Electro-Permanent Magnet Door Holder with Capacitive Release
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing door holding electromagnets in buildings consume continuous power, leading to energy inefficiency and increased complexity in green energy systems, especially when holding doors open for extended periods.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of an electro-permanent magnet system using permanent magnets and a bi-stable permanent magnet actuator system, which allows for energy-efficient door holding without continuous power and can be powered by a capacitively pulsed control circuit for versatility, enabling direct replacement of existing electromagnets with minimal impact on the system's footprint.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional electromagnets are used to hold doors open continuously, then the door holding function is reliable, but the energy consumption becomes excessive
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses periodic pulsed action instead of continuous power. A capacitor stores energy and delivers pulsed current to the control coil only when door release is needed. The electro-permanent magnet maintains holding force without continuous power, converting the continuous action into periodic action to eliminate wasteful continuous power consumption during door holding periods.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the magnetic state parameters by applying pulsed current to switch between high-retention and low-retention states. The electro-permanent magnet uses a control coil to alter the magnetic retention parameter, enabling the magnet to hold doors open with minimal energy and release only when pulsed current changes the magnetic state parameter.
2Loss of energy
If green energy systems with low power input are used, then the carbon footprint is reduced, but the system complexity increases due to energy storage requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the power management functions: the capacitor handles only the brief energy discharge needed for door release, while the electro-permanent magnet handles continuous door holding without power. This segmentation allows the use of a small, simple capacitor rather than a large continuous power supply, reducing overall system complexity for green energy applications.
Solution Approach 2:
By using periodic pulsed action instead of continuous power, the energy storage requirement is dramatically reduced. A small capacitor can store enough energy for brief pulsed releases, making green energy systems feasible without requiring large, complex energy storage infrastructure.
3Use of energy by moving object
If electro-permanent magnets with control coils are introduced, then energy efficiency is improved, but the device footprint may change
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges the permanent magnet and control coil into a compact electro-permanent magnet assembly that replaces traditional electromagnets. The control coil is wound around the permanent magnet core, combining multiple functions into a single integrated component that maintains or reduces the overall system footprint while enabling energy-efficient 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 solution significantly reduces continuous power draw, enhances energy efficiency, and simplifies green energy applications by allowing doors to be held open without power, while maintaining compatibility with existing systems through the use of capacitively pulsed power for release.
Implementation Method 1
The direction of magnetization in the high coercivity permanent magnet can be switched by a pulse of current through a control coil about the low coercivity permanent magnet
Implementation Method 2
the central pole of the core produces an external magnetic field at its open pole to allow attraction of a magnetic material
Data Source
AI summary
An energy efficient and power versatile electro-permanent magnet system for use in a door holder unit is an electro-permanent magnet having a permanent magnet for holding a door open while unpowered and a control coils that can be pulsed powered, locally or remotely, by a pulsed capacitor control circuit for power versatility and for releasing of the door with little energy.