Hermetic Transformer Sensor Holder for In-Situ Hydrogen Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for measuring dissolved hydrogen in hermetic transformers are either costly, complex, and risky, or lack sufficient reactivity and reliability, leading to potential transformer disconnections due to untimely detection of defects.

Innovation Solution

A sensor support with a main body and an elongated cavity that allows for easy installation of a dissolved hydrogen probe on a preexisting orifice of the transformer, facilitating fast and reliable measurements without the need to drain the cooling liquid.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a sensor is directly mounted on the transformer enclosure wall, then measurement reliability is improved, but installation complexity and risk increase due to drilling operations requiring coolant drainage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemeasurement reliabilityVSAvoidinstallation complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a sensor holder as an intermediary component that connects the sensor to the transformer enclosure. This holder includes a mounting portion that attaches to the enclosure and a sensor receiving portion that holds the sensor, eliminating the need for direct drilling into the enclosure wall. The intermediary structure maintains measurement reliability while simplifying installation by avoiding coolant drainage and metal shaving risks.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If physical sampling methods are used to measure dissolved hydrogen, then measurement precision is improved, but operational complexity and cost increase due to valves and pumping systems

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedissolved hydrogen measurement precisionVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the sensor mounting function from the complex physical sampling system. Instead of using valves and pumping systems to take physical samples, the invention allows direct in-situ measurement of dissolved hydrogen through the sensor holder, eliminating the need for complex sampling infrastructure while maintaining measurement precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Adaptability or versatility

If existing safety devices are equipped with dissolved hydrogen sensors, then adaptability is improved, but measurement responsiveness deteriorates due to delayed reliable measurement

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice adaptabilityVSAvoidmeasurement responsiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The sensor holder is pre-installed on the transformer enclosure with the sensor positioned to directly contact the coolant through the elongated cavity. This preliminary positioning ensures that when electrical faults occur and hydrogen is generated, the sensor immediately detects the dissolved hydrogen without delay, improving measurement responsiveness while maintaining adaptability to existing transformers.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

4Reliability

If direct drilling of the enclosure wall is performed, then measurement reliability is improved, but operational safety deteriorates due to risk of metal shavings falling into the enclosure

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemeasurement reliabilityVSAvoidcontamination risk

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the sensor mounting function into a separate sensor holder component that attaches to the enclosure exterior. This segmentation prevents drilling operations from affecting the enclosure interior, eliminating the risk of metal shavings falling into the coolant while maintaining reliable measurement through the sensor's direct contact with the coolant via the holder's cavity structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

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 quick and easy assembly of sensors on existing transformers, providing reliable measurements of dissolved hydrogen concentrations, thus allowing for timely intervention to prevent transformer disconnection and potential explosions.

Implementation Method 1

a hermetic enclosure, which houses the transformer coils and which is filled with the coolant, so as to cool the transformer coils

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeat transfer: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 2

The dissolved hydrogen diffuses rapidly throughout the enclosure

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDiffusion: Diffusion

Data Source

PatentEP4383288B1Sensor holder for hermetic transformer, transformer unit, safety unit and associated transformer installation

Publication Date: 2025.04.16 TRANSFO SERVICES

Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3a~3b

AI summary

This sensor support (100) for a hermetic transformer (20) comprises a main body (102) that provides a cavity (V102), which has an elongated shape extending along a longitudinal axis (A102). The cavity opens out of the main body through a first opening (104), which is located at one longitudinal end of the cavity and is configured to be fluidically connected to an orifice (34) provided in a wall (32) of the transformer, and through at least one fluidic port (106A), each fluidic port being different from the first opening. The at least one fluidic port includes a main port (106A), which is configured to be fluidly connected to a sensing device (110), in particular a dissolved hydrogen probe, while a section of the cavity is at least as large as a section of the first opening.