Load internal control multi-loop metering electric energy meter

Abstract

The invention belongs to the technical field of intelligent electric meters, and particularly relates to a load internal control multi-loop metering electric energy meter. The input side of the electric energy meter is provided with an input terminal used for being connected with a power supply, and the power supply supplies power to all electric loads together through the input terminal. The output side of the electric energy meter comprises a plurality of output terminals for independently accessing a plurality of electric loads, and each current sampling unit and each voltage sampling unit are arranged in each electric loop between the input terminal and the output terminal and are used for independently sampling a current signal and a voltage signal of the electric loop where the current sampling unit and the voltage sampling unit are located; the controllable switches are independently arranged in the power utilization loops and are used for controlling the on-off of the power utilization loops; and each metering control unit is used for calculating the electric energy data of the power utilization loop according to the current signal and the voltage signal of the corresponding power utilization loop and controlling the controllable switch, so that the cost and the wiring complexity are reduced, and meanwhile, one-meter multi-loop independent metering and control are realized.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of smart meter technology, specifically relating to a multi-circuit metering energy meter with load internal control. Background Technology

[0002] Three-phase energy meters are widely used in industrial, commercial, and some residential electricity consumption scenarios. They are primarily used to accurately measure parameters such as active and reactive energy in three-phase AC circuits. For example, Chinese utility model patent document CN220626490U discloses a baffle and a three-phase energy meter to prevent safety issues such as phase-to-phase short circuits. The core advantages of three-phase energy meters lie in their high metering accuracy, good stability, and mature technology. Existing standard three-phase energy meters are single-metering circuits and can only measure the electricity consumption in a single AC circuit. For example... Figure 1 As shown, three-phase electrical energy is collected by voltage sampling unit and current sampling unit, respectively, to obtain three-phase voltage (Ua, Ub, and Uc) signals and three-phase current (Ia, Ib, and Ic) signals. The collected three-phase voltage and current signals are then input to the energy measurement unit. The energy measurement unit uses a dedicated metering chip. Internally, the chip conditions the signals and converts them into digital quantities using a high-resolution multi-channel synchronous sampling ADC. It then executes an IEC-compliant energy metering algorithm in real time to accurately calculate key parameters such as total active energy and reactive energy. The calculation results are transmitted via SPI or I... 2 The data is transmitted to the main control MCU via the C interface, and the MCU is responsible for data storage, display driving, and communication management.

[0003] With the energy transition, electricity demand has diversified, encompassing various categories such as livestock farming, agricultural irrigation and drainage, electric heating, charging piles, and distributed photovoltaic power generation, each with different electricity prices. Facing these diverse scenarios and varying electricity prices, distribution boxes often require multiple independent electricity meters for multi-scenario, multi-circuit metering. This results in dense meter placement, redundant and tangled cabling, and a common "one pole, multiple boxes" phenomenon. This installation method significantly reduces space utilization, leading to a surge in installation space requirements and a substantial increase in installation and wiring complexity and workload. It not only increases costs but also creates inconvenience for daily maintenance, resulting in a messy overall layout. To address the space occupation issue, the industry has developed compact DIN rail-mounted electricity meters. While these meters are small and easy to install, they generally suffer from high costs and insufficient reliability, making them unsuitable for applications requiring high metering accuracy. Furthermore, three-phase electricity meters only have metering functions and lack load control capabilities. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The purpose of this invention is to provide a multi-loop metering energy meter with load internal control, in order to solve the problem that ordinary three-phase energy meters cannot reasonably adapt to the power demand in multiple scenarios, resulting in complex and inefficient installation and maintenance and limited functions.

[0005] To solve the aforementioned technical problems, this invention provides a multi-loop metering energy meter with load internal control, comprising N corresponding voltage sampling units, current sampling units, controllable switches, and metering control units. The energy meter input side has one input terminal for connecting to a power source, through which the power source supplies power to N electrical loads. The energy meter output side includes N output terminals for connecting to N electrical loads. Each current sampling unit and voltage sampling unit is located in each electrical circuit between the input and output terminals, and is used to independently sample the current and voltage signals of its respective electrical circuit. Controllable switches are independently located in each electrical circuit and are used to control the on / off state of their respective electrical circuits. Each metering control unit is used to calculate the energy data of the electrical circuit based on the current and voltage signals of the applied electrical circuit, and to control the controllable switches; N≥2.

