Power system and method for reverse detection and calibration of power meter

Abstract

A power system and a method for reverse detection and calibration of a power meter. A power system includes a solar module, an inverter module, a control module, and an input module. The control module enters into a reverse detection and calibration setting mode when the reverse detection light of the power meter lights up, and stores a calibration setting value input by the input module, so that the control module correspondingly decreases the alternating current power inverted by the inverter module to the load according to the calibration setting value, and the alternating current power output from the mains to the load is correspondingly increased until the reverse detection light of the power meter goes out.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] This invention relates to a power system and method, and more particularly to a power system and method for backflow detection and calibration of power meters. [Previous Technology]

[0002] In some countries, in order to comply with regulations for power quality testing, independent power meters are required to test whether the power quality meets the standards. However, under different load characteristics, power quality, and power meter sensitivity, the internal judgment circuit of the power meter often detects that some energy is flowing back into the mains power, causing the reverse detection light of the power meter to light up, thus causing a long-standing problem that has troubled users. [Summary of the Invention]

[0003] The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a power system and method for backflow detection and calibration of electricity meters, which addresses the shortcomings of the prior art.

[0004] One embodiment of the present invention provides a power system for backflow detection and calibration of power meters, applicable to power meters connected to mains power and having a backflow detection indicator, comprising: a solar module for supplying energy; an inverter module for inverting energy, the inverter module being electrically coupled to the solar module and electrically coupled to the mains power and a load; a control module for controlling energy, the control module being electrically coupled to the inverter module; and an input module for inputting data, the input module being electrically coupled to the control module; wherein, when the backflow detection indicator of the power meter is illuminated, the control module adjusts the input module according to the input module. The input signal enters a reverse-flow detection and calibration setting mode. In this mode, the control module stores a calibration setting value input by the input module and performs calibration based on the stored value. This reduces the DC power output from the solar module to the load via the inverter module, thereby increasing the AC power output to the load from the mains power. While the reverse-flow detection indicator on the power meter remains lit, the control module stores and calibrates based on the next calibration setting value input by the input module until the reverse-flow detection indicator on the power meter goes out.

[0005] An embodiment of the present invention provides a calibration method for a power system for backflow detection calibration of an electricity meter, applicable to an electricity meter connected to the mains power and having a backflow detection indicator, and includes the following steps: when the backflow detection indicator of the electricity meter is lit, a control module enters a backflow detection calibration setting mode according to an input signal input by an input module; in the backflow detection calibration setting mode, the control module stores a calibration setting value input by the input module; the control module performs a calibration step according to the stored calibration setting value, so as to correspondingly reduce the DC power output of an inverter module to a solar module to an AC power of a load, thereby correspondingly increasing the AC power output of the mains power to the load; and when the backflow detection indicator of the electricity meter is still lit, the control module stores the next calibration setting value input by the input module and performs the aforementioned calibration step until the backflow detection indicator of the electricity meter is extinguished.

[0006] To further understand the features and technical content of the present invention, please refer to the following detailed description and drawings of the present invention. However, the drawings provided are for reference and illustration only and are not intended to limit the present invention.

Implementation Method

[0007] The following specific embodiments illustrate the relevant implementation methods disclosed in this invention. Those skilled in the art can understand the advantages and effects of this invention from the content disclosed in this specification. This invention can be implemented or applied through other different specific embodiments, and various details in this specification can also be modified and changed based on different viewpoints and applications without departing from the concept of this invention. In addition, the accompanying drawings of this invention are only simple illustrations and are not depictions based on actual dimensions, as stated in advance. The following embodiments will further describe the relevant technical content of this invention in detail, but the disclosed content is not intended to limit the scope of protection of this invention.

[0008] It should be understood that although terms such as "first," "second," and "third" may be used in this document to describe various components, these components should not be limited by these terms. These terms are primarily used to distinguish one component from another. In addition, the term "or" as used herein may, as appropriate, include any combination of one or more of the related listed items.

[0009] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a power system for backflow detection and calibration of an electricity meter according to an embodiment of the present invention. Please refer to Figure 1. A power system for backflow detection and calibration of an electricity meter (hereinafter referred to as power system 1) is applicable to an electricity meter M1 connected to the mains power E1 and having a backflow detection light M11. In practice, the electricity meter M1 is implemented, for example, through a mechanical meter, an electronic meter, a three-phase mechanical meter, a three-phase electronic meter, or a smart meter. In this embodiment, the electricity meter M1 measures the amount of electricity, current, voltage, and current direction of the mains power E1 through its own detection circuit to determine whether there is electrical energy flowing back to the mains power E1. When it is determined that some energy has flowed back to the mains power E1, the backflow detection light M11 of the electricity meter M1 will light up. Furthermore, the electricity meter M1 in this embodiment is an independent device and does not have any external communication lines to communicate with external devices.

