Constructive System Regarding a Capacitive Sensor

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Technical Filed

_The present invention relates to a constructive system for creating a capacitive sensor able to estimate the voltage value of a live element.

_More in particular but not exclusively, the present invention relates to a constructive system of the aforesaid type, in which said live element is arranged inside the same capacitive sensor.

_Furthermore, the present invention relates to a constructive system of the aforesaid type, in which said constructive system can also be used to create a combined voltage/current sensor, in which said combined voltage/current sensor is also able to detect a magnetic field generated by said live element arranged inside said capacitive sensor.

_Still the present invention relates to a constructive system of the aforesaid type, particularly but not exclusively indicated to create a termination for a low, medium or high voltage cable, wherein said termination will be able to estimate the value of the voltage of said cable.

_Again the present invention relates to a constructive system of the aforesaid type, particularly but not exclusively indicated to create a termination for a low, medium or high voltage cable, wherein said termination will be able to estimate the value of the voltage of said cable and of the magnetic field generated by said cable, in order, for example, to estimate the current of the same cable.

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Background of the Invention

_Currently, known construction systems relating to the capacitive voltage sensors or the combined voltage/current sensors have a series of drawbacks.

_A first drawback is due to the fact that said known construction systems are not suitable for creating a capacitive sensor, in which said capacitive sensor is able to estimate the voltage value of a live conductor without suffering the influences of the surrounding electric fields generated by other live conductors arranged nearby.

_A second drawback is due to the fact that said known construction systems are not suitable for creating a combined voltage/current sensor, in which said combined voltage/current sensor is be able to estimate the voltage value of a live conductor without suffering influences of the surrounding electric fields generated by other conductors located nearby.

_A third drawback is due to the fact that said known construction systems are not suitable for creating a termination for a low, medium or high voltage cable, wherein said termination is able to estimate the voltage value of a live cable without being subjected to the influences of the surrounding electric fields generated by other live conductors arranged nearby.

_A fourth drawback is due to the fact that said known construction systems are laborious to manufacture.

_A fifth drawback is due to the fact that in known construction systems the dielectric material resin disposed around the components forming the sensor or forming the termination includes vacuoles (air bubbles), with consequent phenomena of unwanted partial discharges.

_A sixth drawback is due to the fact that in the known construction systems the dielectric material resin arranged around the components forming the sensor or forming the termination is detached with respect to said components, with consequent phenomena of unwanted partial discharges.

_A seventh drawback is due to the fact that in the known construction systems the aforementioned resin is not perfectly adherent and/or not perfectly clinging and/or jointed with respect to the components that form the sensor or which form the termination, therefore, as a result of aging, there are detachments between said resin and the aforementioned elements, with consequent phenomena of unwanted partial discharges. _This drawback is particularly present when the sensor or termination is used in an environment where the operating temperature (hot/cold) varies cyclically. _An eighth drawback is due to the fact that in the known construction systems the operations for applying the relative termination with respect to a terminal cable are very laborious.

_A ninth drawback is due to the fact that, by means of known construction systems, after having applied the relevant sensor with respect to a cable or after having applied the relative termination with respect to a terminal cable on-site calibration is necessary.

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DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

_The object of the present invention is to solve the above mentioned problems. _The invention, which is characterized by the claims, solves the problem of creating a constructive system for the estimation of the value of the voltage of a live element, wherein said system extends along an axis defined longitudinally, in which said system with respect to said longitudinal axis defines a vicinal end and a distal end, in which said system is characterized by the fact that it comprises a first tubular element, a second tubular element, an electric field sensor and a mass of dielectric material; by the fact that said first tubular element carries out the function of source electrode; by the fact that said first tubular element is connected by means of conductive coupling with said live element; by the fact that said second tubular element carries out the function of shielding electrode; by the fact that said second tubular element is connected to the ground; by the fact that said electric field sensor carries out the function of detecting the electric field generated by said first tubular element; by the fact that said mass of dielectric material carries out the function of incorporating and positioning said elements between them; by the fact that said first tubular element is arranged coaxial with respect to said longitudinal axis; by the fact that said second tubular element is arranged coaxial with respect to said longitudinal axis; by the fact that said electric field sensor is positioned between said two tubular elements; by the fact that said electric field sensor is electrically insulated with respect to said first tubular element and with respect to said second tubular element. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

_The following description of the construction system proposed by the present invention, in the various embodiments, is given by ways of non-limiting example and made with reference to the attached drawings, in which:

>_Figure 1 illustrates schematically the construction system object of the present invention;

>_Figure 1A schematically illustrates the construction system object of the present invention applied to a terminal cable in order to form a termination; > _Figures 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 illustrate schematically some details of the construction system object of the present invention.

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PREFERRED MANNER OF IMPLEMENTING THE INVENTION

_With reference to Figures 1 and 1A, they illustrate the construction system object of the present invention for measuring the voltage value of a live element, such as, for example, see fig. 1A, of a live cable 10 which extends along a longitudinal axis Y.

