Smart Meter Gateway Control for Building Grid Overload Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing smart meters lack the capability to control energy consumers, producers, and storage devices connected to the electrical supply network, leading to potential overloads and instability, especially with the integration of renewable energy sources and e-mobility, which can result in costly network expansions and damage to transformers.
Innovation Solution
A smart meter system that includes a smart meter gateway for communication with energy producers, storage, and consumers, a digital electricity meter for measurement, and a communication device for central unit control, enabling the smart meter to receive and send data and control commands to manage energy distribution and consumption within a building.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If smart meters are equipped with communication units and control capabilities, then grid management and overload prevention are improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the measurement function (digital electricity meter) and control function (home control device) into a single integrated smart meter system. The control device communicates with the metering unit through a standardized interface, merging previously separate functions into one device. This reduces overall system complexity while maintaining grid stability through coordinated control of energy consumers, producers, and storage devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The smart meter is designed with multi-functionality, serving both as a measurement device for energy consumption and as a control device for managing energy consumers, producers, and storage devices. The communication unit enables the meter to participate in grid management activities, providing universal functionality that improves reliability without requiring entirely separate systems.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If smart meters include control functionality for energy consumers and producers, then overload prevention is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the smart meter into distinct functional units: a measurement unit (digital electricity meter) and a control unit (home control device), connected through a standardized communication interface. This segmentation allows each unit to be manufactured independently using existing technologies, reducing overall manufacturing complexity while enabling overload prevention through coordinated control of energy consumers, producers, and storage devices.
3Extent of automation
If communication capabilities are integrated into smart meters, then intelligent grid management is improved, but device cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a standardized communication interface as an intermediary between the measurement unit and control unit. This interface layer simplifies the integration of communication capabilities by providing predefined protocols and methods, reducing the complexity of direct communication integration while enabling intelligent grid management through automated control of energy consumers, producers, and storage devices.
Data Source
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AI summary
A smart meter for a building is disclosed, comprising: a smart meter gateway configured to communicate with energy producers, energy storage devices, and/or energy consumers in the building; a first digital electricity meter configured to measure energy consumed in the building and to communicate with the smart meter gateway; a communication device configured to communicate with a control device in a central unit; and a home control device configured to communicate with the control device via the communication device and to control the energy producers, energy storage devices, and/or energy consumers via the smart meter gateway. Furthermore, a metering infrastructure with a smart meter is disclosed.