Electromagnetic Switch Diagnostics Using Actuator Supply Signals
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electromagnetic switching apparatuses in medium voltage electrical systems face challenges with wear and operational changes, leading to performance issues, and current diagnostic methods require additional sensors or high computational resources, making them costly and difficult to implement.
Innovation Solution
A switching apparatus with an electromagnetic actuator and control unit that monitors operation through detection signals, calculates diagnostic waveforms, and identifies perturbation instants to assess performance without dedicated sensors or complex models.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If dedicated sensors are arranged to monitor the behaviour of switching apparatus components, then diagnostic information accuracy is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The electromagnetic actuator monitors its own operational state by analyzing variations in its electrical supply parameters (current, voltage, frequency). The control unit processes these self-generated electrical parameters to detect wear, operational changes, and performance degradation without requiring external sensors on the switch poles.
Solution Approach 2:
The electromagnetic actuator's electrical supply system serves dual purposes: it both actuates the switching mechanism and provides diagnostic information about the switching apparatus's operational state. The same electrical parameters used for control are also analyzed for monitoring wear and performance.
2Measurement precision
If mathematical models of the electromagnetic actuator are used to reconstruct travel waveforms, then diagnostic information accuracy is improved, but computational resource requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts diagnostic information directly from readily available electrical supply parameters (current, voltage, frequency) measured during normal operation, rather than performing complex mathematical model-based reconstructions of travel waveforms. This extraction approach obtains sufficient diagnostic data without heavy computational processing.
3Reliability
If multiple sensors are installed to monitor critical components, then monitoring coverage is improved, but ease of manufacture deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The electromagnetic actuator itself provides the monitoring capability by analyzing its own electrical supply parameters. This self-service approach eliminates the need for additional sensors on the switch poles, significantly simplifying the manufacturing and installation process while maintaining comprehensive monitoring coverage of the switching apparatus's operational state.
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 efficient monitoring of switching apparatus performance, allowing timely maintenance and reducing manufacturing costs by utilizing existing detection signals for diagnostic insights.
Implementation Method 1
an actuation assembly operatively coupled to said movable contacts and including an electromagnetic actuator
Data Source
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AI summary
A switching apparatus for electrical applications comprising: - one or more switch poles; - for each switch pole, one or more fixed contacts and one or more movable contacts. The movable contacts are reversibly movable between an uncoupled position, at which said movable contacts are decoupled from said fixed contacts, and a coupled position, at which said movable contacts are coupled with said fixed contacts; - an actuation assembly operatively coupled to said movable contacts and including an electromagnetic actuator. The switching apparatus includes or is operatively coupled to a control unit for controlling the functionalities of the switching apparatus. Such a control unit is adapted to carry out a diagnostic method to monitor the operation of the switching apparatus during a switching manoeuvre.