Switching Device Degradation Detection by Release Time Monitoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing low and medium voltage switching devices, such as circuit breakers, face challenges in monitoring and detecting degradation over their service life, which can lead to faults and operational failures due to aging components like wear, deformation, and corrosion, affecting the safety and reliability of electrical networks.
Innovation Solution
A process is developed to detect degradation in switching devices by measuring the elapsed duration between predetermined positions of the unlocking member and the driving element during successive actuations, using the actuator to displace the unlocking member and determining changes in reaction time, allowing for the detection of fluctuations indicative of component degradation without requiring additional sensors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional switching devices are used without monitoring systems, then device complexity is reduced, but reliability deteriorates due to undetected degradation from aging components
Solution Approach 1:
The switching device monitors its own degradation by measuring the reaction time of its internal control mechanism components (unlocking member and driving element) during normal operation. The device uses existing actuators and control mechanisms to perform self-diagnostics, eliminating the need for external monitoring equipment while improving reliability through continuous degradation detection
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary degradation detection by measuring reaction time parameters before actual faults occur. By iterating measurements over successive actuations and analyzing trends in elapsed duration, the system anticipates potential failures and allows for preventive maintenance, improving reliability before critical degradation occurs
2Measurement precision
If additional sensors are added to monitor component positions, then measurement precision improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the existing actuator and control mechanism to measure reaction time without adding position sensors. The actuator's normal operation is observed to detect degradation, turning the control mechanism itself into the measurement tool and avoiding additional hardware complexity while maintaining measurement precision
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces mechanical position sensing with temporal measurement. Instead of using sensors to detect physical positions of components, the system measures the elapsed time duration between actuator activation and control mechanism response, substituting a simple temporal measurement for complex mechanical sensing
3Reliability
If frequent monitoring measurements are performed during successive actuations, then reliability improves through early fault detection, but loss of time increases due to multiple measurement iterations
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs degradation measurements periodically during normal successive actuations rather than continuously or at dedicated test intervals. By utilizing the routine operational cycle of the switching device, monitoring is integrated into normal operation, improving reliability through regular detection without requiring separate testing time
Solution Approach 2:
The measurement process is embedded within the continuous useful action of normal switching operations. Each actuation serves both its primary function and the degradation monitoring function simultaneously, eliminating the need for separate measurement cycles and minimizing time loss while maintaining continuous reliability monitoring
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 process enables early detection of degradation, anticipating potential faults and ensuring timely maintenance or replacement, thereby enhancing the safety and reliability of electrical networks by monitoring changes in the control mechanism's behavior over the device's service life.
Implementation Method 1
an actuator configured to displace the unlocking member from the locking position to the release position
Implementation Method 2
an elastic member connected to the driving element; in which the elastic member is held in a tensioned state, to a release position, in which the elastic member is free to slacken
Data Source
AI summary
A process for detecting degradation of a switching device including: a mobile electrical contact; a control mechanism including: a driving element of the mobile contact, an elastic member linked to the driving element, and an unlocking member configured to release the elastic member so as to move the contact so as to open an electrical circuit; and an actuator configured to displace the unlocking member. The process includes: (i) commanding the actuator, (ii) determining the duration of time between a first instant corresponding to a predetermined position of the unlocking member and a second instant corresponding to a predetermined position of the driving member, (v) carrying out a set of successive commands of the actuator, so as to obtain a set of values of the duration of time, and (vi) determining a degradation of the unlocking member of the switching device from the evolution of the values of the set of values.