MXPA97009358A - Renta precision meter that measures energy quality and method to measure eneral quality - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an electrical energy meter containing means therein for measuring an amount of electrical energy generated by a supplier and transferred by means of a line of energy supply to a load of a consumer during a period of time. energy measurement time, a method for monitoring variations in the measured amount of electrical energy, comprising the steps of: detecting a line voltage transferred by means of the power supply line to the load during the time interval of energy measurement, detecting an increase in a magnitude of the detected line voltage from an acceptable voltage level to a level greater than the first impulse threshold voltage, after the start of a pulse time interval during which the magnitude of the line voltage detected is an all time greater than the acceptable voltage level, record in impulse event if the magnitude of The detected line voltage exceeds the acceptable voltage level for a first predetermined amount of time after the start of the pulse time interval, and then communicates the regressed pulse event to at least the preceding supplier or consumer to conclude the interval. of impulse time

Description

RENTO PRECISION METER THAT HAS MEASUREMENT OF ENERGY QUALITY AND METHOD TO MEASURE ENERGY QUALITY FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to electricity meters such as those used by commercial, industrial or residential consumers of energy supply companies, more than two years, to a precision meter that has several operational capabilities. as a measure of energy quality and / or energy management.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The distribution of energy generally starts with the generation of energy by means of an energy generation ins + alation, that is, energy generator or power plant. The power generator supplies power through transformers of sub + ransrnision elevators to transmission lines. To reduce the losses in the transportation of energy, the step-up transformers increase the voltage and reduce the current. The actual transmission line voltage depends conventionally on the distance between the subtransmission transformers and the users or consumers. The transformers of the distribution substation reduce the voltage that comes from the level of the The response is usually on a scale of approximately 2-35 1-? lo-volts ("1-V"). The primary energy distribution system supplies energy to the distributing formers that reduces the voltage even more, it is approximately 120 V to fine V. For background purposes and future reference herein, an example of a system Energy installation distribution as described above and understood by those skilled in the art, is illustrated in Figures IR and IB of the drawings. The energy supply companies and suppliers of ISMA have developed systems to analyze and manage the energy generated and the energy that will be supplied to the transmission lines in the primary energy distribution system, v.gr- ., mainly through supervisory control and data acquisition ("SCADA"). However, these primary energy distribution analysis systems are complex, expensive and do not correctly analyze the energy that is supplied to industrial, commercial or residential consumption sites through the secondary energy distribution system. Likewise, various system and methods for measuring energy that are known to those skilled in the art are used by commercial, industrial and residential consumers of energy supply companies. However, these energy measurement systems, they generally only measure the amount of energy used by the consumer and record the consumption for their reading time after the average of the energy company that supplies the energy to the consumer. A precision rental meter is an example of such a conventional position measurement system in a consumer place to receive and measure the amount of energy consumed by the consumer-for predetermined periods of time over a day. Conventionally, electric power is supplied to industrial, commercial, and residential consumers through local or regional supply companies through the secondary power distribution system to the electricity meters of precision rental type as a current voltage. alternating ("AC") that approximates a sine wave over a period of time and normally flows through consumer premises as an AC current that also approximates a sine wave over a period of time. The term "alternating waveform" generally describes any symmetric waveform, including square, zigzag, triangular, and sinusoidal waveforms, whose polarity varies regularly over time. However, the term "AC" (ie, alternating current) almost always means that the current is produced from the application of a sinusoidal voltage, that is, an AC voltage. In an AC power distribution system, the Expected frequency of voltage or with lens, eg, hO Hertz ("H2"), fiO l-lz or 400 Hz, is conventionally known as the "fundamental" frequency, regardless of the pi or real spectral amplitude. The integer multiples of this fundamental frequency are usually called harmonic frequencies, and the peaks of spectral amplitude at frequencies below the fundamental frequencies are commonly called "sub-arrnonica", regardless of their relation to the fundament. However, Several environmental and distribution system factors can distort the fundamental frequency, that is, the harmonic distortion, can cause discharge spikes, impulses or deviations, and can cause blackouts, partial shutdowns or other problems of the distribution system that greatly affect the quality of the