Leaky Waveguide Communication for Insulated HV Power Cells
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Solution Overview
Problem
High voltage installations face challenges in efficiently communicating between power electronic cells operating at different electrical potentials, while also needing to protect these communications from external interference and avoiding the high installation costs of optical fiber networks.
Innovation Solution
A high voltage installation using a leaky waveguide to carry and shield high-frequency communication signals, where the waveguide is configured to leak HF signals into adjoining areas, allowing power electronic cells to be physically separated and insulated from the waveguide while enabling effective HF wireless communication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If optical fiber networks are used for communication between power electronic cells, then communication reliability is improved, but installation cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces optical fiber networks (mechanical installation requiring physical cable laying) with electromagnetic wave transmission through a waveguide. This substitution eliminates the need for complex optical fiber installation while maintaining communication reliability through shielded HF signal transmission.
Solution Approach 2:
The waveguide serves multiple functions: it acts as a transmission medium for HF communication signals, provides electromagnetic shielding against external interference, and enables communication between cells at different electrical potentials without requiring direct electrical connection or complex optical infrastructure.
2Ease of operation
If power electronic cells are electrically connected for communication, then signal transmission is simplified, but electrical insulation requirements increase complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The waveguide acts as an intermediary medium that enables signal transmission between power electronic cells at different electrical potentials without direct electrical connection. HF signals are transmitted through the waveguide structure, providing both communication functionality and electrical insulation simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces direct electrical connection with electromagnetic wave transmission through the waveguide. This substitution simplifies signal transmission while the waveguide's inherent shielding properties provide the necessary electrical insulation between cells at different potentials.
3Ease of manufacture
If wireless communication is used in free space, then installation effort is reduced, but communication signals are vulnerable to external interference
Solution Approach 1:
The waveguide serves as an intermediary structure that guides HF communication signals between transceivers while providing electromagnetic shielding. This intermediary approach maintains the simplicity of wireless installation while protecting signals from external interference through the waveguide's inherent shielding properties.
Solution Approach 2:
The waveguide structure acts as a flexible shielding enclosure that contains and protects HF communication signals. The waveguide's metallic walls provide electromagnetic shielding against external interference while allowing the system to maintain a wireless communication approach with minimal installation effort.
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
This solution provides protected and efficient high-frequency communication within high voltage installations, reducing the risk of external interference and eliminating the need for costly optical fiber networks, while allowing power electronic cells to operate at different electrical potentials.
Implementation Method 1
a waveguide configured to carry and shield HF communication signals of the plurality of power electronic cells
Implementation Method 2
The waveguide has a plurality of sections configured to leak HF communication signals present in the waveguide into a corresponding plurality of adjoining areas and vice versa
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a high voltage (HV) installation, comprising a plurality of power electronic cells, in particular power electronic switching cells, configured to operate at different electrical potentials, each power electronic cell comprising a cell-side transceiver with an antenna for receiving and/or transmitting high frequency (HF) communication signals, and a waveguide configured to carry and shield HF communication signals of the plurality of power electronic cells. The waveguide has a plurality of sections configured to leak HF communication signals present in the waveguide into a corresponding plurality of adjoining areas and vice versa. Each power electronic cell of the plurality of power electronic cells is arranged physically separated and in proximity to the waveguide, such that the respective power electronic cell is electrically insulated from the waveguide and the antenna of the respective cell-side transceivers is arranged in the respective adjoining area.