Distributed Active Power Measurement With Synchronized Voltage Broadcast
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electric power measurement systems in circuits with many measurement points suffer from low accuracy, complexity, and high cost due to reliance on RMS measurements and phase-shift calculations, necessitating complex sensing at each point.
Innovation Solution
A distributed measurement system with a central unit and peripheral units that communicate via a communication bus, where the central unit broadcasts voltage measurements cyclically, allowing peripheral units to calculate active power based on delayed and synchronized current measurements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional energy meters are used to measure active power, then high measurement precision is achieved, but device complexity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The measuring apparatus is divided into a central measuring unit and multiple peripheral measuring units. The central unit performs complex RMS voltage and power factor measurements, while peripheral units only measure RMS currents. This segmentation allows high-precision measurement without requiring complex devices at every measurement point, resolving the contradiction between measurement precision and device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The central measuring unit acts as an intermediary that receives RMS current measurements from peripheral units and combines them with centrally-measured voltage and power factor data to calculate active power. This intermediary approach enables accurate power measurement without placing complex sensing equipment at each peripheral measurement point.
2Measurement precision
If complex phase-shift measurements are implemented at each peripheral measurement point, then active power measurement accuracy improves, but device complexity and installation difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The complex phase-shift measurement functionality is extracted from peripheral measuring units and concentrated in the central measuring unit. Peripheral units only perform simple RMS current measurements, while the central unit handles the complex voltage and power factor measurements needed for accurate active power calculation. This extraction simplifies peripheral device installation and operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The central measuring unit serves multiple functions: it measures RMS voltages, determines power factors, receives RMS current data from multiple peripheral units, and calculates active power for all measurement points. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for complex sensing at each peripheral point, improving ease of installation while maintaining measurement accuracy.
3Device complexity
If RMS measurements are used for power calculation, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses feedback by measuring power factor at the central point and using this information to accurately calculate active power from RMS measurements. The power factor measurement provides corrective information that enables precise active power calculation despite using simpler RMS-based measurement methods, thus maintaining measurement precision while reducing device complexity.
Data Source
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AI summary
A measuring apparatus comprising: - a first measuring unit operatively coupled to a first measurement point of the electric circuit, said first measuring unit being configured to acquire first detection values related to one or more voltages at the first measurement point of said electric circuit; - a plurality of second measuring units operatively coupled to a plurality of second measurement points of said electric circuit, each second measuring unit being configured to acquire second detection values related to one or more currents at a corresponding second measurement point of said electric circuit. The above-mentioned first measuring unit and second measuring units are capable of communicating one with another, in a wired or wireless manner, in order to measure active electric power at said second measurement points. In a further aspect, the invention relates to a method for measuring active electric power in an electric circuit.