Modular Digital Power Meter Self-Identification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing digital power meters are highly integrated, making field repairs, modifications, and updates difficult due to the interdependent nature of their components, which complicates the replacement of transducers and requires recalibration, limiting flexibility and serviceability.
Innovation Solution
A modular digital power meter design where transducers can identify themselves to the data processing system, allowing for the virtual construction of the meter from specific components, enabling easy addition, removal, or substitution of components without reprogramming, and storing characterization data in separate modules for each transducer type.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If digital power meters use highly integrated design, then measurement precision and reliability are improved, but ease of repair and adaptability deteriorate due to interdependent components requiring recalibration upon replacement
Solution Approach 1:
The power meter is divided into independent modular components, each with its own data processing system. This segmentation allows individual modules to be replaced without affecting other components, eliminating the need for recalibration while maintaining measurement precision through each module's self-contained calibration data
Solution Approach 2:
Characterization data acts as an intermediary element stored within each transducer module. This data mediates between the physical transducer components and the measurement system, allowing modules to be freely replaced while the stored characterization data ensures continuous accurate measurements without requiring system-wide recalibration
2Measurement precision
If digital power meters use highly integrated design, then measurement precision is improved, but adaptability deteriorates as modifications and updates become difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The system is segmented into independent modules that can be selectively assembled to create different power meter configurations. Each module maintains its own calibration and characterization data, enabling flexible adaptation to various measurement requirements while preserving measurement precision through proven modular designs
Solution Approach 2:
The modular architecture enables dynamic reconfiguration of the power meter system. Modules can be added, removed, or replaced based on specific application requirements, allowing the system to adapt to changing measurement needs while maintaining accuracy through each module's self-contained calibration
3Device complexity
If traditional power meters are used, then device complexity is reduced, but loss of information increases due to inability to monitor multiple circuits and calculate multiple output parameters
Solution Approach 1:
Each transducer module is designed with universal functionality to measure multiple electrical parameters (voltage, current, power, reactive power, apparent power, power factor) across single-phase and multi-phase circuits. This multi-functionality eliminates information loss by comprehensively monitoring all relevant parameters while maintaining manageable system complexity through standardized modular units
Data Source
AI summary
A modular metering system comprises a data processing module, a current module and a voltage module. The current and voltage modules include sensor memories characterizing the respective current and voltage sensors facilitating assembly and repair of the metering system.