DEVICE THAT PROVIDES SUPPORT FOR RESETTING A SMART METER

Abstract

Device that provides support for resetting a smart meter, the device comprising an inductor (110) connectable to the individual branch (L'), between the smart meter (10) and the consumer installation (20); and a capacitor (120) connected to an output terminal of the inductor (110) and to neutral (N); a relay (130), controlled by a control circuit (140), and with an electrical contact interposed between the capacitor (120) and neutral (N), the control circuit (140) being configured to control the relay (130) between an active mode, in which it supplies the capacitor (120) when the smart meter (10) detects consumption less than or equal to a subscribed electrical power, and a standby mode in which it ceases to supply the capacitor (120) and changes an impedance of the device (100), when the smart meter (10) detects consumption greater than a subscribed electrical power.

Description

Title of the invention: DEVICE YES PROVIDES SUPPORT FOR RESETTING A SMART METER Technical field

[0001] The present utility model relates to a device for PLC smart meters which provides support for the resetting of smart meters. State of the art

[0002] Smart meters use PLC communication to transmit data on the instantaneous power consumed by each user / consumer in the electricity network. This data is sent through power lines to the concentrators, where the data is collected for processing by the electricity distribution / marketing companies. This PLC communication occurs mainly on the CENELEC A band, which covers from 3 kHz to 95 kHz.

[0003] The PLC signal is low power and, therefore, the communication between the smart meter and the concentrator is sometimes affected by the noise injected into the electrical network. This noise is generated by all electrical / electronic devices (e.g., washing machines, computer equipment, lighting fixtures, industrial machines, etc.) that are connected directly to the electrical network on the user side. Supply companies must guarantee communication at all times, and for this purpose use PLC filters. These filters reduce the noise level that is injected into the electrical network from the user / consumer's installation and are connected between the latter and the smart meter.

[0004] On the other hand, smart meters have inside a power control switch (ICP) to cut off the supply in case the consumed power exceeds the subscribed one. This ICP is automatically reset when the smart meter detects a change in the impedance of the user's line (Z_phase-neutral) of 15%. Once the power supply is cut off, the impedance measurement mechanism consists of measuring the voltage drop that occurs between the phase and the neutral of the consumer's installation by injecting a small signal and making a frequency sweep (3-95 kHz). If the measured impedance is greater than a certain value, then FICP is reset and the power supply is restored.

[0005] However, LC type low-pass filters make this resetting impossible. This is due to the fact that the large capacity capacitor (of about pF) of the filter interferes in the measurement of the meter's impedance, distorting the measurement and preventing the ICP from being reset. In the case of industries, this would not be a serious problem since the owner could manually reset it once he had reduced his consumption. On the other hand, residential users cannot access the meter directly and would find themselves with a prolonged supply cut-off until the supply company operator comes to reset the meter. For this reason, the law requires the ICP of smart meters in homes to be deactivated, and supply companies can only keep a record of the power consumed.

[0006] Other known solutions are Notch type PLC filters, however, the attenuation of these is only present in a determined frequency, with a very small bandwidth and an attenuation not greater than 25 dB.

[0007] New high attenuation PLC filters with support for resetting the ICP of smart meters are therefore essential. Brief description of the invention

[0008] The present invention provides a device (or filter) that provides support for the resetting of smart meters. The proposed device / filter is configured (or designed) to connect between a smart meter and a consumer's installation, and comprises an inductor for its connection to the individual branch, between the smart meter and the consumer's installation; a capacitor electrically connected to an output terminal of the inductor and to the neutral; a relay; and a control circuit of the relay, an electrical contact of the relay being interposed between the capacitor and the neutral.In this way, when the smart meter detects an electrical power consumption less than or equal to a subscribed electrical power, the relay is configured in active mode, connecting the capacitor, and when the smart meter detects an electrical power consumption greater than a subscribed electrical power, the relay is configured in standby mode, disconnecting the capacitor and thus modifying the impedance of the device.

[0009] That is to say, with the proposed device / filter, when the smart meter maintains the electrical supply, the relay is in active mode, connecting the capacitor to the neutral of the circuit and providing a high attenuation (low impedance between line and neutral for frequencies above 10 kHz). On the other hand, when a supply cut has occurred from the smart meter (when the subscribed power is exceeded), the relay is in inactive mode opening the capacitor connection and, consequently, providing a high impedance between phase and neutral, allowing the smart meter to carry out the impedance measurement without problems and carrying out the reset automatically.

[0010] Preferably, according to the present invention, the relay used as a switching device is an electromechanical relay. However, alternatively, other types of relay could be used, for example a solid-state relay, among other semiconductors.

[0011] In certain exemplary embodiments, the inductor is a choke coil with a determined number of turns.

[0012] In some exemplary embodiments, the control circuit comprises a rectifier, preferably a full-wave rectifier, feeding a voltage divider. Alternatively, in other exemplary embodiments, other equivalent voltage matching circuits may be used to activate / energize the relay.

