High-Voltage Connection Device for Gas and Air Insulated Equipment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing connection devices for high-voltage electrical equipment, especially those using shielded cable connectors, require large spaces, are costly, and complicate assembly and maintenance due to the need for modifications and gas handling in existing installations when transitioning between gas-insulated and air-insulated equipment.

Innovation Solution

A connection device featuring an elongated body made of insulating and elastic material with a plug-in connector that adapts to female type bushings, allowing direct and quick electric coupling without losing insulating fluid and avoiding the need for shielded cable connectors, featuring conductive parts that pivot for misaligned terminals and a conductive coating for electric field control.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If shielded cable connectors are used for connection between gas-insulated and air-insulated equipment, then electrical connection is achieved, but the space required increases and cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelectrical connection reliabilityVSAvoidinstallation space

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The connection device is divided into distinct modules: a connector portion for the air-insulated equipment and a coupling portion for the gas-insulated equipment, allowing independent optimization of each segment and reducing overall space requirements while maintaining connection reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of using a traditional shielded cable connector that requires large bending radii and space, the invention inverts the approach by using a rigid busbar with integrated elastic elements that can be directly coupled to the female bushings, eliminating the need for lengthy cables and shields

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Reliability

If shielded cable connectors are used for connection between gas-insulated and air-insulated equipment, then electrical connection is achieved, but the cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelectrical connection reliabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The connection device uses simpler, less expensive materials and construction methods compared to shielded cable connectors, such as aluminum or copper busbars with elastic elements, reducing manufacturing cost while maintaining sufficient reliability for the application

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention extracts and eliminates the expensive shielded cable and connector assembly, replacing it with a simpler busbar-based connection system that achieves the same electrical connection function at lower cost

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Reliability

If shielded cable connectors are used for connection between gas-insulated and air-insulated equipment, then electrical connection is achieved, but assembly and maintenance complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelectrical connection reliabilityVSAvoidassembly and maintenance complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The connector and coupling portions are designed to be directly coupled together in a single operation, merging what would otherwise be separate assembly steps involving cable routing, shielding, and multiple connection points into one simple plug-in operation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The elastic elements and conductive parts are pre-positioned and pre-assembled in the connector and coupling portions during manufacturing, so that on-site installation only requires plugging the two portions together without any complex assembly or gas handling operations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

4Adaptability or versatility

If modifications and gas handling are required for existing installations when transitioning between gas-insulated and air-insulated equipment, then connection is achieved, but loss of insulating fluid occurs and time is lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveequipment compatibilityVSAvoidinsulating fluid loss

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The connection device acts as an intermediary that interfaces between gas-insulated and air-insulated equipment without requiring the gas-insulated equipment to be opened or modified, using female bushings that can be sealed and coupled without breaking the gas seal

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The female bushings are pre-installed and sealed on the gas-insulated equipment before gas pressurization, and the connector/coupling portions are pre-assembled with their internal components, allowing connection to be made without any gas handling or equipment modification during installation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

5Adaptability or versatility

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveequipment compatibilityVSAvoidassembly time

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

All components including female bushings, elastic elements, conductive parts, and sealing elements are pre-assembled and pre-positioned during manufacturing, so that on-site installation only requires plugging the connector and coupling portions together without any complex assembly steps or gas handling operations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The connection device is segmented into two self-contained portions that can be independently prepared and then quickly coupled together, eliminating the need for time-consuming on-site assembly of multiple separate components or gas handling operations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

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 secure, efficient, and cost-effective on-site connections between electrical equipment, reducing the need for equipment modification and gas handling, while maintaining mechanical and electrical tightness, and simplifying assembly and maintenance.

Implementation Method 1

an elongated body (7) made of insulating and elastic material

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

a conductive coating for electric field control

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectric Field: Electric Field

Implementation Method 3

conductive parts that pivot for misaligned terminals

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrical Conduction: Conduction (electrical)

Data Source

PatentEP2654133B1Connection device between high-voltage electrical apparatuses

Publication Date: 2021.01.27 ORMAZABAL Y CIA SLU

Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6

AI summary

The invention relates to a connection device (10) which allows the electric connection between two pieces of electrical equipment (3, 6), both pieces of equipment (3, 6) being able to be insulated in a fluid or in a solid medium, at least one aerial point of connection (24) being established in said electric connection. The device (10) comprises an elongated body (7) inside which a connector (1) and a conductor (5) are encapsulated, the connector (1) being coupled by plug-in in respective female type bushings (2) provided for such purpose in the first equipment (3), and the conductor (5) being connected to the second equipment (6), establishing in the latter connection an aerial point of connection (24), such that the connection device (10) assures an insulated and shielded electric connection of a conductor to electrical equipment.