into the active operation due to a preset condition, and from the active operation into the standby operation due to another preset condition. A charging unit e.g. solar panel, charges an accumulator (2) i.e. lithium-ion accumulator. An independent claim is also included for a method for controlling a fitting in pipelines by a decentralized and wireless actuating device.