Non-contact Ground Fault Detection Using Electric Field Sensors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electrical faults in power transmission systems can cause damage and pose safety risks due to the potential for excessive current and injury, and existing detection methods often require physical contact or are not effective for early warning of ground faults.
Innovation Solution
A non-contact ground monitoring device (GMD) using an electric field sensor, processor, and communication system to detect changes in net electric fields, allowing for early identification of electrical faults without physical contact with the transmission lines and providing location and severity data to a server system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If non-contact electric field sensing is used to detect ground faults, then safety and reliability are improved by avoiding physical contact with transmission lines, but measurement precision may be reduced compared to direct contact methods
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary sensing mechanism (electric field sensor) that indirectly detects ground faults by measuring changes in the electric field surrounding transmission lines, rather than making direct contact. This intermediary approach maintains safety while enabling fault detection through the relationship between electric field variations and ground fault conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical contact-based detection methods with an electric field sensing approach. Instead of physically contacting the transmission lines or components, the system uses electromagnetic field interactions to detect ground faults, substituting mechanical systems with electromagnetic sensing.
2Ease of operation
If non-contact monitoring is implemented, then ease of operation and safety are improved by eliminating physical contact requirements, but device complexity increases due to additional sensing and signal processing components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual or contact-based monitoring operations with automated electric field sensing and electronic signal processing. This substitution eliminates the need for physical contact while implementing complexity in the form of sensors, signal conditioning circuits, and processing algorithms that automatically analyze electric field variations.
3Productivity
If early fault detection is achieved through continuous monitoring, then productivity and response time are improved, but energy consumption increases due to continuous operation of monitoring systems
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic or intermittent monitoring of electric field parameters rather than truly continuous monitoring. The system samples electric field conditions at intervals and analyzes changes over time, enabling early fault detection while reducing energy consumption compared to constant high-power monitoring operations.
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 GMD enables early detection and monitoring of electrical faults, improving safety by providing non-intrusive, robust, and reliable fault monitoring, allowing for prompt correction of faults and preventing potential damage and injuries.
Implementation Method 1
receiving an output signal from the electric field sensor, the output signal indicating a value of a net electric field resulting from a combination of respective electric fields from two or more electrical power transmission lines
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3A
AI summary
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs stored on a computer-readable storage medium, for obtaining, from an electric field sensor, measurements of a net electric field resulting from a combination of respective electric fields from two or more electrical power conductors that are proximate to the electric field sensor. The apparatus detects a change in successive measurements of the net electric field. The apparatus determines, based on the change, that an electrical fault has occurred in one of the two or more electric power conductors. The apparatus sends to a server system, data indicating that the electrical fault has occurred in one of the two or more electric power conductors.