Electricity Meter Load Control with Time-of-Use Demand Thresholds
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electricity meters lack the capability to tailor demand limitation effectively to time-of-use tiers and struggle with verifying procedural steps for reestablishing electrical service after demand threshold exceedance.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of an electricity meter with load control capabilities that determine and compare present time-of-use demand to corresponding thresholds, setting the load control to a de-energize mode when necessary, and include features for adjustable limitation modes and verification of consumer compliance with procedural steps.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the electricity meter uses a single total demand threshold for demand limitation, then the demand limitation is simple to implement, but it cannot be tailored effectively to different time-of-use tiers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the single total demand threshold into multiple time-of-use demand thresholds, each corresponding to a specific time-of-use tier. This allows the demand limitation to be tailored to different tiers (e.g., peak, off-peak, shoulder periods) while maintaining a structured approach that doesn't overly complicate the meter's operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic demand thresholds that change based on the time-of-use tier. The meter automatically adjusts which threshold applies based on the current time period, enabling adaptive demand management without requiring manual reconfiguration. This dynamic approach resolves the contradiction by making the system versatile across different time periods while keeping the implementation systematic.
2Reliability
If the electricity meter automatically reestablishes electrical service after demand threshold exceedance, then the service restoration is efficient, but it cannot verify consumer compliance with procedural steps
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the meter monitors whether the consumer has completed required procedural steps (such as resetting a breaker or confirming awareness) before automatically reestablishing service. The meter receives feedback from the consumer's actions and only proceeds with service restoration when compliance is verified, ensuring safety while maintaining automation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent requires the consumer to perform preliminary actions (procedural steps) before service is automatically reestablished. These preliminary actions verify compliance and ensure safety conditions are met before the automatic restoration occurs, resolving the contradiction by making verification a prerequisite rather than a post-action check.
3Productivity
If the electricity meter de-energizes the load immediately when demand threshold is exceeded, then the demand control is effective, but it does not allow verification of consumer compliance with procedural steps
Solution Approach 1:
The patent maintains effective demand control by de-energizing the load when thresholds are exceeded while simultaneously implementing feedback mechanisms to capture consumer compliance information. The meter monitors consumer actions and records whether procedural steps are completed, preserving this information for verification purposes without compromising the immediate effectiveness of demand control.
Data Source
AI summary
An electricity meter capable of performing a method for limiting an electricity load in communication with the electricity meter is disclosed. The electricity meter includes at least one load control and the electricity meter has one or more predetermined time-of-use tiers. Each of the one or more predetermined time-of-use tiers has a corresponding time-of-use demand threshold. The method comprises determining a present time-of-use tier; determining a present time-of-use demand for the electricity load in the present time-of-use tier; comparing the present time-of-use demand to the time-of-use demand threshold corresponding to the present time-of-use tier; and setting the at least one load control to a de-energize mode when a de-energize condition is satisfied. The de-energize condition may include sub-conditions such as the present time-of-use demand exceeding the time-of-use demand threshold corresponding to the present time-of-use tier.