energy received by the energy consumer in his installation or residence. These precision rental measurement systems have been developed to provide improved techniques to accurately measure the amount of energy used by the consumer so that the consumer is charged an adequate amount and so that the utility receives adequate compensation for the energy supplied and used by the consumer. Examples of said measuring systems can be seen in the patent of E.U.A. No. 5,300,924 by McEachern et al., Entitled "Harmony Measuring Instrurnent For AC Pouer Systems Uith A Tine-Based Threshold Means" and in the U.S. patent. No. 5,307,009 for McEachern and others, entitled "Harrnonic-Ad You Uatt-Hour Meter." An article by P. Cortí et al., Entitled "New Low Cost Technologies for Moni ton ng Power Ou iality in Substations and Industrial Sites", Proceedings of the 13th International Electricity Distribution Conference, Brussels, Belgium, 8-11 May (1995), also describes the evolution of electricity measurement instruments and establishes the requirements for ulti functional electronic meters that have bi-directional communication channels between the distributor and the user. These communication channels make it possible to integrate the classic tariff calculations for the purposes of billing, the measurement of the characteristics of the voltage for the report of the quality of service and the rational use of electricity by both the user and the distributor. . Precision income meters, such as those described above, have also been developed to detect line voltages transferred to a load over a time interval of energy measurement and detect increases and / or decreases in the magnitudes of line voltages. detected from acceptable levels. However, these conventional rent accuracy type measurement systems have typically not been able to provide information about the quality of the energy, ie frequency and duration of the blackouts, partial shutdowns, harmonic distortions, impulses, deviations, imbalances , oscillations, chronic overvoltages, spikes discharge, fluctuations, line sounds or the like, received by a consumer of energy in a particular consumer site. Since light companies have become more and more deregulated, these companies will also compete more aggressively for several customers, particularly heavy-energy users, and the quality of the energy received by the energy consumer has to be important. For example, a competitive advantage that some light companies can have over their competitors would be a higher quality of the energy supplied and received by the consumer during certain periods of time. A company can promote the fact that it has longer times for a month in which the energy impulses reached the consumer-causing potential damage to computer systems or the like at the consumer site. Another company may promote that it has shorter times during a month in which the voltage level supplied to the consumer was not within the predetermined scales, which can be harmful to electronic devices such as motors or relays. However, previous systems for measuring the quality of energy generally are costly, bulky, require a special installation and are not integrated into, or with a precision income meter. Without an accurate income measurement system that measures the quality of the energy supplied and received by the consumer and a measurement system in which an energy generator and / or energy consumer has Access to this information, however, these comparisons can not easily be made.

OBJECTS AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide an income precision meter capable of measuring the quality and quantity of energy received by an energy consumer from an energy generator such as a lighting company. It is also another object of the present invention to provide an income accuracy meter capable of providing information and control of energy management to an energy consumer. It is also another object of the present invention to provide precision income meter capable of measuring the quality and quantity of energy received by an energy consumer from an energy generator such as a lighting company, and capable of providing information and control of energy management to an energy consumer. A further object of the present invention is to provide an income accuracy meter capable of isolating data control functions in a secure manner between a power generator and an energy consumer, so that the energy consumer is able to transmit and receive data that come from the rent precision meter separated from the generator of energy It is a further object of the present invention to provide an income precision edger that provides a data communication interaction compatible with a SCADA control center and various groups of light companies such as operations, finance, engineering, customer service. and commerce. The present invention advantageously provides an income precision meter having the combination of means for determining the quality of the energy received by the energy consumer during predetermined periods of time, and means for measuring the amount of energy used by the consumer. during predetermined periods of time. This information about the quality and quantity of energy, for example, not only provides competitive information for lighting companies and their consumers, but also provides information about the handling of problems for electricity companies and consumers. areas of energy distribution such as through a secondary distribution system. This information can make it possible for a lighting company or a customer to identify specific areas or sources of energy quality problems caused by other