Low-Energy Pulse Generator for Arc Ignition in Fault Location
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Solution Overview
Problem
Locating insulation faults in low-voltage electrical wiring is challenging due to inaccurate pre-location methods and the complexity of existing devices, which require high-energy pulses and are cumbersome and costly, necessitating the disconnection of consumers during troubleshooting.
Innovation Solution
A lightweight, low-power generator produces a high-voltage, low-energy pulse to ignite an arc for fault location, allowing for acoustic or reflection methods without disrupting the power supply, using a small device with a high-voltage pulse generator and mains connection, and a blocking device to prevent pulse reversal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If high-energy pulses are used to ignite arcs for fault location, then arc ignition is achieved, but device weight and complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The device segments the pulse generation into two distinct stages: a high-voltage impulse generator (3-30kV, low energy 0.1-10J) for arc ignition, and the mains voltage supply (230V) for maintaining the arc. This segmentation allows the portable device to只提供 the ignition pulse while relying on the network's mains voltage to sustain the arc, dramatically reducing device weight and complexity compared to providing continuous high energy.
Solution Approach 2:
The high-voltage impulse generator performs preliminary action by creating the initial arc breakdown at the fault location. Once the arc is ignited, the device disconnects and allows the mains voltage to take over for maintaining the arc. This preliminary action separates the ignition function from the maintenance function, enabling a lightweight portable device.
2Measurement precision
If high-voltage pulses are applied to locate faults, then fault location is achieved, but consumer disconnection is required to prevent damage
Solution Approach 1:
The device changes the voltage parameter dynamically: it applies high voltage (3-30kV) only during the brief impulse for arc ignition, then switches to low voltage (230V mains) for arc maintenance. This parameter change ensures that consumers experience only brief, low-energy overvoltages that are unlikely to cause damage, eliminating the need for consumer disconnection while maintaining fault location precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The device uses periodic high-voltage impulses applied to the defective conductor to repeatedly attempt arc ignition. Each impulse is brief and low-energy, and if consumers are sensitive, the device can pause between impulses. This periodic action allows fault location without requiring permanent disconnection of consumers.
3Reliability
If existing fault location devices are used, then arcs can be ignited, but the devices are cumbersome and expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The device extracts only the essential ignition function from the complete arc maintenance system. It takes out the high-voltage impulse generation capability (3-30kV, 0.1-10J) needed for arc breakdown while leaving out the continuous high-energy supply infrastructure. The device relies on the existing mains voltage infrastructure to maintain the arc, dramatically simplifying and reducing the cost of the portable device.
Solution Approach 2:
The device makes the mains voltage supply self-service by using it to maintain the arc after ignition. Once the portable device ignites the arc with a high-voltage impulse, the mains voltage automatically takes over to sustain the arc without further intervention from the portable device. This self-service approach eliminates the need for the device to provide continuous high energy, reducing complexity.
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4~6
AI summary
Disclosed are a method and a device for locating a fault by generating a disruptive electric discharge at a fault point (4) of a faulty conductor (1), wherefore an electric pulse (7, 17) consisting of a higher-voltage pulse (7) that strikes the disruptive discharge and a lower-voltage pulse (17) that prolongs the disruptive discharge are applied. The higher-voltage pulse is generated as a high-voltage pulse (7), the voltage level and duration of which are sufficient to strike the disruptive discharge and which has less energy than a surge pulse admissible for consumers that can be connected to the public low-voltage distribution system, while the lower-voltage pulse is generated as a low-voltage pulse (17) in the form of a section of the AC voltage of the low-voltage distribution system (L1, L2, L3).