Vehicle power supply cable with optical jacket monitoring and arcing interference detection

Abstract:
In vehicles with electrical drive, vehicle power supplies are used with high voltage level, as well as with several voltage levels. Nordhausen University presents a patented, optical-electrical combination conductor - the main constituent of an innovative vehicle power supply cable with optical jacket monitoring and arcing interference detection. The task exists to permanently as well as completely monitor the lines carrying an increased voltage level over their length and their circumference, in order to identify insulation damage causing electric arcs and thus damage prophylaxis, as well as to detect electric arcs. The optical-electrical combination conductor uses light for line monitoring and for the identification of an arcing fault. It consists of an electrical conductor with a jacket of optically-transparent polymer. The light pulse of an electric arc is coupled into the jacket and reaches an optical receiver. The optical receiver consists of a ring with photodiodes and is attached on the front side of the combination conductor. The permanent monitoring of the conductor for mechanically or thermally-caused jacketing damage leads to an arcing interference prophylaxis. For this purpose, the optical-electrical combination conductor is provided with a transmitter and receiver, where the transmitter is formed through laser diodes for optical test pulses on the conductor jacket.