[0010] In one technical configuration of this embodiment, the power system 1 may include a switch module R, a solar module 10, an inverter module 20, a control module 30, and an input module 40.

[0011] The solar module 10 is used for power supply. In practice, the solar module 10 is implemented through one or a combination of a solar panel, a controller, and a solar energy storage device. The solar panel is used to receive solar energy. The solar energy storage device is used to convert solar energy into electrical energy. The controller controls the electrical energy output by the solar energy storage device through maximum power point tracking (MPPT), where MPPT detects the time of day or angle of sunlight when the maximum power is achieved. This embodiment does not limit the form of the solar module 10.

[0012] Inverter module 20 is used for inversion. Inverter module 20 is electrically coupled to the solar module. Inverter module 20 inverts the DC power output from solar module 10 into AC power, and supplies it to load L1 along with the mains power E1. In practice, inverter module 20 is implemented, for example, through a grid-connected inverter, a full-bridge inverter, or a half-bridge inverter. Since solar module 10 converts light energy into DC power, inverter module 20 is needed to convert the DC power generated by solar module 10 into AC power and supply the converted AC power to load L1. This embodiment does not limit the configuration of inverter module 20.

[0013] The control module 30 is used for control. The control module 30 is electrically coupled to the inverter module 20. The control module 30 can control the operation of the inverter module 20. That is, the control module 30 can control the inverter module 20 to invert the DC power output from the solar module 10 to the AC power of the load L1, so that the AC power supplied to the load L1 by the inverter module 20 is regulated by the control module 30. In practice, the control module 30 is implemented, for example, through a digital signal processor (DSP), a microcontroller (MCU), or an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), and is not limited thereto.

[0014] The control module 30 is electrically coupled to the switch module R, and the inverter module 20 is electrically coupled to the mains power E1 and the load L1 through the switch module R. Further, the switch module R includes a first switch R1 and a second switch R2 connected to each other. The first switch R1 and the second switch R2 are selectively turned on according to the instruction of the control module 30 to selectively transmit at least one of the AC power output from the mains power E1 and the AC power output from the inverter module 20 to the load L1. For example, the control module 30 can control both the first switch R1 and the second switch R2 to be turned on to transmit the AC power output from the mains power E1 and the AC power output from the inverter module 20 to the load L1; alternatively, the control module 30 can control the first switch R1 to be turned off and the second switch R2 to be turned on to transmit the AC power output from the inverter module 20 to the load L1. In practice, the first switch R1 and the second switch R2 can each be a relay. This embodiment does not limit the state of the switch module R.

[0015] Input module 40 is used for input. Input module 40 is electrically coupled to control module 30. Furthermore, when the reverse flow detection light M11 of power meter M1 is lit, control module 30 can enter a reverse flow detection calibration setting mode according to an input signal input by input module 40.

[0016] Continuing from the above, in the reverse-feed detection calibration setting mode, the control module 30 can store a calibration setting value input by the input module 40, and then perform calibration according to the stored calibration setting value. This will correspondingly reduce the DC power output of the inverter module 20 to the load L1, thereby correspondingly increasing the AC power output of the mains power E1 to the load L1, thus preventing some solar energy from flowing back to the mains power E1 terminal. Furthermore, while the reverse-feed detection light M11 on the power meter M1 is still lit, the control module 30 can store and perform calibration according to the next calibration setting value input by the input module 40 until the reverse-feed detection light M11 on the power meter M1 goes out.

[0017] For example, when the reverse power supply detection light M11 on the power meter M1 illuminates, and after the control module 30 enters the reverse power supply detection calibration setting mode, the control module 30 can store the calibration setting value (e.g., 100) input by the input module 40. Then, the control module 30 can correspondingly reduce the DC power output by the inverter module 20 to the AC power of the load L1 according to the stored calibration setting value, for example, reducing the average power transmitted to the load by about 100W. The missing 100W will be supplemented by the mains power E1 to solve the reverse power supply problem. If the power meter M11 illuminates at this time, the reverse power supply will be reduced. The backflow detection light M11 of the power meter M1 remains lit. The control module 30 can store and calibrate according to the next calibration setting value (e.g., 110) input by the input module 40. That is, the control module 30 can reduce the average power transmitted to the load by 10W according to the upward adjustment of the calibration setting value, that is, reduce the average power transmitted to the load by about 110W in total, with an upper limit of 300W, until the backflow detection light M11 of the power meter M1 goes out. Each adjustment of the calibration setting value is stored, so each time an input is made, the calibration setting value seen will be the previously stored calibration setting value.

