Busbar arrangement

Abstract

The invention relates to a busbar arrangement having an elongate busbar (1) made of an electrically conductive material for conducting an electric current (I) along the busbar (1), and having a contacting device (8) for electrically contacting the busbar (1). According to the invention, the contacting device (8) electrically contacts the busbar (1) at a plurality of voltage measuring points distributed along the busbar (1), wherein the contacting device (8) detects electrical potentials (U1,., U12) on the busbar (1), specifically separately from one another, at the individual voltage measuring points.

Description

[0001] DESCRIPTION

[0002] busbar arrangement

[0003] Technical field of the invention

[0004] The invention relates to a busbar arrangement comprising a busbar and a contacting device for electrically contacting the busbar.

[0005] Background of the invention

[0006] Busbar systems are well known from the prior art. In these systems, a busbar made of an electrically conductive material (e.g., copper) carries an electric current. Electrical loads can be connected to the busbar and supplied with power from it. A challenge lies in measuring the electrical power dissipated by these loads, as this requires measuring the partial currents flowing through each individual load.

[0007] Description of the invention

[0008] The invention is therefore based on the objective of facilitating the measurement of the electrical power consumed by the individual electrical loads in such a busbar arrangement.

[0009] This problem is solved by a busbar arrangement according to the main claim.

[0010] The invention is based on a busbar arrangement known per se, as already described above in relation to the prior art. Thus, the busbar arrangement according to the invention, in accordance with the known busbar arrangement described at the outset, has an elongated busbar made of an electrically conductive material (e.g., copper) to carry an electric current along the busbar.

[0011] Furthermore, the busbar arrangement according to the invention, in accordance with the known busbar arrangement described at the outset, also provides a contacting device for electrically contacting the busbar.

[0012] In the busbar arrangement according to the invention, the contacting device enables voltage measurement at various voltage measuring points on the busbar, wherein the voltage measuring points are distributed along the busbar. It should be noted that although the busbar is made of an electrically conductive material (e.g., copper), it nevertheless exhibits a not entirely negligible electrical resistance. This results in slightly different electrical potentials at the various voltage measuring points along the busbar. This is due to the fact that the electric current flowing through the busbar is divided into several partial currents by the electrical loads connected to the busbar.Therefore, measuring the electrical potentials at the various voltage measurement points along the busbar allows for a calculation of the electrical power converted by the connected consumers (loads), as will be described in detail below.

[0013] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the contacting device comprises a printed circuit board (e.g., a flexible circuit board) for contacting the busbar at the various voltage measurement points. The printed circuit board is electrically and mechanically connected to the busbar to separately measure the electrical potentials at each individual voltage measurement point. This connection can be, for example, a welded or soldered joint. It should be noted that the connection between the printed circuit board and the busbar is preferably limited to the individual voltage measurement points on the busbar. Alternatively, the connection can be a press-fit or adhesive bond.

[0014] Furthermore, the busbar arrangement according to the invention preferably comprises an evaluation unit for evaluating the electrical potentials measured at the voltage measuring points on the busbar. For example, the evaluation unit can calculate the electrical power consumed by the individual loads connected to the busbar from the measured electrical potentials at the individual voltage measuring points.

[0015] Furthermore, the busbar assembly can include a multiplexer to select one of the voltage measurement points on the busbar for a voltage measurement and forward the measured potential to the evaluation unit. The multiplexer can then sequentially query all voltage measurement points on the busbar and record the electrical potential at each respective measurement point, so that the electrical potentials at all voltage measurement points are measured sequentially.

[0016] In a preferred embodiment, an analog-to-digital converter is also provided, which converts the analog electrical potentials measured at the voltage measurement points on the busbar into corresponding digital values ​​and then forwards these digital values ​​to the evaluation unit. The measurement with the upstream multiplexer makes it possible to measure each voltage measurement point against every other voltage measurement point. This is used to determine the offset of the analog-to-digital converter by "short-circuiting" the inputs and to eliminate the signal offset by reversing the polarity.

[0017] As mentioned above, the evaluation unit can calculate the electrical power consumed by individual loads from the measured electrical potentials at the various voltage measurement points of the busbar. Preferably, the total current flowing through the busbar is also taken into account when calculating this power. A current sensor is preferably provided to measure this total current; this sensor is connected to the evaluation unit's output and supplies the measured electrical current to the evaluation unit.

