Rogowski Current Sensor With Shared Coils

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional Rogowski-type current sensors require multiple sensors for measuring currents in multiple electrical conductors, leading to significant bulk and increased production costs, which is not suitable for applications where conductors are close to each other.

Innovation Solution

A compact current measuring device using two Rogowski-type sensors with shared coils, forming a closed polygonal contour around each conductor, reducing the number of coils and production costs while maintaining measurement precision and reliability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple separate Rogowski sensors are used to measure currents in multiple electrical conductors, then measurement coverage is improved, but device bulk and complexity increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemeasurement coverageVSAvoiddevice bulk
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple Rogowski sensor functions into a single integrated device by sharing common coils between different measurement circuits. Specifically, coils are configured to form closed polygonal contours that can simultaneously serve as measurement circuits for multiple electrical conductors, reducing the overall number of coils needed while maintaining the ability to measure currents in multiple conductors.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The common coils serve multiple functions by being part of both the first and second measurement circuits simultaneously. This multi-functionality allows a single set of coils to measure currents in multiple electrical conductors, eliminating the need for separate dedicated sensors for each conductor and significantly reducing device bulk.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple separate Rogowski sensors are used to measure currents in multiple electrical conductors, then measurement coverage is improved, but production cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemeasurement coverageVSAvoidproduction cost
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple sensor functions into a single device structure, reducing the total number of coils required. By configuring coils to form shared measurement circuits, the device requires fewer individual coil components, directly reducing material costs and assembly complexity while maintaining the capability to measure multiple conductors.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Volume of stationary object

If fewer coils are used in the measuring device, then device size and production cost are reduced, but measurement precision and reliability may deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice sizeVSAvoidmeasurement precision and reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of stationary objectVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent strategically merges measurement functions through shared coils configured in closed polygonal contours. This configuration ensures that each measurement circuit maintains its functional integrity and measurement precision by forming complete loops around the electrical conductors, while the sharing of coils between circuits reduces overall device size without compromising measurement quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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

The solution reduces the size and production costs of the measuring device while maintaining similar precision and reliability compared to using separate sensors, making it suitable for polyphase electrical systems.

Implementation Method 1

The current which circulates in the electrical conductor generates a magnetic field, which in turn generates, at the terminals of this winding, a difference in electrical potential proportional to the intensity of the electrical current.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic induction: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentEP3443365B1Device for measuring electric currents
Publication Date: 2022.08.10 SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC IND SAS
  • EP3443365B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3443365B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3443365B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

This device (2) for measuring electric currents comprises Rogowski-type current sensors (20, 21), each capable of measuring an AC electric current in an electrical conductor (200, 210), each sensor including coils (201, 202, 203, 204, 211, 213, 214) that are electrically connected in series in order to form a measurement circuit and being joined to one another so as to delimit a central zone (205, 215) of this sensor (20, 21) in order to receive the corresponding electrical conductor (200, 210). One of the coils (204) is common to the first and second sensors (20, 21), this common coil (204) being electrically connected to the first and second measurement circuits.