EP2146364A2 - Method for restricting the consumption of electrical energy - Google Patents

Abstract

The monitor has two switching units (12, 13) e.g. over current sensitive automatic safety switches, disconnecting a power supply if current drain exceeds two threshold values. The control unit (14) releases a disconnection through one of the switching unit if a disconnection of power supply takes place after reaching a threshold value. The control unit does not release the disconnection, when disconnection of the power supply takes place after reaching another threshold value so that the disconnection takes place through another switching unit.

Description

The invention relates to a device for limiting the supply of electrical energy from a power line, with a first switching means, which shuts off the power supply when the current drain exceeds a first threshold, and with a second switching means, which shuts off the power supply when the current drain a second threshold exceeds, which is greater than the first limit value, and with a control means which allows the shutdown of the power supply optionally after reaching the first or the second limit value, according to the preamble of claim 1.

A generic device is also referred to as a tariff guard. In particular, the invention relates to the field of multiple tariff monitors for power delivery to end users.

A generic tariff monitor for the purchase of electrical energy of an end user is installed, for example, in a multi-family house with several residential units at the beginning of the installation distribution of each apartment. The tariff monitor is followed by the individual circuit fuses.

The function of a tariff guardian is the following. The tariff monitor allows a pre-determined power consumption. This is defined as the maximum current, eg 10 A. Thus, if in the sum of the downstream circuits for a certain time a current of 10 A is exceeded, the tariff monitor interrupts the power supply. The end user must then turn off a power consumer, so that the Sum of the current again falls below the threshold of 10 A. Then he can switch on the tariff guard again by hand.

A multi-tariff monitor makes it possible to allow different levels of power at different specified times. For example, the tariff monitor allows for a certain amount of electricity during the day. At night, then a multiple greater current drain is possible.

Switching between the two periods can be done in two different ways. In new buildings, a control line is often installed today in the electrical installation, via which the multiple tariff monitor can be controlled directly. So he gets the signal to switch between the two tariffs directly over the control line. In old buildings, where no control line is present, the switching between the two tariffs is done via a timer, which is part of the Mehrtarifwächter.

The DE 39 02 416 DE shows an overcurrent sensitive self-switch with a current sensor, which can also be used as a simple tariff monitor.

Today multiple tariff monitors are realized by an installation contactor, controlled by a timer, switches to two different circuit breakers.

The one circuit breaker has a load characteristic corresponding to the first current. The second circuit breaker has accordingly a load characteristic corresponding to the second current.

If in the first time interval, in which an amount of current corresponding to the first current level is permitted, the permitted current intensity is exceeded, the first circuit breaker triggers accordingly and interrupts the power supply. After reducing the current drain, the circuit breaker can be switched on again by hand.

Accordingly, the procedure and the function in the second period, in which an amount of electricity corresponding to the second current is allowed.

The load characteristic of each of the circuit breaker is shown in the usual way by the thermal and the magnetic tripping characteristic; Thus, the load characteristic of a circuit breaker is used to monitor a predetermined current drain. Reaching the maximum allowed

Withdrawal current is equated with the achievement of the cut-off value of the circuit breaker.

So if, for example, the selected tariff provides that during the day a current drain of up to 10 A is allowed and at night a current drain of up to 63 A, so is a first circuit breaker with a load characteristic, which turns off at an overcurrent of 10 A, and a second circuit breaker with a load characteristic that shuts off at 63A used. Both are addressed via an installation contactor, controlled by a timer.

A multiple tariff monitor according to the prior art is relatively expensive to install, takes up a lot of space in the cabinet, is susceptible to manipulation, since the user can change the wiring itself so that even in the day the larger amount of electricity can be removed, and is prone to Interference, as the wires between the circuit breakers and the contactor can break.

It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide a Mehrttarifwächter, which is improved over the known Mehrtarifwächtern.

The object is achieved by a generic tariff monitor with the characterizing features of claim 1.

According to the invention, the first and the second switching means are connected in series with respect to the current flow, and the control means releases a shutdown by the first switching means, if a shutdown of the power supply to take place after reaching the first limit, but prevents this when a shutdown of the power supply should take place only after reaching the second limit, so that then the shutdown by the second switching means.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the at least second switching means is an overcurrent-sensitive self-switch, the trigger means and cooperating with the trigger means, openable contact point so that it can turn off the power supply from the power line in response to a second load characteristic.

A further advantageous embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the first switching means comprises electronic means for simulating a first load characteristic and an actuator for switching off the power supply.

The actuator can be in accordance with a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, a shunt trip, which cooperates with the overcurrent sensitive switch for switching off the current path by forcibly opening the contact point of the self-switch.

According to a very advantageous further embodiment, the first switching means comprises a current sensor and a microprocessor, in whose non-volatile memory the first load characteristic is stored.

The microprocessor can output a control signal to the actuator when the control means releases a shutdown by the first switching means and the first limit is exceeded.

