Method and system for improving electricity larceny detection precision
By integrating dynamic load interference and multi-parameter analysis, the portable adjustable load meter detector solves the problems of low efficiency and poor accuracy in traditional anti-electricity theft detection, and achieves efficient and accurate electricity theft judgment and report generation.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Applications(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2025-12-11
- Publication Date
- 2026-03-20
AI Technical Summary
Traditional methods for detecting electricity theft are inefficient, inaccurate, and lack security. They cannot integrate dynamic load excitation and multi-parameter synchronous analysis, making it difficult to deal with intelligent electricity theft.
A portable adjustable load meter detector is used, which integrates an adjustable AC load module, current and voltage sampling unit, main control module and communication module. It determines abnormal electricity theft by dynamic load interference and multi-parameter comparison and generates a visual report.
It improves the efficiency and accuracy of electricity theft detection, reduces human error, provides multi-dimensional analysis and reliable technical basis, and supports rapid and secure electricity theft judgment.
Smart Images
Figure CN121703484A_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This invention relates to the field of power system technology, and in particular to a method and system for improving the accuracy of electricity theft detection. Background Technology
[0002] Anti-electricity theft technology is a core means for the power industry to ensure metering accuracy and electricity consumption order. In AC power supply systems, electricity theft typically manifests as illegal alteration of metering circuits, application of external magnetic field interference, and tampering with the internal program of the electricity meter. The technical methods have become increasingly complex with the development of electronic equipment. Traditional anti-electricity theft detection generally uses the "watt-second method," estimating metering errors by connecting an external fixed load device and manually observing the pulse flicker frequency of the electricity meter. This method relies on the operator's visual identification and experience, and its shortcomings are becoming increasingly apparent in practical applications.
[0003] Traditional testing procedures suffer from inconvenience due to bulky load equipment, while exposed terminal wiring poses a significant risk of electric shock and fails to meet electrical safety standards. The testing process involves sequential steps such as load connection, pulse observation, and manual calculation, which is time-consuming and susceptible to interference from ambient light and human error, making it difficult to guarantee measurement accuracy. Furthermore, existing methods only acquire basic parameters such as current and voltage, failing to simultaneously read critical information from the meter's internal records, such as voltage loss records and opening events, hindering comprehensive multi-dimensional data analysis.
[0004] With the continuous advancement of power electronics technology, electricity theft methods have evolved from simple current diversion to more intelligent and covert approaches. To effectively address this challenge, developing a detection system integrating dynamic load excitation and multi-parameter synchronous analysis has become a key direction for improving anti-electricity theft capabilities. In recent years, although pulse width modulation (PWM) load control technology and non-intrusive data acquisition methods have theoretically provided new ideas for anti-electricity theft, many technical challenges remain in practical applications, especially in achieving hardware integration and intelligent judgment on portable devices. This, to some extent, limits the development of anti-electricity theft work towards greater efficiency and accuracy.
[0005] Furthermore, on the one hand, there are differences in understanding among those skilled in the art; on the other hand, the applicant studied a large number of documents and patents when making this invention, but due to space limitations, not all details and contents were listed in detail. However, this does not mean that the present invention does not possess the features of these prior art. On the contrary, the present invention already possesses all the features of the prior art, and the applicant reserves the right to add relevant prior art to the background art. Summary of the Invention
[0006] To address the shortcomings of existing technologies, this invention provides a system that improves the accuracy of electricity theft detection by utilizing PWM adjustable AC load technology and multi-mode data reading technology, thereby solving the problems of low efficiency, poor accuracy, and insufficient security in traditional detection methods.
[0007] This invention relates to a system for improving the accuracy of electricity theft detection, comprising a portable adjustable load meter detector, which integrates: an AC input terminal connected to the output of the user-side air switch; an adjustable AC load module for dynamically adjusting the load power of the detector; a current sampling unit for collecting the user load current in the circuit downstream of the electricity meter; a voltage sampling unit for acquiring the real-time voltage on the user side; a main control module for processing current and voltage signals to calculate the actual power of the user load and adjusting the load current through the adjustable AC load module; and a communication module for connecting to the electricity meter and acquiring its internal metering data. The main control module compares the calculated actual power with the internal metering data of the electricity meter and determines abnormal electricity theft based on the deviation. For example, the main control module can execute a load disturbance strategy in stages. Specifically, the main control module first applies a 10% rated load step for three power frequency cycles to detect the pulse response delay of the electricity meter; secondly, it modulates the load with a 0.5Hz sine wave to force the electricity theft device to expose dynamic tracking errors; finally, it locks an abnormal frequency band (such as detecting a sudden increase in the second harmonic) and applies load fluctuations of the corresponding frequency for resonance interference. By using a time-sequential load incentive scheme, the system can distinguish between genuine electricity theft and the instantaneous deviation caused by the start-up and shutdown of ordinary equipment.