users or for other problems in areas such as large industrial equipment that causes signal problems. More particularly, these and other objects of the present invention are provided by a precision income meter to measure the amount and quality of energy received by an energy consumer such as through electric power lines. The meter preferably has a variation detector preferably for determining unwanted variations in an electrical signal representing the energy received by a consumer of energy during a plurality of predetermined periods of time. An energy consumption meter is coupled in electrical communication with the variation sensor to measure a consumer's energy consumption, which responds to an electrical signal representative of a consumer's load. The meter also has a communications interconnection coupled in electrical communication with the variation detector and the energy consumption meter for communication or communication that represent unwanted energy variations and energy consumption. A rental accuracy meter of the present invention further preferably includes a plurality of data communication ports and a receiver and transmitter each respectively positioned to receive and transmit data through the plurality of data communication ports. At least one of the plurality of data communication ports is preferably arranged for data communication with an energy consumer and at least one of the plurality of data communication ports. it is preferably arranged for data communication with an energy generator. A power management controller is preferably connected to the receiver and the transmitter to control the power consumption that responds to predetermined electrical command signals received from the power consumer at the energy consumer port. A method for measuring the quality of energy is also provided in accordance with the present invention. This method preferably includes determining the frequency and duration of unwanted variations in an electrical signal representing the energy received by an energy consumer through electric power lines for a plurality of predetermined time periods and communicating a signal representing the Unwanted energy variations to an energy generator. The method further preferably includes measuring the energy consumption of an energy consumer that responds to an electrical signal representing the load of a consumer and communicating a serial representing the amount of energy consumed that responds to a command signal received from a consumer. energy generator. By providing energy quality and energy consumption measurement, as well as other beneficial functions such as power management control, in a rental accuracy meter, the present invention provides a compact and relatively inexpensive solution to problems previously mentioned. Providing data communication capabilities with a precision income meter of the invention, energy generators or other third parties can also monitor energy quality situations in specific consumption sites, that is, including problems in the secondary energy distribution system, far from the power generating stations or SCADA control facilities. For example, an income-accurate meter according to the present invention can provide energy supply companies with the ability to improve customer service, issues of detection and troubleshooting, or quickly identify if emergency assessments and systematically analyze information that comes from specific consumption sites.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Some of the objects and advantages of the present invention have been established; others will be more fully understood from the following detailed description and by reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figures IA and IB schematically illustrate an environmental view of an income precision meter having energy quality measurement in accordance with the present invention; Figures 2A and 2B illustrate schematically a slow precision meter that has energy quality measurement, arranged in communication with a power generator and an energy consumer according to the present invention; Figure 3 schematically illustrates an income precision meter having energy quality measurement, arranged in communication with various data communication links according to the present invention; Figure 4A illustrates a "rum accuracy" meter that has process counters that have energy quality measurement in accordance with the present invention; Figure 4B schematically illustrates a reactive energy meter of an income accuracy meter according to the present invention; Figs. 5A and 5B schematically illustrate a flow chart of a digital signal processor of a r-enta precision meter having energy quality measurement in accordance with the present invention; Fig. 6 illustrates schematically an energy quality measurement system in a digital signal processor of a rental accuracy meter according to the present invention; Figures 7A, 7B and 7C schematically illustrate a variation determinant of an energy quality measurement system in a digital signal processor of an income accuracy meter according to the present invention; Y Figures 8A and 8B schematically illustrate an income accuracy meter having energy quality and energy management measurement according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The present invention will now be fully described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which preferred embodiments of the invention are shown. However, this invention can be incorporated in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the illustrated embodiments set forth herein; instead, these modalities