[0006] Furthermore, the input terminal is a shared terminal for both voltage and current input.

[0007] Furthermore, each controllable switch is installed in the power circuit between the input terminal and the corresponding current sampling unit.

[0008] Furthermore, the input terminals and output terminals are located on the inside side of the energy meter, and the output terminals are arranged adjacent to each other with corresponding current sampling units, voltage sampling units, and controllable switches.

[0009] Furthermore, a copper rod is provided between the input terminal and the controllable switch. The current input from the input terminal is extended through the copper rod and then input to the controllable switch, the current sampling unit and the output terminal through a flexible wire.

[0010] Furthermore, the controllable switch is a relay.

[0011] Furthermore, the electricity meter also includes a processor for storing electricity data and sending control commands to the controllable switch.

[0012] Furthermore, a signal conditioning circuit is provided between each metering control unit, voltage sampling unit, and current sampling unit.

[0013] Furthermore, the voltage sampling unit is implemented by a resistor divider circuit.

[0014] Furthermore, the metering control unit controls the controllable switch to disconnect when the electricity load exceeds the load threshold, or actively controls the controllable switch according to the control strategy formulated based on the time-of-use electricity price.

[0015] The beneficial effects of the above technical solution are as follows: This invention is an improved invention. The electricity meter is equipped with only one power input terminal. After the power is input to the electricity meter through this input terminal, it supplies power to multiple loads. All power circuits share the same power input. The output side provides separate current output terminals for each power circuit to connect to each power load. The current of each power circuit is independently sampled by its dedicated current sampling unit to ensure physical isolation and signal independence. Each power circuit has an independent voltage sampling unit for independent sampling. The metering control unit calculates the active or reactive energy of the power circuit based on the dedicated current and voltage signals, thereby realizing multi-circuit calculation with one meter. Furthermore, the input terminals are shared, which greatly simplifies external wiring and reduces the cost of the electricity meter. Each power circuit is equipped with a controllable switch, which can independently connect or disconnect the power supply to the corresponding circuit. This allows a single meter to not only measure electricity but also to remotely control the power supply to each user or load, manage the load, and cut off power for overdue payments. This achieves physical integration and functional fusion of metering and control, enhances the flexibility and automation of management, and reduces the wiring complexity and operation of external controllable switches. Therefore, the electricity meter of this invention is a compact electricity metering device that integrates multi-circuit metering, control, and management, achieving independent metering and control of multiple circuits while reducing costs and wiring complexity. Attached Figure Description

[0016] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the principle of a traditional three-phase energy meter in existing technology; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the principle of the multi-loop metering energy meter implementation method of the present invention with load internal control; Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the external wiring of the energy meter in the embodiment of the multi-circuit metering energy meter with load internal control of the present invention; Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of the multi-loop metering energy meter according to the present invention with load internal control. Figure 5 This is a wiring diagram of each module in the implementation of the multi-loop metering energy meter with load internal control according to the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0017] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the present invention clearer, the specific embodiments of the present invention will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0018] This invention creates a compact energy metering device that integrates metering, control, and management by using an independent single-meter multi-circuit independent metering design with a shared input terminal on the input side and separate output terminals on the output side, as well as an integrated energy meter with a built-in relay. This enables independent metering and load control across multiple circuits using a single meter.

[0019] Implementation methods of multi-loop metering energy meters with load internal control This invention relates to a load-controlled multi-loop energy meter. This energy meter is designed to meet the core need of improving the adaptability of electricity use in multiple scenarios. By integrating multiple independent metering loops and controllable switch channels into a single device, it meets the independent metering and control requirements of electricity use in multiple scenarios while ensuring metering reliability comparable to or even higher than that of existing three-phase energy meters. It significantly improves installation convenience and space utilization efficiency, and enhances the overall integrity and layout regularity of the equipment.

[0020] like Figure 2 As shown, when a multi-loop energy meter with load internal control is connected to N electrical loads, each electrical loop corresponds to a completely independent metering channel. Each metering channel includes a dedicated current sampling unit, a voltage sampling unit, an independent signal conditioning circuit, an independent metering chip, and a dedicated controllable switching element. N is greater than or equal to 2.

