Voltage-Biased Sleeve for High-Voltage DC Arc Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrical protection devices for high-voltage DC power transmission in aircraft are not optimized, leading to spatial constraints due to safety requirements for preventing electric arcs, which can damage the aircraft structure.
Innovation Solution
An electrical link with a conductive sleeve voltage-biased by a biasing module, a circuit breaker, and a detection module with a comparator and microcontroller to detect current leaks and interrupt the current, reducing the need for large safety distances between electrical links and the aircraft frame.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If prior art circuit breaker devices are used for high-voltage power transmission, then power supply security is maintained, but large safety distances are required between electrical conductors and aircraft structure, generating spatial constraints
Solution Approach 1:
A conductive sleeve is introduced as an intermediary component between the electrical conductor and the aircraft structure. The sleeve is voltage-biased to create an electric field that detects current leaks and prevents direct contact between the conductor and conductive structure, thereby maintaining safety while reducing required clearance distances.
Solution Approach 2:
The conductive sleeve is pre-voltage biased before any fault condition occurs. This preliminary action establishes an electric field that proactively detects potential current leaks and prevents arc formation, allowing the system to maintain smaller safety distances while ensuring power supply security.
2Power
If high voltage levels are used to meet increasing power demands, then power transmission capability is improved, but the risk of electric arcs and thermal damage to aircraft structure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The voltage-biased conductive sleeve acts as a mediator that detects current leaks at high voltage levels and triggers circuit breaker activation, preventing electric arcs and thermal damage to the aircraft structure while allowing high power transmission through the conductor.
Solution Approach 2:
The detection module continuously monitors the voltage-biased conductive sleeve for current leaks and provides feedback to the circuit breaker. This feedback mechanism enables real-time detection and response to fault conditions, allowing safe operation at high voltage levels by immediately interrupting current when leaks are detected.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If large safety distances are maintained between electrical conductors and aircraft frame, then electric arc prevention is achieved, but spatial constraints in aircraft are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The conductive sleeve serves as a protective intermediary that enables electric arc prevention through active detection and circuit breaker activation, rather than relying solely on passive large safety distances. This allows compact aircraft design while maintaining arc prevention capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The passive mechanical approach of maintaining large physical safety distances is replaced with an active electrical detection system using the voltage-biased conductive sleeve and circuit breaker. This substitution allows smaller spatial dimensions while achieving the same arc prevention goal through electrical field detection and rapid current interruption.
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
The solution securely transmits high-voltage power by quickly interrupting current in case of a leak, preventing electric arcs and reducing spatial constraints, thus enhancing safety and efficiency in aircraft electrical installations.
Implementation Method 1
a biasing module configured to voltage-bias the conductive sleeve
Implementation Method 2
a detection module connected to the conductive sleeve and configured to detect a current leak at the conductor
Implementation Method 3
configured to interrupt a current flowing through the conductor
Data Source
AI summary
An electrical link (290) configured to link a DC high-voltage power source (270) to a user apparatus (250), and includes an electrical conductor (240) surrounded by an insulating cover and an electrical protection device (200) including: a conductive sleeve (280) arranged around the insulating cover, a biasing module (245) configured to voltage-bias the conductive sleeve (280), a circuit breaker (210) arranged on the conductor (240) and configured to cut off a current transiting through the conductor (240), and a detection module (220) connected to the conductive sleeve (280) and configured to detect a current leak out of the conductor (240) and to command the circuit breaker (210) on the basis of the detection. The invention also relates to a method for the secure supply of electric power.