Power monitor and power monitoring system

Abstract

A power monitor and a power monitoring system are provided. The power monitor (100) includes a current / voltage transformer (110) connected in series and an energy meter (120), the current / voltage transformer for connecting the energy meter to a load (1) for monitoring by the energy meter the electrical energy consumed by the load. The power monitor further includes at least one current regulating element connected between the current / voltage transformer and the energy meter and configured to reduce the current flowing from the current / voltage transformer to the energy meter to be less than a rated maximum current of the energy meter when the current is greater than or equal to a threshold current.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Embodiments of this disclosure generally relate to the field of power control, and more specifically, to power monitors and power monitoring systems capable of implementing flexible large-range or multi-range current / voltage sensing functions adapted to different loads. Background Technology

[0002] Power monitors are widely used in industrial production and people's daily lives to monitor the electrical energy consumed by various loads. They typically use current or voltage transformers to connect the electricity meter to the load circuit, and the current or voltage transformer converts the current or voltage from the load circuit into a value suitable for the electricity meter to measure.

[0003] The current flowing through an energy meter typically has a certain operating range. Current exceeding this range will cause the power monitor to overload or underload, preventing it from functioning properly. To measure current / voltage in circuits with different loads, it is usually necessary to replace different current or voltage transformers to obtain the appropriate converted current or voltage, which makes actual measurement operations inconvenient. Furthermore, different current or voltage transformers have different current or voltage conversion ratios, which need to be configured in the software or hardware of the power monitor or energy meter. This clearly makes it difficult for users to freely switch energy monitoring operations between different loads. Summary of the Invention

[0004] This disclosure is made in order to overcome at least one of the above-mentioned and other problems and defects existing in the prior art.

[0005] According to one aspect of this disclosure, a power monitor is provided, comprising a current / voltage transformer and an energy meter connected in series, the current / voltage transformer being used to connect the energy meter to a load so that the energy meter can monitor the electrical energy consumed by the load; the power monitor further comprises at least one current regulating element connected between the current / voltage transformer and the energy meter, the at least one current regulating element being configured to reduce the current flowing from the current / voltage transformer to the energy meter to less than the rated maximum current of the energy meter when the current is greater than or equal to a threshold current.

[0006] In some embodiments, the power monitor further includes at least one switching element, each switching element being configured to connect a corresponding current regulating element in series between the current / voltage transformer and the energy meter when the current flowing from the current / voltage transformer to the energy meter is greater than or equal to a threshold current.

[0007] In some embodiments, each switching element has a first ON state and a second ON state, and each switching element is configured to: be in the first ON state when the current flowing from the current / voltage transformer to the energy meter is less than a threshold current, so as to establish a direct electrical connection between the current / voltage transformer and the energy meter; and be triggered to switch to the second ON state when the current flowing from the current / voltage transformer to the energy meter is greater than or equal to the threshold current, so as to connect a corresponding current regulating element in series between the current / voltage transformer and the energy meter.

[0008] In some embodiments, the at least one current regulating element includes a first current regulating element and a second current regulating element, and the at least one switching element includes a first switching element and a second switching element. The first switching element is configured to connect the first current regulating element in series between the current / voltage transformer and the energy meter when the current flowing from the current / voltage transformer to the energy meter is greater than or equal to a first threshold current. Each of the first and second switching elements is configured to connect the first current regulating element in series between the current / voltage transformer and the energy meter when the current flowing from the current / voltage transformer to the energy meter is greater than or equal to a second threshold current, wherein the second threshold current is greater than the first threshold current.

[0009] In some embodiments, the first switching element is configured to: be in a first ON state when the current flowing from the current / voltage transformer to the energy meter is less than a first threshold current, to establish a direct electrical connection between the current / voltage transformer and the energy meter; and be triggered to switch to a second ON state when the current flowing from the current / voltage transformer to the energy meter is greater than or equal to the first threshold current, to connect the first current regulating element in series between the current / voltage transformer and the energy meter; the second switching element is configured to: be in the first ON state when the current flowing from the current / voltage transformer to the energy meter is less than a second threshold current, such that the first current regulating element is connected in series between the current / voltage transformer and the energy meter via the first switching element and the second switching element and the second current regulating element is disconnected from the current / voltage transformer; and be triggered to switch to a second ON state when the current flowing from the current / voltage transformer to the energy meter is greater than or equal to the second threshold current, such that the first current regulating element and the second current regulating element are connected in series between the current / voltage transformer and the energy meter via the first switching element and the second switching element.

