Developing a High-Voltage Mechanical Disconnector: Meeting Safety Standards
(2023) MMKM05 20231Innovation
- Abstract
- This master thesis is conducted in collaboration with Opticept Technologies, a
company operating in the Pulsed Electric Field (PEF) treatment industry. PEF
treatment necessitates the use of high-voltage machines, and this thesis focuses on exploring a mechanical disconnector that serves as an essential safety feature for such high-voltage systems.
The thesis examines relevant standards and delves into the associated requirements
and guiding principles. These requirements and principles are subsequently
translated into design criteria that form the fundamental basis for the development process, highlighting their pivotal role in ensuring safety.
The master thesis encompasses a comprehensive development process,
... (More) - This master thesis is conducted in collaboration with Opticept Technologies, a
company operating in the Pulsed Electric Field (PEF) treatment industry. PEF
treatment necessitates the use of high-voltage machines, and this thesis focuses on exploring a mechanical disconnector that serves as an essential safety feature for such high-voltage systems.
The thesis examines relevant standards and delves into the associated requirements
and guiding principles. These requirements and principles are subsequently
translated into design criteria that form the fundamental basis for the development process, highlighting their pivotal role in ensuring safety.
The master thesis encompasses a comprehensive development process,
encompassing concept generation while considering specific design criteria.
Through close collaboration with Opticept, the most promising solutions are further refined and ultimately presented as viable solution, accompanied by further development aspects.
In addition to addressing specific standards and design considerations, the thesis
explores broader aspects of product development. It investigates how the constraints imposed by requirements and existing knowledge impose limitations on design freedom. Moreover, it sheds light on the disparities between concept development for these types of safety systems and the approaches taught in the educational system, particularly in the realms of "product realization" and "product development" specializations.
Overall, this master's thesis offers valuable insights into integrating safety standards throughout the development process of mechanical disconnectors utilized in Opticept PEF machines. It underscores the significance of adhering to specific
safety requirements and their profound impact on product development. (Less) - Popular Abstract
- Developing a High-Voltage Mechanical Disconnector: Meeting Safety Standards
Developing a safety feature poses difficulties, as adhering to both safety
standards and specific design criteria limits the range of possible solutions. While utilizing recognized frameworks and developing processes can ease this, the underlying issue will still impact design freedom.
The aim of this project was to design a mechanical disconnector for Opticept Technologies’ high-voltage machines, where safety is crucial and a continuous focus for Opticept. The mechanical disconnector's role is to prevent electric shocks during maintenance tasks. Throughout the development process, relevant standards were incorporated to enhance safety measures.
The... (More) - Developing a High-Voltage Mechanical Disconnector: Meeting Safety Standards
Developing a safety feature poses difficulties, as adhering to both safety
standards and specific design criteria limits the range of possible solutions. While utilizing recognized frameworks and developing processes can ease this, the underlying issue will still impact design freedom.
The aim of this project was to design a mechanical disconnector for Opticept Technologies’ high-voltage machines, where safety is crucial and a continuous focus for Opticept. The mechanical disconnector's role is to prevent electric shocks during maintenance tasks. Throughout the development process, relevant standards were incorporated to enhance safety measures.
The development process involved segregating the requirements from both Opticept and the safety standards into distinct categories of demands and wishes. Demands, constituting vital safety and machine integration aspects, were treated as non-negotiable requirements, acting as gatekeepers to filter concepts. Wishes, being more subjective, held weight in concept evaluation.
The outcome of the project was a concept that fulfilled Opticept's demands and adhered to safety standards. A detailed 3D CAD model was generated, ensuring seamless integration within the machine, and improving safety compared to the existing solution. This was achieved by utilizing gravity as an additional separator force. Facilitated by gears and gear rails, coupled with a resetting locking mechanism to prevent unintended reconnection.
Throughout the developmental process, the utilization of standards as design criteria emerged as a double-edged sword: while enhancing safety, it constricted design freedom and posed challenges in disconnector design. This experience underscored a deficiency in the current specialization program’s product realization and product development, as it inadequately addresses these real-world scenarios where standards influence product design, particularly in terms of safety.
Several solutions were conceived, and through a comprehensive concept scoring matrix, the optimal solution was selected and presented to Opticept.
The proposed solution's next phase involves prototype manufacturing to validate key components' functionality and waterproof integrity. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
http://lup.lub.lu.se/student-papers/record/9139003
- author
- Carlqvist, Hampus LU
- supervisor
- organization
- course
- MMKM05 20231
- year
- 2023
- type
- H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
- subject
- keywords
- Opticept, Standards, Product development, Disconnector, High Voltage
- language
- English
- id
- 9139003
- date added to LUP
- 2023-09-27 14:02:29
- date last changed
- 2023-09-27 14:02:29
@misc{9139003,
abstract = {{This master thesis is conducted in collaboration with Opticept Technologies, a
company operating in the Pulsed Electric Field (PEF) treatment industry. PEF
treatment necessitates the use of high-voltage machines, and this thesis focuses on exploring a mechanical disconnector that serves as an essential safety feature for such high-voltage systems.
The thesis examines relevant standards and delves into the associated requirements
and guiding principles. These requirements and principles are subsequently
translated into design criteria that form the fundamental basis for the development process, highlighting their pivotal role in ensuring safety.
The master thesis encompasses a comprehensive development process,
encompassing concept generation while considering specific design criteria.
Through close collaboration with Opticept, the most promising solutions are further refined and ultimately presented as viable solution, accompanied by further development aspects.
In addition to addressing specific standards and design considerations, the thesis
explores broader aspects of product development. It investigates how the constraints imposed by requirements and existing knowledge impose limitations on design freedom. Moreover, it sheds light on the disparities between concept development for these types of safety systems and the approaches taught in the educational system, particularly in the realms of "product realization" and "product development" specializations.
Overall, this master's thesis offers valuable insights into integrating safety standards throughout the development process of mechanical disconnectors utilized in Opticept PEF machines. It underscores the significance of adhering to specific
safety requirements and their profound impact on product development.}},
author = {{Carlqvist, Hampus}},
language = {{eng}},
note = {{Student Paper}},
title = {{Developing a High-Voltage Mechanical Disconnector: Meeting Safety Standards}},
year = {{2023}},
}