The control means may according to a further very advantageous embodiment comprise a timer, which cooperates with the first switching means, so that during a first time interval, a shutdown is enabled by the first switching means, and during a second time interval, a shutdown is blocked by the first switching means.

In this case, in an advantageous variant of the invention, the control means receive an external control signal via a control line, and release or block a shutdown by the first switching means in response to the external control signal.

In a further advantageous variant of the invention, the first and second switching means and the control means are included in a common housing.

Overall, the advantageous effect of a device according to the invention is the fact that only a circuit breaker is used for a multiple tariff, which has a load characteristic corresponding to the higher removable current, and the second load characteristic is modeled according to the lower removable current through an electronic circuit. Outwardly, therefore, the inventive new multi-tariff monitor appears as a single device. There is no additional module necessary, and the susceptibility to manipulation is greatly reduced, because the control means can be taken from the outside by the power customer no influence.

Further advantageous embodiments and improvements of the invention and further advantages can be taken from the subclaims.

Reference to the drawing, in which an embodiment of the invention is shown, the invention and further advantageous refinements and improvements of the invention will be explained and described in detail.

Figur 1:

schematisch einen erfindungsgemäßen Mehrfachtarifwächter

It shows:

FIG. 1:

schematically a multiple tariff monitor according to the invention

The FIG. 1 shows a device 10 according to the invention for limiting the reference of electrical energy from a power line 11, hereinafter also called multiple tariff monitor.

The multi-tariff monitor 10 comprises three functional modules, which are identified by dashed borders. These are a first switching means 12, a second switching means 13 and a control means 14. Each of the functional modules comprises further sub-elements, as described in more detail below.

Sub-elements of a functional module can be realized on different units. The assemblies of the multiple tariff monitor are mounted within a housing 22, so that outwardly the multiple tariff monitor appears as a single device.

The multiple tariff monitor comprises as building units at least one circuit breaker, here it is a two-pole juxtaposition of two single-pole circuit breakers 131, 132, connected to the circuit breakers 131, 132 in a known manner shunt release 18 and an electronic control assembly 23 which includes a current sensor 16 and the shunt release 18 interacts.

The electronic control module 23 comprises in particular a microprocessor 15, a battery 24 for buffering, a current sensor 16 for measuring the current flow in the outer conductors 11, an A / D converter 17 cooperating with the current sensor 16, an input for an external control line 21 Control circuit 26, an integrated clock 20 for switching between the different tariff periods.

The shunt release 18 comprises a power supply 28 and receives its power supply via power supply lines 29 from the second circuit breaker 132. It further comprises a display 25 for displaying the different tariff times and possibly also a fault. A drive circuit 27 in the

Shunt release 18 receives from the microprocessor 15, a control signal which either activates or deactivates the shunt release 18.

The circuit breakers 131, 132 are connected to terminals 32 to the external power line. They each have a lever 31, and also the shunt release 31 has a lever 31, with which they can be manually switched on or off.

The basic idea of the invention is that, in the period of the higher removable current intensity, the monitoring takes place directly via the circuit breaker 131 and the control module 23 is not involved in the monitoring.

In the period of lower drainable current, the monitoring is done in the control board 23, and the control board sends a control signal to the shunt trip 18 when the power consumption is too high and the power supply must consequently be cut off.

For this purpose, a tripping characteristic curve is stored in the control module 23, which corresponds to the tripping characteristic in the region of the lower, removable current intensity.

A current sensor 16 measures the current intensity in the outer conductor 11. The measured value is digitized in the A / D converter 17 and the digital current signal thus obtained is processed and evaluated by the processor 15. It also covers the period of time during which a particular current is applied.

If this time duration exceeds a permissible time duration in accordance with the tripping characteristic, then the control module 23 generates the drive signal for the shunt release 18, which is transmitted to the control circuit 27 by the microprocessor 15. This triggers and thus switches off the circuit breakers 131, 132. It can be said that in the electronic control module 23, therefore, the tripping characteristic is mapped in the region of the lower, removable current intensity.

In particular, this is realized so that the tripping characteristic for the lower detectable current range is stored in the nonvolatile memory of the electronic control module 23 and the respectively measured current value is compared with the stored tripping characteristic for the range of the lower detectable amperage.

The shunt release 18 is a known in principle component, which is acted upon from the outside with a control signal and in response to the signal with the switching axis or the switching knob of the circuit breaker 131, 132 cooperates so that the circuit breaker 131, 132 according to the control signal on or off becomes. Only the switching function of the circuit breaker is used here.

The shunt release simulates, as it were, shutting off by hand.

In the multi-tariff monitor according to the invention, the control signal for the shunt release 18 comes from the electronic control module 23 in the region of the lower, removable current intensity.