[0018] For example, the current sensor for current measurement according to the four-wire technique can have a low-resistance current-sensing resistor that is electrically connected in series with the busbar. The voltage drop across the low-resistance current-sensing resistor then, according to Ohm's law, represents the electric current flowing through the low-resistance current-sensing resistor and thus also through the busbar. However, the invention is not limited to such a low-resistance current-sensing resistor with regard to the operating principle of the current sensor. Rather, other measurement principles can also be used to measure the electric current flowing through the busbar. For example, the current measurement can also be performed magnetically, in particular using a Hall probe.

[0019] Furthermore, it should be mentioned that the busbar preferably has several connection points for connecting individual electrical loads, so that the electrical current flowing through the busbar is divided into several partial currents through the individual connected electrical loads. For example, two electrical loads (consumers) can be connected to the busbar. However, the invention is not limited to exactly two loads with regard to the number of connected electrical loads.

[0020] Furthermore, it should be noted that the electrical loads connected to the busbar are electrically connected in parallel and together form a parallel circuit. A voltage measuring device is preferably provided to measure the voltage across the parallel circuit of the electrical loads. The output of the voltage measuring device is also connected to the evaluation unit and supplies the voltage measured across the parallel circuit of the electrical loads to the evaluation unit.

[0021] The evaluation unit can then calculate the electrical power converted by the individual electrical loads depending on the following measured values:

[0022] • The total electric current flowing through the busbar as measured by the current sensor,

[0023] • the electrical potentials measured at the individual voltage measurement points along the busbar, and

[0024] • the electrical voltage measured by the voltage measuring device across the parallel connection of the electrical loads.

[0025] This calculation of the electrical power of the individual loads (consumers) can be easily done by utilizing the known Kirchhoff's rules, Ohm's law and the formula P=U- 1 for electrical power.

[0026] Regarding the design of the busbar, it should be noted that the busbar can contain several threaded holes, which form the individual voltage measurement points. The contacting device can be connected to the busbar via screw connections. Copper screws can be used for this purpose, screwed into the individual threaded holes of the busbar to connect it to the contacting device. Alternatively, the busbar can also be connected to the contacting device using press-fit pins.

[0027] Regarding the injection of electrical current into the busbar, the invention offers various possibilities, which are described below. One possibility for current injection involves the current injection point being located at one end of the busbar. This means that the current flows through the busbar in the same direction along its entire length.

[0028] Another possibility involves placing the power feed point at a distance from the ends of the busbar, for example, in the middle of the busbar. The electric current then flows from the power feed point in opposite directions along the busbar.

[0029] It is possible for the power supply point to be multi-pole, so that the current is fed into the busbar via multiple poles. This advantageously allows for a higher current-carrying capacity or the injection of a higher electrical current.

[0030] Furthermore, it should be mentioned that multiple busbars can be provided, each connected to an associated contact device to measure the electrical potential at several voltage measuring points on the busbars. For example, the different busbars can be assigned to the phase conductors of a three-phase network, to name just one example.

[0031] However, there is also the alternative possibility that only a single busbar is provided, which is connected to several contact devices in order to measure the electrical potential at several voltage measuring points along the busbar.

[0032] The busbar arrangement according to the invention can be used in both a direct current (DC) network and an alternating current (AC) network, in particular in a three-phase network.

[0033] In a busbar system with multiple busbars and multiple contact points, the common evaluation unit can detect the electrical potentials of all contact points. For this purpose, the evaluation unit can be directly connected to all contact points.

[0034] Alternatively, each contacting device can be assigned a measuring unit that measures the electrical potentials on the respective busbar. The individual measuring units can then communicate with the common evaluation unit, for example via a master-slave connection with the evaluation unit as the master and the individual measuring units as slaves.

[0035] Within the scope of the invention, temperature measurement at the busbar and / or at the contacting device is also conceivable. A temperature sensor can be provided at the beginning and end of the busbar or the contacting device to measure the busbar temperature. From these two temperature measurements, the respective temperature of the busbar along the contacting device can then be interpolated based on the load profile along the busbar, thus enabling temperature compensation of the individual voltage measurements. This is based on the fact that copper, as a conductor material, has very high conductivity but also a very high temperature coefficient of resistance (TCR).