[0010] In some embodiments, each of the first switching element and the second switching element is configured to be in a first ON state when the power monitor is started, and to remain in the second ON state after switching to the second ON state and before the power monitor is restarted.

[0011] In some embodiments, the energy meter is configured to determine the current converted from the load by the current / voltage transformer, at least based on the current regulation coefficient of the current regulation element, when a current regulating element is connected in series between the current / voltage transformer and the energy meter.

[0012] In some embodiments, the at least one current regulating element includes an inductor.

[0013] In some embodiments, the at least one switching element includes a relay.

[0014] In some embodiments, the power monitor further includes a resistive element connected in series between the current / voltage transformer and the energy meter.

[0015] According to another embodiment of this disclosure, a power monitoring system is also provided, comprising: at least one power monitor as described in any embodiment of this disclosure, each power monitor being used to monitor the electrical energy consumed by a corresponding load; at least one data transmission unit, each data transmission unit being connected to a corresponding power monitor to receive and transmit data signals related to the electrical energy monitored by the power monitor; a database server configured to receive the data signals from the respective data transmission units and analyze the data signals by data fusion to obtain fused power data associated with each load; and a display device configured to connect to the database server and display the fused power data.

[0016] In some embodiments, the at least one data transmission unit includes a wireless data transmitter. Attached Figure Description

[0017] The above and other aspects, features, and advantages of various embodiments of the present disclosure will become clearer from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0018] Figure 1 This is a circuit diagram schematically illustrating the configuration of a power monitor according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0019] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the configuration of a power monitoring system according to exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure; and

[0020] Figure 3 It is a graph schematically illustrating the load energy consumption change trend obtained by applying a power monitor or power monitoring system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. Detailed Implementation

[0021] The embodiments of this disclosure will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In this specification, identical or similar components are indicated by identical or similar reference numerals. The following description of various embodiments of this disclosure with reference to the accompanying drawings is intended to illustrate the overall concept of this disclosure and should not be construed as a limitation thereof.

[0022] Furthermore, in the following detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth for ease of explanation to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the present disclosure. However, it will be apparent that one or more embodiments may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and apparatuses are illustrated to simplify the figures.

[0023] like Figure 1 As shown, an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure provides a power monitor 100 that can be used to monitor power or energy consumption on various different loads. The power monitor 100 includes a current / voltage transformer (CT / VT) 110 and an energy meter 120. The current / voltage transformer 110 connects the energy meter 120 to a load 1, converting the current or voltage from the load 1 into a value suitable for measurement by the energy meter, such as a value within the operating range that the energy meter can measure, so that the energy meter 120 can monitor the electrical energy consumed by the load 1.

[0024] Load 1 is connected to the primary side of current / voltage transformer 110, and current / voltage transformer 110 and energy meter 120 are connected in series, that is, energy meter 120 is connected in series in the secondary circuit of current / voltage transformer 110. Figure 1 As shown, the current / voltage transformer 110 has a first secondary side terminal 111 and a second secondary side terminal 112, and the energy meter 120 has a first terminal 121 and a second terminal 122. The first terminal 121 (as described below, indirectly, for example, via a switching element and / or a current regulating element) is connected to the first secondary side terminal 111, while the second terminal 122 (directly, or as described below, indirectly, for example, via a resistor) is connected to the second secondary side terminal 112, such that the energy meter 120 is connected in series to the secondary side of the current / voltage transformer 110.

[0025] In an exemplary embodiment of this disclosure, the power monitor 100 further includes at least one current regulating element connected between the current / voltage transformer 110 and the energy meter 120, and configured to reduce the current to less than the rated maximum current of the energy meter 120 when the initial current flowing from the current / voltage transformer 110 to the energy meter 120 is greater than or equal to a threshold current, thereby preventing the energy meter from overloading. It is understood that although the current regulating element is used to reduce the current flowing through the energy meter in most cases, in some embodiments, the current regulating element can also regulate (e.g., increase) the current converted by the current / voltage transformer to the measurement range of the energy meter, preventing the energy meter from underloading. Thus, when measuring different loads, it is not necessary to replace the current / voltage transformer; the current in the secondary circuit of the current / voltage transformer can be adjusted to a range suitable for the energy meter measurement by means of the current regulating element provided inside the power monitor.

