Measuring Device for Household Base Load Profile Determination

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods fail to accurately determine the base load profile of household electrical networks, which is crucial for optimizing energy consumption and peak load management, due to limitations in measurement technology and the need for additional smart meters.

Innovation Solution

A method using a measuring device connected to a consumer connection that initializes a memory with measuring times and reference conductance values, feeds a measurement signal, detects conductance, and updates reference values to determine the base load profile, while masking external network influences and accounting for seasonal fluctuations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If a smart meter is installed upstream of the household network to measure energy consumption, then measurement accuracy and resolution are improved, but device complexity and installation complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy consumption measurement accuracyVSAvoidsmart meter installation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary measuring device that connects to individual consumer connections rather than requiring upstream installation. This device uses a measurement signal injected into the consumer connection to determine conductance and calculate power consumption, serving as a mediator between the complex smart meter system and individual consumers, thereby reducing installation complexity while maintaining measurement capability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the physical smart meter installation (mechanical/electrical connection upstream) with an electronic measurement approach. By injecting a measurement signal and calculating conductance electronically, the system substitutes the need for physical smart meter installation with an electronic computation method, reducing device complexity and installation requirements

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Ease of operation

If another smart meter is installed directly accessible to the household for measuring instantaneous consumption, then measurement accessibility is improved, but structural complexity and installation cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconsumption measurement accessibilityVSAvoidstructural measures complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The measuring device is designed to be self-sufficient by injecting its own measurement signal into the consumer connection and autonomously determining conductance and power consumption. This self-service approach eliminates the need for additional smart meter infrastructure and complex structural measures, while providing households with direct access to their consumption data through the portable device

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts the measurement function from the centralized smart meter system and places it in a portable measuring device that can be directly accessed by households. This extraction allows consumers to obtain instantaneous consumption information without requiring complex structural installation of additional smart meters in the electrical panel

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Productivity

If a feed device is used to feed energy back into the household network for covering peak loads, then peak load coverage is improved, but energy feedback into supply network increases which is undesirable

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepeak load coverage capabilityVSAvoidenergy feedback into supply network
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs feedback by continuously monitoring the base load profile and comparing it with the feed device output. The measuring device provides real-time feedback on actual consumption versus base load, enabling the feed device to operate only when necessary (when consumption exceeds base load), thereby preventing unnecessary energy feedback into the supply network while maintaining peak load coverage capability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts feed device operation based on real-time measurements. By continuously determining the base load profile and comparing it with actual consumption, the feed device operates dynamically - switching on only when peak load conditions are detected and switching off when base load conditions prevail, optimizing energy utilization and preventing wasteful feedback into the supply network

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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

This method provides an accurate approximation of the base load profile, enabling efficient energy management and peak load identification, which can be used to optimize energy consumption and prevent undesirable energy feedback into the supply network.

Implementation Method 1

The measuring device feeds a measurement signal into the consumer connection and uses this to calculate the current conductance of the household network. The conductance G is proportional to the electrical power P sought via the relationship P = V2

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectConductance measurement: Conduction (electrical)

Data Source

PatentEP3364156B1Method and device for determining the base load profile of a domestic network
Publication Date: 2021.04.07 EET EFFICIENT ENERGY TECH GMBH
  • EP3364156B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP3364156B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The present invention relates to a method for determining a base load profile (11) of an electrical household network (3), comprising the steps: (a) initializing a memory (12) with a sequence of measurement times (tk) distributed over a time window (Wr) and each with an associated reference conductance (Sk); (b) injecting a measurement signal (A) into a consumer connection (8) at a measurement time (tk) and recording a signal response (E); (c) determining a conductance (Gk) associated with the measurement time (tk) from the recorded signal response (E); (d) reading the reference conductance (Sk) of the measurement time (tk) from the memory (12) and comparing the conductance (Gk) with the reference conductance (Sk) and, if it falls below the reference conductance (Sk), replacing the reference conductance (Sk) with the conductance (Gk) in the memory (12); (e) Repeat steps (b) to (d) for each additional measurement time point (tk+1) of the sequence;and (f) repeating steps (b) to (e) for at least one further time window (Wr+1). The invention further relates to a measuring device (10) for carrying out the method.