Decentralized Circuit Breaker Module for Distributed Plant Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing complexity of industrial plants with distributed systems and the absence of control cabinets makes protecting individual electrical consumers in the power distribution system challenging, especially with high line cross-sections and circuit breakers.
Innovation Solution
An electrical circuit breaker module with a closed housing and integrated circuit breaker is designed for decentralized protection, featuring plug-in contacts and flexible installation, capable of converting line voltage and providing reliable protection for consumers with varying parameters.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a control cabinet with high line cross-sections and circuit breakers is used for power distribution, then reliable protection of electrical consumers is achieved, but construction volume increases and system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the centralized control cabinet function into distributed circuit breaker modules that can be placed at various locations throughout the plant. Each module handles protection for specific consumers locally, eliminating the need for a large centralized control cabinet while maintaining comprehensive protection coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The circuit breaker function is extracted from the control cabinet and integrated directly into the power distribution system at the point of consumption. This allows protection functionality to be distributed throughout the plant rather than centralized in one location, reducing overall system volume.
2Reliability
If a control cabinet with high line cross-sections and circuit breakers is used for power distribution, then reliable protection of electrical consumers is achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system is segmented into independent, modular circuit breaker units that can be individually configured and installed. This modular approach simplifies the overall system architecture by breaking down the complex centralized control function into manageable, standardized modules that are easier to implement and maintain.
Solution Approach 2:
The circuit breaker modules are designed with parameterizable characteristics that can be adapted to different consumers and application requirements. This flexibility allows the same basic module design to serve multiple functions with different protection parameters, reducing the variety of components needed and simplifying the overall system.
3Volume of stationary object
If decentralized circuit breaker modules are used for protecting individual consumers, then construction volume is reduced and flexibility increases, but ease of operation decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The circuit breaker modules are designed with self-configuration capabilities through parameterizable settings that can be easily adjusted according to the specific consumer requirements. This allows the system to adapt to different applications without requiring complex manual configuration or specialized expertise, maintaining ease of operation despite the decentralized architecture.
4Ease of manufacture
If standard circuit breaker modules are used for protection, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but adaptability to different consumers and environments decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The circuit breaker modules are designed as universal, parameterizable units that can serve multiple different consumers and application types. The same basic module design with adjustable parameters provides adaptability to various protection requirements while maintaining manufacturing simplicity through standardized production processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The modules incorporate parameterizable characteristics that allow a single standardized design to be adapted to different consumers and environmental conditions. By changing operational parameters rather than physical design, the system achieves versatility without compromising manufacturing simplicity or requiring multiple specialized component variants.
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure relates to an electrical circuit breaker for protecting a power distribution system in an industrial plant (30) with electrical consumers (5) distributed in the plant. Electrical power is supplied to the electrical consumers (5) via a power-supplying line branch (7) of the power distribution system. For protecting the consumers, an electrical circuit breaker (20) is arranged in the power-supplying line branch (7). The electrical circuit breaker (20) is accommodated in a closed housing (10). The housing (10) has at least one first contact (11) for the power-supplying line branch (7) and at least one second contact (12) for an electrically protected line branch (8) which is connected to the electrical consumer (5).