Floating-Reference Contactless Voltage Transducer Without Grounding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing contactless voltage measurement systems require a ground connection, increasing complexity, cost, and safety risks, especially in hazardous voltage applications.
Innovation Solution
A contactless voltage transducer with capacitive current measurement units, a common floating reference voltage connection, and a wireless communications module, eliminating the need for a ground connection and enabling safe, easy, and cost-effective installation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a ground connection is implemented in contactless voltage measurement systems, then measurement reference stability is improved, but device complexity and installation cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates the ground connection requirement from the contactless voltage measurement system. By using a floating reference voltage that is generated internally and connected to the electrode shield rather than requiring an external ground connection, the system removes the complex grounding infrastructure while maintaining measurement stability through the common floating reference connection point.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces a common floating reference voltage connection point as an intermediary between multiple capacitive current measurement units. This intermediary provides a stable reference for all measurement units without requiring connection to external ground, enabling consistent voltage measurements across multiple conductors while avoiding ground connection complexity.
2Measurement precision
If a ground connection is installed for contactless voltage measurement, then measurement accuracy is maintained, but safety risks for personnel increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention removes the ground connection from the measurement system, eliminating the safety hazard associated with installing and maintaining galvanic connections in hazardous voltage environments. The floating reference voltage provides the necessary measurement stability without requiring personnel to work with exposed ground connections.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the mechanical/electrical ground connection with an electrical field-based floating reference system. Instead of requiring physical galvanic connections to ground, the system uses capacitive coupling and a floating reference voltage to achieve accurate measurements, thereby eliminating the safety risks associated with physical contact with grounded elements.
3Measurement precision
If multiple reference voltage sources are used to reduce coupling capacitance effects, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges multiple reference voltage sources into a single common floating reference connection point. Instead of using separate reference voltage sources for each capacitive current measurement unit, all units share the same floating reference, which simplifies the system architecture while still compensating for coupling capacitance effects through the common reference connection.
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 solution provides accurate, reliable, and safe voltage measurements without a galvanic connection, reducing installation hazards and costs while maintaining measurement precision.
Implementation Method 1
capacitive current measurement units, each said capacitive current measurement unit comprising an electrode surrounding a passage for receiving therethrough a respective said conductor
Implementation Method 2
a reference voltage signal generator connected to the electrode shield and configured to generate a reference voltage source signal
Data Source
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AI summary
Contactless voltage transducer (2) for measuring voltages between at least two conductors of an alternating voltage conductor system, the transducer including two or more capacitive current measurement units (3), each said capacitive current measurement unit comprising - an electrode (4) surrounding a passage (6) for receiving therethrough a respective said conductor of the alternating voltage conductor system, - an electrode shield (8) surrounding the electrode (4), - an electrode signal processing circuit portion (16) connected to the electrode (4) and electrode shield (8), configured to output an analog measurement signal, and - a reference voltage signal generator (10) connected to the electrode shield and configured to generate a reference voltage source signal, - wherein the reference voltage signal generators (10) of the two or more capacitive current measurement units are connected together at a common floating voltage connection point.