Wireless Voltage Reference Broadcast for Distributed Energy Metering

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Solution Overview

Problem

Standard industrial energy meters require labor-intensive and error-prone wiring of current transformers (CTs) to panelboards, posing safety concerns and increasing installation time and costs.

Innovation Solution

A wireless method for distributing voltage references, where digitized voltage samples are generated, encoded, and broadcast to wireless metering units, synchronizing current sampling clocks with a distribution hub, eliminating the need for CT panelboard wiring.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If CTs are wired directly from panelboard to centralized energy meter, then accurate energy measurements can be obtained, but installation becomes labor intensive and time consuming

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenergy measurement accuracyVSAvoidinstallation time

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the voltage reference function from the centralized meter and places it in a distribution hub that wirelessly transmits voltage samples to remote metering units. This allows current measurements at distributed locations to be synchronized with voltage references without physical wiring connections, eliminating the time-consuming CT wiring process while maintaining measurement accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a distribution hub as an intermediary device that receives voltage references from the utility company and wirelessly distributes them to multiple metering units. This intermediary enables synchronized voltage and current measurements across distributed locations without requiring direct wired connections between CTs and the centralized meter, reducing installation time while preserving measurement precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If CTs are wired from panelboard to external meter, then energy parameters can be calculated, but wiring complexity and error probability increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenergy parameter calculation accuracyVSAvoidwiring complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical wiring system with a wireless communication system. Instead of physically connecting CTs to the meter through wires and conduits, the system uses wireless transmission to send voltage reference data from the distribution hub to metering units. This substitution eliminates complex wiring while maintaining the ability to calculate energy parameters through synchronized digital measurements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates digital copies of voltage waveforms by sampling and transmitting voltage reference data wirelessly to distributed metering units. Each metering unit receives and stores these voltage samples locally, enabling independent energy parameter calculations without requiring physical connections to the centralized meter, thereby reducing wiring complexity while preserving measurement accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

3Measurement precision

If CT wires are exposed in panelboard wiring, then current sensing can be performed, but electrical safety concerns arise

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecurrent sensing accuracyVSAvoidelectrical safety hazards

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the voltage reference distribution function from the panelboard environment and relocates it to a distribution hub that operates outside the panelboard. By wirelessly transmitting voltage references to metering units installed at safe distances from live circuits, the system eliminates exposed CT wiring within the panelboard while maintaining current sensing accuracy through wireless synchronization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Measurement precision

If centralized meter is installed external to panelboard, then energy measurements can be taken, but installation cost increases due to wiring requirements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenergy measurement capabilityVSAvoidinstallation cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical wiring infrastructure with a wireless communication system. The distribution hub wirelessly transmits voltage reference data to distributed metering units, eliminating the need for expensive conduit installation, wire routing, and physical connections between the panelboard and external meter. This reduces installation costs while maintaining energy measurement capabilities through synchronized digital measurements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS9568507B2Wireless voltage reference broadcast in a distributed energy metering system

Publication Date: 2017.02.14 METERGY SOLUTIONS INC

AI summary

A system and method of wireless voltage reference broadcast in a distributed energy metering system is provided. A voltage reference is determined at a distribution hub for wirelessly and transmitted in voltage reference data frames providing voltage samples and a clock synchronization from an alternating current (AC) line under measurement. Wireless metering units, each coupled to an AC load circuit, receive the voltage reference data frames wherein the current sampling clock of the wireless metering units are synchronized to a voltage sampling clock of the distribution hub for determining current samples from the respective AC load circuit to calculate energy data parameters.