Low-Voltage Power Distribution Equipment In-Service Expansion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing low-voltage power distribution equipment faces safety risks due to exposed busbars, potential internal defects leading to arcs, mechanical stress, and the need for service interruptions for expansion, which affects consumer power supply and operator safety.
Innovation Solution
The equipment encapsulates busbars in insulating modules, separates phases and components, and allows for in-service expansion and connection of external power sources, maintaining IP2X protection and preventing arcs and short circuits, enabling continuous power supply and enhanced safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If busbars are exposed to reduce equipment size and improve accessibility, then device complexity and installation ease are improved, but safety risks increase due to accidental contact and internal arc generation
Solution Approach 1:
The switchboard is divided into multiple isolated compartments, each containing specific electrical components. Busbars are enclosed within dedicated compartments with IP2X protection, separating them from the external environment while maintaining organized accessibility. This segmentation allows operators to access specific busbar compartments without exposing all busbars, reducing accidental contact risks while preserving operational ease.
Solution Approach 2:
Busbars are nested within protective enclosures or insulating materials inside compartments. The compartment structure acts as a container that houses the busbars, providing IP2X protection against accidental contact. This nesting approach maintains the busbars' functional accessibility while embedding them in a safe, protected environment that prevents harmful external factors.
2Volume of moving object
If distance between busbars is reduced to obtain a more compact switchboard, then volume is reduced, but safety risks increase due to arc generation and corrosion
Solution Approach 1:
Different compartments are designed with specific local characteristics tailored to their function. Busbar compartments have optimized spacing and insulation properties appropriate for their voltage level and current capacity, while maintaining compact overall dimensions. This local quality optimization allows reduced distances between components where safe, while maintaining adequate spacing where arc risks exist, achieving compactness without compromising safety.
Solution Approach 2:
The switchboard utilizes composite insulating materials and coated busbars that provide enhanced electrical strength and corrosion resistance. These composite structures allow reduced spacing between busbars while maintaining safety margins against arc generation. The composite materials combine electrical insulation properties with mechanical strength, enabling compact design without increasing hazard levels.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If service interruption is required for expansion to ensure operator safety, then safety is improved, but productivity decreases due to power supply disruption
Solution Approach 1:
The switchboard's modular compartment design allows expansion work to be confined to specific isolated sections. Operators can access and modify individual compartments without needing to shut down the entire system, as other compartments remain sealed and protected. This segmentation enables maintenance and expansion activities to proceed with minimal or no service interruption, maintaining productivity while ensuring operator safety through isolated access points.
Solution Approach 2:
The IP2X-protected compartments act as intermediaries that isolate live electrical components from operators during expansion activities. By working through designated access points and using protective barriers, operators can perform expansion tasks without direct exposure to hazardous areas. This intermediary protection allows continuous operation of unaffected sections while enabling safe expansion work.
4Reliability
If busbars are enclosed in insulating modules to prevent arcs and improve safety, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The busbar enclosure system is segmented into standardized, pre-fabricated compartments with uniform designs. Each compartment uses consistent insulation materials and protective structures, reducing the complexity of individual components. This modular segmentation makes the overall encapsulation system more manageable and easier to manufacture, maintaining high reliability while controlling device complexity through standardization.
Solution Approach 2:
The compartment enclosures serve multiple functions simultaneously: they provide IP2X protection against accidental contact, prevent arc propagation, offer mechanical support for busbars, and facilitate modular expansion. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate protective systems, simplifying the overall structure while maintaining comprehensive safety and reliability benefits.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to an electrical low-voltage power distribution equipment for the distribution of electrical power to different consumers, wherein the equipment can be expanded when it is live to allow supplying power to a larger number of consumers, maintaining an IP protection rating of IP2X at all times, for which purpose it basically comprises at least one outlet with a fuse-holder base (2) and at least one set of busbars (1) encapsulated in an insulation module (4) preventing access to live parts, as well as a connection point (6) that allows the expansion thereof when it is live and is also encapsulated in the insulation module (4).