[0036] It should also be noted that the number of voltage measurement points along the busbar can be greater than 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 14, 15, or 16, and these measurement points can be arranged equidistantly along the busbar. The individual measurement points can be spaced along the busbar at intervals of, for example, 5 mm to 50 mm, 10 mm to 25 mm, or 15 mm to 20 mm, with a spacing of 18 mm being particularly advantageous.

[0037] The electrically conductive material of the busbar can be, for example, copper or aluminum, although other metals are also conceivable.

[0038] Regarding the busbar, it should also be mentioned that it preferably has a current-carrying capacity of at least 50 A, 100 A, 200 A, 500 A, 1 kA or even at least 2 kA and has a current-carrying cross-section that is preferably larger than 10 mm². 2 , 20 mm 2 , 50 mm2 , 100 mm 2 , 200 mm 2 or 500 mm 2 .

[0039] Furthermore, it should be mentioned that the busbar can optionally be rigid or flexible and preferably has a length of at least 5 cm, 10 cm, 15 cm, 20 cm or at least 50 cm.

[0040] Other advantageous embodiments of the invention are characterized in the dependent claims or are explained in more detail below together with the description of the preferred embodiments of the invention with reference to the figures. Brief description of the drawings

[0041] Figure 1 shows a schematic representation of a busbar arrangement according to the invention with a current feed point at one end of the busbar.

[0042] Figure 2 shows a modification of Figure 1 with a power supply point in the middle of the busbar.

[0043] Figure 3 shows a schematic representation of a busbar arrangement with a busbar and several contacting devices for detecting the potentials on the busbar.

[0044] Figure 4 shows a schematic representation of a busbar arrangement according to the invention with three busbars and three contacting devices.

[0045] Figure 5 shows a schematic representation of a busbar arrangement according to the invention with several measuring units for voltage measurement on the busbars and a common evaluation unit.

[0046] Figure 6 shows a modification of Figure 5 with a master-slave connection between the common evaluation unit and the individual measurement units.

[0047] Figure 7 shows a modification of Figure 6 with a different topology of the measuring units and the evaluation unit.

[0048] Figure 8 shows a modification of the embodiment according to Figure 1 with a low-resistance current measuring resistor and a multiplexer.

[0049] Figure 9 shows a potential diagram to illustrate the electrical potential along the busbar with two electrical loads (consumers) connected to the busbar.

[0050] Figure 10 shows a schematic representation of a busbar according to the invention with several voltage measuring points in the form of threaded holes. Detailed description of the drawings

[0051] The following section describes the exemplary embodiment of a busbar arrangement according to the invention shown in Figure 1.

[0052] The busbar system is part of an AC power network with a neutral conductor N and a phase conductor L, where a busbar 1 is connected in series with the phase conductor L. The phase conductor L introduces an electric current I into the busbar 1 at a power supply point 2 at one end of the busbar 1.

[0053] The electric current I introduced into the busbar 1 is measured by a current sensor 3. The operating principle of the current sensor 3 is not essential. What is crucial is that the current sensor 3 transmits the electric current I to an evaluation unit 4. For example, the current sensor 3 can have a low-resistance current measuring resistor and measure the electric current I according to the known four-wire technique.

[0054] Two loads 5 and 6 (consumers) are connected to busbar 1 at two connection points arranged one behind the other along busbar 1. The two loads 5 and 6 are connected in parallel and are connected to the neutral conductor N on the side opposite busbar 1.

[0055] In addition, the busbar arrangement has a voltage measuring device 7 which measures an electrical voltage U that drops across the parallel connection of the two loads 5, 6.

[0056] The busbar 1 is connected to a contacting device 8 (“Connector”), which measures the electrical potential at a total of twelve voltage measuring points along the busbar 1 and forwards corresponding voltage measurements Ul, ..., U12 to the evaluation unit 4.

[0057] The evaluation unit 4 can then calculate the electrical power dissipated by the two loads 5 and 6 from the measured values. This calculation depends on the following measured values:

[0058] • The voltage U measured by the voltage measuring device 7 across the parallel connection of the two loads 5, 6,

[0059] • the current I measured by the current sensor 3, which is fed into the current rail 1 and

[0060] • the voltage measurements Ul, U12 at the various voltage measurement points along the busbar 1.