[0008] According to a preferred embodiment, the adjustable AC load module is a PWM-controlled AC load circuit, which includes an AC / DC conversion circuit, a load control circuit, and a power MOSFET transistor, and achieves dynamic load adjustment by receiving the pulse width modulation signal from the main control module.
[0009] According to a preferred embodiment, the current sampling unit is a clamp-on current transformer, which is connected to the phase line after the energy meter.
[0010] According to a preferred embodiment, the voltage sampling unit is connected in parallel with the AC input terminal.
[0011] According to a preferred embodiment, the communication module includes a wired port for connecting to the pulse indicator light or communication terminal of the energy meter, and a wireless transmission port for connecting to the smart terminal. The wired port includes an infrared photoelectric sensor that is snapped onto the pulse indicator light of the energy meter, and an RS-485 interface that is connected to the communication interface of the energy meter through a wiring terminal.
[0012] According to a preferred embodiment, the main control module generates multiple sets of comparison data by adjusting the load current. The main control module performs electricity theft determination as follows: it identifies voltage anomalies based on the difference between the measured voltage value and the internal voltage value of the electricity meter; and it determines metering anomalies by the deviation threshold between the actual power of the user's load and the power recorded by the electricity meter.
[0013] According to a preferred embodiment, the smart terminal is configured with a visualization interface to display dynamic comparison charts of the internal data of the electricity meter and the measured data. The smart terminal also generates a standardized electronic report containing the detection time and geographical location based on the anomaly type of electricity theft and the deviation analysis results.
[0014] According to a preferred embodiment, the portable adjustable load meter tester integrates a heat dissipation module inside its housing. The heat dissipation module includes a power resistor array and an axial fan. The power resistor array is connected in parallel with the adjustable AC load module to absorb the instantaneous overload energy generated during load adjustment. The axial fan is configured in the ventilation opening on the side wall of the housing and actively adjusts the heat dissipation intensity according to the load temperature value detected by the main control module.
[0015] According to a preferred embodiment, the device includes: a battery pack that provides independent power to the detector, and a voltage monitoring unit that feeds back the status of the battery pack to the main control module; wherein the voltage monitoring unit triggers an alarm signal when the power supply is abnormal.
[0016] This invention also relates to a method for improving the accuracy of electricity theft detection, the method comprising the following steps:
[0017] The portable adjustable load meter tester is connected to the output of the user-side air switch via its AC input terminal, which controls the adjustable AC load module to dynamically adjust the load current of the tester.
[0018] The current sampling unit collects the user load current in the circuit after the energy meter, and the voltage sampling unit obtains the real-time voltage on the user side.
[0019] The actual power of the user load is calculated based on the user load current and real-time voltage, and the internal metering data of the energy meter is obtained through the communication module.
[0020] The actual power is compared with the internal metering data of the electricity meter in real time, and the abnormal electricity theft is determined based on the comparison deviation.
[0021] The beneficial technical effects of this invention are as follows:
[0022] 1. By using an adjustable high-frequency AC load, multiple modes of power interference are actively applied to disrupt the originally stable operating state of electricity theft devices, thereby forcing these devices to expose abnormal behavior when subjected to dynamic interference. Compared with traditional fixed load detection methods, this method is more likely to detect electricity theft behaviors with intermittent or adaptive characteristics.
[0023] 2. Simultaneously collect user electricity consumption data and information from the meter's internal system to establish a unified time and space correlation analysis model. By comparing the difference between actual power consumption and meter readings, it can determine whether there has been any tampering; furthermore, by combining voltage phase changes, it can locate suspicious connection points in the circuit, thereby confirming from multiple perspectives whether electricity theft has occurred.
[0024] 3. By automatically triggering different load states and collecting corresponding data, the system reduces errors caused by human operation. The entire analysis process is based on preset judgment criteria, avoiding the uncertainty caused by traditional reliance on experience.