[0021] Specifically, such as Figure 5 As shown, the multi-loop metering energy meter with load internal control includes N corresponding voltage sampling units, current sampling units, controllable switches and metering control units, as well as a power supply system, 1 input terminal and N output terminals.

[0022] The input and output terminals are located on the inside side of the energy meter. The output terminals are arranged adjacent to each other, with the corresponding current sampling unit, voltage sampling unit, and controllable switch arranged sequentially. "Side" refers to the four sides (top, bottom, left, and right), and the input and output terminals can be positioned on any side. It can be flexibly expanded to accommodate any number of circuits and supports various layouts and wiring sequences for the input and output terminals.

[0023] A copper rod is installed between the input terminal and the controllable switch. The current input from the input terminal is extended through the copper rod and then input to the controllable switch, the current sampling unit and the output terminal through a flexible wire.

[0024] The electricity meter has one input terminal on its input side, through which power is supplied to N electrical loads. The input terminal is a shared terminal for voltage and / or current input, meaning that the input side shares one three-phase voltage terminal and / or three-phase current input terminal. The three-phase power supply is connected to the electricity meter through this shared input terminal, thus greatly simplifying external wiring.

[0025] The output side of the electricity meter includes N output terminals for connecting N electrical loads. The output side provides discrete output terminals for the power circuits of each power load, thus providing an independent current output path for each power circuit.

[0026] Each current sampling unit and voltage sampling unit is located in each power circuit between the input and output terminals, and is used to independently sample the current and voltage signals of its respective power circuit. The current in each circuit flows through its dedicated current sampling unit for independent sampling, ensuring physical isolation and signal independence. The current sampling unit can be a current transformer or a shunt, or other current sampling devices.

[0027] Each voltage sampling unit is located after the input terminal and is used to sample independent voltage signals. The voltage sampling unit of each loop is implemented by a resistor voltage divider circuit. After the three-phase voltage is sampled, the voltage signal is sent to each independent metering channel.

[0028] Each metering control unit ( Figure 2 The metering chip in the system is used to calculate the electrical energy data of the applied electrical circuit based on the current and voltage signals. That is, independent metering of each user's electrical load is achieved by measuring the current flowing through its dedicated current sampling unit and combining it with the voltage signal of the corresponding circuit, so that each independent metering control unit can calculate the active or reactive energy. That is: Electrical Energy = Independent Circuit Voltage × Independent Circuit Current. The signal conditioning circuit for each metering channel is located between the metering control unit and the voltage and current sampling units.

[0029] Each controllable switch is independently installed in each power circuit to control the on / off state of its respective circuit. The controllable switch can be a relay. Preferably, the controllable switch is installed in the power circuit between the input terminal and the corresponding current sampling unit, enabling it to completely cut off the load current when the relay is disconnected, preventing high-voltage hazards caused by an open circuit on the secondary side of the transformer, while ensuring the reliability of metering and control.

[0030] Each metering control unit, in addition to processing the voltage and current signals of its corresponding circuit, can also control the controllable switch of the corresponding circuit according to a preset strategy, and execute load control commands through the controllable switch. This allows the electricity meter to proactively control the controllable switch to connect or disconnect the power supply to the corresponding circuit based on preset strategies, such as disconnecting the controllable switch to cut off power when the electricity load exceeds a load threshold, or actively controlling the controllable switch to connect or disconnect power to the corresponding circuit according to a time-of-use pricing strategy. This achieves refined load management, anti-theft, or interruptible power supply. This "metering-control integration" design allows a single meter to not only meter individual circuits but also directly perform independent remote on / off control, load management, and power outages due to overdue payments for each user or type of load, enhancing management flexibility and automation.

[0031] The electricity meter also includes a processor, which stores electricity data, drives the display, and manages communication. The electricity data for each circuit calculated by the metering control unit, as well as the input voltage signals and current signals for each circuit, are stored in the processor. The processor can also transmit data externally via a communication module and execute load control commands through a controllable switch. The processor can be an MCU. The electricity meter also includes a security encryption module (ESAM).

[0032] In one implementation, the processor includes a main MCU management unit and N loop management units. Each loop management unit is used to independently manage its corresponding loop. The main MCU management unit sends data outward through a communication module, receives load control instructions, and sends the load control instructions to the corresponding loop management unit to control the controllable switch of the corresponding loop.

