Smart Meter Connection Error Detection via Energy Parameters
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current smart meter connection error detection methods are inefficient, particularly in three-phase four-wire systems, due to reliance on phase angle calculations, leading to inaccurate error determination and increased costs, and result in losses for both power providers and consumers.
Innovation Solution
A connection error detection device and method using voltage RMS, current RMS, active energy, and reactive energy values for each phase, setting specific criteria to determine errors, such as negative active energy or abnormal voltage RMS values, to detect connection errors without requiring phase angle calculations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If phase angle calculation method is used to detect connection errors, then connection error detection can be performed, but the detection accuracy is low and the system complexity increases due to zero crossing implementation requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential detection function from the complex phase angle calculation method. Instead of implementing full phase angle detection with zero crossing, it extracts only the necessary energy value calculations (active and reactive energy) that can indicate connection errors without requiring complex timing synchronization or zero crossing detection circuits.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/electrical zero crossing detection method with a computational energy-based detection method. By substituting the physical zero crossing detection mechanism with mathematical energy calculations, the system achieves connection error detection without the complexity of precise timing and zero crossing implementation.
2Reliability
If separate zero crossing is implemented for phase angle detection, then connection error detection is possible, but the detection timing becomes uncertain and accuracy decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements continuous energy value calculation over fixed time periods rather than discrete zero-crossing-based measurements. This continuous accumulation of energy values over standardized intervals ensures consistent detection timing and eliminates the uncertainty associated with variable zero crossing points in AC waveforms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent calculates both active and reactive energy values, providing more information than the minimum required for detection. This excessive calculation of energy parameters enables more reliable detection by providing multiple indicators (active energy, reactive energy, and their combinations) to determine connection errors, compensating for any single measurement's limitations.
3Device complexity
If integrated ADC and DSP in one chip is used, then device integration is improved, but connection error detection accuracy deteriorates without separate zero crossing implementation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the hardware-based zero crossing detection mechanism with software-based energy calculations that can be accurately performed by the integrated DSP. This substitution allows the single-chip design to achieve the same detection functionality without requiring additional dedicated zero crossing detection hardware, maintaining precision through computational methods.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated chip's DSP performs the energy calculations and connection error detection autonomously using the ADC's digital output. The system serves itself by utilizing the existing computational resources within the single chip to perform the detection function that would otherwise require separate dedicated circuits, eliminating the need for external zero crossing detection hardware.
Data Source
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AI summary
Provided are a connection error detecting apparatus and method. The connection error detecting apparatus, which detects connection errors for each rating of a smart meter, comprises: a parameter calculating unit for calculating connection error detecting parameters including an actual three-phase voltage value, an actual three-phase current value, an effective amount of three-phase power, and an ineffective amount of three-phase power; and a connection error determining unit for setting connection error criteria for detecting connection errors for each rating of the smart meter, and detecting the connection errors for each rating by determining whether or not any one of the connection error detecting parameters satisfies the connection error criteria. The connection error criteria are set to be any one of the case in which the effective amount of power in at least one phase is measured to have a negative direction, the case in which an effective voltage value in any one phase is equal to or less than a first ratio with respect to an average rated voltage of the remaining two phases, or is equal to or more than a second ratio which is greater than the first ratio, and the case in which effective and ineffective amounts of power in at least one phase are all measured to be in a positive direction.