[0026] Electricity meters typically determine the current and voltage on a load based on the current / voltage conversion coefficient (such as current ratio or voltage ratio) of a current / voltage transformer, thereby determining the electrical energy consumed by the load. According to embodiments of this disclosure, when a current regulating element is connected in series between the current / voltage transformer and the electricity meter, the power monitor or its electricity meter further determines the current converted from the load by the current / voltage transformer based at least on the current regulation coefficient of the current regulating element, thereby determining and displaying the electrical energy consumed by the load. In the illustrated embodiment, at least one current regulating element includes an inductive element.

[0027] The power monitor may also include at least one switching element, each configured to turn on when the current initially flowing from the current / voltage transformer 110 to the energy meter 120 is greater than or equal to a threshold current, to connect a corresponding current regulating element in series between the current / voltage transformer 110 and the energy meter 120, so that the current regulating element regulates (e.g., reduces) the current flowing through the secondary circuit of the current / voltage transformer to a value suitable for the energy meter measurement. Furthermore, in some examples, the switching element may also turn on when the current flowing from the current / voltage transformer to the energy meter is less than the threshold current, to connect the energy meter directly (i.e., without via the current regulating element) or indirectly (e.g., via a resistor but without via the current regulating element) to the secondary side of the current / voltage transformer.

[0028] Each switching element has at least a first ON state and a second ON state, and each switching element is configured to be in the first ON state when the current initially flowing from the current / voltage transformer to the energy meter is less than a threshold current, to establish a direct electrical connection between the current / voltage transformer and the energy meter (i.e., an electrical connection without a current regulating element, but in some examples may be via a possible resistor or may not be via a resistor). Furthermore, each switching element is also configured to be triggered to switch to the second ON state when the current initially flowing from the current / voltage transformer to the energy meter is greater than or equal to the threshold current, to connect a corresponding current regulating element in series between the current / voltage transformer and the energy meter. In the illustrated embodiment, at least one switching element includes a relay.

[0029] like Figure 1 As shown, the at least one current regulating element includes a first current regulating element 130 and a second current regulating element 150, while the at least one switching element includes a first switching element 140 and a second switching element 160. The first switching element 140 is configured such that when the initial current flowing from the current / voltage transformer 110 to the energy meter 120 is greater than or equal to a first threshold current, the first current regulating element 130 is connected in series between the current / voltage transformer 110 and the energy meter 120, and only the first current regulating element 130 regulates the current flowing through the energy meter in the secondary circuit of the current / voltage transformer 110; while when the initial current flowing from the current / voltage transformer 110 to the energy meter 120 is greater than or equal to a second threshold current greater than the first threshold current, the first switching element 140 and the second switching element 160 connect the first current regulating element 130 and the second current regulating element 150 in series between the current / voltage transformer 110 and the energy meter 120, and the first current regulating element 130 and the second current regulating element 150 jointly regulate the current flowing through the energy meter in the secondary circuit of the current / voltage transformer.

[0030] Reference Figure 1The following is an illustrative description using the first current regulating element 130 and the second current regulating element 150 as inductors, and the first switching element 140 and the second switching element 160 as relays. The first switching element 140 has a first access terminal 141, stationary contacts 142 and 143, and a moving contact 144, and the second switching element 160 has a second access terminal 161, stationary contacts 162 and 163. The first input terminal 141 of the first switching element 140 is connected to the first secondary side terminal 111 of the current / voltage transformer 110. The stationary contact 142 is connected to the first terminal 121 of the energy meter 120, and the stationary contact 143 is connected to one end of the first current regulating element 130. The opposite end of the first current regulating element 130 is connected to the second input terminal 161 of the second switching element 160. The stationary contact 162 is connected to the first terminal 121 of the energy meter 120, and the stationary contact 163 is connected to one end of the second current regulating element 150. The opposite end of the second current regulating element 150 is connected to the first terminal 121 of the energy meter 120. The moving contact 164 is operably engaged with the stationary contact 162 or 163 according to the magnitude of the current flowing through the second switching element 160.

