Energy Meter Commissioning via Sum-Signal Error Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Energy systems with multiple resources face inefficiencies due to complex commissioning and operation, as heuristic controls lead to suboptimal management and undetected errors in measuring devices, which are not adequately checked during installation and integration into model-based energy management systems.
Innovation Solution
A method for testing measuring devices using a common measuring device to acquire and compare measurement signals, applying an objective function to determine scaling factors that identify deviations, thereby detecting installation, parameterization, and integration errors in the measuring devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a model-based energy management system is implemented to optimize system operation, then operational management quality is improved, but the number of required measuring devices increases leading to higher commissioning effort
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements an automated feedback mechanism where the commissioning system continuously monitors measurement values from multiple measuring devices, compares them against expected values, and generates error notifications. This automated feedback loop eliminates the need for manual checking of each measuring device while ensuring accurate commissioning, thus resolving the contradiction between improved operational management and reduced commissioning effort.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service commissioning by automatically comparing measurement values from individual measuring devices with the sum signal from the common measuring device. The system independently identifies errors in measuring devices without requiring manual intervention, allowing the commissioning process to serve itself and reducing the burden on commissioning personnel.
2Measurement precision
If multiple measuring devices are installed to enable model-based EMS operation, then measurement precision is improved, but errors during installation and integration remain undetected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a common measuring device as an intermediary that provides a reference sum signal representing the total measurement from all individual measuring devices. This intermediary enables automatic cross-validation by comparing individual measuring device outputs against the sum signal, thereby detecting installation and integration errors that would otherwise remain undetected while maintaining high measurement precision.
3Reliability
If manual checking of measuring devices is performed during commissioning, then error detection is improved, but the large number of resources leads to undetected errors remaining
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical checking process with an automated electronic comparison system. The commissioning system automatically retrieves measurement values from all measuring devices, compares them against the sum signal, and identifies errors without human intervention. This substitution maintains high error detection capability while dramatically improving commissioning efficiency by eliminating time-consuming manual checks of numerous measuring devices.
4Device complexity
If heuristic control rules are used for individual resources, then device complexity is reduced, but operational optimization is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal energy management system that can operate with either simple heuristic control rules or complex model-based optimization. The system is designed to accommodate multiple control strategies, allowing facilities to start with simpler heuristic controls and progressively implement more sophisticated optimization algorithms as needed, thus balancing device complexity with operational optimization capability.
Data Source
AI summary
Various embodiments of the disclosure include methods for testing measuring devices n for resources of an energy system assigned to a common measuring device. The method may include: acquiring a measurement signal Pn(t) by way of each of the measuring devices n; acquiring a sum signal PPCC(t) by way of the common measuring device; providing an objective function Z, which defines a difference between the acquired sum signal PPCC(t) and a modeled sum signal {circumflex over (P)}PCC(t), wherein the modeled sum signal {circumflex over (P)}PCC(t) is formed by way of the acquired measurement signals Pn(t) and a respective scaling factor Sn; and computing the values of the scaling factors Sn by extremizing the objective function Z. The test includes determining an error with one of the measuring devices n through a deviation of the computed value of the associated scaling factor Sn from a value defined for the respective measuring device n.