are provided for this description to be detailed and complete and to fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Similar numbers refer to similar elements throughout the description. As illustrated in the schematic environmental view of Figures IA and IB, energy distribution 20 generally starts with the generation of energy by means of a power generation facility 21, i.e. a power generator or power plant. Energy. The power generator 21 supplies power through elevating subtransmission transformers 21b to transmission stations 23. To reduce the losses in energy transport, the transformer-is elevators 21b increase the voltage and reduce the current. The actual voltage of the transmission line depends conventionally on the distance between the subversion transformers 21b and the users or consumers, i.e. commercial, industrial or residential users 41, 42. The transformers of the distribution substation 25, 26. 27 reduce the voltage of the transmission line level generally up to a scale of approximately 2-35 kilo-volts ("kV"). The primary energy distribution system 31 supplies power to the distribution transformers 28, 28a which reduce the voltage still more, ie approximately 120 V to 600 V. Conventionally, the companies and the energy suppliers have developed systems for analyze and manage the energy generated and the energy that will be supplied to the transmission lines in the primary energy distribution system 31, eg, mainly through supervisory control and data acquisition ("SCADA") in a remote operations center 22 such as the illustrated one. These operation centers 22 generally communicate with generation facilities 21 and substations 24, 25 via conventional data communication terminals 21a, 24a, 25a. Because problems normally arise in the secondary energy distribution system 36, that is, from the distribution substation to the consumers, with respect to the analysis of the energy that is Supplied to industrial, commercial or industrial consumption sites through the secondary energy distribution system 36, an income precision meter 40 or a plurality of precision income meters are provided. which have an energy quality measurement according to the present invention and which are preferably positioned as illustrated (Figures 1A-LB) in the secondary power distribution system 36 to provide a remote terminal or node in the global system 20 par-a The problems of detection and solution of problems and diagnosis, to identify emergency situations and to systematically analyze the information that comes from specific consumption sites. The fi les 2A, B and 3 schematically illustrate an accuracy meter of income 40 having energy quality measurement, arranged in communication with an energy generator 80 such as an energy supply company and an energy consumer. according to the present invention. A rental precision meter 40 according to the present invention is an electricity meter or an alternating current watt-hour meter used for billing functions, ie, a billing meter. These electricity or rental power meters are preferably solid state meters that at least meet the American National Standards Tnstitute ("ANSI") 12.16, Alternative Electrotechrucal Corninission ("IEC") 687/1036 standards, improved or revised standards similar, or their L6 Equiv lenses, as understood by those experts in the technique. As illustrated, the revenue precision meter 40 for measuring the quantity and quality of the electrical energy received by an energy consumer 60, preferably has a housing 40a and a communications interconnect that preferably includes a plurality of ports of communication. data communication 41, 42, 43, 44 positioned in the housing 40a (see also figures 3 and 4A). Although four data communication ports 41, 42, 43, 44 are illustrated, a rental accuracy meter 40 in accordance with the present invention preferably has at least two data communication ports. At least one of the plurality of data communication ports 41, 42, 43, 44 is arranged for data communication with an energy consumer 60, v.gr-., A power-consumer port 41, and at least one of the plurality of data communication ports 41, 42, 43, 44 is arranged for data communication with power generator, e.g., a power generating port 42, 43, 44. However , the particular modality of ports 41, 42, 43, 44 illustrated, advantageously provides real-time data communication with a plurality of different groups or departments of a lighting company 80 such as marketing 82, operations 83, engineering 84 and / or billing / finance 85 (figure 2B). For example, energy quality data can be used by the service group to the tooth or of the merchandiser 82 that receives data from an accuracy meter of r-enta 40 according to the present invention monitoring energy shutdowns, deviations / pulses and excessive harmonics. This information can then be transmitted, that is, by means of sequential calls, to a central office, accounting representatives and / or consumers 60. The energy quality data can be used by operations 83 to monitor voltage / current , KUI / KVAR, stops, and / or harmonics received by consumers 60 via meter 40 and to monitor the transformers, ie, temperature, capacitors and other control functions in the power distribution system 20. The group or engineering department, for example, can use the meter 40 and the data received therefrom to monitor the total harmonic distortion, to capture waveform data, to conduct spectral analyzes, as well as to study and analyze the stoppages and deviations / impulses from a diagnostic approach. The billing or finance group 85, in turn, can carry out load or tariff research based on the information provided from