Non-Contact Voltage Sensor Phase Alignment
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing energy metering systems face challenges in accurately aligning voltage and current phases, leading to configuration errors and improper power calculations due to potential misconnections and misalignments during installation.
Innovation Solution
The system incorporates non-contact voltage sensors with current transformers to automatically align voltage and current measurements by sensing the same power conductor, reducing configuration errors through automatic phase alignment and error correction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If voltage transducers are connected to bus bars in the power distribution panel, then voltage sensing is simplified and phase alignment is maintained, but configuration errors and misconnections can still occur during installation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical/wiring-based voltage sensing with electromagnetic field-based non-contact sensing. The non-contact voltage sensor detects voltage through electromagnetic coupling with the power conductor, eliminating the need for physical connections to bus bars while maintaining accurate phase alignment with current measurements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary approach where the non-contact voltage sensor acts as a mediator between the power conductor and the measurement system. The sensor couples electromagnetically to the conductor to extract voltage information without direct electrical contact, thereby avoiding connection errors while preserving phase relationships.
2Measurement precision
If non-contact voltage sensors are used with current transformers, then automatic phase alignment is achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the voltage sensing and current sensing functions into a coordinated measurement system. The non-contact voltage sensor and current transformer work together as an integrated unit, with their outputs combined in the processing circuitry to automatically establish phase alignment without requiring complex external synchronization infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The measurement system performs self-alignment through automatic phase synchronization. The processing circuitry automatically correlates the voltage signal from the non-contact sensor with the current signal from the transformer, establishing correct phase relationships without manual configuration or external reference signals.
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 approach ensures accurate and reliable power calculations by automatically aligning voltage and current phases, minimizing installation errors and improving the precision of energy metering.
Implementation Method 1
non-contact voltage sensors with current transformers to automatically align voltage and current measurements by sensing the same power conductor
Implementation Method 2
non-contact voltage sensors with current transformers to automatically align voltage and current measurements
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4
AI summary
An energy metering system is proposed, which comprises a plurality of current sensors suitable to sense current levels in a respective power conductor and each of said plurality of current sensors providing a respective first signal indicating respective said current levels, a plurality of non-contact voltage sensors suitable to sense voltage levels in a respective said power conductor and each of said plurality of non-contact voltage sensors providing a respective second signal indicating respective said voltage levels, where there is a respective pair of said current sensors and said non-contact voltage sensors associated with each of said power conductors, and a monitoring device that receives each of said respective first signals and receives each of said respective second signals.