Adaptive Consumption Meter Frequency Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing energy consumption meters face challenges in balancing high measurement precision with long battery lifetime, particularly when dealing with sudden changes in fluid flow rates and temperatures, as high measurement frequencies can jeopardize battery longevity.
Innovation Solution
An energy consumption meter that adaptively adjusts temperature measurement frequency based on changes in flow rate and power source energy balance, using a calculator unit to determine the optimal frequency for precise tracking of fluid energy consumption while conserving battery power, allowing for both high precision and extended battery life.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the temperature measurement frequency is increased to track rapid changes in fluid flow and temperature, then measurement precision is improved, but battery energy consumption increases and battery lifetime is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the temperature measurement frequency adjustable rather than fixed. The system dynamically adapts the measurement frequency based on detected flow rate changes and power balance conditions, switching between high-frequency measurement mode during rapid changes and low-frequency measurement mode during stable conditions, thereby resolving the contradiction between measurement precision and energy consumption
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of measurement frequency based on system conditions. When flow rate changes exceed a threshold or power balance allows, the system increases temperature measurement frequency to improve precision; when conditions stabilize or power is constrained, it reduces frequency to conserve battery energy, thus resolving the contradiction through parameter adaptation
2Measurement precision
If the temperature measurement frequency is increased to accurately track energy consumption during rapid flow changes, then measurement accuracy is improved, but battery lifetime is shortened
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts temperature measurement frequency based on flow rate change detection and power balance assessment. During rapid flow changes, high-frequency measurement ensures accurate energy consumption tracking; during stable periods, low-frequency measurement preserves battery lifetime, resolving the contradiction between measurement accuracy and battery duration
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements periodic measurement with variable periods. Instead of continuous high-frequency measurement, the system uses periodic measurements where the period length adapts to system conditions - shorter periods during rapid changes for accuracy, longer periods during stability for battery conservation, thus resolving the contradiction between measurement accuracy and battery lifetime
3Measurement precision
If adaptive temperature measurement scheme increases measurement frequency during sudden flow rate increases, then measurement precision is improved, but long-term energy consumption is jeopardized
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the measurement frequency parameter adaptively based on flow rate changes and power balance conditions. Temporary increases in frequency during sudden flow rate increases improve measurement precision, while returns to baseline frequency during stable periods minimize long-term energy loss, resolving the contradiction through conditional parameter adjustment
Data Source
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AI summary
A consumption meter for measuring energy consumption (CE) of a fluid supplied to a consumer at a consumer site. The meter has a flow measuring unit (FMU) for measuring flow rate (F), a temperature measuring unit (TMU) for measuring inlet and outlet temperatures (T), and a calculator unit (CU) for calculating energy consumption (CE) based on the flow rate (F) and temperatures (T). A battery (BT) supplies electric power to vital parts of the meter. The meter is arranged to repeatedly determine a measure of change in one or both of: 1) the flow rate (F), and 2) the inlet or outlet temperatures (T), to calculate a measure of power balance (PB) for estimated power drawn from the battery (BT), and to determine a temperature measurement frequency (TMF) in response to the measure of change and the measure of power balance (PB). This allows the meter to adaptively adjust the rate of the electric power consuming temperature measurements in response to actual flow and/or temperature conditions and taking into account the amount of power drawn from the battery (BT). Especially, a TMF algorithm (TFA) may reduce its sensitivity to respond by a high TMF in case a given change in flow rate (DF) is measured in response to the power balance (PB). Such meter allows a combination of high precision measurements when required by the conditions, and still it is possible to manage electric power consumed to ensure a long battery (BT) lifetime, since power can be saved in periods where the conditions allow a reduced TMF.