the meter 40 about energy quality and energy consumption. As understood by those skilled in the art, the billing group 85 of the power generator 80, for example, can conduct TOU measurement, set real-time prices, transformer losses, compensation, load profile, integrity in the installation of the meter, verification of meter wiring, load reduction, and / or other di er-ent.es functions. In the same manner, these different groups of the power generator 80 may also interact responsively with the substation controller 86 such as in multi-drop meter applications or to communicate with remote terminal units ("RTUs"), printers or the like. . In addition, the power generator 80 may provide several auxiliary inputs to the meter 40 such as transformer oil temperature data, L sub-loads to the meter, redundant measurement data, status alarms, pressure data and / or other information that you want. On the other hand, the consumer can receive data online such as engineering units, energy cost, underload data, alternative installation data and other totals or specific information that is needed. Preferably the meter 40 also has a relief control programmed by the consumer with safety, installation alarms, demand prediction and energy management capabilities. Additionally, as also illustrated in Figures 2A and 8A, a rental accuracy meter 40 in accordance with the present invention further has a power management controller 90 electrically connected to the second receiver- and the second transmitter to control power consumption. energy that responds to predetermined command signals received from the consumer- power through the power consumer port of the interconnection of lf_ communications. Similarly, the consumer can provide auxiliary inputs 62 to the meter 40 such as alarms, statuses, production parameters, non-electrical installation data, load reduction data, load data, as well as other data that is wish The meter 40 can also be monitored or used by the consumer in a central consumer station 61 as illustrated. The data communication ports also provide inter or intra-consumer communication, that is, from the consumer to the installation or other consumer and communication within the installation or consumption locations. Either separate from the power management controller 90 or in conjunction with the same, a meter 40 according to the invention preferably also has an access rest point 98 coupled in electrical communication with the power generator port to provide restricted access between the energy consumer port and the power generator port. This security access preferably resides in one of the meter controllers 40. This access restriction means or access controller 98 (see FIG. 8B) is preferably programmed by software as understood by those skilled in the art, so that the Access is provided either to the power consumer or to the power generator by means of a command serial that represents a user's key or a data access key. This, in turn, provides a wall for security between the functions of the meter used by a consumer 60 and the functions of the meter-used by an energy generator or a third part 80. Although as understood by those skilled in the art, the communication interconnection of a precision meter 40 may include any means for communicating data to, and from, the meter 40, such as the use of a probing device, an optical device or a remote device to make interconnection with the meter 40, the interconnection. of communications of a precision meter of income 40 mcludes preferably one or more transceivers, e.g., universal transistor receiver / receiver ("UARi"), positioned within the housing 40a of the meter 40 and arranged to receive- transmitting data signals through the data communication ports 41, 42, 43, 44. According to the invention, the communication interconnect preferably includes at least one receiver positioned to receive a signal. the electric that represents the voltage received through the electric power lines. At least one receiver is arranged to receive electrical signals through the power generating port. The at least one receiver also preferably includes first and second receivers and the at least one transmitter also preferably includes first and second transmitters. The first receiver is arranged to receive electrical signals through the power generating port 42, 43, 44, and the second receiver is arranged to receive electrical signals through the port of the energy consumer 41. ('better' is illustrated in FIG. 3, the ports for communicating with the generator or installation and energy are preferably electrically connected to the second operator. or with rollers 45, 48. These ports preferably include an RS-232 interconnect port and / or a current loop of 20 nanometer ("A") 74, an optical port 73, and two 71, 72 either of an internal mode, a direct interconnection, a protocol converter or an RS-4B5 port The internal mode is set to communicate with auxiliary inputs and outputs 62, 63 of the power consumer Direct interconnection ("I / F") is ready to be connected to an external modem 51 which can provide either additional or duplicative data to the processor-es 45, 48. The protocol converter and the RS-485 port are arranged in the same way to provide data communication to the operations center 22, as well as the local area network ("LAN") of the 1 uz company or industrial consumer. Optical port 73 is preferably arranged for data communication through a power-generating port to laptops or the like. The current loop 74 provides secure data communication and, preferably, is arranged for data communication with the auxiliary inputs 81, 85 from the installation 80, such as