The electronic control unit 23 can itself recognize when the lower or higher extractable current range is present. It does so via the module of the built-in electronic timer 20. The clock module 20 communicates with the microprocessor 15. The clock module 20 differentiates between day mode (this is the range of lower detectable amperage, the trip characteristic used in the electronic control unit 23 stored) and night mode (this is the range of the higher current that can be taken out, the tripping characteristic is used directly in the circuit breaker).

The switching between day and night mode can also be done via an external control line 21. The clock module 20 detects in this case when a control line 21 is connected. In this case, the clock module 20 turns off the clock function and sets the control line signal 21 directly to the microprocessor 15.

As a further module, the multi-tariff monitor 10 device may comprise an LED display 25. This would indicate, for example, by red steady night operation, in day mode, for example, it would be off, and by flashing it could, for example, indicate a fault. The display device 25 is associated with the shunt release 18.

Another feature could be that the watch 20 includes a battery buffer 24 that realizes a power reserve of up to 10 years.

The multi-tariff monitor 10 allows a limited power consumption during the day; At night, a multiple greater current drain is possible.

The described use of electronics and software is from a simple tariff monitor, as it can be realized in the prior art already using an overcurrent sensitive switch, an intelligent multi-tariff monitor with monitoring of day and night tariff. If the respective tariffs are exceeded, an automatic, tamper-proof disconnection of the power supply takes place.

The multi-tariff 10 can be switched on in compliance with the daily tariff value. The tariff limit of the daily tariff is monitored by built-in current transformers 16. If the current exceeds the value for the day threshold, the evaluation electronics actuates a shunt release 18 which is mounted on the circuit breaker 131, 132 and triggers the circuit breaker 131, 132.

In the night tariff the transmitter is disabled, so that the standard tripping function of the circuit breaker 131, 132 is effective.

For the coming into effect of the night tariff, a control signal of 230 V is necessary, which is provided by a separate clock 20 or by the utility and then fed to the multi-tariff monitor. Upon activation of the night tariff, a built-in LED indicator 25 lights up, it could also be another known form of display used. The daily tariff with limited power consumption is not displayed specifically.

When the 230 V control signal is interrupted, only a current consumption according to the daily tariff is possible.

Alternatively, the device can be equipped with an integrated clock module 20, which performs the tariff changeover to factory preset times. Changes in the switchover time due to the changeover from summer to winter time and back can be taken into account.

The control electronics with the current transformers 16 is installed in a control module 23 which, like the shunt release, is attached directly to the circuit breaker 131, 132.

The tripping characteristic of the multi-tariff monitor 10 fulfills the standard UNE 20-317-2005 both in the daytime and in the nighttime tariff.

Concrete device designs are conceivable, for example: two-pole 10/40 A, 10/63 amp, 20/40 amp, 20/63 amp (both poles protected). A bipolar variant is in the FIG. 1 shown. It is also a 3 + N-pole variant with 7.5 / 40 amperes or 15/40 A conceivable, or if necessary, further embodiments.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

10

contraption

11

power line

12

first switching means

13

second switching means

14

control means

15

microprocessor

16

current sensor

17

A / D converter

18

Shunt release

19

control signal

20

Clock

21

external control line

22

casing

23

control module

24

battery

25

display

26

control circuit

27

drive circuit

28

power adapter

29

power supply

31

gear lever

32

input terminal

131

Circuit breaker 1

132

Circuit breaker 2

Claims (9)

A device for limiting the supply of electrical energy from a power line, having a first switching means, which shuts off the power supply when the current drain exceeds a first threshold, and a second switching means, which shuts off the power supply when the current drain exceeds a second threshold, which is greater is as the first limit value, and with a control means, which enables the switching off of the power supply optionally after reaching the first or the second limit, characterized in that with respect to the current flow, the first and the second switching means are connected in series, and that the control means a Shutdown by the first switching means releases when a shutdown of the power supply should take place after reaching the first limit, but this prevents when a shutdown of the power supply should take place only after reaching the second limit, so that then the shutdown by the second Schaltmit tel. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least second switching means is an overcurrent sensitive auto switch, the trigger means and cooperating with the trigger means, openable contact point so that it can turn off the power supply from the power line in response to a second load characteristic. Apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that the first switching means comprises electronic means for simulating a first load characteristic and an actuator for switching off the power supply. Apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that the actuator is a shunt trip, which cooperates with the overcurrent sensitive auto switch for switching off the current path by forcibly opening the contact point of the self-switch. Apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that the first switching means comprises a current sensor and a microprocessor, in the non-volatile memory, the first load characteristic is stored. Apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that the microprocessor outputs a control signal to the actuator when the control means releases a shutdown by the first switching means and the first limit value is exceeded. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the control means comprises a timer which cooperates with the first switching means so that during a first time interval, a shutdown is enabled by the first switching means, and during a second time interval, a shutdown is blocked by the first switching means. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the control means receives an external control signal via a control line, and in response to the external control signal enables or blocks a shutdown by the first switching means. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first and second switching means and the control means are included in a common housing.

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