Fraud Detection in Electricity Networks via Data Concentrator Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for detecting fraud in electricity supply networks are costly, complex, and require modifications to each electricity meter, making it difficult to target specific areas of fraud within large networks.
Innovation Solution
A method that calculates a ratio of cumulative energy to global energy, using power line communications to estimate energy lost in the network, allowing for fraud detection without modifying individual meters, by classifying energy data and using hierarchy levels to identify anomalies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If fraud detection methods are implemented directly in electricity meters, then fraud detection capability is improved, but device complexity and deployment cost increase due to requiring modifications to each electricity meter
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a data concentrator as an intermediary device that performs fraud detection calculations centrally rather than requiring modifications to individual electricity meters. The data concentrator receives measurement data from multiple meters and computes the comparison between cumulative energy and global energy, eliminating the need for complex modifications at the meter level while maintaining fraud detection capability.
2Reliability
If systematic fraud detection is implemented across all electricity meters, then fraud detection coverage is improved, but deployment cost and complexity increase as all meters must be modified even when fraud is not present
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a selective fraud detection approach where the data concentrator performs calculations only on received measurement data from electricity meters. The system computes the ratio of cumulative energy to global energy and compares it against a threshold, enabling fraud detection coverage across the network without requiring physical modifications to all meters. This partial action approach deploys the detection capability only where needed at the data concentrator level.
3Device complexity
If energy lost in power supply cables is not estimated, then calculation simplicity is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates due to inaccurate fraud detection
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a method to estimate energy lost in power supply cables by calculating the product of the square of current intensity and cable resistance. This parameter change approach adds a correction term to the cumulative energy calculation, improving measurement precision for fraud detection while maintaining relative calculation simplicity through the use of standard electrical parameters (current and resistance) that are already available or easily measurable.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables efficient and cost-effective detection of fraud in electricity supply networks by targeting specific areas of fraud without modifying individual meters, improving the accuracy and simplicity of fraud detection.
Implementation Method 1
Communications by carrier currents use, for example, communication protocols such as the G3-PLC protocol or PRIME
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a method for detecting fraud in an electricity supply network comprising a plurality of electricity meters connected to a data concentrator by power supply cables.The method includes: obtaining (31) a measurement of a total energy EDC consumed in the electricity supply network over a predefined period; making an estimate (32) of a cumulative energy E∑, the cumulative energy E∑ resulting from a sum of a total intrinsic energy EIg consumed over the predefined period by said plurality of electricity meters, a total measured energy EMg corresponding to a sum of energies measured respectively by the electricity meters during the predefined period and a total line loss energy EPg representative of energy lost in said power supply cables during the predefined period; and, detecting (34) fraud based on a result of a comparison of the measurement of the total energy EDC with the estimate of the cumulative energy E∑.