[0061] This calculation can be performed using Kirchhoff's laws, Ohm's law, and the formula P = U - 1. The current Is through busbar 1 downstream of a branch point of load 5 can be calculated from the measured voltage drop AU between two voltage measurement points and the resistance AR of busbar 1 between these two measurement points: Is = AU / AR. From this, the current II through load 5 is then obtained: 11 = 1 - Is. The power P dissipated by load 5 is then calculated from the current II through load 5 and the voltage U measured across load 5: P = II • U.

[0062] Evaluation unit 4 can then output the calculated performance values, as only indicated in the drawing.

[0063] The embodiment shown in Figure 2 largely corresponds to the embodiment described above and shown in Figure 1, so that, to avoid repetition, reference is made to the above description, using the same reference numerals for corresponding details.

[0064] A special feature of this embodiment is that the current feed point 2 is not located at one end of the busbar 1, but in the middle of the busbar 1. This means that the injected current I flows from the current feed point 2 through the busbar 1 in opposite directions.

[0065] Another special feature of this embodiment is that the current feed point 2 is two-pole, meaning that the current I is fed into the busbar 1 at two separate points. This is advantageous because it allows for a greater current-carrying capacity, i.e., a larger current I can be fed into the busbar 1.

[0066] Figure 3 shows a highly simplified schematic representation of a busbar arrangement according to the invention, which again partially corresponds to the embodiments described above. Therefore, to avoid repetition, reference is made to the preceding description, with the same reference numerals being used for corresponding details. A special feature of this embodiment is that several contact devices 8.1-8.n are provided to measure the electrical voltage at numerous voltage measuring points along the busbar 1. Each of the contact devices 8.1-8.n determines twelve voltage measurements Ul, ..., U12, so that the evaluation unit 4 can take into account a large number of voltage measurements.

[0067] Figure 4 shows a modification of Figure 3, so that to avoid repetition, reference is made again to the preceding description, using the same reference numerals for corresponding details.

[0068] A special feature of this embodiment is that three busbars 1.1-1.3 are provided, which can be assigned, for example, to the three phase conductors of a three-phase network.

[0069] In addition, three contact devices 8.1-8.3 are provided, each of which is assigned to one of the three busbars 1.1, 1.3.

[0070] The contacting devices 8.1-8.3 then each report twelve voltage measurements Ul, ..., U12 to the evaluation unit 4.

[0071] Figure 5 shows a modification of the embodiments described above, so that, to avoid repetition, reference is made to the preceding description, using the same reference numerals for corresponding details.

[0072] A special feature of this embodiment is that the evaluation unit 4 is not directly connected to the contact devices 8.1-8.n. Instead, each of the contact devices 8.1-8.n is assigned a measuring unit 9.1-9.n, which measures the voltage values ​​Ul, ..., U12 at the various contact devices 8.1-8.n. The individual measuring units 9.1-9.n thus report the voltage values ​​Ul, ..., U12 to the evaluation unit 4.

[0073] The embodiment shown in Figure 6 largely corresponds to the embodiment shown in Figure 5 described above, so that, to avoid repetition, reference is made to the above description, using the same reference numerals for corresponding details.

[0074] A special feature of this embodiment is the data communication between the evaluation unit 4 on the one hand and the measuring units 9.1-9.n on the other. This data communication takes place via a master-slave connection with the evaluation unit 4 as the master and the measuring units 9.1-9.n as slaves.

[0075] The embodiment shown in Figure 7 largely corresponds to the embodiments described above, so that, to avoid repetition, reference is made to the preceding description, using the same reference numerals for corresponding details.

[0076] A special feature here is the network topology of the connection between the evaluation unit 4 and the measurement units 9.1-9.n.

[0077] The embodiment shown in Figure 8 largely corresponds to the embodiment described above and illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, so that, to avoid repetition, reference is made to the preceding description, using the same reference numerals for corresponding details. For the sake of simplicity, the contacting device 8 is not shown here.

[0078] A special feature of this embodiment is that the current sensor 3 has a low-resistance current-sensing resistor ("shunt"), whereby, according to the four-wire technique, the voltage drop across the low-resistance current-sensing resistor is measured for current measurement. The measured voltage U across the low-resistance current-sensing resistor then, according to Ohm's law, represents a measure of the electric current I flowing through the low-resistance current-sensing resistor.

