Individual Branch Power Consumption Calculation in Parallel Electrical Installations

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for monitoring individual electricity consumption in electrical installations with multiple branches connected in parallel are costly and space-intensive due to the need for multiple electricity consumption meters, which can be impractical for residential and commercial settings.

Innovation Solution

A method that determines individual power consumption in a particular branch by recording intensity measurements over time, using data on the overall power supply and phase shift values, allowing for the use of a single, less expensive ammeter instead of a consumption meter, and employing mathematical equations to calculate individual power without direct phase shift measurement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If multiple electricity consumption meters are installed to monitor individual branch consumption, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveindividual consumption measurementVSAvoidnumber of meters
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a single master meter to measure overall consumption and creates virtual copies of measurement data through mathematical calculation. By measuring total consumption once and subtracting known branch consumptions, the system generates accurate individual branch consumption data without installing physical meters in each branch, thus resolving the contradiction between measurement precision and device complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary calculation process that acts as a mediator between the master meter measurement and individual branch consumption data. The calculation unit performs mathematical operations (subtraction of known branch consumptions from total consumption) to generate individual branch data, serving as an intermediary that eliminates the need for multiple physical meters while maintaining measurement accuracy

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If multiple electricity consumption meters are installed to monitor individual branch consumption, then measurement precision is improved, but installation space requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveindividual consumption measurementVSAvoidpanel space
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates virtual measurement copies through mathematical calculation rather than physical meter installation. The calculation unit generates individual branch consumption data by processing master meter readings, eliminating the need for multiple physical meters that would consume valuable panel space in residential electrical installations

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

3Device complexity

If a single ammeter is used instead of multiple consumption meters, then cost is reduced, but measurement precision deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenumber of devicesVSAvoidindividual consumption measurement
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary calculation process that transforms the single ammeter's total consumption measurement into precise individual branch consumption data. By using mathematical relationships (subtracting known branch consumptions from total consumption), the calculation unit acts as an intermediary that recovers lost measurement precision without requiring multiple physical meters

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system creates virtual copies of individual branch consumption measurements through mathematical calculation. The calculation unit generates accurate individual branch data by processing the master meter reading and subtracting contributions from other known branches, effectively copying the measurement information that would otherwise require physical meters to obtain

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentEP2795348B1Method for determining power consumption in an electrical installation, and alternating-current electrical installation
Publication Date: 2017.05.10 SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC IND SAS
  • EP2795348B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2795348B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP2795348B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

According to the invention, a group comprising a plurality of individual distribution branches connected in parallel is connected to an alternating-current power supply. The method comprises the following steps in which: a) detection of a change in the electrical consumption of one specific branch among the branches; and b) determination of the individual power consumption of the specific branch, based on a measurement of the total voltage (U), which is substantially constant during the change, measurements of the intensity and phase shift values (IA, IB, PsiAlpha, PsiBeta) of the total current before and after the change, and measurements of the intensities (l3A, I3B) of the individual current in the specific branch before and after the change.