Power Metering Accuracy During Appliance Transients
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing power consumption monitoring systems struggle to accurately measure power consumption during unstable or transitional states in appliances, as they often fail to record power consumption during fluctuations, leading to incomplete and inaccurate total power consumption calculations.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a processor, current sensor, voltage sensor, and controller that determines stable and unstable power consumption states by calculating median and average power values, suspends recording during unstable states, and estimates power consumption using recorded values from preceding and subsequent stable states.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If power measuring devices continuously record power consumption, then complete power consumption data is obtained, but measurement precision deteriorates during unstable states due to fluctuations and transients
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by detecting unstable states before they corrupt measurements, suspends recording during these states, and prepares estimation algorithms in advance. The controller continuously monitors power consumption patterns to identify when unstable states are occurring, then proactively suspends recording to prevent inaccurate data collection, and subsequently estimates the missing power consumption values using the developed algorithm that combines stable state measurements with operational context.
2Loss of information
If power consumption is recorded during unstable states, then data completeness is maintained, but measurement precision worsens due to fluctuations and transients
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts and removes the problematic unstable state periods from the measurement process. By detecting when unstable states occur through monitoring power consumption fluctuations, the system suspends recording during these periods, effectively taking out the corrupting influence of unstable measurements. The missing data is then recovered through estimation algorithms that use stable state measurements and operational context, thereby eliminating the precision problems while maintaining data completeness.
3Measurement precision
If recording is suspended during unstable states, then measurement precision is improved, but data completeness deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the measurement parameters dynamically based on operational states. During stable states, continuous recording is performed with normal parameters. When unstable states are detected through analysis of power consumption patterns and fluctuations, the system changes parameters by suspending recording to avoid inaccurate measurements. The missing power consumption values are then recovered by estimating them using algorithms that incorporate stable state measurements, operational context, and mathematical relationships, thereby maintaining both precision and completeness.
4Measurement precision
If estimation algorithm is used for unstable states, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where the controller continuously monitors power consumption measurements and uses this information to determine when unstable states are occurring. This feedback loop enables the system to automatically switch between recording and estimation modes based on real-time conditions. The estimation algorithm receives feedback from stable state measurements and operational context, allowing it to accurately reconstruct missing power consumption values without requiring complex hardware modifications, thereby improving precision while managing system complexity through software-based intelligence.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus and method for monitoring power consumption of an appliance includes a processor in communication with a memory, the memory including program instructions for execution by the processor to determine a first stable power consumption state of the appliance, record a power consumption of the appliance during the first stable power consumption state, determine an unstable power consumption state of the appliance, suspend recording of the power consumption of the appliance during the unstable state, determine a second stable power consumption state of the appliance, resume recording of the power consumption of the appliance when the appliance is in the second stable power consumption state, and estimate a value of a power consumed during the unstable power consumption state as a factor of the recorded power consumption of the appliance during the first stable power consumption state and the second stable power consumption power state.