[0079] Another special feature of this embodiment is that a multiplexer 10 is arranged between the evaluation unit 4 and the busbar 1. This multiplexer is controlled by the evaluation unit 4 and queries one of the twelve voltage measurement points on the busbar 1 at a time. The voltage measurements Ul, ..., U12 are thus queried sequentially by the multiplexer 10 and forwarded to the evaluation unit 4. A further special feature of this embodiment is that a signal processing module 11 with a programmable gain amplifier 12 (PGA) and an analog-to-digital converter 13 (ADC) is arranged between the multiplexer 10 and the evaluation unit 4.

[0080] Finally, it should also be mentioned that in this embodiment a signal processing module 14 with an amplifier 15 with programmable gain and an analog / digital converter 16 is arranged between the current sensor 3 and the evaluation unit 4.

[0081] Figure 9 shows a voltage diagram illustrating the electrical potential along busbar 1. It is evident that the electrical potential along busbar 1 is not exactly constant, even though the busbar is made of an electrically conductive material (e.g., copper). This is because the current I in busbar 1 splits into two partial currents II and 12 through the two loads 5 and 6. Therefore, analyzing the voltage profile along busbar 1 allows for the calculation of the electrical power dissipated by loads 5 and 6, as described above.

[0082] Figure 10 shows a specific embodiment of a busbar 1 with twelve voltage measuring points 17, which are threaded holes in the busbar 1. A copper screw can be screwed into each of the threaded holes at the voltage measuring points 17 to establish an electrical and mechanical connection to the associated contacting device 8, which can be a printed circuit board.

[0083] Furthermore, the drawing shows two connection points 18, 19, to which the two loads 5 and 19 respectively are attached.

[0084] 6 are connected to the busbar 1.

[0085] The invention is not limited to the preferred embodiments described above. Rather, the invention also encompasses a multitude of variants and modifications that likewise make use of the inventive concept and therefore fall within the scope of protection. In particular, the invention also claims protection for the subject matter and the features of the dependent claims independently of the respective referenced claims and, in particular, also without the features of the main claim. The invention thus comprises various aspects of the invention that enjoy independent protection. Advantages of the invention

[0086] The invention enables the calculation of the power consumption of loads connected to a busbar without the need to individually measure the current through each load. This allows for a significantly more cost-effective power measurement than is possible with the prior art.

[0087] Reference symbol list

[0088] 1 busbar

[0089] 1.1-1.3 Busbars

[0090] 2 Power feed point on the busbar

[0091] 3 Current sensor

[0092] 4 Evaluation Unit

[0093] 5, 6 loads (consumers)

[0094] 7 Voltage measuring device for measuring the voltage across the loads

[0095] 8 Contact device

[0096] 8.1-8.n Contacting devices

[0097] 9.1-9.n Units of measurement

[0098] 10 multiplexers

[0099] 11 Signal processing module

[0100] 12 Programmable Gain Amplifiers (PGAs) 13 Analog / Digital Converters (ADCs)

[0101] 14 Signal processing module

[0102] 15 Programmable Gain Amplifiers (PGAs) 16 Analog / Digital Converters (ADCs)

[0103] 17 voltage measurement points in the form of threaded holes in the busbar 18 connection point for the load 5

[0104] 19 Connection point for the load 6

[0105] Current through the phase conductor

[0106] II Partial current through load 5

[0107] 12 Partial current through the load 6

[0108] L phase conductor

[0109] N Neutral conductor

[0110] U Voltage across the parallel connection of the loads U 1, ... , U12 Voltage measurements at the voltage measuring points of the contacting device

Claims

REQUIREMENTS 1. Busbar arrangement with a) an elongated busbar (1; 1.1-1.3) made of an electrically conductive material for guiding an electric current (I) along the busbar (1; 1.1-1.3) and b) a contacting device (8; 8.1-8.n) for electrically contacting the busbar (1; 1.1-1.3), characterized by c) that the contacting device (8; 8.1-8.n) electrically contacts the busbar (1; 1.1-1.3) at several voltage measuring points (17, 18), d) that the voltage measurement points (17, 18) are distributed along the busbar (1; 1.1-1.3), and e) that the contacting device (8; 8.1-8.n) detects electrical potentials (Ul, ..., U12) at the individual voltage measuring points (17, 18) on the busbar (1; 1.1-1.3) separately from each other.

