Gas-Insulated Lightning Arrester Monitoring System

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional monitoring systems for gas-insulated lightning arresters do not accurately account for the influence of outside-air temperature changes when calculating lightning strike energy, leading to potential inaccuracies in determining the degree of degradation or breakage.

Innovation Solution

A monitoring system that includes internal-value detection units for temperature and pressure within the tanks, a lightning-strike detection unit, an effective-value calculation unit to subtract internal values from unaffected arresters, and an energy calculation unit to determine the accurate amount of lightning strike energy, accounting for outside-air temperature changes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If the conventional monitoring system calculates lightning strike energy based on temperature or pressure within the tank, then the monitoring function is provided, but the calculation accuracy is reduced due to not considering outside-air temperature changes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelightning strike energy calculation accuracyVSAvoidmonitoring system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple monitoring functions into a single integrated system. The monitoring system simultaneously monitors temperature, pressure, and outside-air temperature using multiple sensors, and integrates these measurements with lightning strike detection to provide comprehensive lightning strike energy calculation and degradation monitoring in one unified system, thereby improving measurement precision without proportionally increasing device complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces outside-air temperature as an intermediary parameter to correct the relationship between internal tank conditions and lightning strike energy. By measuring outside-air temperature and using it as a reference to calculate the actual temperature rise within the tank, the system compensates for environmental temperature variations, thereby improving the accuracy of lightning strike energy calculation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If the monitoring system does not account for outside-air temperature changes, then the system operation is simple, but the calculated lightning strike energy differs from the actual amount

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelightning strike energy measurement accuracyVSAvoidsystem operation simplicity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The monitoring system performs self-correction by automatically measuring outside-air temperature and using it to adjust the lightning strike energy calculation. The system independently compensates for environmental temperature effects without requiring manual intervention or complex external calibration, thereby improving measurement precision while maintaining ease of operation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism where outside-air temperature measurements are continuously fed into the calculation system to adjust the lightning strike energy determination. The system uses real-time temperature data from both inside the tank and the external environment to dynamically correct calculations, improving accuracy while maintaining automated operation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

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 approach allows for more accurate monitoring of gas-insulated lightning arresters by eliminating the influence of outside-air temperature changes, improving the accuracy of degradation and breakage determination and reducing unnecessary maintenance and costs.

Implementation Method 1

an internal-value detection unit to detect an internal value that indicates a temperature or a pressure inside the tank

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectTemperature-Pressure relationship in gas: Boyle's Law

Implementation Method 2

an effective-value calculation unit to calculate an effective internal value by subtracting an internal value within a tank of a gas-insulated lightning arrester, determined not to have been struck by lightning

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal expansion/contraction compensation: Thermal Expansion

Data Source

PatentEP3422504B1Monitoring system and monitoring method
Publication Date: 2020.02.12 MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORP
  • EP3422504B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3422504B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3422504B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

A monitoring system to monitor a plurality of gas-insulated lightning arresters includes an internal-value detection unit (15, 25, 35) to detect an internal value that indicates a temperature or a pressure inside a tank, a lightning-strike detection unit (41) to detect that the gas-insulated lightning arrester has been struck by lightning based on the detected internal value, an effective-value calculation unit (42) to calculate an effective internal value by subtracting an internal value within a tank of a gas-insulated lightning arrester determined not to have been struck by lightning, among the gas-insulated lightning arresters, from an internal value within a tank of a gas-insulated lightning arrester determined to have been struck by lightning, among the gas-insulated lightning arresters, and an energy calculation unit (44) to calculate an amount of lightning strike energy received by the gas-insulated lightning arrester from the effective internal value.