[0018] Thus, through the power system 1 of the present invention, the control module 30 has a reverse feedback detection and calibration setting mode. After the control module 30 enters the reverse feedback detection and calibration setting mode, the control module 30 can store the calibration setting value input by the input module 40, so that the control module 30 can perform calibration according to the stored calibration setting value, so as to correspondingly reduce the DC power output of the inverter module 20 to the AC power of the load L1, so that the mains power E1 can provide more energy, thereby avoiding some solar energy from being fed back into the mains power E1. This solves the problem that the power meter M1 will self-detect abnormalities and light up under different load characteristics, different power quality and different sensitivity states.

[0019] In this embodiment, the input module 40 may be, but is not limited to, an input interface, an input panel, or an input function key, and may be controlled and operated by a user or operator to control the operation of the control module 30.

[0020] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of a power system for reverse flow detection and calibration of an electricity meter according to another embodiment of the present invention. Please refer to Figure 2. The power systems 1b and 1 in Figure 2 are similar to those in Figure 1, and the same components included in both will be indicated by the same reference numerals below. The differences between power systems 1b and 1 are explained below.

[0021] A first sensing circuit S1 is connected between the control module 30 and the inverter module 20. The first sensing circuit S1, for example, is a voltage / current sensing circuit, which is used to sense the inverter module 20. The control module 30 can determine the output voltage and output current of the inverter module 20 through analog-to-digital conversion (ADC) based on the sensing result of the first sensing circuit S1. The first sensing circuit S1 is not limited to being located inside or outside the control module 30 or the inverter module 20.

[0022] A second sensing circuit S2 is connected between the control module 30 and the solar module 10. The second sensing circuit S2, for example, is a voltage / current sensing circuit, which is used to sense the solar module 10. The control module 30 can determine the output voltage (PV output voltage) and output current (PV output current) of the solar module 10 through analog-to-digital conversion based on the sensing results of the second sensing circuit S2. The second sensing circuit S2 is not limited to being located inside or outside the control module 30 or the solar module 10.

[0023] A third sensing circuit S3 is connected between the control module 30 and the mains power E1. The third sensing circuit S3, for example, is a voltage sensing circuit, which is used to sense the mains power E1. The control module 30 can determine the input voltage (AC input voltage) of the mains power E1 through analog-to-digital conversion based on the sensing result of the third sensing circuit S3. The third sensing circuit S3 is not limited to being located inside or outside the control module 30 or outside the mains power E1.

[0024] A fourth sensing circuit S4 is connected between the control module 30 and the load L1. The fourth sensing circuit S4, for example, is a voltage sensing circuit, which is used to sense the load L1. The control module 30 can determine the voltage to the load L1 through analog-to-digital conversion based on the sensing result of the fourth sensing circuit S4. The fourth sensing circuit S4 is not limited to being located inside or outside the control module 30 or inside or outside the load L1.

[0025] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of a power system for reverse flow detection and calibration of an electricity meter according to another embodiment of the present invention. Please refer to Figure 3. The power systems 1c and 1b in Figure 3 are similar to those in Figure 2, and the same components included in both will be indicated by the same reference numerals below. The differences between power systems 1c and 1b are explained below.

[0026] A boost module 50 is connected between the solar module 10 and the inverter module 20. The boost module 50 is used to boost the DC power output by the solar module 10 and then output it, so that the boosted DC power is inverted by the inverter module 20 to supply the load L1.

[0027] A charge / discharge conversion module 60 is connected between the inverter module 20 and a battery module B1, and a control module 30 is electrically coupled to the charge / discharge conversion module 60. The control module 30 is used to control the charging and discharging operations of the battery module B1 through the charge / discharge conversion module 60. That is, the control module 30 is used to control the charging or discharging operations of the charge / discharge conversion module 60 and the battery module B1. Furthermore, the control module 30 can control the on or off of the switches in the charge / discharge conversion module 60 to allow bidirectional flow of electrical energy. For example, after the power flows through the charge / discharge conversion module 60, it flows to the battery module B1; or the power flows from the battery module B1 through the charge / discharge conversion module 60 and flows to the inverter module 20. Furthermore, when solar power is insufficient to power the inverter module 20 and the battery module B1 meets the discharge conditions, the battery power of the battery module B1 is converted into DC power through the charge / discharge conversion module 60. This DC power is then inverted by the inverter module 20 to supply power to the load L1. Further, a fifth sensing circuit S5 is connected between the control module 30 and the battery module B1. The fifth sensing circuit S5, for example, is a voltage / current sensing circuit, used to sense the battery module B1. The control module 30 can determine the voltage and current of the battery module B1 based on the sensing results generated by the fifth sensing circuit S5 through analog-to-digital conversion. The fifth sensing circuit S5 can be located either inside or outside the control module 30 or inside or outside the battery module B1; there are no limitations on its location.