_The same construction system, with respect to said longitudinal axis Y, defines a proximal/end portion Y1 and a distal portion/end Y2 and, substantially, it comprises: _a first tubular element 100; a second tubular element 200; _an electric field sensor 300; and a mass of dielectric material 400.

_The first tubular element 100 acts as a source electrode, it is connected by conductive coupling with said live element 10, so that said first tubular element 100 will have an identical potential with respect to the potential of the live element 10, wherein the latter, for example, can be a cable with a live central metallic core and an external insulating material.

_With reference to Figure 1A, the first tubular element 100, being in electric voltage as aforesaid, also acts as a shielded electrode, as it provides for shielding the electric field sensor 300 with respect to the electric field lines emitted by the conductor 10, i.e. it inhibits to the electric field lines generated by the conductor 10 to close on the electric field sensor 300, thus ensuring that the intensity of the electric field lines closed on the sensor 300 will be independent from the cross- section and/or the type of the conductor 10.

_The second tubular element 200 acts as a shielding electrode and for this purpose it is connected to ground in any manner, or if it is not connected to ground it is connected to a known electrical potential constant over time.

_Jhe electric field sensor 300 performs the function of detecting the electric field generated by said first tubular element 100, forming a capacitive coupling between said first tubular element 100 (which acts as the first armature) and said field sensor 300 (which acts as a second armature).

_The mass of dielectric material 400 performs the function of incorporating and positioning said elements 100, 200, 300 between them.

_The first tubular element 100 and the second tubular element 200 are coaxial with respect each other and coaxial with respect to said longitudinal axis Y, so as to form interspaces 401 of dielectric material having a certain axial extension between them.

_The electric field sensor 300 is positioned between said two tubular elements

100, 200, preferably within said interspace 401 , and said electric field sensor 300, is electrically insulated with respect to said first tubular element 100 and with respect to said second tubular element 200.

_With reference to the mass of dielectric material 400 which incorporates the components 100, 200 and 300, it forms and comprises a through hole 402 having a certain circumference 403, wherein said hole 402 is arranged coaxially with respect to the longitudinal axis Y, in which, see fig. 1A, the live element 10 will be disposed within said hole 402.

First perforated electrode tubular element

_Preferably, said first tubular element 100 is provided with first through holes

101, wherein said first through holes 101 have a width selected according to the type of resin and other factors and, more particularly, a minimum width such as to allow the passage of the resin through them during casting operations, and a maximum width such as to guarantee the desired shielding effect. _PreferabIy each opening of said through holes 101 defines an area comprised between a minimum of 0.1_mm2 and a maximum of 3_mm2.

Second perforated shielding tubular element

_Preferably, said second tubular element 200 is provided with second through holes 201, wherein said second through holes 201 have a width selected according to the type of resin and other factors and, more particularly, a minimum width such as to allow the passage of the resin through them during casting operations, and a maximum width such as to guarantee the desired shielding effect.

_Preferably each opening of said through holes 201 defines an area comprised between a minimum of 0.1_mm2 and a maximum of 3_mm2.

Electric Field Sensor 300 -

_Preferably, said electric field sensor 300 is provided with through holes 301, in which said through holes 301 have a width selected according to the type of resin and other factors and, more particularly, a minimum width such as to allow the passage of the resin through them during casting operations, and a maximum width such as to guarantee the desired shielding effect.

_Preferably, each opening of said through holes 301 defines an area comprised between a minimum of 0.1 mm2 and a maximum of 3 mm2.

Electric field sensor 300 - Foil of PCB (printed circuit board)

_Preferably, said electric field sensor 300 comprises at least a first inner lamina 302 and a second outer lamina 303 superimposed and joined together, wherein said first inner lamina 302 is made of an electrically conductive material, in which said second external lamina 303 is made by an electrically insulating material, and in which, again preferably, said second outer layer 303 is jointed with respect to the inner face of the second shielded tubular element 200.

_More particularly, said second outer layer 303 of insulating material has technical characteristics such as to electrically insulate the inner lamina 302 of the electric field sensor with respect to the second shielding tubular element 200 and, in this context, said electric field sensor 300 can be realized by a foil of PCB (printed circuit board) or by means of a similar element, preferably provided with through holes, as indicated above.

Cover 500

_With reference to the figures, said construction system can further comprise a lid element 500 in the form of an upside-down cup equipped with through axial hole 501, in which said cover element 500 is electrically conductive applied near the distal portion of the first tubular element 100 with the through hole 501 coaxial with respect to the longitudinal axis Y.

Cable Terminal 600

_Preferably, said lid element 500 is provided with coupling means 502, in which said coupling means 502 are able for coupling in a conductive manner with a cable terminal 600, wherein said cable terminal 600 is designed to couple in a conductive manner (for example by crimping with the live element 10, so as to create, through said cable terminal 600 and said lid element 500, a conductive coupling between said live element 10 and the first tubular element 100, in which the latter will be thus live placed at same voltage of the cable 10.