[0025] 4. All data generated during the testing process will be automatically updated with time information and geographical location, and matched with the event records in the meter to form a visual report containing abnormal waveforms, data deviations, and on-site conditions. This ensures that all information has complete temporal and spatial correlation, providing a reliable technical basis for subsequent processing and accountability. Attached Figure Description
[0026] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the detector connection according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
[0027] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the hardware structure of a detector according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
[0028] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the internal circuit layout of the detector according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
[0029] Figure 4 This is a hardware module diagram of a preferred embodiment of the electricity theft detection accuracy improvement system provided by the present invention. Detailed Implementation
[0030] The following is a detailed explanation with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0031] This embodiment provides a system for improving the accuracy of electricity theft detection, such as... Figure 1 , Figure 2 As shown, this electricity theft detection accuracy improvement system utilizes a portable adjustable load meter detector. Its housing size is controlled within 150mm × 120mm, resembling a handheld game console for easy on-site portability. The detector's AC input terminal is directly connected to the phase and neutral lines of the user-side air switch output, establishing an electrical connection point. The voltage sampling unit employs a high-precision voltage divider circuit connected in parallel with the AC input terminal to acquire the user-side AC voltage signal in real time. The current sampling unit uses a non-contact clamp-on current transformer, fitted onto the phase conductor of the circuit after the electricity meter, to obtain the user's load current waveform.
[0032] The adjustable AC load module achieves dynamic load adjustment based on PWM control technology. Internally, it integrates an AC / DC conversion circuit, a load control circuit, a load resistor as an energy-consuming component, and a power MOSFET transistor. For example... Figure 3 , Figure 4 As shown, the AC / DC conversion circuit converts the 220V AC input to a 220V DC bus voltage. The main control module outputs a pulse width modulation signal to the load control circuit, which adjusts the duty cycle of the MOSFET transistors to regulate the on / off time ratio of the current flowing through the load resistor, thereby precisely controlling the load current to be continuously adjustable within a certain range. This module replaces traditional high-power load devices such as hair dryers. The instantaneous overload energy generated during load adjustment is absorbed by the parallel power resistor array, while the axial fan configured on the side wall of the housing actively adjusts its heat dissipation intensity based on the temperature rise data monitored by the main control module, ensuring stable system operation.
[0033] During dynamic load regulation, sudden changes in load current can cause system oscillations, affecting operational stability. To effectively avoid this problem, the main control module employs a negative feedback compensation algorithm to calibrate the PWM duty cycle in real time, thereby achieving dynamic adjustment of the system state. Specifically, before applying a load step, the system first acquires the steady-state voltage and current waveforms over three power frequency cycles and calculates the baseline impedance value as a reference for subsequent adjustments. When the system applies a 10% step load, it continuously monitors the voltage drop rate (ΔV / Δt). If this value exceeds 5V / ms, the step amplitude is automatically adjusted to 5%, and a soft-start mode is activated to limit the load rise slope to within 50A / s, thus mitigating transient impacts. During the modulation of a 0.5Hz sinusoidal load, the system also monitors the total harmonic distortion (THD) of the current in real time. Once the second harmonic component is detected to suddenly increase to above 15%, the modulation frequency is immediately switched to 1.5Hz to avoid frequency points that may cause resonance. Through the above control strategies, the system can achieve rapid response and adaptive adjustment when facing sudden load changes and harmonic interference, significantly improving the stability and reliability of operation.
[0034] The main control module synchronously processes signals from the voltage and current sampling units, using a true RMS algorithm to calculate the actual power of the user's load. The communication module connects to the energy meter via a dual-mode interface: an infrared photoelectric sensor is attached to the energy meter's pulse indicator light, converting optical pulse signals into electrical pulse data; the RS-485 interface connects to the energy meter's communication port via a terminal block, directly reading internal metering data (including voltage, power values, and records of voltage loss / opening events). Simultaneously, a Bluetooth wireless transmission port establishes a data link with the smart terminal, uploading measurement data in real time.
[0035] The electricity theft detection process involves multi-dimensional analysis: The main control module dynamically adjusts the load current to generate tiered load conditions (such as 25%, 50%, and 100% rated load), collecting multiple sets of data at each load steady-state point. First, the measured voltage is compared with the internal voltage value of the electricity meter; when the difference consistently exceeds ±1%, a voltage anomaly alarm is triggered. Second, the deviation between the user's actual load power and the power recorded by the electricity meter is calculated; if it exceeds the ±2% threshold three times consecutively, a metering anomaly is determined. The smart terminal's visual interface dynamically displays a voltage-power deviation curve, which may include two curves: a red curve showing the internal power value of the electricity meter, and a blue curve showing the measured power value. The smart terminal also generates a standardized electronic report, including the anomaly type, deviation data, detection timestamp, and GPS location information, for on-site evidence collection.
[0036] The system is independently powered by a built-in lithium battery pack, with a voltage monitoring unit providing real-time feedback on the power status. When the battery voltage falls below a critical value or the load temperature exceeds a safety limit, the main control module triggers an audible and visual alarm and stops the detection, ensuring operational safety. The entire detection process can be completed within 5-10 seconds, significantly improving the efficiency and reliability of anti-electricity theft checks.