[0028] The control module 30 is electrically coupled to a display module 70. The display module 70 is, for example, a liquid crystal display (LCD), and the control module 30 can control the display module 70 to display calibration setting values. Furthermore, after the control module 30 enters the reverse calibration setting mode, the control module 30 controls the display module 70 to display a reverse calibration setting item page 71, so that the display module 70 displays the calibration setting values ​​through the reverse calibration setting item page 71.

[0029] Figure 4 is a flowchart of the method steps for reverse flow detection and calibration of an electricity meter according to an embodiment of the present invention. Please refer to Figure 4. The reverse flow detection and calibration method of the present invention includes steps S101 to S105 as shown in Figure 4, which can be executed by the power system 1, 1b, 1c of the present invention as shown in Figures 1, 2, or 3, as detailed below.

[0030] In step S101, when the reverse irrigation detection light M11 of the power meter M1 is lit, the control module 30 enters a reverse irrigation detection calibration setting mode according to an input signal input by the input module 40, and starts reverse irrigation detection calibration.

[0031] In step S102, in the reverse irrigation detection calibration setting mode, the control module 30 stores a calibration setting value input by the input module 40.

[0032] In step S103, the control module 30 performs a calibration step according to the stored calibration setting value, so as to correspondingly reduce the DC power output by the inverter module 20 to the AC power output by the solar module 10 to the load L1, thereby correspondingly increasing the AC power output by the mains power E1 to the load L1.

[0033] In step S104, if the reverse flow detection light M11 of the power meter M1 is still lit, for example, the process can return to step S102 and continue until the reverse flow detection light M11 of the power meter M1 goes out. If the reverse flow detection light M11 of the power meter M1 has gone out, step S105 is executed, that is, the control module 30 exits the reverse flow detection calibration setting mode according to an exit signal input by the input module 40, and the reverse flow detection calibration ends.

[0034] In summary, the control module 30 of the power system of the present invention has a reverse feedback detection and calibration setting mode. After the control module 30 enters the reverse feedback detection and calibration setting mode, the control module 30 can store the calibration setting value input by the input module 40, so that the control module 30 can perform calibration according to the stored calibration setting value, so as to correspondingly reduce the DC power output by the inverter module 20 to the AC power of the load L1, so that the mains power E1 can provide more energy, thereby avoiding some solar energy from being fed back into the mains power E1. This solves the problem that the power meter M1 will self-detect abnormalities and light up under different load characteristics, different power quality and different sensitivity conditions.

[0035] The content disclosed above is only a preferred and feasible embodiment of the present invention, and is not intended to limit the scope of the patent application of the present invention. Therefore, all equivalent technical changes made using the contents of the present invention specification and drawings are included in the scope of the patent application of the present invention. [Simplified Explanation of the Diagram]

[0036] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a power system for backflow detection and calibration of electricity meters according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0037] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of a power system for reverse flow detection and calibration of electricity meters according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0038] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of a power system for reverse flow detection and calibration of electricity meters according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0039] Figure 4 is a flowchart of the calibration method steps for a power system used for reverse flow detection and calibration of power meters according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Claims

1. A power system for backflow detection and calibration of electricity meters, applicable to electricity meters connected to mains power and equipped with backflow detection lights, comprising: a solar module for supplying energy; an inverter module for inverting energy, the inverter module being electrically coupled to the solar module and electrically coupled to the mains power and a load; a control module for controlling energy, the control module being electrically coupled to the inverter module; and an input module for inputting energy, the input module being electrically coupled to the control module; wherein... When the reverse flow detection light on the power meter illuminates, the control module enters a reverse flow detection calibration setting mode based on an input signal from the input module. In this mode, the control module stores a calibration setting value input from the input module and performs calibration based on the stored value. This reduces the DC power output from the solar module to the load via the inverter module, thereby increasing the AC power output from the mains to the load. While the reverse flow detection light on the power meter remains illuminated, the control module stores and performs calibration based on the next calibration setting value input from the input module until the reverse flow detection light on the power meter goes out.

