Supercapacitor Assembly for Smart Meter Power Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional meters, especially smart power meters, face issues with power outages and irregularities, which can disrupt their operation and battery life due to the inability to handle short, intense power surges for data transmission, leading to potential data loss and reduced battery longevity.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a supercapacitor assembly with a jelly-roll configuration, electrically coupled to a microcomputer, which provides backup power during outages and surges, extending battery life by managing excessive power demands and ensuring continuous data transmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a battery is used to provide power for the meter, then the meter can operate during power outages, but the battery life is reduced due to inability to handle short intense power surges
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines a battery and a supercapacitor into a hybrid power supply system. The supercapacitor handles short-term power surges during data transmission, while the battery provides sustained power during outages. This merging allows the system to leverage the high power density of supercapacitors and the high energy density of batteries, resolving the contradiction between reliability during outages and battery life.
Solution Approach 2:
The supercapacitor acts as an intermediary between the battery and the meter's power consumption. It buffers the power surges required for data transmission, preventing direct draws from the battery. This intermediary role protects the battery from damaging surge currents while ensuring the meter receives adequate power during outages.
2Device complexity
If the meter relies on battery power alone, then the system is simple, but data transmission may fail during power surges
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges a battery with a supercapacitor module to create a hybrid power system. The supercapacitor specifically addresses data transmission power demands by providing immediate surge current, ensuring transmission reliability. While this increases device complexity slightly, the modular design keeps the implementation practical.
3Device complexity
If the battery supplies all power demands including data transmission surges, then the system is simple, but the battery deteriorates faster
Solution Approach 1:
The supercapacitor serves as a mediator that absorbs the high-current demands of data transmission. By placing the supercapacitor between the battery and the transmission circuitry, the battery is protected from damaging surge currents that would otherwise accelerate its deterioration. This intermediary approach extends battery longevity while maintaining system simplicity through modular integration.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The supercapacitor assembly ensures robust and reliable meter operation by providing stable power during glitches and outages, extending battery life and maintaining data transmission integrity, thus enhancing the meter's reliability and efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
at least one supercapacitor electrically coupled with the microcomputer and configured to supply power to the microcomputer
Data Source
AI summary
A meter for measuring a flow of a product is disclosed. The meter includes a sensor configured to sense the flow of the product and a microcomputer communicatively coupled with the sensor and configured to measure the flow of the product based on signals received from the sensor. The meter also includes at least one supercapacitor electrically coupled with the microcomputer and configured to supply power to the microcomputer.