Field Device Startup Using Energy Store and Power-Limited Supply
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Solution Overview
Problem
Field devices in industrial plants face challenges during commissioning due to increased voltage and current requirements, which are not met by power-limited explosion-proof power supplies, leading to insufficient energy for startup and initialization processes.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a chargeable energy store, such as a capacitor, is used to temporarily supply electrical energy during commissioning, where the energy store is charged by a power-limited power pack, and the stored energy is released when sufficient, allowing the field device to start up without exceeding power limits, and a DC voltage converter transforms the voltage for efficient energy supply.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a power-limited power supply is used to ensure explosion protection and meet safety requirements, then safety and compliance are improved, but the available power for field device startup is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by charging an energy store (capacitor) before the field device startup. The power supply charges the capacitor during a preliminary phase, storing energy that will be available during startup. This allows the system to meet high power demands during commissioning while maintaining power limits during normal operation, thus resolving the contradiction between safety compliance and startup power availability.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the field device is commissioned with a power-limited supply, then safety limits are maintained, but the increased power requirement during commissioning cannot be met
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an energy store (capacitor) as an intermediary between the power-limited supply and the field device. This intermediary component buffers the power delivery, allowing the system to maintain power limits while still providing sufficient energy for commissioning activities. The capacitor acts as a mediator that decouples the power supply constraints from the device startup requirements.
3Ease of operation
If the field device requires high initial power for capacitance charging and initialization, then proper device startup is enabled, but power-limited supplies cannot provide sufficient energy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by implementing a dynamic power supply system that changes its characteristics over time. During the charging phase, the power supply operates within power limits to charge the capacitor. During the startup phase, the stored energy is released to provide high instantaneous power for device initialization. This dynamic approach allows the system to adapt its power delivery to match the varying energy requirements at different startup stages.
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
Enables successful commissioning of field devices even with power-limited supplies by providing the necessary energy for startup and initialization while adhering to safety limits, ensuring reliable operation and compliance with intrinsic safety standards.
Implementation Method 1
The energy store, which is a capacitor, for example, is used to store electrical energy that is delivered to the field device or to operating electronics of the field device
Implementation Method 2
a DC voltage converter transforms the voltage for efficient energy supply
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
Method for starting up a field device (BE), wherein, in order to start up the field device, an electrical energy store (R) is charged using a power-limited power supply unit (NT), and wherein the electrical energy stored in the energy store (R) is used to at least temporarily supply the field device with electrical energy during start-up of the field device. The first control unit (C1) closes the switches (S1a, S1b) only when there is sufficient energy in the energy store (R). After start-up, the second control unit (C2) detects normal operation and closes the switch (S2) in order to bridge the current limitation (CL).