Intelligent Circuit Breaker with Dynamic Load Training
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing device circuit breakers lack intelligence in determining permissible current behavior, leading to improper dimensioning and reduced sensitivity in detecting overloads and short circuits, resulting in delayed protective activation.
Innovation Solution
A device circuit breaker with intelligent limit value determination using a current sensor, processing unit, and operating modes (training and monitoring phases) to measure and compare current flows, allowing for precise identification of peak currents and contact times to differentiate between overload and short circuit situations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the circuit breaker is dimensioned for high nominal current to accommodate loads with high start-up currents, then the load can operate during start-up, but the sensitivity to detect actual overloads and short circuits is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The circuit breaker performs a training phase before normal operation to preliminarily determine the specific current behavior characteristics of the connected load. During this training phase, the system measures and stores the actual start-up current profile, including peak current magnitude and duration. This preliminary characterization enables the circuit breaker to subsequently distinguish between normal start-up currents and actual fault conditions with high precision, resolving the contradiction between accommodating high start-up currents and maintaining sensitivity to overloads.
2Ease of operation
If the circuit breaker uses fixed switching behavior, then the device is simple to operate, but it cannot adapt to different load characteristics and may shut down during normal operation
Solution Approach 1:
The circuit breaker automatically performs a training phase upon first connection to a load, during which it self-characterizes the load's current behavior without requiring manual configuration. The system autonomously measures the load's start-up current profile, stores these characteristics in memory, and uses them to configure its own protection parameters. This self-service approach eliminates the need for manual setup while enabling the device to adapt to different load types, resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and adaptability.
3Reliability
If the circuit breaker activates protection immediately upon detecting overcurrent, then protection is provided, but unnecessary shutdowns occur during normal load start-up sequences
Solution Approach 1:
The circuit breaker dynamically adjusts its protection parameters based on the stored current behavior characteristics from the training phase. Instead of using fixed thresholds, the system adapts its overcurrent detection limits and time delays to match the specific load profile. For example, if the training phase revealed that the load normally draws 7 times nominal current during start-up for 5 seconds, the protection algorithm temporarily permits this behavior while remaining sensitive to deviations. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction between providing protection and preventing unnecessary shutdowns.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a device circuit breaker having intelligent limit value determination. In a training phase, the device circuit breaker is adjusted to a specific device and its load behavior. In a subsequent monitoring phase—based on the values determined in the training phase—present values or values derived from those are compared and, if necessary, the current flow is interrupted.