an encoder, printer, RTU, various software or hardware tools, computer personal, visual presenter of remote data, or similar. The rnodern ~ > 'Z > External 51, SCADA 52, LAN 53, and portable computers 54 are connected in electrical communication to the desired group 82, 83, 84, 86 of the generator or power supply installation 80 as illustrated. Figures 4A-8B further illustrate schematically an accuracy meter of r-enta 40 having energy quality measurement in accordance with the present invention. Fig. 4A schematically illustrates the process controls, i.e., a digital signal processor 45 and a principal measurement processor 48 for a precision meter of revenue 40 having energy quality measurement 200 in accordance with present invention that receives input of energy or voltage such as through power lines. For example, once the quality of the energy is determined and the energy consumption is measured, the electrical signals or other data recovery means are transmitted from the meter 40 to a power generator, a power consumer or a power generator. another part that desires the data, that is, preferably through data communication ports 41-44. By providing the two processors 45, 48 within the housing 40a of the meter 40, the meter 40 functions effectively as a remote computer terminal or node in the power distribution system 20 to provide various types of operating capabilities within the meter 40 , that is, measurement of energy quality 200, energy management 90 and interaction with the central consumer station 61. Data or other The information may also be visually communicated to a user or meter reader by means of a visual presenter 40c preferably positioned along a front face 40b of the housing 40a. Preferably within the digital signal processor 45, as best illustrated in FIGS. 5A-SB, the rental accuracy meter 40. The invention has means for determining the presence of undesired variations in the electrical signal representing the received energy. by a consumer of energy 60 through electric power lines or the like such as discharge tips, impulses, deviations or harmonic distortion, as well as blackouts, partial shutdowns and other problems of the distribution system, that is, alarm conditions. The variation determining means is preferably a variation detector or other energy quality meter 200, such as that illustrated in electrical communication with the receiver, to determine frequency, ie, time periods or occurrences in time, and duration of unwanted variations in the voltage signal received during a plurality of predetermined time periods. These unwanted signal variations are preferably minimum or maximum threshold variations and / or variations in frequency of time handling of the supplied signal. As best illustrated in Figures 5A and 5B, an electrical signal representing the energy received by a The energy consumer is received by the meter 40. The energy is preferably received as an analog voltage signal but may also include an analog current signal as illustrated. This analog signal is preferably converted to a digital signal such as with an analog or digital converter as understood by those skilled in the art. As understood by those skilled in the art, the meter 40 of the present invention may also be applicable to electric power of one phase, three rats or multiple phases. The meter 40 receives the electrical signal that comes from the power lines and the voltage and / or current signal is sampled 101, 111 and digitized. The time compensators 102, 112 compensate for time biases in the sampling due to the multiplexing of a single analog to digital converter. These are preferably short flattening or FTR filters with non-symmetric coefficients to obtain the appropriate time bias with a reasonably flat frequency response. The compensated signals are then received respectively by means of low pass filters 103, 113. The current signal passes through a high-pass filter 114 and the voltage signal passes through an adjustable high-pass filter 104. A calibration factor 115, 135 is then applied respectively to the signals filtered and the signal is amplified to the energy quality measurement system 200 of the meter 40 according to the present • > h invention. As understood by those skilled in the art, the power system 200, as well as the portions of the power management controller 90 of the meter 40, preferably have the form of software and / or hardware that resides. The transmitter is connected to the digital signal processor 45 of the present invention, and is described and illustrated further with respect to FIGS. 6-8B. better illustrated in Figures 5A-5B and 8A-8B also in combination with the power quality measurement system 200, has means for measuring the energy consumption of a consumer load of an energy consumer. of energy is preferably a power consumption meter 145 q and preferably includes a charge detector, arranged to receive an electrical signal representative of a consumer load and to measure the energy consumption of a consumer It responds to the electric charge signal. A memory 131 is preferably coupled in electrical communication with the variation deterrninator and the energy consumption meter of the meter 40, to store a signal representative of the unwanted signal variations in the received voltage signal and the power consumption. At least one transmitter is preferably coupled in electrical communication with the memory 131 to transmit signals representing unwanted voltage signal variations and energy consumption towards 2 b a power generator 80. The at least one transmitter, and preferably more than one if desired, responds to a predetermined command signal received