2. Busbar arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that, a) that the contacting device (8; 8.1-8.n) comprises a printed circuit board, in particular a flexible printed circuit board, and b) that the circuit board is electrically and mechanically connected to the busbar (1; 1.1-1.3) in order to detect the electrical potentials at the voltage measurement points (17, 18), in particular by bl) a welded joint, b2) a soldered joint, b3) a press-sintered joint or b4) a press-fit adhesive joint, c) that the circuit board is preferably connected to the busbar (1; 1.1-1.3) only at the voltage measurement points (17, 18).

3. Busbar arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by an evaluation unit (4) for evaluating the electrical potentials (Ul, ..., U12) measured at the voltage measurement points (17, 18) on the busbar (1; 1.1-1.3).

4. Busbar arrangement according to claim 3, characterized by a multiplexer (10) for selecting one of the electrical potentials measured at the voltage measurement points (17, 18) on the busbar (1; 1.1-1.3) and for forwarding the selected electrical potential (Ul, ..., U12) to the evaluation unit (4).

5. Busbar arrangement according to one of claims 3 or 4, characterized by an analog / digital converter (13) for converting the analogously measured electrical potentials (U1,...,U12) at the voltage measuring points (17, 18) on the busbar (1; 1.1-1.3) into corresponding digital values ​​and for forwarding the digital values ​​to the evaluation unit (4).

6. Busbar arrangement according to one of claims 3 to 5, characterized by a current sensor (3) for measuring the electric current (I) flowing through the busbar (1; 1.1-1.3), wherein the current sensor (3) is connected on the output side to the evaluation unit (4) and supplies the measured electric current (I) to the evaluation unit (4).

7. Busbar arrangement according to claim 6, characterized in that, a) that the current sensor (3) for current measurement according to the four-wire technique has a low-resistance current measuring resistor which is electrically connected in series with the busbar (1; 1.1-1.3), or b) that the current sensor (3) measures the current (I) magnetically, in particular by means of a Hall probe.

8. Busbar arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the busbar (1; 1.1-1.3) has several connection points (18, 19) for connecting each of an electrical load (5, 6), so that the electric current (I) flowing through the busbar (1; 1.1-1.3) is divided into several partial currents (II, 12) through the individual electrical loads (5, 6).

9. Busbar arrangement according to claim 8, characterized in that, a) that the electrical loads (5, 6) are electrically connected in parallel and together form a parallel circuit, and b) that a voltage measuring device (7) is provided to measure the voltage (U) across the parallel connection of the electrical loads (5, 6), and c) that the voltage measuring device (7) is connected on the output side to the evaluation unit (4) and supplies the measured voltage (U) across the parallel connection of the electrical loads (5, 6) to the evaluation unit (4).

10. Busbar arrangement according to claim 9, characterized in that the evaluation unit (4) calculates the electrical power converted by the individual electrical loads (5, 6) from the following measured values: a) The electric current (I) measured by the current sensor (3) flowing through the busbar (1; 1.1-1.3), b) the electrical potentials (U1,...,U12) measured at the individual voltage measurement points (17, 18) along the busbar (1; 1.1-1.3) and c) the electrical voltage (U) measured by voltage measuring device (7) across the parallel connection of the electrical loads (5, 6).

11. Busbar arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a) that the busbar (1; 1.1-1.3) contains several threaded holes, the threaded holes forming the individual voltage measurement points (17, 18) on the busbar (1; 1.1-1.3), b) that the contacting device (8; 8.1-8.n) is connected to the busbar (1; 1.1-1.3) by screw connections, and c) that the screw connections each have a copper screw which is screwed into one of the threaded holes in the busbar (1; 1.1-1.3).

12. Busbar arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the busbar (1; 1.1-1.3) is connected to the contacting device (8; 8.1-8.n) by means of press-fit pins.

