Smart Meter Integrating Monitoring Modules for Demand Response
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current electric smart meters lack the capability for active demand control and effective energy management, failing to reflect subscriber responses and provide necessary functions for energy control in dynamic market environments, leading to inefficiencies and high costs due to the absence of integrated monitoring and communication systems.
Innovation Solution
An electric smart meter with integrated monitoring modules and a high-level communication module that enables two-way communication with a remote master server, allowing for real-time data collection, load control, and demand response management, including power quality monitoring, fault detection, and facilities status monitoring, thereby enabling active participation from subscribers and efficient energy management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple separate monitoring devices and communication systems are deployed, then comprehensive energy management functionality is achieved, but device complexity and installation cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple separate monitoring devices (power quality monitor, demand controller, AMR, facilities controller, safety monitor) and communication systems into a single integrated smart meter device. This merging eliminates the need for multiple standalone devices while providing comprehensive energy management functionality including metering, monitoring, control, and communication capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The smart meter is designed as a universal device that performs multiple functions: automatic meter reading, power quality monitoring, demand control, facilities monitoring, safety monitoring, and bi-directional communication. This multi-functional approach replaces several specialized devices with one versatile platform.
2Productivity
If real-time data collection and bi-directional communication are implemented, then demand response capability is improved, but communication infrastructure complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The smart meter implements bi-directional communication enabling real-time feedback between the utility system and the consumer premises. The meter can receive control commands from the utility and transmit operational data, demand information, and status updates, enabling dynamic demand response and real-time energy management.
Solution Approach 2:
The smart meter autonomously collects and processes energy data, performs local demand control operations, and manages communication protocols without requiring external intervention for basic operations. The integrated system self-manages data collection, processing, and transmission functions.
3Ease of manufacture
If integrated monitoring modules are combined within a single smart meter, then cost and space requirements are reduced, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The smart meter employs a modular nested architecture where various monitoring and control modules (power quality monitoring, demand control, AMR, facilities control, safety monitoring) are integrated within the single meter housing. Each functional module operates semi-independently while sharing common resources such as processing unit, memory, and communication interfaces.
Data Source
AI summary
The electric smart meter enabling demand response and method for the demand response are disclosed capable of acquiring an option and response information from a subscriber for enabling an active demand control, and to this end, the electric smart meter is embedded therewithin at least one or more integrated monitoring modules and includes microprocessors for transmitting a power control command to a relevant integrated monitoring module in response to a power control program based on the rate system, and controllably transmitting the measured and monitored data stored in the memory to the master server side via the communication module as well.