2. The power system for reverse-flow detection and calibration of electricity meters as described in claim 1 further includes a switching module, wherein the control module is electrically coupled to the switching module, and the inverter module is electrically coupled to the mains power and the load through the switching module; wherein, The switching module includes a first switch and a second switch connected to each other, the first switch and the second switch being selectively turned on according to the instruction of the control module, so as to selectively transmit at least one of the AC power output from the mains power and the AC power inverted by the inverter module to the load.

3. The power system for reverse flow detection and calibration of electricity meters as described in claim 1, wherein, A first sensing circuit is connected between the control module and the inverter module. The first sensing circuit is used to sense the inverter module. Based on the sensing result of the first sensing circuit, the control module determines the output voltage and output current of the inverter module through analog-to-digital conversion.

4. The power system for reverse flow detection and calibration of electricity meters as described in claim 3, wherein, A second sensing circuit is connected between the control module and the solar module. The second sensing circuit is used to sense the solar module. Based on the sensing result of the second sensing circuit, the control module determines the output voltage and output current of the solar module through analog-to-digital conversion.

5. The power system for reverse flow detection and calibration of electricity meters as described in claim 4, wherein, A third sensing circuit is connected between the control module and the mains power. The third sensing circuit is used to sense the mains power. Based on the sensing result of the third sensing circuit, the control module determines the input voltage of the mains power through analog-to-digital conversion.

6. The power system for reverse flow detection and calibration of electricity meters as described in claim 5, wherein, A fourth sensing circuit is connected between the control module and the load. The fourth sensing circuit is used to sense the load. Based on the sensing result of the fourth sensing circuit, the control module determines the current voltage of the load through analog-to-digital conversion.

7. The power system for reverse flow detection and calibration of electricity meters as described in claim 1, wherein, A boost module is connected between the solar module and the inverter module. The boost module is used to boost the DC power output by the solar module before outputting it.

8. The power system for reverse flow detection and calibration of electricity meters as described in claim 1, wherein, A charge-discharge conversion module is connected between the inverter module and a battery module. The control module is electrically coupled to the charge-discharge conversion module, and the control module controls the charging and discharging operation of the battery module through the charge-discharge conversion module.

9. A power system for reverse-flow detection and calibration of electricity meters as described in claim 8, wherein, A fifth sensing circuit is connected between the control module and the battery module. The fifth sensing circuit is used to sense the battery module. Based on the sensing results generated by the fifth sensing circuit, the control module determines the current voltage and current of the battery module through analog-to-digital conversion.

10. A power system for reverse-flow detection and calibration of electricity meters as described in claim 1, wherein, The control module is electrically coupled to a display module. In the reverse irrigation detection calibration setting mode, the control module controls the display module to display the calibration setting value.

11. The power system for reverse flow detection and calibration of electricity meters as described in claim 10, wherein, In the reverse irrigation detection and calibration setting mode, the control module controls the display module to display a reverse irrigation calibration setting item page, so that the display module displays the calibration setting value through the reverse irrigation calibration setting item page.

12. A calibration method for a power system for backflow detection calibration of an electricity meter, applicable to an electricity meter connected to mains power and having a backflow detection indicator, comprising the following steps: When the backflow detection indicator of the electricity meter is lit, a control module enters a backflow detection calibration setting mode according to an input signal input by an input module; In the backflow detection calibration setting mode, the control module stores a calibration setting value input by the input module; The control module performs a calibration step according to the stored calibration setting value to correspondingly reduce the DC power output of an inverter module to a solar module to an AC power output to a load, thereby correspondingly increasing the AC power output to the load from the mains power; and When the backflow detection indicator of the electricity meter is still lit, the control module stores the next calibration setting value input by the input module and performs the aforementioned calibration step until the backflow detection indicator of the electricity meter is extinguished.

13. The calibration method for a power system for reverse-flow detection calibration of electricity meters as described in claim 12, wherein, In the reverse irrigation detection calibration setting mode, the control module controls a display module to display the calibration setting value.

14. The calibration method for a power system for reverse-flow detection calibration of electricity meters as described in claim 13, wherein, In the reverse irrigation detection and calibration setting mode, the control module controls the display module to display a reverse irrigation calibration setting item page, so that the display module displays the calibration setting value through the reverse irrigation calibration setting item page.

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