Room 405 into the Mass 400

_With reference to the mass of dielectric material 400, it preferably forms a room 405, preferably formed by a box-like body of conductive material connected to the ground, therefore shielding, incorporated in the resin 400, wherein said room 405 contains an electronic processing circuit 404, wherein said processing circuit 404 is able to process the signals received by the electric field sensor 300 by means of the cable 310, as well as, optionally, the signals received by a Rogowski coil 700, better described later, by means of a cable 710.

Rogowski 700 coil

_The same constructive system object of the present invention can further comprise a Rogowsky coil 700, which has its axis Y_700 positioned coaxially with respect to the longitudinal axis Y of the constructive system.

_Preferably, said Rogowsky coil 700 comprises an outer shield connected to the ground, such as for example a shielding connected in a conductive manner with said second shielding tubular element 200 and, more preferably, said Rogowsky coil 700 is positioned inside the second tubular element 200, in an axial position between said electric field sensor 300 and the proximal end of the second tubular element 200.

_With this particular configuration, the Rogowski 700 coil performs a high shielding able to protect the electric field sensor 300.

Geometries

_With reference to Figure 1 , it illustrates a particular but non-limiting configuration in which said first tubular element 100 has a certain axial extension and a determined first axial position, wherein said second tubular element 200 has a certain axial extension and a determined second axial position, in which through said two tubular elements 100 and 200 a first axial segment S1 is configured, wherein said first segment S1 comprises the first tubular element 100 and also the second tubular element 200 axially and radially spaced from each other, wherein in said first segment S1 is configured a zone 401 of dielectric material positioned between said two tubular elements 100 and 200.

_With reference to said configuration, preferably said electric field sensor 300 is positioned within said first segment S1.

Still with reference to said configuration, preferably, an externally shielded

Rogowsky coil 700 is positioned between the proximal end of the electric field sensor 300 and the proximal end of the tubular element 200. _Furthermore, the aforementioned shielding of the Rogowsky 700 is connected to the ground in any possible manner, such as, for example, connected and/or adhering in a conductive manner with the second tubular element 200, in which this latter is connected to the ground.

Advantages

_By the constructive system of the present invention, only the electric field lines generated by the first tubular element (source electrode) 100 will be closed on the electric field sensor 300, while any other unwanted electric field lines, such as for example the electric field lines generated by other live conductors arranged nearby, will not be able to close on said field sensor 300 being the second shielded tubular element 200 connected to the ground. _With reference to the distal portion Y2 of the constructive system, the cited unwanted field lines will not be able to close on the field sensor 300, as the first tubular element 100, placed in electric voltage, performs a shielding action that prevents said unwanted field lines from entering through the distal end Y2 of the system.

_With reference to the neighboring portion Y1 of the construction system, the cited unwanted field lines will not be able to close on the field sensor 300, as the shield connected to the ground of the Rogowsky coil 700 performs a shielding action which prevents said unwanted field lines from entering through the proximal end Y1 of the system.

_With reference to Figure 1A, the first tubular element 100, being in electric voltage, provides for shielding the electric field sensor 300 with respect to the field lines emitted by the conductor 10, ensuring that the intensity of the electric field lines closed on the sensor 300 will be independent either from the section and from the type of the conductor 10.

_With reference to Figure 1A, by means of the construction system object of the present invention, a termination can be created for a low, medium or high voltage cable 10, wherein said termination is adapted to estimate the value of the voltage relative to said live cable 10, as well as, if required, the estimate of the value of the current regarding said cable 10.

_By the constructive system object of the present invention it is possible to create a voltage sensor, or a combined voltage/current sensor, as well as a termination suitable for carrying out the function of voltage sensor or the function of voltage/current sensor, in which said sensor is very simple to realize and easy to use.

_Again by means of the construction system object of the present invention, by virtue of the through holes, ref. 101 for the tubular 100, ref. 201 for the tubular 200, ref. 301 for the field sensor 300, during the casting operations of the resin in its liquid/pasty state, said resin can pass and flow through said holes and position itself within said holes, obviating the formation of vacuoles and improving the incorporation, adhesion, gripping and positioning action of the individual components that form the construction system, avoiding any undesired detachment when the resin will be solid, thus solving the above-mentioned problems regarding the partial discharges.

_Also by means of the construction system object of the present invention there will not be necessary any calibrations after the sensor or termination positioning with respect to the live element 10, as the characteristics regarding the capacitive coupling between the first tube 100 and the electric field sensor 300 will not change in relation to the application of the system on live cables 10 having a greater or lesser cross section.

_The description of the construction system is provided solely by way of non- limiting example, and clearly, therefore, said system can be modified or varied in any ways suggested by experience and/or its use or application within the scope of the following claims. _The following claims consequently also form an integral part of the above description.