Device and Method for Detection of a Substance

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This patent describes a device and method for detecting various substances—gaseous, liquid, or solid—within the insulating medium (such as oil) of high-voltage equipment like transformers or switches. The system uses an optical fiber (waveguide) placed inside the insulation, onto which a special coating made from a metal-organic framework (MOF) is applied. When target substances interact with this coating, they change the properties of light transmitted through the fiber, enabling sensitive and reliable detection and quantification by a connected evaluation unit.

Use CasesContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Continuous monitoring of insulating oil quality in power transformers to detect decomposition products or contaminants.
• Detection of gases (like hydrogen or carbon monoxide) that indicate faults or aging in high-voltage electrical equipment.
• Multiplexed detection of different substance types (gases, liquids, or solids) in various industrial liquid insulation systems.
• Early-warning systems for predictive maintenance in electrical substations and transformers.
• Quality assurance in manufacturing of high-voltage devices filled with insulating oils or media.
• Detection of water, furans, or other degradation products to assess insulation health and extend device lifespan.

BenefitsContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Non-invasive, continuous monitoring without the need for frequent maintenance or manual sampling.
• Cost-effective, robust, and mostly maintenance-free compared to conventional detection systems.
• Highly flexible: can be adapted for detection of a wide range of substances by changing the MOF coating.
• Enables early detection of faults or contamination, preventing catastrophic failures and reducing downtime.
• Wireless or wired data communication capability allows easy integration into modern monitoring and control systems.
• Modular design supports simultaneous detection of multiple substances with minimal hardware addition.
• Accurate and reliable detection improves equipment lifespan and operational safety.

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Patent Abstract

A device (1) for detecting a substance (4) in an insulating medium budget (2), in particular in high-voltage apparatuses filled with insulating medium, comprises • - a first unit (10) for coupling in a light signal (8); • - a second unit (20) for coupling out the light signal (8); • - an optical waveguide (15) which is arranged in the insulating medium budget (2) and serves to transmit the light signal (8); • - an evaluation device (3) for evaluating the light signal (8) following a transmission of the latter by the optical waveguide (15); wherein • - a substrate (50) made of a metal-organic framework compound is applied to at least one portion (40, 41, 42) of the optical waveguide (15) and the substrate (50) interacts with the substance (4) in the insulating medium budget (2) such that the coupled-in light signal (8) is altered during the transmission of the light signal (8) through the optical waveguide (15).