[0031] As an example, the first switching element 140 is configured to be in a first ON state when the current initially flowing from the current / voltage transformer 110 to the energy meter 120 is less than a first threshold current, i.e., the moving contact 144 contacts the stationary contact 142 to establish a direct electrical connection between the current / voltage transformer 110 and the energy meter 120 (i.e., without through a current regulating element, but in some examples may be through a possible resistor or an electrical connection that may not be through a resistor), such that current flows from the current / voltage transformer 110 to the energy meter 120 via the first switching element 140; the first switching element 140 is also configured to be triggered to switch to a second ON state when the current initially flowing from the current / voltage transformer 110 to the energy meter 120 is greater than or equal to the first threshold current, i.e., the moving contact 144 switches from contacting the stationary contact 142 to contacting the stationary contact 143 to connect the first current regulating element 130 in series between the current / voltage transformer 110 and the energy meter 120. The first closed state of the first switching element can be called the normally closed state.

[0032] The second switching element 160 is configured to be in a first ON state when the initial current flowing from the current / voltage transformer 110 to the energy meter 120 is less than a second threshold current, i.e., the moving contact 164 contacts the stationary contact 162, such that the first current regulating element 130 is connected in series between the current / voltage transformer 110 and the energy meter 120 via the first switching element 140 and the second switching element 160. At this time, the second current regulating element 150 is disconnected from the current / voltage transformer 140. The second switching element 160 is further configured to be triggered and switched to a second ON state when the initial current flowing from the current / voltage transformer 110 to the energy meter 120 is greater than or equal to the second threshold current, such that the first current regulating element 130 and the second current regulating element 150 are connected in series between the current / voltage transformer 110 and the energy meter 120 via the first switching element 140 and the second switching element 160. The first ON state of the second switching element can also be called the normally closed state.

[0033] In some embodiments, the first switching element and / or the second switching element may be in a first ON state when the power monitor is started, and remain in a second ON state after being triggered to switch to a second ON state and before the power monitor is restarted.

[0034] like Figure 1 As shown, the power monitor 100 may further include a resistive element 170 connected in series between the current / voltage transformer 110 and the energy meter 120, such as between the second secondary terminal 112 of the current / voltage transformer 110 and the second terminal 122 of the energy meter 120. In other examples, this resistive element or other additional resistor may also be connected in series between the switching element and / or the current regulating element and the first secondary terminal 121 of the energy meter.

[0035] Embodiments of this disclosure also provide a power monitoring system that can be used to monitor the energy consumption of various loads in industrial production or people's daily lives, such as monitoring the power consumption of various equipment in a factory or production line, or monitoring the energy consumption of various electrical devices in an office or home. Figure 2 As shown, the power monitoring system includes at least one intelligent power monitoring unit, IPM1, IPM2, IPM3, etc. Each intelligent power monitoring unit includes a power monitor 100 and a data transmission unit 101 connected to the power monitor 100. Each power monitor 100 is used to monitor the electrical energy consumed by the corresponding load. Each data transmission unit 101 receives the electrical energy data monitored by the corresponding power monitor 100 and sends data signals related to the electrical energy data. The data transmission unit may include a wireless data transmitter or a wireless data transceiver.

[0036] The power monitoring system may also include a database server 200, which receives data signals from various data transmission units 101 and analyzes the power data through data fusion to obtain fused power data associated with each load. As an example, the database server 200 may include at least one database 201, 202, 203, etc., and a data fusion module 210 (such as a processor). The databases are used to store power data associated with one or more loads. The data fusion module 210 fuses the power data from the various databases, or it may receive external data from other sources DS1, DS2, DS3, etc., such as total energy consumption, electricity usage time, or production progress, to obtain fused power data. This fused power data may, for example, reflect the energy consumption change trend, offset, survival rate, production capacity, unit output value, etc., of each load. Figure 3 As shown. Figure 3 The diagram schematically illustrates the changing trends of electrical energy consumption by loads N1, N2, and N3. The power monitoring system may also include a display device 300, such as a user terminal monitor, which can connect to a database server and display the merged power data to the user.

[0037] Although embodiments of the present disclosure have been shown and described, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that variations may be made to these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the present disclosure, the scope of which is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents. Furthermore, it should be noted that, unless otherwise specified, the terms “comprising,” “including,” and “having” as used herein do not exclude other elements or steps. Additionally, any reference numerals in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope of the present disclosure.

