Fiber optics and electic power lines are common sights in our modern world, and in fact they are almost indistinguishable. But they don't usually interact with each other - after all light is light and electricity is electricity, and how can they affect each other Well, Iljin is showing the answer to exactly that question at Global Electric Power Tech 2009. It is truely original innovations like these which drive the state of the art higher and higher.
The company's engineers definitely paid attention in physics class. They have developed systems using obscure effects recorded over 100 years ago of the interaction of polarized light and electrical current when they are both applied to crystal structures. Iljin's optical current transformer uses (CT) the Faraday Effect, which is that when linearly polarized light travels through flint glass that is exposed to a magnetic field, its plane of polarization rotates. By measuring the rotation of the polarized light, the optical current transformer can measure the magnetic field intensity of the current, and therefore the current itself.
The company's optical voltage transformer uses a similar phenomenon, the Pockels Effect, which is that when a steady electric field is applied to some birefringent, or double refraction, materials, their refractive indices change. Using this effect, the optical voltage transformer lets the voltage effect a certain material through which light is shone, and the angle of light being bent is the measurement of the voltage.
Iljin uses light to measure electricity, which results in a completely superior product. It is faster, smaller, safer, and immune to electromagnetic interference. It has a wider range and bandwidth and extended dynamic range, which means that there is less of a potential for error. In short, it just works, and it just works better.
"We are very thrilled to debut the Optical CT/PT right here at Global Electric Power Tech 2009." CEO Choi said. "It is always good to bring something brand new and innovative to the global exhibitions, and we are even more proud to have its coming out party at a domestic exhibition."
Iljin dramatically reduced the size of its existing transformers by replacing the traditional coils with optical fibers. This application has been made first in Korea. It has challenged the concept that all electric transformers are huge in size. "Some people point out that the overall size of electric products has not been reduced while semiconductors have been getting smaller and smaller in size, but heavy electric products have limits in ways that reduce size because their top priority is safety," said Choi.
Other Unbeatables
It is not only Iljin Electronic's innovations that raised the total revenue from USD 300 million in 2004 to USD 900 million in 2008. "Customer Management is the top priority for me," said the president. Followed by its great service is a better price. "When high technology is combined with low price, what cannot be invincible" said Choi.
Iljin had much more than the debut of optical CT/PT applications to offer at the show. The CEO led explorations in the past few years and has built an excellent reputation for Iljin's motors and pumps in Japan, cables in Europe, Italy, Spain, Central and South America, and transformers in the States. The next continent to explore, Choi says, is renewable energy. Cutting-edge transformers and transmission systems will become essential in the Green Age, so they are turning the wheel to find ways to develop suitable components for wind power and tidal power projects.
