Adapter Design for Vacuum Circuit Breaker and Structural Optimization of Circuit Breaker Contacts
Start: Summer 2022 | Expected Effort: 10 Hrs/Wk
Location: GT Campus 60% | NEETRAC (Off-Campus) 40%
Background
Our latest research shows that the magnetic field of the circuit breaker can be used to identify important information that can be used to detect cyber attacks including malicious control attacks and dynamically estimate the circuit breaker contact wear and lifetime. In order to practically apply this method in substations, it is necessary to measure and study the magnetic field of different types of circuit breakers. Due to cost constraints, different sizes/types of vacuum circuit breaker bottles need to be installed separately on the same vacuum circuit breaker. Therefore, an adapter or holder for the vacuum bottle to the actuator is needed. This adapter can meet the needs of installing vacuum bottles of different lengths on the actuator. Moreover, a prototype vacuum bottle has been designed for research purposes. It has a special contact structure that produces a particular magnetic field to influence the arc motion during the interruption. The actuator should also allow the self-designed vacuum bottle to be installed on the actuator.
Compensation: Hourly Pay
Responsibilities
- According to the size and structure of the vacuum circuit breaker actuator and vacuum bottles, complete the CAD model design of the adapter
- Process (machine shop, HIVE, etc) and assemble adapters and circuit breakers
- Test the adapter and improve it if necessary
- Improved self-designed vacuum bottle based on its magnetic field (optional)
Requirements
- Sufficient knowledge of mechanical engineering
- Experienced in mechanical CAD design: including but not limited to AutoCAD and SolidWorks
- Strong hands-on ability
- Interests in design, optimization, and participation in testing procedures
- Open to communication and teamwork
What to expect
- A wonderful interdisciplinary team from ECE and MSE with graduate students, postdoc fellows, research engineers, and faculty.
- Complete mechanical structure design process: design, manufacture, assembly, commission, improvement/optimization
- Co-authorship for both conference and journal publications
