Flexible Transformer System With Impedance Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
The high cost and complexity of replacing large power transformers due to internal faults, coupled with limited manufacturer availability and raw material constraints, result in prolonged mean time to repair (MTTR) and increased inventory costs, as existing spare transformers often have voltage ratio and short-circuit impedance incompatibilities.
Innovation Solution
A flexible transformer system with conductive and impedance-varying windings, along with an impedance switch, allows for adjustable impedance and voltage ratio matching, enabling quick deployment and reducing the need for multiple spares by allowing impedance and voltage adjustments without changing the voltage ratio, thus facilitating faster replacement and reduced inventory costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional transformer system is used with fixed impedance and voltage ratio, then the transformer provides stable and reliable power transfer, but the mean time to repair (MTTR) increases and grid resilience decreases when a fault occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the transformer impedance adjustable through an impedance switching mechanism. The transformer can dynamically change its impedance value to match different system requirements, allowing a single transformer to replace multiple specialized transformers and enabling faster replacement during repairs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the impedance parameter of the transformer through an impedance switching mechanism that connects different impedance-varying windings. This allows the transformer to adapt to different system conditions and enables faster replacement by matching the impedance characteristics of the original transformer without requiring a precise match in manufacturing.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple spare transformers are maintained with different voltage ratios and impedance values to match various system requirements, then adaptability improves, but inventory costs and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements universality by designing a transformer with adjustable impedance and voltage ratio capabilities. A single transformer unit can perform the functions of multiple specialized transformers with different impedance values and voltage ratios, eliminating the need to maintain multiple spare units in inventory.
Solution Approach 2:
The transformer uses an impedance switching mechanism that allows it to dynamically adjust its characteristics to match different system requirements. This dynamic adaptability enables one transformer to replace multiple static transformer designs, simplifying inventory management.
3Ease of manufacture
If a transformer with fixed impedance is used, then the manufacturing and design process is simplified, but the ability to quickly replace damaged transformers with incompatible impedance values increases MTTR
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates an impedance switching mechanism that allows the transformer to adjust its impedance value after manufacturing. This dynamic capability enables the transformer to be quickly adapted to match the impedance of the system it is replacing, significantly reducing replacement time while maintaining manufacturing simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The transformer design includes impedance-varying windings that can be selectively connected through an impedance switch to change the overall impedance value. This allows a single manufactured transformer to provide multiple impedance values, enabling fast replacement without requiring precise impedance matching during the manufacturing process.
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 flexible transformer system enhances grid resilience by enabling rapid replacement of damaged transformers, reducing inventory costs, and simplifying the replacement process by allowing impedance and voltage adjustments, thereby minimizing downtime and financial impact on the energy sector.
Implementation Method 1
conductive windings extending around a magnetic core of a transformer phase and impedance-varying windings extending around the magnetic core of the transformer phase. The conductive windings and the impedance-varying windings are configured to conduct electric current around the magnetic core of the transformer phase
Implementation Method 2
The impedance switch is configured to change an impedance of the system by changing which impedance-varying winding of the impedance-varying windings is conductively coupled with the conductive windings and which impedance-varying winding of the impedance-varying windings is disconnected from the conductive windings
Data Source
AI summary
A flexible transformer system includes conductive windings extending around a magnetic core of a transformer phase and impedance-varying windings extending around the magnetic core of the transformer phase. The conductive windings and the impedance-varying windings are configured to conduct electric current around the magnetic core of the transformer phase. The system includes an impedance switch coupled with the impedance-varying windings and with the conductive windings. The impedance switch is configured to change an impedance of the system by changing which impedance-varying winding of the impedance-varying windings is conductively coupled with the conductive windings and which impedance-varying winding of the impedance-varying windings is disconnected from the conductive windings.