Individual Energy Consumption Deduction via Upstream Waveform Analysis

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for monitoring individual electricity consumption in electrical installations are costly and cumbersome, requiring multiple expensive meters and significant space, which limits their implementation and accuracy.

Innovation Solution

A method and system that utilize measurements of overall power supply changes to deduce individual energy consumption in branches, employing current detectors or sensors instead of full consumption meters, and using mathematical calculations to determine individual power consumption based on overall voltage and current measurements.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

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

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

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a simplified current detection model that copies the measurement function from traditional meters but implements it through software algorithms analyzing voltage and current waveforms instead of hardware meters. This allows individual branch consumption to be determined without installing physical metering devices in each branch.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The upstream measurement device performs multiple functions: it measures overall consumption, detects individual branch consumption through waveform analysis, and provides monitoring capabilities. This single device replaces what would traditionally require multiple specialized meters, reducing system complexity while maintaining measurement precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Measurement precision

If multiple electricity consumption meters are installed to monitor individual branch consumptions, then measurement precision is improved, but cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveindividual consumption measurementVSAvoidcost of monitoring system
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces expensive traditional electricity meters with inexpensive current detectors and sensors that can be implemented as simple electronic components. The measurement capability is achieved through software processing rather than expensive hardware, dramatically reducing the cost of the monitoring system while maintaining adequate measurement precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of using expensive dedicated metering hardware in each branch, the system uses a centralized upstream measurement device that copies the measurement function through software algorithms. This approach achieves individual branch measurement capability at a fraction of the cost of installing multiple traditional meters.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

3Measurement precision

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

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveindividual consumption measurementVSAvoidspace in electrical panels
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the measurement function from individual branch locations and consolidates it at the upstream position. By taking out the metering function from each branch and implementing it centrally through waveform analysis, the system eliminates the need for physical space in multiple branch panels while maintaining individual consumption measurement capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The upstream measurement device serves multiple purposes: measuring overall consumption, determining individual branch consumption through algorithmic analysis, and providing monitoring functions. This multi-functionality consolidates what would traditionally require multiple separate devices occupying space in various panels into a single upstream device.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP2795349B1Method for determining a power consumption, monitoring system and electrical installation comprising the application thereof
Publication Date: 2019.02.06 SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC IND SAS
  • EP2795349B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2795349B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP2795349B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

In order to determine a consumption in a group of branches (4) of individual distribution of electrical energy, a method comprises steps wherein: a) a change in electrical consumption is detected in the branches (4), and b) information relating to an electric current (l2, I3, U) is read in a specific branch (4), then c) using said information, an indication is established according to which said change took place in the specific branch (4), then d) using measurements taken of the overall power supply (I, U) of the group of branches (4) before the change and measurements taken of said overall power supply (I, U) after the change, in addition to said indication, an individual energy consumption of said specific branch (4) is determined.