Signal Mixing Unit for Electrical Feature Determination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrical monitoring systems in power generation and distribution require multiple analogue input channels to measure electrical features, leading to increased hardware costs and complexity, especially in high-voltage applications where safety and reliability are critical.
Innovation Solution
A mixing unit is introduced to combine measurements from different test signals, allowing the processing device to decompose mixed signals and determine electrical features using only two input channels, reducing hardware costs and improving fault detection reliability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If multiple test signals are injected to determine multiple electrical features, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases due to multiple input channels required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple measurement signals (first and second electrical quantities from different test signals) into a single mixed signal using a mixing unit. This allows multiple measurements to be processed through one input channel instead of requiring separate channels for each measurement, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining the capability to determine multiple electrical features with high precision
Solution Approach 2:
The processing device is designed to handle multiple functions: it processes both the first and second electrical quantities, performs separation of mixed signals, and determines multiple electrical features (impedance, transfer function) through a single input channel. This multi-functional approach eliminates the need for dedicated input channels for each measurement type, reducing overall system complexity
2Measurement precision
If more input channels are added to process multiple measurements, then measurement precision is improved, but hardware cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mixing unit merges multiple measurement signals into a single mixed signal that can be processed through one input channel. This consolidation reduces the number of required input channels from multiple to just one, directly reducing hardware costs while preserving the ability to perform multiple precise measurements through signal separation processing
3Reliability
If multiple test signals at different frequencies are injected, then reliability of fault detection is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses periodic test signals at different frequencies (first main frequency and second main frequency) to excite the electrical device. The mixing unit combines the periodic response signals, and the processing device separates them based on their frequency characteristics. This periodic multi-frequency approach enhances fault detection reliability by providing multiple measurement perspectives while managing complexity through frequency-based signal separation
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
This approach reduces hardware costs and enhances reliability by allowing fault detection in high-voltage systems with fewer input channels, improving the efficiency and safety of electrical monitoring while maintaining performance.
Implementation Method 1
a signal injection unit configured to inject a first test signal at a first main frequency into a first electric circuit, and to inject a second test signal at a second main frequency into the first electric circuit or into a second electric circuit
Implementation Method 2
a signal conversion unit configured to measure a first and a second electrical quantity, such as current and voltage, in the first electrical circuit resulting from the first test signal
Implementation Method 3
the method of dielectric spectroscopy is introduced as a means to diagnose electric insulation materials used in power engineering. Dielectric spectroscopy may also be called impedance spectroscopy, and it is based on the reaction of a material to an applied electromagnetic field at a certain frequency
Data Source
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AI summary
Arrangement to determine at least one electrical feature of an electrical device (1). The arrangement comprising a signal injection unit (8) configured to inject a first test signal (t1) at a first main frequency (f1) into a first electric circuit (10), and to inject a second test signal (t2) at a second main frequency (f2) into the first electric circuit (10) or into a second electric circuit (30), a signal conversion unit (7) configured to measure a first and a second electrical quantity in the first electrical circuit resulting from the first test signal (t1), and to measure the first and second electrical quantity in the first (10) or second electric circuit (30) resulting from the second test signal (t2),and a processing device (18) including at least two analogue input channels (16,17) configured to receive the measured electrical quantities and to determine the electrical feature based on the measured electrical quantities, a mixing unit (13) configured to add the measurements (U1,U2) of the first electrical quantity from the first and second testsignals and based thereon generate a first mixed signal, to add the measurements (I1,I2) of the second electrical quantity from the first and second test signals and based thereon generate a second mixed signal, to supply the first mixed signal to a firstinput channel of the processing device and to supply the second mixed signal to a second input channel of the processing device. The processing device is configured to decompose the mixed signals to obtain the measurements of the first and second electrical quantities.