Claims

1. A power monitor (100) comprising a single current / voltage transformer (110) and an energy meter (120) connected in series, the single current / voltage transformer being used to connect the energy meter to a load (1) so that the energy meter can monitor the electrical energy consumed by the load. wherein The power monitor also includes: A first current regulating element and a second current regulating element are connected between a current / voltage transformer and an energy meter, and are configured such that when the current flowing from the current / voltage transformer to the energy meter is greater than or equal to at least one of a first threshold current and a second current threshold, at least one of the first and second current regulating elements reduces the current to less than the rated maximum current of the energy meter; and A first switching element and a second switching element, each of which is configured to selectively connect a corresponding current regulating element of the first current regulating element and the second current regulating element in series between the current / voltage transformer and the energy meter when the current flowing from the current / voltage transformer to the energy meter is greater than or equal to one of the first threshold current and the second threshold current.

2. The power monitor according to claim 1, wherein, Each switching element has a first ON state and a second ON state, and each switching element is configured to: When the current flowing from the current / voltage transformer to the energy meter is less than one of the corresponding threshold currents of the first threshold current and the second threshold current, it is in the first on state to establish a direct electrical connection between the current / voltage transformer and the energy meter. as well as The device is triggered to switch to a second on state when the current flowing from the current / voltage transformer to the energy meter is greater than or equal to a corresponding threshold current of the first threshold current and the second threshold current, so as to connect a corresponding current regulating element of the first current regulating element and the second current regulating element in series between the current / voltage transformer and the energy meter.

3. The power monitor according to claim 2, wherein, The first switching element is configured to connect the first current regulating element in series between the current / voltage transformer and the energy meter when the current flowing from the current / voltage transformer to the energy meter is greater than or equal to a first threshold current. Each of the first and second switching elements is configured to connect the first and second current regulating elements in series between the current / voltage transformer and the energy meter when the current flowing from the current / voltage transformer to the energy meter is greater than or equal to a second threshold current, wherein the second threshold current is greater than the first threshold current.

4. The power monitor according to claim 3, wherein, The first switching element is configured to: When the current flowing from the current / voltage transformer to the energy meter is less than a first threshold current, the device is in a first connected state to establish a direct electrical connection between the current / voltage transformer and the energy meter. When the current flowing from the current / voltage transformer to the energy meter is greater than or equal to the first threshold current, it is triggered to switch to the second on state, so as to connect the first current regulating element in series between the current / voltage transformer and the energy meter. as well as The second switching element is configured to: When the current flowing from the current / voltage transformer to the energy meter is less than the second threshold current, it is in the first ON state, causing the first current regulating element to be connected in series between the current / voltage transformer and the energy meter via the first and second switching elements, while the second current regulating element is disconnected from the current / voltage transformer. When the current flowing from the current / voltage transformer to the energy meter is greater than or equal to the second threshold current, it is triggered to switch to the second on state, so that the first current regulating element and the second current regulating element are connected in series between the current / voltage transformer and the energy meter via the first switching element and the second switching element.

5. The power monitor of claim 2, wherein, Each of the first and second switching elements is configured to be in a first ON state when the power monitor is started, and to remain in the second ON state after switching to the second ON state and before the power monitor is restarted.

6. The power monitor of any one of claims 1-5, wherein, When the energy meter is configured such that at least one of the first and second current regulating elements is connected in series between the current / voltage transformer and the energy meter, the current converted from the load by the current / voltage transformer is determined based at least on the current regulation coefficient of one of the first and second current regulating elements.

7. The power monitor according to any one of claims 1-5, wherein, Each of the first and second current regulating elements includes an inductor.

8. The power monitor according to any one of claims 1-5, wherein, Each of the first and second switching elements includes a relay.

9. The power monitor according to any one of claims 1-5 further includes a resistive element (170) connected in series between the current / voltage transformer and the energy meter.

10. A power monitoring system, comprising: At least one power monitor according to any one of claims 1-9, each power monitor being used to monitor the electrical energy consumed by the corresponding load; At least one data transmission unit (101), each data transmission unit being connected to a corresponding power monitor to receive and transmit data signals related to the electrical energy monitored by the power monitor; A database server (200) is configured to receive the data signals from various data transmission units and analyze the data signals by data fusion to obtain fused power data associated with each load. as well as Display device (300) configured to connect to a database server and display the fused power data.

11. The power monitoring system according to claim 10, wherein, The at least one data transmission unit includes a wireless data transmitter.

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