Electro-dynamic Shaker Field Current Optimization

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional electro-dynamic shaker systems face challenges in optimizing operating conditions for energy-saving and quiet operation, as they require professional knowledge to balance field and drive currents, leading to inefficient power consumption and heat management.

Innovation Solution

An apparatus with a vibration controller, variable field current power supply, and temperature sensors calculates optimal operating conditions by determining necessary excitation forces, drive currents, and coil temperatures to minimize power consumption and noise, while ensuring temperature constraints are met, allowing for gradual adjustments to maintain consistent vibration testing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If the field current is reduced to save power, then the field coil power consumption decreases, but the drive current must be increased to maintain excitation force, which increases drive coil power consumption and may exceed amplifier ratings

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefield coil power consumptionVSAvoiddrive current
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSPower

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts the field current parameter based on the required excitation force level. By changing this parameter in real-time rather than keeping it fixed, the system can operate at lower field currents when full force is not needed, thereby reducing field coil power consumption while the control system compensates to maintain adequate excitation force within amplifier capabilities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses feedback from the vibration controller and amplifier to monitor the actual excitation force and drive current levels. This feedback loop allows the system to detect when reducing field current would compromise performance and automatically adjusts the field current setting to maintain the optimal balance between power savings and maintaining sufficient drive current within amplifier ratings.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Use of energy by moving object

If the field current is reduced to save power, then the field coil power consumption decreases, but the total power consumption may increase due to increased drive current requirements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefield coil power consumptionVSAvoidtotal power consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically optimizes the field current parameter based on real-time operating conditions and required excitation force levels. By continuously adjusting this parameter to the optimal value rather than using a fixed conservative setting, the system minimizes the sum of field coil and drive coil power consumption, ensuring that total power consumption is reduced without compromising performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The system automatically determines and adjusts its own operating parameters (field current and blower rotation) based on monitoring the required excitation force. This self-service capability eliminates the need for operator intervention and ensures the system continuously operates at the point of minimum total power consumption for the given testing requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Object-generated harmful factors

If the blower rotation is reduced to decrease noise, then the cooling capability decreases, but the coil temperatures may exceed limitations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveblower noiseVSAvoidcoil temperature
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts the blower rotation parameter based on the actual thermal load of the coils, which depends on the field and drive current levels. By changing this parameter in real-time rather than maintaining a fixed high rotation, the system can reduce blower noise during low-power operation while ensuring adequate cooling when high currents generate more heat.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses temperature monitoring and power consumption data as feedback to continuously adjust the blower rotation. This feedback loop allows the system to reduce blower speed and noise when coil temperatures are low (during power-saving operation) and automatically increase blower rotation when temperatures approach limitations, maintaining the optimal balance between noise reduction and thermal management.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

4Loss of energy

If the field current and blower rotation are dynamically adjusted for optimization, then power consumption and noise are reduced, but the system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetotal power consumptionVSAvoidcontrol system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system integrates multiple functions into the existing vibration controller and field power supply units. The vibration controller performs both vibration control and excitation force monitoring, while the field power supply handles both field current control and communication with the optimization system. This multi-functionality approach avoids adding separate dedicated control systems, thereby limiting the increase in overall system complexity.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements a feedback-based optimization loop that uses existing sensors and controllers to monitor excitation force requirements and automatically adjust field current and blower rotation. By leveraging existing system components and their communication capabilities rather than adding entirely new control hardware, the system achieves dynamic optimization with minimal increase in complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

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 enables the determination of optimized operating conditions that reduce total power consumption and noise, while maintaining consistent vibration testing, thus addressing the inefficiencies and heat management issues in conventional systems.

Implementation Method 1

When DC current is fed to the field coil 4, a static magnetic field is generated at the gap 12

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic field generation: Electromagnet

Implementation Method 2

AC current fed to the drive coil 10 yields a vibratory movement of the armature 6

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic force: Lorentz Force

Implementation Method 3

The armature 6 is supported by the air suspension 8 so that it can move along the centre line of the shaker

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAir pressure support: Air Lubrication

Implementation Method 4

With rotating the blower 16, air-flow from the air-intake 18 at the top of the magnetic circuit 2 to inside is generated, and this air-flow cools the field coil 4 and the drive coil 10

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectForced convection cooling: Forced Convection

Data Source

PatentEP2093553B1Apparatus for optimizing shaker system performance and related control methods
Publication Date: 2015.01.14 IMV
  • EP2093553B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2093553B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2093553B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Focusing on the criterion of "Energy save" or "Quiet noise" or other suitable operating parameter and considering the existing limitation of the operation of the electro-dynamic shaker system, apparatus for optimizing the operating condition of the vibration test system is proposed. The apparatus 100 measures the field current and drive current under the state that the desired vibration is fed to the specimen 20, and calculates the necessary force the shaker 1 should supply. Field current is supposed to be varied, and the necessary drive current is calculated based on the necessary force data. Further, the blower rotation is supposed to be varied, and the total power consumption at the coils and the blower is calculated. Also the temperatures of the field coil 4 and of the drive coil 10 is estimated and checked whether within the limitation. Then the optimal operating condition for the focused criterion is selected.