Remotely Controlled Grounding System for High Voltage Equipment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current high voltage equipment maintenance requires manual grounding, which is risky, time-consuming, and prone to errors due to the need for personnel to physically interact with energized components, especially in valve halls where high voltage equipment like modular multilevel voltage source converters pose hazards from residual capacitor charges.
Innovation Solution
A remotely controlled grounding system using a moveable rod element with conductive and isolating sections that can be propelled to connect or disconnect positive and negative ground terminals, allowing safe and efficient grounding from a distance, reducing the risk of human error and exposure to hazardous conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual grounding is performed by personnel entering the valve hall, then grounding can be established to discharge residual charges, but personnel are exposed to risk of electric discharges and injury
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a remotely controllable grounding device as an intermediary between the operator and the high voltage equipment. The device includes a moveable rod element with conductive and isolating sections that can be remotely positioned to establish or break ground connections, eliminating the need for personnel to physically enter the valve hall and exposing them to electric discharge risks
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical grounding operation with an automated remote control system. The grounding device is controlled from a remote location outside the valve hall, substituting the mechanical action of manually connecting grounding contacts with an automated mechanism that can be operated safely from a distance
2Reliability
If manual grounding steps are performed sequentially, then grounding can be established, but the process is time-consuming and prone to errors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple grounding operations into a single integrated device. The moveable rod element incorporates both conductive sections for making ground connections and isolating sections for breaking connections, allowing all grounding steps to be performed through a single remote operation rather than multiple sequential manual steps
Solution Approach 2:
The grounding device is pre-configured with conductive and isolating sections in specific arrangements before operation. This preliminary configuration ensures that when the device is remotely actuated, the grounding connections are automatically established in the correct sequence and position, eliminating errors from manual operation
3Ease of operation
If grounding contact is manually moved and connected to terminals, then grounding is established, but the operation is complex and requires close proximity to hazardous equipment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the hazardous part of the grounding operation from the manual process. The moveable rod element with its conductive and isolating sections is designed to be actuated remotely, taking out the need for personnel to physically handle grounding contacts and connect them to terminals near high voltage equipment
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 safe, efficient, and reliable grounding of high voltage equipment, ensuring personnel safety by allowing remote operation of the grounding process, reducing the risk of electrical discharges and errors, and facilitating maintenance without exposing personnel to dangerous conditions.
Implementation Method 1
The moveable rod element is preferably driven or propelled by a propulsion system, for example via a pneumatic or hydraulic system
Implementation Method 2
the positive and negative grounding terminals are galvanically connected with one another by the conductive section and in which grounded position the conductive section is connected to ground via the at least one conductor
Implementation Method 3
the positive and negative grounding terminals are isolated from one another by the isolating section
Data Source
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AI summary
A grounding system (4) configured to be remotely controlled comprising at least one movable rod element (10, 10') comprising at least one conductive section (26, 26') and at least one isolating section (24, 24') and at least one conductor (12, 12'),which is configured to be electrically connected to ground and the movable rod element. The grounding system (4) further comprising at least one pair of positive and negative grounding terminals (34a, 34b, 34a', 34b') arranged to be fixedly connected to electric equipment to be grounded. The grounding system further comprises a rod propulsion system (8) arranged to be remotely controlled and configured to move the at least one movable rod element (10, 10') from an ungrounded position (U), in which the positive and negative grounding terminals are isolated from one another by the isolating section, into a grounded position (G), in which the positive and negative grounding terminals are galvanically connected with one another by the conductive section and in which grounded position the conductive section is connected to ground via the at least one conductor.