Optical Voltage Sensor Without Metallic Electrodes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional optical voltage sensors require metallic electrodes near the Pockels crystal, leading to insulation challenges and potential dielectric breakdowns in high-voltage applications, limiting their reliability and size due to the need for extensive insulation.
Innovation Solution
A voltage sensor system using a dielectric housing with a crystal rod exhibiting the Pockels effect, where the crystal rod is positioned in an insulating space between two conductors, allowing for electric field measurement without metallic electrodes, enabling accurate AC and DC voltage measurement with reduced risk of dielectric breakdown.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If metallic electrodes are used near the Pockels crystal for voltage measurement, then the voltage sensor can function, but the insulation requirements increase and dielectric breakdown risk increases in high-voltage applications
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes metallic electrodes from the voltage sensor design, extracting the harmful element that causes dielectric breakdown risks. The Pockels crystal is positioned directly in the electric field without requiring metallic electrodes, eliminating the insulation challenges associated with placing metallic components in high-voltage environments.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the metallic electrode-based electrical measurement system with an optical measurement system. The voltage is measured optically through the Pockels effect, substituting the mechanical/electrical connection with an optical field interaction, thereby eliminating dielectric breakdown risks.
2Ease of operation
If metallic electrodes are attached to the Pockels crystal, then voltage measurement is enabled, but the sensor size increases due to extensive insulation requirements
Solution Approach 1:
By removing metallic electrodes from the design, the patent eliminates the need for extensive insulation structures that would otherwise be required. This extraction of the harmful element directly reduces the sensor volume while maintaining voltage measurement capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical measurement system replaces the metallic electrode-based system, eliminating the need for physical insulation structures. The voltage is measured through optical interaction with the Pockels crystal in the electric field, significantly reducing the sensor size.
3Measurement precision
If conventional optical voltage sensors are used, then voltage measurement is possible, but metallic electrodes near the crystal create insulation challenges in high-voltage applications
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the metallic electrodes that create insulation challenges. The Pockels crystal is positioned directly in the electric field without metallic electrodes, eliminating the harmful factor of insulation failure risk while maintaining measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent substitutes the metallic electrode-based measurement system with an optical system. The voltage is measured through optical interaction with the Pockels crystal, replacing the harmful metallic elements with an optical field, thereby eliminating insulation failure risks.
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 system provides reliable and accurate voltage measurement across a wide range of voltages without metallic electrodes, minimizing the risk of insulation failure and allowing for compact design, suitable for high-voltage applications.
Implementation Method 1
a crystal rod received in and encapsulated within the housing in optical continuation of the circular polarization filter, the crystal rod being made of a material having electro-optical properties for causing retardance
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to an AC or DC power transmission system. The system comprises a first electrical conductor, a second electrical conductor and an insulating space there between. The system further comprises an electric field measurement device comprising the following components being mounted in optical continuation: a first optical fiber being connected to a light source, a first optical lens, a circular polarization filter, a crystal rod having electro-optical properties, a linear polarization filter, a second optical lens, and a second optical fiber being connected to a light detection unit. The electric field measurement device is located adjacent the first electrical conductor and defines a first minimum distance between the crystal rod and the first electrical conductor and a second minimum distance between the crystal rod and the second electrical conductor. The second minimum distance is at least 10 times larger than the first minimum distance.