[0037] This invention also relates to a method for improving the accuracy of electricity theft detection, the method comprising the following steps:
[0038] The portable adjustable load meter tester is connected to the output of the user-side air switch via its AC input terminal, which controls the adjustable AC load module to dynamically adjust the load current of the tester.
[0039] The current sampling unit collects the user load current in the circuit after the energy meter, and the voltage sampling unit obtains the real-time voltage on the user side.
[0040] The actual power of the user load is calculated based on the user load current and real-time voltage, and the internal metering data of the energy meter is obtained through the communication module.
[0041] The actual power is compared with the internal metering data of the electricity meter in real time, and the abnormal electricity theft is determined based on the comparison deviation.
[0042] It should be noted that the specific embodiments described above are exemplary. Those skilled in the art can devise various solutions inspired by the disclosure of this invention, and these solutions all fall within the scope of this invention and its protection. Those skilled in the art should understand that this specification and its accompanying drawings are illustrative and do not constitute a limitation on the claims. The scope of protection of this invention is defined by the claims and their equivalents. This specification contains multiple inventive concepts; phrases such as "preferredly" or "according to a preferred embodiment" indicate that the corresponding paragraph discloses an independent concept. The applicant reserves the right to file divisional applications based on each inventive concept. Throughout the text, the feature introduced by "preferredly" is only an optional mode and should not be construed as mandatory. Therefore, the applicant reserves the right to abandon or delete relevant preferred features at any time.
Claims
1. A system for improving the accuracy of electricity theft detection, characterized in that, Including a portable adjustable load meter tester, which integrates: The AC input terminal is connected to the output terminal of the air switch on the user side. Adjustable AC load module, used to dynamically adjust the load power of the detector; The current sampling unit collects the user load current in the circuit downstream of the energy meter. Voltage sampling unit to acquire real-time voltage on the user side; The main control module processes current and voltage signals to calculate the actual power of the user's load and adjusts the load current through the adjustable AC load module. The communication module connects to the electricity meter and acquires its internal metering data; The main control module compares the calculated actual power with the internal metering data of the electricity meter, and determines the abnormality of electricity theft based on the deviation.
2. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The adjustable AC load module is a PWM-controlled AC load circuit, which includes an AC / DC conversion circuit, a load control circuit, and a power MOSFET transistor. It achieves dynamic load adjustment by receiving the pulse width modulation signal from the main control module.
3. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The current sampling unit is a clamp-on current transformer, which is connected to the phase line after the energy meter.
4. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The voltage sampling unit is connected in parallel with the AC input terminal.
5. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The communication module includes a wired port for connecting to the pulse indicator light or communication terminal of the energy meter, and a wireless transmission port for connecting to the smart terminal. The wired port includes an infrared photoelectric sensor that is snapped into the pulse indicator light of the electricity meter, and an RS-485 interface that is connected to the communication interface of the electricity meter via a terminal block.
6. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The main control module generates multiple sets of comparison data by adjusting the load current. The main control module performs electricity theft determination as follows: Voltage anomalies are identified by the difference between the measured voltage value and the internal voltage value of the energy meter. Metering anomalies are determined by the deviation threshold between the actual power of the user's load and the power recorded by the electricity meter.
7. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The smart terminal is equipped with a visual interface to display dynamic comparison charts between the internal data of the electricity meter and the measured data. The smart terminal also generates a standardized electronic report containing the detection time and geographical location based on the anomaly type and deviation analysis results of electricity theft.
8. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The portable adjustable load meter tester integrates a heat dissipation module inside its housing. This heat dissipation module includes a power resistor array and an axial fan, wherein: The power resistor array is connected in parallel with the adjustable AC load module to absorb the instantaneous overload energy generated during load adjustment. The axial fan is located at the ventilation opening on the side wall of the housing and actively adjusts the heat dissipation intensity according to the load temperature value detected by the main control module.
9. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that, include: A battery pack that provides independent power to the detector, and a voltage monitoring unit that feeds back the status of the battery pack to the main control module; The voltage monitoring unit triggers an alarm signal when the power supply is abnormal.
10. A method for improving the accuracy of electricity theft detection, characterized in that, The method includes the following steps: The portable adjustable load meter tester is connected to the output of the user-side air switch via its AC input terminal, which controls the adjustable AC load module to dynamically adjust the load current of the tester. The current sampling unit collects the user load current in the circuit after the energy meter, and the voltage sampling unit obtains the real-time voltage on the user side. The actual power of the user load is calculated based on the user load current and real-time voltage, and the internal metering data of the energy meter is obtained through the communication module. The actual power is compared with the internal metering data of the electricity meter in real time, and the abnormal electricity theft is determined based on the comparison deviation.