Branch Circuit Sensor Phase Angle Diagnosis
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Solution Overview
Problem
In polyphase electric power systems, conventional commissioning and diagnosis methods for voltage and current sensors often result in incorrect configurations due to misunderstandings of the physical layout, leading to inaccurate real, reactive, and apparent power calculations.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that diagnose current sensor polarities and phase associations by monitoring phase angles between voltage and current waveforms, using analog-to-digital converters to convert measurements into discrete-time samples, and calculating phase angles to determine correct polarities and phase associations for different wiring configurations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional commissioning methods based on physical layout understanding are used, then the commissioning process is simple, but incorrect configurations occur leading to inaccurate power calculations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual commissioning based on physical layout understanding with an automated electronic diagnosis system. The system uses processors to automatically diagnose sensor configurations by analyzing phase angles between voltage and current waveforms, substituting human judgment with computational analysis to eliminate configuration errors while maintaining ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring phase angles and using this information to automatically diagnose and identify incorrect sensor configurations. The diagnosis results are fed back to operators to correct wiring issues, creating a closed-loop commissioning process that ensures accurate power calculations.
2Productivity
If voltage sensors are wired to wrong phases or branch circuit current sensors are incorrectly grouped, then the system appears to function, but real, reactive, and apparent power values become inaccurate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual verification of sensor configurations with automated electronic diagnosis. The processor analyzes phase angles between voltage and current waveforms to automatically detect incorrect wiring configurations, replacing subjective human assessment with objective computational analysis that reliably identifies metering errors.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses phase angle as a diagnostic parameter to detect configuration errors. By monitoring changes in phase angle relationships between voltage and current waveforms, the system can identify when sensors are incorrectly wired or grouped, enabling reliable detection of metering inaccuracies without disrupting system operation.
3Ease of operation
If branch circuit current sensors are grouped based on physical layout alone, then grouping is straightforward, but misunderstandings of physical layout lead to incorrect configurations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual grouping based on physical layout interpretation with automated electronic diagnosis. The processor analyzes electrical parameters (phase angles) to automatically determine correct sensor groupings, substituting human interpretation of physical layouts with objective electrical measurements that eliminate configuration errors.
Data Source
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AI summary
A system and method for a branch current monitoring system employing a 2-Phase Wye, a Single-Phase 3-Wire or a Single-Phase 2-Wire wiring configuration that is configured to identify a phase association and a polarity for a branch circuit current sensor using the phase angle between voltage and current. Also, a system and method for verifying phase association and polarity determinations for branch circuit current sensors that utilizes real and reactive power measurements.