EP2486372A2

EP2486372A2 - Recording an electrical power consumption, and a connector adaptor

Info

Publication number: EP2486372A2
Application number: EP10770748A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Holger Mayer
Original assignee: Heag Suedhessische Energie AG (hse)
Current assignee: Heag Suedhessische Energie AG (hse)
Priority date: 2009-10-06
Filing date: 2010-10-06
Publication date: 2012-08-15
Also published as: WO2011042457A3; WO2011042457A2; DE102009044183A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for recording an electrical power consumption, wherein a device for measuring consumption is connected by a user to a communication network that transmits the recorded power consumption to a central recording device. The consumption measuring device is transportable and arranged by the user in a place of choice, between an electrical consumer and a power supply network. The user is able to select, at his discretion, the temporal intervals of successive transmissions of the recorded power consumption to the central recording device. A connector adaptor comprising a base housing (1) with at least one socket (5) and at least one connector (3), has a device for measuring consumption (8), a storage device (9) for storing the measured power consumption, and a data transfer device for transferring, to the communication network, the measured power consumption that is stored in said storage device (9). The connector adaptor has a device for identifying voltages (6) and a device for voltage conversion (7).

Description

HEAG Südhessische Energie AG (HSE)

Capture of electrical energy consumption and

plug adapter

The invention relates to a method for detecting an electrical energy consumption, wherein with a

Consumption meter detected the energy consumption and at intervals to a central

Detection device is transmitted.

The electrical energy supply of individual consumers is predominantly ensured by energy supply companies that provide electrical energy and make it available to consumers connected to it via an energy distribution network. The actual

Consumption of electrical energy by a consumer or a spatial consumer unit such as a residential building or company premises is

usually by a centrally arranged

Consumption measuring device recorded between the

Consumer unit and the power distribution network

is arranged. In order to ensure that the actual consumption can be recorded by the consumer or the consumer unit and also charged to the consumer, the

Consumption measuring device should not be manipulated or bypassed. In addition, at regular intervals from the

Consumption meter detected energy consumption read by the utility or on request notified to the energy utility in order to allow for a determination of the agreed energy costs charged to the consumer. The known from practice consumption measuring devices are also in terms of the desired

Tampering permanently between the

Power supply network and the consumer unit

arranged and represent the only connection of the

Consumer unit with the power supply network. The collection periods or the reading intervals are regularly unilaterally given by the energy supply ^¬ company. The consumption measuring device can only the consumption of permanently connected to this consumption measuring device electrical

Capture consumers. In addition to an optionally possible reading of the recorded with the consumption meter and displayed by this energy consumption of the

Consumers have no means of measuring energy consumption and, except by influencing the

actual energy consumption - influence on the

Billing of the power company to take.

It is regarded as an object of the present invention to design a method of the type mentioned in the introduction in such a way that the consumer can exert more influence on the detection of the electrical energy consumption and also the energy supply company which operates the central detection device to which the device connected to the consumption measuring device Energy consumption is transmitted, which can take into account consumer behavior. This object is achieved in that the consumption measuring device is transportable, at a desired location by the consumer between a

electrical consumers and a power supply network in addition to a central consumption measuring device, regardless of a consumer assigned

spatial consumption unit and independent of one

Power supply network for which the consumer has a contractual agreement with a

Energy supply company has completed, is arranged and supplied by a consumer with a

Communication network connected and the detected

Energy consumption is transmitted via the communication network to the central detection device, wherein the time intervals of successive transmissions of the recorded energy consumption to the central

Detection device of the consumer are arbitrary selectable. The consumption reading is therefore no longer one-sided by the power company

carried out or initiated, but at will by the consumer carried out by the latter

Consumption meter connects to a communication network such as the Internet and the

meanwhile recorded energy consumption to the central network connected to the communication network

Detection device transmitted. The consumption measuring device used for this purpose is operated in addition to a central consumption measuring device which detects the total electrical energy consumption of the consumer unit connected thereto. In this way, individual electrical consumers or of the User-definable time intervals are recorded and transmitted to the central detection device.