[0033] The following is a simple explanation using the example of connecting four electrical loads. Figure 3 As shown, the three-phase power supply (A, B, C, N) provided by the mains voltage is connected to a set of common voltage input terminals and current input terminals of the energy meter. The output side provides independent current output paths for four power circuits, and each output path is connected to its dedicated load.

[0034] like Figure 4 As shown, the input terminals are located on the lower side inside the energy meter, and the four sets of output terminals are distributed on the left and right sides inside the energy meter. The current transformer, voltage sampling unit and relay are arranged adjacent to each other at the output terminals, and the metering control unit is located in the center inside the energy meter.

[0035] Three-phase relays are selected to control the on / off state of each phase of the three-phase four-wire energy meter at each meter position. The load power supply receives current from the input terminal at the bottom of the energy meter, extends through a copper rod, connects to the three-phase relay via a flexible wire, and then passes through a current transformer to finally connect to the output terminal, completing the current loop. After the three-phase power supply voltage is sampled, the voltage signal is sent to the corresponding independent metering channel. Each metering channel calculates the independent voltage signal and the independent current sampling signal.

[0036] This invention relates to a compact energy metering device integrating multi-circuit metering, control, and management. By integrating multiple independent metering circuits and controllable switching channels into a single unit, and employing a unique current path design with shared input terminals on the input side and separate output terminals on the output side, it significantly simplifies external wiring, enables flexible adaptation to various scenarios, significantly improves installation convenience and space utilization efficiency, and enhances the overall integrity and layout regularity of the device. Through strict physical isolation and optimized electrical design, it ensures zero phase-to-phase interference between channels, and the metering accuracy of each circuit reaches the same standard as a single-circuit independent meter. While maintaining metering reliability comparable to or even higher than existing three-phase energy meters, it meets the independent metering and control requirements for electricity consumption in multiple scenarios.

Claims

1. A multi-loop metering energy meter with load internal control, characterized in that, It includes N corresponding voltage sampling units, current sampling units, controllable switches, and metering control units; the energy meter input side has one input terminal for connecting to a power source, which supplies power to N electrical loads through this input terminal; the energy meter output side includes N output terminals for connecting to N electrical loads; each current sampling unit and voltage sampling unit is located in each electrical circuit between the input terminal and the output terminal, and is used to independently sample the current and voltage signals of the electrical circuit; each controllable switch is independently located in each electrical circuit and is used to control the on / off state of the electrical circuit; each metering control unit is used to calculate the energy data of the electrical circuit based on the current and voltage signals of the applied electrical circuit, and to control the controllable switches; N≥2.

2. The multi-loop metering energy meter with load internal control according to claim 1, characterized in that, The input terminal is a shared terminal for both voltage and current input.

3. The multi-loop metering energy meter with load internal control according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, Each controllable switch is installed in the power circuit between the input terminal and the corresponding current sampling unit.

4. The multi-loop metering energy meter with load internal control according to claim 3, characterized in that, The input and output terminals are located inside the side of the energy meter, and the corresponding current sampling unit, voltage sampling unit and controllable switch are arranged adjacent to each other at the output terminals.

5. The multi-loop metering energy meter with load internal control according to claim 4, characterized in that, A copper rod is provided between the input terminal and the controllable switch. The current input from the input terminal is extended through the copper rod and then input to the controllable switch, the current sampling unit and the output terminal through a flexible wire.

6. The multi-loop metering energy meter with load internal control according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that, The controllable switch is a relay.

7. The multi-loop metering energy meter with load internal control according to claim 1, characterized in that, The electricity meter also includes a processor, which is used to store electricity data and send control commands to the controllable switch.

8. The multi-loop metering energy meter with load internal control according to claim 1, characterized in that, Each metering control unit, voltage sampling unit, and current sampling unit is also provided with a signal conditioning circuit.

9. The multi-circuit metering energy meter with load internal control according to claim 1, characterized in that, The voltage sampling unit is implemented by a resistor voltage divider circuit.

10. The multi-loop metering energy meter with load internal control according to claim 1, characterized in that, The metering and control unit controls the controllable switch to disconnect when the electricity load exceeds the load threshold, or actively controls the controllable switch according to the control strategy formulated based on the time-of-use electricity price.

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