Residual Current Voltage Reduction for Limited Low-Voltage Operation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrical circuit breakers switch off all devices when a residual current exceeds a certain value, preventing continued operation of electrical installations even after the fault is identified, and existing solutions do not allow for limited operation of devices during fault conditions.
Innovation Solution
A device with a residual current sensor, current measuring unit, and voltage reduction unit that lowers the electrical voltage in response to measured fault currents, allowing limited operation of devices by reducing the fault current to a safe value, enabling continued use of low-power devices like computers and lighting fixtures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a residual current circuit breaker switches off the circuit when residual current exceeds a certain value, then safety is improved, but all electrical devices are switched off and limited operation cannot be maintained
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the voltage parameter dynamically in response to detected fault conditions. When a residual current is detected, the device reduces the supply voltage to a reduced level that allows low-power devices to continue operating while keeping the fault current below the trip threshold of the residual current circuit breaker, thus maintaining both safety and limited operational capability.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If the supply voltage is reduced to limit fault current, then the fault current is reduced to safe levels, but the voltage available to electrical devices is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different voltage levels to different operational contexts. Full voltage is maintained for normal operation, while a reduced voltage is applied specifically during fault conditions to limit fault current. This local differentiation allows the system to maintain high power availability during normal operation while ensuring safety during faults.
Solution Approach 2:
The voltage supply is made dynamic rather than static. The device continuously monitors for residual currents and dynamically adjusts the supply voltage between full voltage and reduced voltage states based on the detected fault conditions, allowing the system to adapt its power delivery to the operational requirements and safety constraints.
3Reliability
If all devices are switched off when a residual current is detected, then safety is ensured, but the ability to maintain limited operation with low-power devices is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the operational modes into distinct categories: normal operation at full voltage, and fault operation at reduced voltage that supports only low-power devices. This segmentation allows the system to maintain appropriate safety margins while preserving limited operational capability for essential low-power devices during fault conditions.
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 continued operation of low-power electrical devices during fault conditions by varying the supply voltage, allowing for network access and safe operation until the fault is corrected, without triggering the residual current circuit breaker.
Implementation Method 1
a residual current sensor (3) and a current measuring unit (4), an output of the residual current sensor (3) being connected to an input of the current measuring unit (4)
Implementation Method 2
the device 1 has a voltage reduction unit (5), wherein the voltage reduction unit (5) is connected to an output of the current measuring unit (4), and wherein the voltage reduction unit (5) is designed to lower the electrical voltage - subsequently applied to the device 1 - depending on the level of the measured fault current
Data Source
AI summary
For a device (1) for reducing residual current in an electrical circuit (2), in particular an electrical low-voltage line, wherein the device (1) has a residual current sensor (3) and a current measuring unit (4), wherein an output of the residual current sensor (3) is connected to an input of the current measuring unit (4), it is proposed that the device (1) has a voltage reducing unit (5), that the voltage reducing unit (5) is connected to an output of the current measuring unit (4), and that the voltage reducing unit (5) is designed to reduce the electrical voltage – subsequently applied to the device (1) – depending on the height of the measured residual current in order to limit the measured residual current to a predeterminable value, in particular 30 mA.