The portable consumption measuring device can be carried by the consumer, for example while traveling and detect its electrical energy consumption. The

Consumption-specific consumption measurement is therefore not on a consumer associated spatial

Consumption unit or limited to a power grid for which the consumer has entered into a contractual agreement with a utility company. It is also not necessary for the consumer to be transportable

Consumption meter detected energy consumption concerns that of a given or even the consumer known power companies

provided. It is independent of spatial or temporal limits of the caused by the consumer and guided through the metering device

Energy consumption recorded.

In this way, the consumer has the possibility of energy consumption within a period of time specified by him or for only one or more

Energy consumers who are also in different

Consumption units can be arranged to detect.

In order to give the consumer the possibility of the consumption values recorded with the consumption meter

to display, store, evaluate and / or convert according to specifiable tariff information into accruing energy costs is provided that the Consumption meter connected by the consumer with a data processing system and the detected

Energy consumption to the data processing system

is transmitted before the recorded energy consumption from the data processing system via the

Communication network to the central

Detection device is transmitted. The

Data processing system can be, for example, a computer, a laptop or a mobile device. In this way, when using a portable

Data processing system at any time and location independent of the consumer, a transmission of energy consumption from the consumption meter to the central

Detection device are made. The

Consumption meter must only have an interface for connection to the data processing system. A direct connection of the consumption measuring device with the communication network is just as little required as a separate transmitting device or

Transmission device for the to be transmitted

Energy consumption values.

To the energy consumption values, over the

Communication network to the central

Detection device to be assigned to be able to assign a particular consumer, it is provided that the consumer via the communication network makes a registration or authorization at the central detection device before the detected energy consumption is transmitted to the central detection device. In the

Registration or authorization can be for example a pre-agreed username and only the one concerned Consumers known password can be queried to

ensure that the subsequently transferred

Energy consumption values can be assigned to the correct consumer. Such login processes are easy to implement, especially in connection with the Internet as a communication network available almost worldwide, and can be carried out quickly and reliably. An additional individualization of the captured

Energy consumption and its transmission to the central detection device can be made possible by the fact that in addition to the recorded energy consumption unique for the consumption meter used

Identification information to the central

Detection device is transmitted. A consumer can, however, several at the same time

Use consumption meters and the respective recorded energy consumption values substantially

simultaneously or at different times or

Intervals to the central detection device

to transfer .

To provide the consumer with additional information concerning the metering device detected

To provide energy consumption is provided that in a storage device in the

Consumption meter Consumption quota information stored and in a transmission of the recorded

Energy consumption to be updated to the central detection device. A first, simple information can be communicated to the consumer by the fact that the in the Storage device stored in the consumption metering consumption contingent information from the consumer between two consecutive

Transmissions of the detected energy consumption can be retrieved to the central detection device and / or displayed with a display device. So can

for example, by a continuous or at

Operation by the consumer green LED will be symbolized that the previously recorded

Energy consumption has not yet exceeded the consumption quota stored in the consumption meter, while indicated by a red LED lighting a consumption exceeding the consumption quota is displayed. It is also conceivable that the

Consumption meter permanently or solely operated by the consumer

Display with a numerical,

alphanumeric or pixel-based display and optionally displays information stored in the memory device retrievably. Of course, other information may also be stored in the memory device and made available retrievably.

The invention also relates to a plug adapter having a base housing with at least one socket and at least one plug.

According to the invention it is provided that the plug adapter comprises means for detecting a through the

Plug adapter transmitted electrical energy, a memory device for storing the detected

Energy consumption and a data transmission device for the transmission of the measured and in the

Storage device has stored energy consumption to a communication network. Such a

Plug adapter represents a consumption measuring device, which in a special way for use in the

previously described method is suitable. Commercially available, prefabricated electronic components or assemblies are known which detect electrical energy consumption and can be called up as needed

can save. Such components have an extremely small space requirement, so that they can be integrated in a simple manner in a travel adapter known from practice. The data transmission device provided in the case of a plug adapter according to the invention can consist, for example, of an interface for transmitting information, for example a USB interface. It is also conceivable that the data transmission device has a transmitting device such as a Bluetooth or WLAN compatible communication unit.

According to one embodiment of the inventive concept, the plug adapter has a power supply device with which both the operation of the

Consumption meter and the storage device and a reliable data transmission can be ensured. It can be a changeable

Battery or to act on a rechargeable battery, the

optionally charged during use of the plug adapter and a sufficient charge capacity has to be able to bridge longer periods of non-use.

