Optical Waveguide Winding for Partial Discharge Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

The reduction in insulation thickness and the use of cost-effective impregnation processes in low-voltage motors lead to increased degradation due to partial discharges, which can result in faulty impregnation, air inclusions, and resin content issues, causing gradual damage to the insulation system and potential machine failure.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a winding system with optical waveguides that detect electromagnetic radiation in the optical frequency range, allowing for in-situ partial discharge detection without affecting the machine's efficiency, and utilizing these waveguides to localize and prevent damage by identifying UV flashes generated by partial discharges.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If insulation thickness is reduced to increase power density, then power density increases, but reliability of insulation system deteriorates due to increased susceptibility to partial discharge damage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower densityVSAvoidinsulation system reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The optical waveguide is installed in the insulation system before the machine operates, enabling early detection of partial discharges. This preliminary monitoring arrangement allows detection of degradation at its earliest stages, preventing catastrophic failure while maintaining reduced insulation thickness for high power density.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The optical waveguide provides continuous feedback about the insulation system's health by detecting UV radiation from partial discharges. This feedback mechanism enables real-time monitoring and early warning, allowing operational adjustments or maintenance scheduling before damage progresses, thus maintaining reliability despite thinner insulation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Ease of manufacture

If cost-effective impregnation processes are used to reduce manufacturing cost, then ease of manufacture improves, but quality of insulation deteriorates due to faulty impregnation, pores, and air inclusions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimpregnation process simplicityVSAvoidinsulation impregnation quality
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The optical waveguide acts as an intermediary monitoring device that detects the presence and location of air pockets and pores in the impregnated insulation. By providing visual feedback about impregnation quality, it enables verification and potential rework of the impregnation process, ensuring adequate quality even when using cost-effective manufacturing methods.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Difficulty of detecting and measuring

If electrical measurement methods are used to detect partial discharges, then detection capability improves, but machine efficiency deteriorates due to electrical field distortion in the active part

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepartial discharge detection capabilityVSAvoidmachine efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Difficulty of detecting and measuringVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces electrical measurement methods with optical detection. The optical waveguide uses light-based detection (UV radiation from partial discharges) instead of electrical field measurements, thereby eliminating the electrical field distortion problem while maintaining partial discharge detection capability. This substitution preserves machine efficiency without sacrificing detection ability.

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

Enables early detection and prevention of insulation system damage, reducing the risk of machine failure and downtime, and allowing for precise control of the machine's operation through cloud-based monitoring and reactive measures.

Implementation Method 1

the optical waveguide being designed in such a way that electromagnetic radiation in the optical frequency range can be detected

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic radiation detection: Photoelectric Effect

Implementation Method 2

light beams are transported as light waves within the fiber to the end of the fiber due to boundary surface reflection on the lateral surface

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectTotal internal reflection: Total Internal Reflection

Implementation Method 3

light rays, which flow through the lateral surface at an obtuse angle, are scattered at these scattering centers and are thus 'trapped' in the optical waveguide

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight scattering: Scattering

Data Source

PatentEP3951456A1Dynamo-electric machine and winding system for dynamo-electric machine
Publication Date: 2022.02.09 INNOMOTICS GMBH
  • EP3951456A1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP3951456A1 patent drawingFigure 4~7
  • EP3951456A1 patent drawing

AI summary

The invention relates to a winding system for a dynamoelectric machine (8), comprising a plurality of individual wires (2) and at least one optical waveguide (4), wherein the optical waveguide (4) is configured such that electromagnetic radiation in the optical frequency range is detectable. The invention further relates to a dynamoelectric machine (8) comprising a rotor (14) and a stator (13), wherein the stator (13) comprises a stator core and such a winding system. The invention also relates to a drive mechanism.