Meter Voltage Fingerprint for Grid Localization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Utility distribution grids face challenges in accurately identifying locations due to variations in infrastructure and load conditions, which affect voltage characteristics, leading to difficulties in precise localization within the grid.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that utilize metering systems to measure and process high-resolution voltage waveforms at the grid edge, generating a 'voltage fingerprint' by determining metrics such as RMS voltage and differences between actual and model waveforms, and constructing data structures for remote processing to identify unique location characteristics within the grid.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If high-resolution voltage waveform data is transmitted to remote processing systems, then location identification accuracy is improved, but bandwidth consumption and network traffic increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential location-identifying characteristics from the complete high-resolution voltage waveform data. By computing metrics such as RMS voltage, frequency, harmonic content, and waveform shape parameters locally at the edge device, the system transmits only these condensed feature sets rather than the full waveform data, thereby maintaining location identification accuracy while dramatically reducing bandwidth consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transforms the raw voltage waveform data into a different parameter space by computing various electrical parameters (RMS voltage, frequency, harmonic magnitudes, waveform distortion factors) that capture the essential location-specific characteristics. This parameter transformation allows the system to represent complex waveform information in a compressed form that is both space-efficient for transmission and sufficient for accurate location fingerprinting.
2Measurement precision
If voltage measurements are taken at high time resolution, then unique location characteristics are captured, but data processing requirements and network traffic increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the high-resolution voltage waveform data into distinct analytical components, processing different aspects separately to extract location-specific features. By dividing the waveform analysis into discrete metric computations (RMS calculation, frequency analysis, harmonic decomposition, waveform shape characterization), the system captures comprehensive location characteristics while organizing data processing into manageable, modular operations that reduce overall computational complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies partial action by computing only the specific waveform parameters that are most discriminative for location identification, rather than processing all possible waveform characteristics. By selectively calculating metrics that have been determined to be most useful for grid location fingerprinting, the system achieves accurate location characterization with reduced processing requirements compared to exhaustive waveform analysis.
3Reliability
If multiple metrics are computed for voltage waveform characterization, then location identification reliability is improved, but computational requirements at the edge device increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates simplified representations or copies of the voltage waveform data in the form of computed metrics and feature parameters. Rather than transmitting or processing the complete high-resolution waveform at multiple analysis levels, the system generates condensed metric copies (RMS values, frequency measurements, harmonic coefficients) that capture the essential location-specific information with minimal computational overhead, thereby maintaining identification reliability while reducing power consumption.
Data Source
AI summary
Meter voltage fingerprint is provided. A system can include a metering system at a location downstream from a substation on a utility grid that distributes electricity. The metering system can receive data samples of a voltage waveform corresponding to the electricity distributed at the location. The metering system can determine first metrics for the voltage waveform over a time interval via a statistical technique. The metering system can determine second metrics for the voltage waveform over the time interval based on a difference between the voltage waveform and a model waveform. The metering system can construct a data structure comprising the first metrics, the second metrics, and an identifier for the location. The metering system can provide the data structure to a data processing system remote from the metering system to cause the data processing system to evaluate a performance of the utility grid.