Mobile environment-controlled unit having a magnetic sensor for a high-voltage alternating current bus
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Solution Overview
Problem
Many mobile environment-controlled units, such as refrigeration trailers, lack direct monitoring of alternator bus health, relying on secondary component misbehavior to detect faults, which can lead to inefficiencies and potential system failures.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a single Hall Effect current sensor to monitor all phases of the high-voltage AC bus, providing an analog signal for analysis of amplitude, frequency, and amplitude/frequency ratio to determine bus loading and identify fault conditions, ensuring proper operation of the alternator and connected systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single Hall Effect current sensor is used to monitor all phases of the high-voltage AC bus, then device complexity is reduced and cost is lowered, but measurement precision may be compromised compared to using multiple sensors per phase
Solution Approach 1:
The single Hall Effect current sensor is designed to perform multiple functions by sequentially monitoring all phases of the high-voltage AC bus. The sensor serves as both a cost-effective solution and a functional monitoring device for the entire alternator system, replacing what would traditionally require multiple dedicated sensors per phase.
2Reliability
If direct monitoring of alternator bus health is implemented, then reliability of the system is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional monitoring components
Solution Approach 1:
The monitoring system is designed to be self-sufficient by using the existing high-voltage AC bus structure itself as part of the sensing mechanism. The Hall Effect sensor monitors current through the bus conductors directly, eliminating the need for separate test leads or external monitoring equipment, thus improving reliability without significantly increasing overall system complexity.
3Measurement precision
If analysis of amplitude, frequency, and amplitude/frequency ratio is performed, then measurement precision of bus loading and fault identification is improved, but loss of information processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary analysis by continuously monitoring the amplitude, frequency, and amplitude/frequency ratio of the current signal. By maintaining these parameters in readiness and using pre-established fault detection thresholds, the system can quickly identify faults without requiring extensive real-time computation when anomalies occur, thus improving precision while minimizing time loss.
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 enables direct and precise monitoring of the alternator's health, preventing faults and ensuring efficient operation of the refrigeration unit by identifying and addressing issues before they cause system failures, thereby improving reliability and efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
Incorporating a single Hall Effect current sensor to monitor all phases of the high-voltage AC bus
Data Source
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AI summary
A mobile unit (e.g., a vehicle or a mobile environment-controlled unit) having a multiphase alternator, such as a three-phase alternator. The unit incorporates a Hall Effect current sensor to monitor all three phases of the high-voltage AC bus from the alternator.