13. Busbar arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a) that the busbar (1; 1.1-1.3) has a current feed point (2) for feeding the electric current (I) into the busbar (1; 1.1-1.3), wherein the current feed point (2) is located at one end of the busbar (1; 1.1-1.3), or b) that the busbar (1; 1.1-1.3) has a current feed point (2) for supplying the electric current (I) into the busbar (1; 1.1-1.3), wherein the current feed point (2) is located towards the ends of the busbar (1; 1.1-1.3), in particular in the middle of the busbar (1; 1.1-1.3), so that the electric current in the busbar (1; 1.1-1.3) flows in opposite directions from the current feed point (2), wherein the current feed point (2) optionally makes multipole contact with the busbar (1; 1.1-1.3) to enable sufficient current carrying capacity.

14. Busbar arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a) several busbars (1; 1.1-1.3) each with a contacting device (8; 8.1-8.n) for potential measurement at several voltage measuring points (17, 18) on the busbars (1; 1.1-1.3), or b) a busbar (1; 1.1-1.3) with several contacting devices (8; 8.1-8.n) for potential measurement at several voltage measuring points (17, 18) on the busbar (1; 1.1-1.3).

15. Busbar arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a) that the busbar arrangement is arranged in an alternating current network with a phase conductor (L) and a neutral conductor (N), b) that the busbar (1; 1.1-1.3) is connected in series with the phase conductor (L), and c) that the electrical loads (5, 6) are arranged between the busbar (1; 1.1-1.3) and the neutral conductor (N) and form a parallel circuit.

16. Busbar arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 14, characterized by a) that the busbar arrangement is arranged in a three-phase network with three phase conductors (LI, L2, L3) and optionally a neutral conductor, b) that each of the three phase conductors (LI, L2, L3) is connected in series with a busbar (1; 1.1-1.3), and c) that each of the three busbars (1; 1.1-1.3) is assigned a contacting device (8; 8.1- 8.n) which measures the electrical potential on the respective busbar (1; 1.1-1.3) at different voltage measuring points (17, 18) which are distributed along the respective busbar (1; 1.1-1.3).

17. Busbar arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a) that the busbar arrangement has several busbars (1; 1.1-1.3), b) that each of the busbars (1; 1.1-1.3) is assigned a contacting device (8; 8.1-8.n) which measures the electrical potential on the respective busbar (1; 1.1-1.3) at different voltage measuring points (17, 18) which are distributed along the respective busbar (1; 1.1-1.3), and c) that the busbar arrangement has a common evaluation unit (4) which detects the electrical potentials of all contacting devices (8; 8.1-8.n).

18. Busbar arrangement according to claim 17, characterized in that the evaluation unit (4) is directly connected to all contacting devices (8; 8.1-8.n).

19. Busbar arrangement according to claim 17, characterized in that, a) that each of the contacting devices (8; 8.1-8.n) is assigned a measuring unit (9.1-9.n) which measures the electrical potentials on the respective busbar (1; 1.1-1.3), and b) that the individual measuring units (9.1-9.n) are connected to the evaluation unit (4) via a master-slave connection in order to report the measured electrical potentials to the evaluation unit (4), wherein the measuring units (9.1-9.n) form slaves, while the evaluation unit (4) forms a master.

20. Busbar arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a) that the number of voltage measurement points (17, 18) along the busbar (1; 1.1-1.3) is greater than 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 14 or 15, in particular with 16 voltage measurement points (17, 18), and / or b) that the voltage measurement points (17, 18) are arranged equidistantly along the busbar (1; 1.1-1.3), and / or c) that the voltage measurement points (17, 18) along the busbar (1; 1.1-1.3) have a spacing in the range of 5 mm to 50 mm, 10 mm to 25 mm, 15 mm to 20 mm, in particular with a spacing of 18 mm, and / or d) that the electrically conductive material of the busbar (1; 1.1-1.3) is a metal, in particular copper or aluminium, and / or e) that the busbar (1; 1.1-1.3) has a current-carrying capacity of at least 50 A, 100 A, 200 A, 500 A, 1 kA or 2 kA, and / or f) that the busbar (1; 1.1-1.3) has a current-carrying cross-section greater than 10 mm² 2 , 20 mm 2 , 50 mm 2 , 100 mm 2 , 200 mm 2 or 500 mm 2 , and / or g) that the busbar (1; 1.1-1.3) is rigid or flexible, and / or h) that the busbar (1; 1.1-1.3) has a length of at least 5 cm, 10 cm, 25 cm or 50 cm.

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