[0013] In some embodiments, the control circuit is configured to activate the relay with a voltage obtained from the individual branch of the consumer installation.

[0014] The proposed device / filter comprises an internal phase-neutral impedance during the impedance measurement step of the smart meter greater than 5 Q over the entire CENELEC A band. Similarly, the proposed device / filter comprises a high attenuation during the normal mode of operation of the smart meter.

[0015] The proposed device / filter requires only passive and electromechanical elements, being simple, elegant and low cost. Brief description of the figures

[0016] The foregoing and other characteristic advantages will be more fully understood from the following detailed description of an exemplary embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings, which are to be taken by way of illustration and not limitation, in which:

[0017] [Fig. 1] schematically shows the connection of the proposed device between the smart meter and a consumer's installation.

[0018] [Fig.2] schematically shows the proposed device, according to an exemplary embodiment.

[0019] [Fig.3] schematically shows another example of embodiment of the proposed device. Detailed description of an example of implementation

[0020] The present invention relates to a device (or filter, particularly low-pass) (100) with high attenuation (>40 dB) and wide bandwidth (35-95 kHz) which allows the resetting of 1TCP of smart meters automatically. The device (100), as illustrated in [Fig.l], is designed to be connected between a smart meter (10) and a consumer installation (20).

[0021] [Fig.2] shows an example of embodiment of the device (100). According to this example embodiment, the device (100) comprises an inductor (110) connected to the individual branch (L') between the smart meter (10) and the consumer installation (20); a capacitor (120) connected to an output terminal of the inductor (110) and to the neutral (N) of the consumer installation (20) through the electrical contact of a relay (130); and a control circuit (140) for controlling the relay (130).

[0022] [Fig. 3] shows another exemplary embodiment of the device (100). According to this exemplary embodiment, the control circuit (140) of the relay (130) is formed by a voltage divider (142) and by a rectifier (141) connected to the individual branch (L') of the consumer installation (20) and to the neutral (N). In particular, in a non-limiting manner, the rectifier (141) is a full-wave rectifier bridge.

[0023] The relay (130) is configured so that, when the electrical supply has been cut off, it disconnects the capacitor (120) from the neutral (N). Through the control circuit (140), and more particularly through the rectifier (141) and the voltage divider (142), the activation voltage of the coil of the relay (130) is obtained directly from the electrical network and with low consumption.

[0024] As long as the consumed power is less than or equal to the subscribed power (Pcons < Pcont), the smart meter (10) keeps 1TCP armed, supplying electrical energy to the consumer's installation (20). Therefore, the voltage present between phase and neutral is 230 Vrms. This voltage is rectified and adapted to the DC activation voltage of the relay coil, by closing the relay contact (130) and connecting the capacitor (120) between phase and neutral (N). In this way, the attenuation of the device (100), above the cut-off frequency, is high. This would be the normal operating mode of the device (100).

[0025] When Pcons > Pcont, the smart meter (10) opens 1TCP and starts its impedance measurement mechanism. The electrical signal injected by the smart meter (10) is of low amplitude, so that the control circuit (140) is unable to provide the voltage necessary to close the relay (130). Consequently, the capacitor (120) is disconnected from the neutral (N) and the impedance measurement is not affected by the low impedance of the capacitor (120). Once the consumption of the consumer's installation (20) is reduced, the electric meter (10) resets 1TCP and the device (100) returns to normal operation.

[0026] The scope of the present invention is defined in the appended claims.

Claims

Claims

1. A device that provides support for the resetting of a smart meter, wherein the device (100) is configured for its connection between a smart meter (10) and a consumer installation (20), and which comprises: an inductor (110) configured for its connection to the individual branch (L'), between the smart meter (10) and the consumer installation (20); and a capacitor (120) connected to an output terminal of the inductor (110) and to the neutral (N); characterized in that it further comprises: a relay (130);and a control circuit (140) configured for controlling the relay (130), wherein an electrical contact of the relay (130) is interposed between the capacitor (120) and the neutral (N), such that when the smart meter (10) detects an electrical power consumption less than or equal to a subscribed electrical power, the relay (130) is configured in active mode, powering the capacitor (120), and when the smart meter (10) detects an electrical power consumption greater than a subscribed electrical power, the relay (130) is configured in standby mode, ceasing to power the capacitor (120) and thus modifying an impedance of the device (100).;

2. Device according to claim 1, wherein the control circuit (140) comprises a rectifier (141) which supplies a voltage divider (142), wherein the rectifier (141) is connected to the individual branch of the consumer installation (20) and to the neutral (N).

3. A device according to claim 2, wherein the rectifier (141) is a full-wave rectifier bridge.

4. Device according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the control circuit (140) is configured to activate the relay (130) with a voltage obtained from the individual branch (L') of the consumer installation (20).

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