To use the plug adapter with

To enable different power supply networks is provided that the plug adapter has a device for detecting voltage. In this way it can be ensured that when using the

Plug adapters with a supply network each voltage provided is detected and can be considered at least to the effect that in the case of a not compatible with the connected electrical load voltage of the supply network operation and thus damage to the consumer can be excluded.

In order to enable operation of the electrical load regardless of the respective available supply voltage is further provided that the

Plug adapter has a device for voltage conversion. Suitable voltage transformers are commercially available.

According to an advantageous embodiment of

According to the invention, it is provided that the plug adapter has a display device. The display device may comprise, for example, one or more LEDs that indicate the current operating state and / or

Consumption quota can display information. It is also conceivable that the display device has a display and may display any changing or optionally retrievable information. According to a particularly advantageous embodiment of the inventive concept it is provided that the plug adapter has a plurality of modular designed, with the basic housing

having connectable plugs and / or sockets. The

Basic housing includes the use of the

Plug adapters as consumption meter necessary components. The basic housing has one or two

Connecting elements adapted to receive plug-in modules or receptacle modules adapted thereto and to mechanically fix them to the base housing as well as to make suitable electrical contact,

or to connect. The basic housing can be made compact and space-saving. The single ones

Plug-in modules and / or socket modules can be stored separately from the basic housing and, if necessary, carried along.

The plug adapter can also be used permanently with the

Have basic housing connected to the first connector and / or permanently connected to the base housing first socket, wherein the first connector and / or the first

Socket further modular, with the first

Plug or the first socket can have connectable second connector or second sockets. In this way, on standard commercial housing and modular plugs or sockets for

Manufacture of the plug adapter can be used, whereby the manufacturing cost can be significantly reduced. In addition, damaged or lost plug modules and socket modules can also be used, for example, in the Foreign countries are replaced by standard modular plugs and sockets.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the

Invention concept explained in more detail.

A utility company wants to allow a consumer under an energy supply contract to influence the electricity supplier's electricity production through its electrical energy consumption in conjunction with a tariff system chosen by the consumer. While this for the connected to the power grid of the utility, the consumption unit, which can be detected with permanently installed metering devices, with the already known from practice

Methods and devices readily possible, the consumer can be outside his spatial

Consumption unit, for example, travel caused energy consumption due to lack of opportunities for

Consumption recording so far not be considered. By using an example as

Plug adapter designed consumption meter can also recorded the travel consumption caused by the consumer and then the

Energy suppliers are transmitted. For example, after receiving the energy consumption values detected by the consumption measuring device, the energy supplier can additionally make available a corresponding amount of green electricity and in this way the share of green electricity

increase over the power grid of the

Energy supplier is provided. It is irrelevant whether the travel of the consumer energy consumption caused by the energy

Energy supply network of the energy supplier or else energy concerns that from another

Power supply network was retrieved or generated by another energy supplier and fed into the power grid used.

In the attached Figure 1 is a schematic

Representation of a plug adapter shown, which can be used as a portable consumption meter. The plug adapter has a base housing 1 with a fastening device 2 for various modularly designed plug 3. The base housing 1 has another at an opposite end

Fastening device 4 for fixing a

Socket 5 on. The socket 5 can also

be integrally formed on the base housing 1.

The fastening device 2 for the plug 3 and the socket 5 have electrically conductive contacts, which are connected in an electrically conductive manner in the base housing 1, so that regardless of the particular connector 3 used in a compound of

Plug adapters with the respective

Power supply network, the energy can be transmitted to a consumer, which is also electrically connected to the socket 5.

In the basic housing 1 are a device for

Voltage detection 6 and a device for

Voltage conversion 7 arranged. Depending on the applied supply voltage of the respective suitable plug 3 connected power supply network, the applied voltage is determined by the means for detecting voltage 6, respectively

and, where appropriate, a conversion of the

Voltage in the device for voltage conversion 7 made to the required for the connected via the socket 5 consumers

To ensure supply voltage. Following this is between the plug 3 and the

Socket 5 a means for measuring consumption 8, which determines the amount of energy transmitted through the base housing 1 and thus by the consumer

recorded energy consumption.

