Smart Electricity Meter Load Limiting for Peak Power Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing solutions for reducing electricity consumption, such as load shedding devices, require customized installations that are expensive and complex, limiting their widespread adoption.
Innovation Solution
A smart electricity meter with integrated current limiters and switching devices that selectively control current supply based on predetermined thresholds and conditions, allowing for simple and cost-effective electricity management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If load shedding devices are used to reduce electricity consumption, then energy savings and prevention of power demand tripping are achieved, but the installation becomes expensive and complex due to customized requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the load shedding functionality directly into the electricity meter by integrating a switching device and processor. This merging eliminates the need for separate customized load shedding devices and their complex installations, while maintaining the energy reduction capability through centralized control based on cumulative consumption thresholds.
Solution Approach 2:
The electricity meter is designed to perform multiple functions: traditional metering, communication, and load shedding control. The switching device can be controlled to disconnect loads based on cumulative consumption thresholds, making the meter a universal device that handles both measurement and active energy management without requiring specialized customized installations.
2Loss of energy
If customized load shedding installations are implemented, then electricity consumption is reduced, but the cost and complexity of implementation increase
Solution Approach 1:
By merging the load shedding control functionality into the standard electricity meter, the invention eliminates the need for separate customized installations. The meter's integrated switching device and processor enable direct control of connected loads based on cumulative consumption, simplifying implementation to just the meter installation itself.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables the electricity meter to automatically monitor cumulative consumption and control the switching device based on predetermined thresholds. This self-service capability eliminates the need for complex external control systems or customized installations, as the meter independently manages load shedding based on its own measurements and communication capabilities.
Data Source
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AI summary
A monitoring method, using an electricity meter (1) arranged to measure the electricity consumption of an installation (3) and comprising a current limiter (20) arranged to selectively limit the current supplied to the installation, the monitoring method comprising the steps, repeated every current day, for each current period of a predetermined set of at least one successive period defined in the current day, of: - checking a first predetermined condition associated with said current period; - if the first predetermined condition is checked, activating the current limiter to limit the current supplied to the installation until the end of said current period.