Smart Meter Topology Correction via Voltage Batch Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for correcting and updating the topology of electrical distribution networks are inefficient due to errors in meter-to-transformer allocation and geolocation, leading to load balancing issues, transformer planning errors, and difficulty in detecting electrical non-compliances, particularly with non-communicating meters and electricity thefts.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented method that divides meters allocated to transformers into batches based on voltage similarity, calculates corrected average voltages, and reallocates meters to improve topology accuracy without requiring geolocation data or power measurements, using a similarity function that combines correlation and distance metrics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If voltage fluctuation methods are used to determine topology, then topology detection capability is improved, but accuracy deteriorates due to impact from neighboring transformer loads
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the set of meters into two distinct batches: a first batch used for calculating corrected average voltage and a second batch for determining meter displacement. This segmentation allows the system to use only reliable voltage measurements (from meters confirmed to be connected to the same transformer) in the voltage fluctuation analysis, thereby improving accuracy while maintaining topology detection capability.
2Loss of information
If correlation method is used between two meters, then topology estimation is achieved, but computing power requirements increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides meters into two batches to segment the computation process. The first batch is used to calculate a corrected average voltage that serves as a reference, and the second batch is used to determine which meters may have been displaced. This segmentation reduces the computational complexity by avoiding exhaustive pairwise correlation of all meters, thereby reducing computing power requirements while maintaining topology information accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the voltage measurements from meters themselves to self-determine their own allocation status. By comparing each meter's voltage fluctuations against the corrected average voltage calculated from the first batch, meters effectively self-identify whether they are correctly allocated or displaced, reducing the need for external computational resources.
3Measurement precision
If blackout information is used for meter allocation, then allocation accuracy is improved, but time efficiency deteriorates due to waiting for blackouts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary actions by continuously analyzing voltage fluctuations and calculating corrected average voltages during normal operating conditions, rather than waiting for blackouts. This preliminary analysis prepares the system to quickly identify displaced meters when blackouts occur, improving time efficiency while maintaining allocation accuracy through the use of pre-computed voltage relationships.
4Device complexity
If all meters are used in voltage similarity calculation, then computation is simplified, but accuracy deteriorates due to inclusion of displaced meters
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments meters into a first batch (meters confirmed to be connected to the same transformer) and a second batch (meters that may be displaced). By using only the first batch for calculating the corrected average voltage, the system ensures high accuracy in the reference voltage calculation. The segmentation prevents contaminated data from displaced meters in the second batch from degrading the accuracy of the average voltage calculation.
Solution Approach 2:
The corrected average voltage calculated from the first batch serves as an intermediary reference that mediates between the known reliable meters and the uncertain meters in the second batch. This intermediary allows the system to accurately identify displaced meters by comparing their voltage fluctuations against the reliable reference, without the contaminated data directly affecting the reference calculation itself.
Data Source
AI summary
There is proposed a computer-implemented method for automatic correction of a topology of a smart network that uses the information contained in the voltage measurements provided by smart meters in order to determine which meter is connected to which transformer. The method starts from an initial topology and divides up the meters into first and second batches for each transformer. Successive reallocations of meters in the second batches are made according to similarities with average voltages calculated and corrected from the first batches of meters. The method proceeds by iterations until there remain no more meters attributable to other transformers and updates the topology so that its evolution at a given time be readable.