The recorded energy consumption is in one

Memory device 9 is stored, which is signal transmitting connected to the device for consumption measurement 8. The storage device 9 also serves to store tariff information and contingent information.

This information can be displayed with a display device 10, which in the illustrated

Embodiment comprises a green LED and a red LED. If the energy consumption ascertained using the device for consumption measurement 8 is lower than a predefined consumption value, then the green LED lights up and indicates that a predetermined energy contingent does not yet exist

was exceeded. Otherwise, the red LED will illuminate, indicating that the power consumption detected by the consumption meter 8 is a

already exceeded the specified consumption value. In the basic housing 1 is still a

Integrated communication unit 11, which is signal-transmitting connected to the memory device 9. On a

Operation of the consumer out by means of a

Transmitting device 12 of the communication unit 11, which allows, for example, a wireless data transmission, the consumption values detected by the device 8 for measuring consumption, which are stored in the memory device 9

stored are transmitted via a network to a central recording device of the power company. Instead of the transmitting device 12 may also be provided a passive interface such as a USB port, which is a wired

Connection with a not shown

Evaluation device or external transmitting device and a retrieval of stored in the memory device 9 consumption values allows. During an existing

Connection and data transfer to the central

Detection device can be stored in the storage device tariff information or

Consumption quota information will be updated.

In the basic housing is still a

Power supply device 13 is arranged, which the

Storage device 8 and, if necessary, the

Communication unit 11 is powered. A

Transmission of the consumption values detected by the device 8 for consumption can also take place in this way if the basic housing 1 is not connected to a power supply network via a plug 3, so that an external energy supply would be ensured.

Claims

HEAG Südhessische Energie AG (HSE)

Capture of electrical energy consumption and

plug adapter

P A T E N T A N S P R E C H E 1. Method for detecting an electric

Energy consumption, with one

Consumption meter detected the energy consumption and at intervals to a central

Detection device is transmitted, thereby

characterized in that the consumption measuring device

transportable, in a location desired by the consumer between an electrical load and a power supply network in addition to a central

Consumption measuring device, regardless of a

Consumers assigned to a consumer and independent of an energy supply network for which the consumer has entered into a contractual agreement with a power company, and by a consumer with a

Communication network connected and the detected

Detection device of the consumer are arbitrary selectable.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the consumption measuring device connected by the consumer with a data processing system and the detected

Energy consumption is first transmitted to the data processing system, before the recorded energy consumption from the data processing system via the

Communication network to the central

Detection device is transmitted.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized

that the consumer is aware of that

Communication network performs a registration or authorization at the central detection device before the recorded energy consumption to the central

Detection device is transmitted.

4. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in addition to the detected energy consumption one for the used

Consumption measuring device unique

Identification information to the central

Detection device is transmitted.

5. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in a memory device (9) in the consumption measuring device

Consumption quota information stored and when transmitting the recorded energy consumption to the

central detection device to be updated.

6. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that in the memory device (9) in the Consumption meter stored

Consumption quota Information from the consumer between two consecutive transmissions of the recorded energy consumption to the central

Detection device retrieved and with a

Display device (10) are displayed.

7. Plug adapter with a base housing (1) with at least one socket (5) and with at least one plug (3), characterized in that the plug adapter a

Device for measuring consumption (8), one

Memory device (9) for storing the measured energy consumption and a data transmission device for transmitting the measured and in the

Storage device (9) has stored energy consumption in the communication network.

8. Plug adapter according to claim 7, characterized in that the data transmission device has a transmitting device (12) for the wireless transmission of the data to a

Receiving device comprises.

9. Plug adapter according to claim 7 or claim 8, characterized in that the plug adapter a

Power supply device (13).

10. Plug adapter according to one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that the plug adapter a

Device for voltage detection (6).

11. Plug adapter according to one of claims 7 to 10, characterized in that the plug adapter a

Device for voltage conversion (7).

12. Plug adapter according to one of claims 7 to 11, characterized in that the plug adapter a

Display device (10).

13. Plug adapter according to one of claims 7 to 12, characterized in that the plug adapter has a plurality of modular designed, with the base housing (1) connectable plug (3).