Inductive Power Transfer Solutions
Inductive Power Transfer / Wireless Charging
When supplying power to rail-mounted vehicles, a continuous inductive supply is generally required along the entire track. The primary track of inductive power transfer solutions is installed parallel to the rail or along the track. The pick-up is mounted on the powered vehicle itself. In some cases trailers may be used. As with all continuous inductive power transfer solutions, transfers are made using the dual cable model, i.e. with a forward and return cable.
Electrified monorail systems with inductive power transfer solutions and skillet lines typically use a travel-rail mounted elevated cable and so-called E-pickups, which cover the magnetic field from 3 sides of each cable. Floor systems with inductive power transfer solutions form a primary track with cables embedded in the floor or other surfaces and are used with flat F-pickups.
- High availability and safety
- Large mechanical traverse tolerances
- No exposed electrical contacts
- High traveling speeds
- Unlimited forward and reverse movement
- Not susceptible to environmental influences
- Low maintenance and operating costs
- No wearing mechanical parts
- No collector dust generated
- Easy to install
- Brackets clip into the rail
- Double cable primary
For floor conveyors, the aim is to achieve a level floor with no obstructions for people, forklifts or other equipment in the factory environment, to eliminate dangerous contact rails and to make batteries in the vehicles either unnecessary or more efficient. To achieve this, the primary track is installed in the floor or another surface along the travel path. The inductive power transfer solutions can be installed continuously along the entire route or only in defined areas. The advantage of continuous power transfer is that there is no need for energy storage devices on the vehicles. This reduces the cost of maintaining and replacing batteries, and often fewer vehicles are required, as usually none are off-line for recharging. Vehicles with their own on-board power source are preferable when there are long, infrequently used routes, or where the routes are very complex or variable, making it impractical to lay cables in the ground. The use of inductive charging paths in this way has the beneficial effect of allowing occasional charging while the vehicle is moving or stationary.
- Reduced Maintenance and Operating Costs
- No wearing mechanical parts
- No power storage such as batteries or small batteries in hybrid setups
- No recurring costs
- No disposal costs for power sources
- High Availability and Safety
- No exposed contacts
- Not susceptible to environmental influences
- No mechanical guidance tracks required
- Unobtrusive Installation
- Suitable for forklift and people traffic
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FAQs
Frequently asked questions
Can inductive power transfer solutions also be used in applications other than those described?
Yes, the range of applications for inductive power transfer solutions is virtually unlimited. The only limitations are the power ratings of the components, the compatibility of the materials used, and any structural details or dimensions.
What effects do the fields produced by inductive power transfer solutions have on the human body?
In general, the fields generated by inductive power transfer solutions are very localized, unlike the electromagnetic fields from cellular systems, which are designed to radiate over a wide area. The fields are further limited by the dual cable configuration of inductive power transfer solutions. As a result of the opposing current directions between the outgoing and return cables, two opposing fields are created. These combine cumulatively only in the space between the cables and differentially elsewhere. Thus, the magnetic field strength decreases with the square of the distance.
In a single-cable installation, the decrease would only be proportional to distance.
Regulatory limits vary from country to country. For the majority, however, the ICNIRP recommendations are the central guideline.
Why pay attention to iron free areas?
Any current-carrying conductor generates a magnetic field. This is a necessary condition for inductive power transfer to occur. Unfortunately, any ferromagnetic material within this field will generate eddy currents. These cause heating and unwanted losses due to the material's internal electrical resistance. These effects should be minimized by maintaining sufficient clearance and by bundling the track cables. Bundling is the practice of placing a pair of stranded conductors as close together as possible in all feeds and sections of track where no power transfer is required. For more information on clearances and installation requirements, refer to our application specific installation guides.