by the receiver at least one, such as from the power generator 80 or energy consumer- 60. Once the measurement (ie, the quality of energy, ie, the frequency and duration of the non-existent variations) has been stopped and stored pr-efen blement e in a device of memory 131, such as a memory residing in the processor 45, the energy onsurgency is then measured by preference and initiating the consumer charge detector 125, 145. As is understood by those skilled in the art. In the measurement technique, these detectors 125, 145 preferably ensure that relatively small signals, that is, due to current leaks, are recorded as zero consumption.The signal then passes through delay settings 126, 146 to decrease the sampling rate, it is d ecir, decline. The retention switches preferably allow the normal energy measurement procedures to be carried out at a slower speed and therefore use less resources of the microprocessor or digital signal processor. The signal is passed to a system configuration block 147 to allow using special types of meters such as a 2-1 / 2 star meter. As indicated in FIG. 5B, the signal also passes through a filtering configuration 162 (see also Figure 4B) preferably such as the one illustrated. The current signal is preferably applied to a low pass Liter 103A .. This vector 103A produces a phase shift approaching a 90 ° delay by increasing the frequency of the signal (amplitude). an amplitude response that decreases with frequency, which is compensated by the FIR filters 103B and 104A as illustrated.The output of the voltage filter FTR 104A is then applied to a pass filter ba or 104B. VAR may preferably require a delay of 90 ° of voltage relative to the current, as understood by those skilled in the art, since the current is delayed by 90 °, an additional delay of 180 ° in the voltage is required. A reversal of signal by an inverter 104B preferably provides this delay.The output of multiplier 129 is then VARs with errors due to 103A only approaching 90 °.The multiplier 128 produces an error correction signal of the correct level and is engaged to correct the errors when summed in the summing block 148. The demultiplying counters 103C, 104C and 104E preferably adjust signal levels so that the watts and VARs have the same scale factors in system 162. The outputs of multipliers 151, 154, 161 and 162 are square amperes, watts, volts squared and neutral amplifiers measured as measured by conventional measurement. Multipliers 172, 175 and 182 preferably have their input of 60 Hertz fundamental rerno Lda by filters 171 and 181 so that its outputs are the square harmonic, wat harmonic and square harmonic volts. As illustrated by FIG. 5B, the multiplier 192 also has its input The output of a three-phase current adder 191. These value-s or quantities are then integrated into the accumulators 152, 155, 163, 165, 173, 176, 183, 193, 197 and copied 153, 156, 164, 166, 174, 177, 184, 194, 198 to transmit them through the communication ports .. In addition, lo1; harmonic amperes for The three phases are added and multiplied (blocks 195, 196) to generate a square harmonic neutral current. The original signal before the filter is also checked in block 152. The zero cross signal coming from block 152 causes the accumulator copies 1530, 156, 164, 166, 174, 184, 194, 198 to have an integer number of cycles such as for stable readings in the short term. Figure 6 illustrates an energy quality measurement system 200 of the invention illustrated in the form of a variation detergent. The variation determinant of a rental precision meter 40 of the invention preferably includes a demultiplier counter 210 coupled in electrical communication with the receiver to demultiply voltage signals. The downmixed signal is then summed 211, and a voltage cycle time determiner 112 is coupled in electrical communication with the counter-downmultiplier and / or quadrat 210, i.e., through the adder 211, to determine the voltage cycle time. The retrace counter 210 preferably reduces the size of the signal to be secured against mathematical flows. The downmultiplexer 210 also preferably squares the signal to make the meter respond to the root mean square voltage ("RMS"). The regulation of half-cycle time 213 and the waiting periods 214 are preferably to synchronize or bring to zero the sum 215 of the time regulation of the system 200. The accumulation preferably occurs par-a cycles of a means, the result passes to an FTR filter 216, then clarifies the accumulator, i.e. S = 0. The multiple branch FIR filter 216, ie preferably 1-5 branches, is coupled in electrical communication with the cycle time determiner 212 to flatten-and / or filter the square voltage signal. The number 216a and the coefficients 216b for the leads are input to the signal flattening device FIR 216. It will also be understood that the electrical signals such as those illustrated in figures 6-7C of the energy quality measurement system 200 illustrate the signals of voltage, but under suitable current signal characterization parameters may also include current signals. The variation detector also further includes a voltage regulator 230 preferably having a comparator 231 coupled in electrical communication with the filter 216 for .10 would you compare it, voltage? with a predetermined voltage threshold value and a defined period of time 241, i.e., duration, coupled in electrical communication with the voltage purchaser 231 pair-to determine the period of time in which the voltage signal This is either at or below (Jel value of the predetermined voltage threshold.) As best illustrated in Figures 7A, 7 f and 7C, the Variation Monitor also has very