Analysis of an enclosure for a MEMS DC electric field sensor
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Date
2023-03-20
Authors
Isik, Sadna
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Abstract
MEMS DC electric field sensors are successful candidates in the field of monitoring power utility infrastructure. Their delicate size and nature require them to be placed in a protective enclosure when used in an outdoor environment. The enclosure surrounding an electric field sensor affects the measurement conditions and sensor performance. This thesis presents an enclosure for MEMS DC electric field sensors with a height-adjustable floating pin conductor to augment the signal. The enclosure top assembly includes a metal pin extending into the enclosure to augment the signal seen by the sensor. A floating metal plate and an adjustable floating pin on the enclosure body are included to pass the electric field into the enclosure and onto the sensor. The electric field strength variation is computed while changing the distance between the sensor and the body of the sensor enclosure by changing the length of the floating pin. The behaviors of electric field strength on the sensor are studied by varying parameters. A capacitance model is studied and proposed for the enclosure structure.
Simulation and experimental tests are performed for a conducting electrically floating plate, which is placed 14.6 mm above the sensor and a conducting pin, which is located at different heights above the sensor. For the enclosure design considered, when the pin is placed 1 mm above the sensor, the measured electric field is 18.3 times stronger than when the same electric field is measured without the pin. Simulation and experiment results show that a floating pin can help to reduce signal loss due to the gap by extending into the enclosure, which significantly increases the incident electric field upon the sensor located deeper inside the enclosure box. These enclosures can be integrated with other sensor types, such as field mills, to eliminate the potential disadvantages of locating sensors inside protective enclosures.
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Keywords
DC electric field sensor, Floating conducting pin, Floating metal plate, DC electric field sensor enclosure, DC electric field sensor enclosure with electrically floating conducting pin, Capacitance model for DC electrical field sensor enclosure