Magnetic Coupling Component for Current Balancing in Parallel Conductors

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electrical machine designs face challenges in uniformly distributing high current intensities across multiple parallel conductors, leading to inefficiencies and increased losses due to non-uniform current distribution, which is costly and dimensionally cumbersome to address with traditional transpositions and transposed cables.

Innovation Solution

A magnetic coupling component with inverted windings is introduced to balance currents across parallel conductors by adjusting the turns ratio and winding configurations, ensuring uniform current distribution and minimizing losses, applicable to both AC and DC applications.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If the cross-section of the conductor is increased to reduce losses, then the losses decrease, but the current distribution becomes non-uniform due to skin effect and magnetic effects

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconductor lossesVSAvoidcurrent distribution uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides a single large conductor into multiple parallel conductors to distribute current. This segmentation allows the current to be distributed more uniformly across multiple smaller paths, mitigating the skin effect and magnetic effects that cause non-uniform current distribution in thick conductors, thereby reducing overall conductor losses.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a magnetic coupling component with inverted windings as an intermediary device. This component generates compensating magnetic flux that counteracts the parasitic voltages arising from non-uniform current distribution, thereby restoring uniform current distribution across parallel conductors and reducing energy losses.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Use of energy by moving object

If the current is divided into several parallel paths, then the conductor surface utilization improves, but parasitic voltages cause non-uniform current distribution

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconductor surface utilizationVSAvoidcurrent distribution uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The magnetic coupling component acts as an intermediary that detects non-uniform current distribution through induced voltages and generates compensating magnetic flux. This compensating flux counteracts the parasitic voltages, thereby restoring uniform current distribution across the parallel conductors and improving overall energy utilization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the magnetic coupling component continuously monitors current distribution through induced voltages and automatically adjusts the compensating magnetic flux accordingly. This feedback loop ensures that current distribution remains uniform despite variations in operating conditions, thereby maintaining optimal conductor surface utilization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Stability of the object's composition

If transpositions are used to balance current distribution, then current uniformity improves, but the machine dimensions and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecurrent distribution uniformityVSAvoidcircuit configuration complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical transposition system with an electromagnetic field-based solution. Instead of physically repositioning conductors through complex transposition arrangements, the magnetic coupling component uses electromagnetic induction to generate compensating flux, thereby achieving current balance without mechanical complexity or increased dimensions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

4Stability of the object's composition

If transposed cables are used to achieve current balance, then current distribution uniformity improves, but costs and overall dimensions increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecurrent distribution uniformityVSAvoidoverall machine dimensions
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSWeight of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent substitutes bulky transposed cable structures with a compact magnetic coupling component. This electromagnetic solution achieves the same current balancing effect without requiring the extensive physical space and weight associated with traditional transposed cable arrangements, thereby reducing overall machine dimensions and cost.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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

The solution achieves uniform current distribution across conductors, reducing losses and overall dimensions while lowering costs, and maintains stability against external variations in current flow distribution.

Implementation Method 1

A magnetic coupling component with inverted windings is introduced to balance currents across parallel conductors by adjusting the turns ratio and winding configurations

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic induction: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentEP3596809B1Current balancing circuit for electric machines
Publication Date: 2023.06.07 S E A SOC ELETTROMECCANICA ARZIGNANESE
  • EP3596809B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3596809B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A current balancing circuit for electrical machines, comprising an electrical machine, which includes at least two electrical conductors (1, 2, 3, 4), placed in parallel, inside which relative currents (I1, I2, I3, I4) flow, in which the electrical conductors (1, 2, 3, 4) have relative impedances (L1, L2, L3, L4) corresponding to losses proportional to the respective sections of the electrical conductor (1, 2, 3, 4) used; in particular, in series with each pair of electrical conductors (1, 2, 3, 4), there is a component formed by two paths crossed by the currents (I1, I2, I3, I4) of said at least two electrical conductors (1, 2, 3, 4) and by a magnetic circuit (M) of compensation between said two paths.