Nanoparticle-Enhanced Insulating Structure Suppresses Electric Tree Progression

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Solution Overview

Problem

The mica electrical insulating structure in high-voltage formed-wound electrical motors is prone to electric tree progression, which weakens the insulation and reduces the lifetime of the insulating material, particularly due to the vulnerability of the epoxy glass layer outside the mica insulating layer.

Innovation Solution

A producing method for an electrical insulating structure that includes a main insulation layer, a fiber reinforcement part, and a macromolecular polymer part with nanoparticles scattered in the fiber reinforcement part, which are used to join the main insulation layer and the fiber reinforcement part, effectively dispersing nanoparticles throughout the macromolecular polymer part to inhibit electric tree progression.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If a mica electrical insulating structure with epoxy glass layer is used, then high temperature resistance is achieved, but electric tree progression occurs in the epoxy glass layer reducing insulation lifetime

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetemperature resistanceVSAvoidinsulation lifetime
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a composite insulating structure combining mica layers with organic insulating material layers. This composite approach leverages the high temperature resistance of mica while the organic material layer prevents electric tree progression, thus resolving the contradiction between temperature resistance and insulation lifetime.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies different materials to different regions of the insulating structure. The mica layer provides high temperature resistance where needed, while the organic insulating material layer specifically addresses the electric tree progression problem in the epoxy glass layer, creating local quality improvements that resolve the overall contradiction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If nanoparticles are added to macromolecular polymer, then electric tree progression is suppressed, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveelectric tree resistanceVSAvoidmanufacturing process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent incorporates nanoparticles into the organic insulating material layer during the preliminary manufacturing stage, before the final assembly of the insulating structure. This preliminary action integrates the nanoparticle distribution into the manufacturing process itself, suppressing electric tree progression without significantly increasing overall manufacturing complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

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 method significantly suppresses the progression of electric trees, thereby enhancing the electrical insulation lifetime, mechanical strength, and heat conductivity, and reduces the need for temporary reinforcement, improving the efficiency and reliability of the insulating structure.

Implementation Method 1

nanoparticles are scattered in the macromolecular polymer part with the highest concentration in the fiber reinforcement part

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectNanoparticle scattering: Scattering

Implementation Method 2

a macromolecular polymer part formed in the fiber reinforcement part so as to join the main insulation layer and the fiber reinforcement part

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAdhesion: Adhesive

Data Source

PatentEP3480922B1Method for producing insulating structure
Publication Date: 2021.09.22 TOSHIBA MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC IND SYST CORP
  • EP3480922B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3480922B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3480922B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A producing method for an electrical insulating structure that covers an outer surface of a to-be-insulated object is provided. The method comprises: a taping step (S02) of winding a main insulation tape on outside of the to-be-insulated object; a spraying step (S03) of spraying nanoparticles onto the outer surface of the wound main insulation tape; a vacuum drawing step (S06) of vacuum drawing the tape-wound to-be-insulated object; and an impregnation step (S07) of injecting a nanoparticle-containing impregnating macromolecular polymer in which nanoparticles have been kneaded to impregnate the to-be-insulated object therewith. In the spraying step (S03), microcapsules, which contain the nanoparticles and are able to release the nanoparticles before the impregnation step (S07), are sprayed.