UPS Power Distribution Selective Tripping via Electronic Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional UPS power supply units are unable to selectively trip a protective switch for overload and short-circuit conditions without requiring an oversized system, leading to potential voltage collapse and disruption of other load branches during battery operation.
Innovation Solution
A power distribution system with an integrated electromechanical protective device, featuring a thermal-magnetic circuit breaker and electronic evaluation unit that monitors both current and voltage to selectively trip the circuit breaker based on predetermined characteristics, ensuring selective disconnection of faulty load branches without oversizing the UPS.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the UPS power supply unit is oversized to deliver sufficient short-circuit current for tripping circuit breakers, then the short-circuit current is sufficient to trip the circuit breaker, but the cost and complexity of the UPS system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention introduces an intermediary device (electronic tripping unit) between the UPS power supply and the circuit breaker. This electronic tripping unit detects overload and short-circuit conditions and directly actuates the circuit breaker trip mechanism, eliminating the need for the UPS to generate high short-circuit currents for magnetic tripping. The intermediary converts the tripping function from being current-dependent to being control-signal-dependent.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the electromagnetic/magnetic tripping mechanism (which requires high short-circuit currents) with an electronic control system. The electronic tripping unit uses electronic detection of current and voltage parameters and sends control signals to actuate the circuit breaker, substituting the mechanical/electromagnetic field-based tripping with an electronic control-based approach.
2Productivity
If the UPS power supply unit delivers high current in battery operation, then the load can be switched on, but the output voltage collapses and other load branches are interrupted
Solution Approach 1:
The invention implements a feedback mechanism where the electronic tripping unit continuously monitors both the current flowing through the circuit breaker and the output voltage of the UPS. When an overload or short-circuit condition is detected (current exceeds threshold and voltage drops below threshold), the system responds by actuating the circuit breaker to isolate the faulty load branch, preventing voltage collapse from affecting other loads.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention enables selective tripping of individual circuit breakers for different load branches. Instead of a single monolithic protection system, each load branch can be independently protected and isolated. This segmentation allows one faulty branch to be disconnected without affecting the operation of other healthy branches, maintaining overall system reliability.
3Ease of operation
If a classic thermal-magnetic circuit breaker is used, then the protection is based on standard installation specifications, but the short-circuit current of the UPS is insufficient to trip the circuit breaker magnetically
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the classic thermal-magnetic circuit breaker structure with an electronic tripping control system. The circuit breaker maintains its standard thermal element for overload protection and magnetic element for short-circuit protection, but adds an electronic tripping unit that can directly actuate the trip mechanism. This combination preserves the benefits of standard circuit breakers while adding the capability for low-current tripping through electronic control.
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 solution allows for selective tripping of protective switches during overloads and short circuits, maintaining output voltage stability and preventing unnecessary shutdowns of other load branches, thus ensuring reliable power distribution without the need for an oversized UPS.
Implementation Method 1
electromechanical, preferably thermal-magnetic, trigger
Implementation Method 2
electromechanical line circuit breaker based on the magnetic principle
Data Source
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Figure 2
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AI summary
The invention relates to a power distribution system (1) for connection to an AC voltage network (4), having a UPS power supply unit (2) for uninterruptible power supply with a network-side input (EAC) and with at least one output (AAC) to which a number of loads (10) are connected or can be connected in parallel load circuits (Lm), wherein a protective device (GSm) having an electromechanical tripping device (12), in particular a thermal/magnetic tripping device, and having an evaluation and tripping unit (17) is connected in the or each load circuit (Lm), which tripping unit trips the tripping device (12) on the basis of an electronic overload and/or short-circuit characteristic curve (KE, KUE, KK) and on the basis of the output voltage (UAC, Uist) from the UPS power supply unit (2).