Removable Sensor Unit for Encapsulated Pole Units
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing medium voltage circuit interrupters and pole units lack integrated current transformers and electronic sensing circuits, making them large, heavy, and prone to failure during testing, with room for improvement in conductor assemblies and sensor integration.
Innovation Solution
A removable unit for encapsulated pole units of circuit interrupters, featuring an insulative housing that encapsulates line or load conductors and includes electronic devices such as voltage sensors, current sensors, or temperature sensors, which are structured to sense characteristics and are removably connected to the conductors, allowing for efficient sensing and reduced assembly costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If separate current transformers are provided for each pole, then sensing capability is improved, but device complexity and weight increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the current transformer and voltage sensor into a single integrated assembly that can be shared across multiple poles. This merging eliminates the need for separate CTs for each pole, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining sensing capability. The integrated assembly includes primary windings that can sense current for multiple poles simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated sensing assembly serves multiple functions: it acts as a current transformer for current sensing, provides voltage sensing capability, and can be universally applied to multiple poles. This multi-functionality reduces the total number of components needed while improving measurement precision across all poles.
2Measurement precision
If separate current transformers are provided for each pole, then sensing capability is improved, but the size and weight of the circuit breaker increase
Solution Approach 1:
By merging the current transformer and voltage sensor into a single integrated assembly that serves multiple poles, the total weight is significantly reduced compared to having separate CTs for each pole. The shared assembly eliminates redundant components and reduces overall material usage.
Solution Approach 2:
The voltage sensor is nested within or integrated with the current transformer assembly, creating a compact structure. This nesting arrangement allows both sensing functions to coexist in a single location, reducing the overall size and weight of the sensing system while maintaining full sensing capability.
3Device complexity
If integrated sensing assemblies are used, then device complexity is reduced, but adaptability for different sensing requirements decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The sensing system is segmented into modular integrated assemblies that can be selectively applied to different poles. Each assembly is a self-contained unit with standardized interfaces, allowing flexible configuration. This segmentation maintains low device complexity while enabling adaptability through modular deployment strategies.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated sensing assembly incorporates adjustable parameters and configurable winding arrangements that allow adaptation to different sensing requirements. The primary windings can be configured for different current ranges, and the assembly can be dynamically adjusted to meet various pole-specific requirements while maintaining overall system simplicity.
Data Source
AI summary
A medium voltage circuit interrupter includes a circuit interrupter housing and a plurality of poles. Each of the poles includes an encapsulated pole unit. The encapsulated pole unit includes a first unit having a first conductor, a second conductor, a vacuum interrupter electrically connected between the first conductor and the second conductor, and a first housing housing the vacuum interrupter. A removable second unit includes a third conductor, a fourth conductor having a first portion electrically connected to the third conductor and a second portion removably electrically connected to one of the first conductor and the second conductor, an electronic device structured to sense a characteristic of the pole, and a second insulative housing encapsulating the third conductor, the first portion of the fourth conductor and the electronic device. An operating mechanism is structured to open and close the vacuum interrupter of each of the poles.