Fault Detector Power Restore Delay for RV Breaker Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Recreational vehicles (RVs) face power quality issues in campgrounds due to fluctuations and faults, leading to potential damage of electronic equipment and frustrating delays in power restoration, as current surge protectors either apply power too quickly or too slowly, causing breaker trips or unnecessary delays.
Innovation Solution
A fault detector system that includes a controller to detect power faults, interrupt power supply, and determine an optimal power restoration delay time based on capacitive discharge, timer circuits, or clock timestamps to prevent damage and minimize delays.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If power is reapplied immediately after a power interruption, then the power restoration time is minimized, but the circuit breaker may trip or damage may occur due to retained pressure in air conditioning units
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic delay mechanism that adjusts the power restoration delay based on the duration of the power interruption. The controller monitors the fault duration and dynamically selects from multiple delay options (e.g., 5 seconds, 10 seconds, 15 seconds, or 30 seconds) to optimize between quick restoration and preventing breaker trips. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction by adapting the delay time to specific operational conditions rather than using a fixed delay.
2Reliability
If a permanent long delay is added to power restoration, then circuit breaker trips are prevented, but unnecessary travel delays occur during initially plugging in when no delay is required
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically determines the appropriate delay time based on the detected fault duration. For brief interruptions during initial plugging in, the delay is minimized or eliminated. For longer faults indicating genuine power quality issues, appropriate delays are applied. This conditional dynamic delay resolves the contradiction by applying delays only when necessary rather than using a permanent fixed delay.
3Loss of time
If a permanent short delay is added to power restoration, then quick power return is achieved, but necessary long delays are missed due to brief brown outs
Solution Approach 1:
The controller dynamically adjusts the delay time based on the duration of the power fault. When brief brown outs are detected, appropriate delay times are applied to prevent equipment damage. When longer faults occur, extended delays are implemented to ensure system stability. This dynamic adjustment based on fault duration resolves the contradiction by adapting the delay to the specific conditions rather than using a fixed short delay.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors power quality parameters and uses this feedback to determine the appropriate restoration delay. The controller detects fault conditions, measures their duration, and uses this information to select the optimal delay time before restoring power. This feedback mechanism ensures that delays are neither too short nor too long, but precisely matched to the detected power quality conditions.
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 system effectively prevents damage to RV electrical systems by determining the right delay time for power restoration, ensuring stable power supply after fault conditions are resolved, thus protecting equipment and reducing travel delays.
Implementation Method 1
determining a power restoration delay time based on capacitive discharge
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for detecting fault conditions in a power system is described. The apparatus may include one or more powered lines configured to output electricity to an electrical distribution system, a neutral line, an interrupter, and a controller. The controller may be configured for detecting when a fault condition is present in the power system. In response to detecting that the fault condition is present, the controller may cause the interrupter to interrupt the power supplied by the one or more powered lines. In response to detecting that the fault condition is no longer present, the controller may determine a power restoration delay time and cause the one or more powered lines to supply power to the electrical distribution system when the power restoration delay time has been elapsed.