particularly means of determining variation, mainly in computer program code or software, having a flow path as illustrated, the input 219 received from the smoothing filter 215 in the voltage driver 230 and the output is to the load detector start 145. The voltage handler 230 after completing the operation preferably passes the program control to the start-up charge detector 145 but no data flows between these processes.The voltage handler 230 then stores ible the energy quality data in a volatile report system 131 (see Figure 8B) for data communication operations, ie, through data communications ports 41-44 (see Figure 3). Referring now to Figure 7A, the input voltage signal passes to the decision block 231 which buys the voltage level with a predetermined threshold. If the voltage is too high or greater than a high limit, then a determination is made as to whether the voltage is greater than the previous maximum 232. If the voltage is not greater than the high limit, it is verified to see if it is less than a low limit, Block 241 (see, eg, Fig. El). The minimum and minimum threshold values preferably include an activation-value so that the voltage value preferably has a low maximum activation value and a high minimum activation value. If the voltage is greater than the previous maximum, then the voltage is programmed to the new maximum value 233 and the high time is compared 234. If the high time is less than the predetermined maximum time threshold 236a, then the high time is increased up 235a and checked to see if the time under is in the scale between the minimum time and the maximum time, Block 237. If the low time is in the scale, then the low time is stored in the output block, Block 238a, the minimum voltage is initialized, Block 239a and the low time is initialized, Block 239c. Otherwise, only the low time is micialized. If the high time is neither lower nor longer than the maximum time, (ie, high time = maximum time), which means that a recordable voltage deviation event has occurred, the high time is increased up, Block 235b , the high time is stored in the output block, Block 238b, and the maximum voltage is initialized, Block 239b. Finally, if the high time is greater than the maximum time, Block 236b, indicating that a voltage deviation event of predetermined duration has occurred, then the program exits.

Refer now to FIG. 7B, in case the voltage is not greater than the high limit, Block 231, a decision is made as to whether the voltage is less than? N predetermined low limit, Block 241. If not, the voltage is within the scale and control is passed to Block 251. If yes, then a decision is made to determine if the voltage is less than the previous minimum, Block 242. If yes, the value "rnin" is set to voltage value, Block 243. As illustrated by the Block 244, a comparison is then made between the low time and the maximum time, Block 244, determining if the low time is greater than the maximum time, Block 246a (which means that a recordable voltage deviation event of predetermined duration occurred during a previous cycle), whether the low time equals the maximum time, Blocks 246b, 245a (which means that a voltage deviation event has occurred? recordable during the current cycle), or whether the low time is less than the maximum time, Block 246b (which means that a recordable voltage deviation event still does not occur). As illustrated by Blocks 245a, 248a, and 249a, if a recorded voltage drift event has occurred, the low time is increased and stored in the output block and the minimum voltage is micialized, before exiting. However, as illustrated by Blocks 245, 247, 248b, 249b and 249c, if a recordable voltage deviation event has not yet occurred, the low time is increased and then verified 13 to observe if the high time is on the scale between the minimum time and the maximum time, Block 247. If the high time is on the scale, then the high time is stored in the output block, Block 248b, the maximum voltage is not initialized, Block 249b and the high time is authorized, Block 249c, before leaving. Otherwise, only the high time is initialized before leaving. Referring now to Figure 7C, it is checked to determine the high and low times (depending on whether or not a pulse or voltage deviation has occurred, respectively) are within the scale between the minimum time and the maximum time, Blocks 251 , 261. If yes, the respective high or low times are stored in the output blocks, Blocks 252, 262 and then the respective voltages and times are initialized, Blocks 253, 254 before exiting. If not, the voltages and respective times are only initialized, Blocks 253, 254 before leaving. As described above, each of the minimum and maximum voltage values preferably have an activation value or scale that sends the signals in the logical flow paths best illustrated in FIGS. 7A, 7B and 7C. The activation or scale, that is, hysteresis effect, allows to register a higher and lower value before a high or low value is determined by the system co or an unwanted voltage signal. Otherwise, it is determined that the value is on a desired normal scale.

As illustrated by Figures 7C and 8B, the outputs are then transferred to the memory 131 or data communication ports 41-44 while the measurement continues by the meter 40. This information of the signal variation provided by the voltage driver 230 of the meter 40 that reflects the quality of energy, not only provides competitive information for light companies and consumers thereof, but also provides information about the detection and troubleshooting of light companies and consumers in areas of energy distribution as well as through a secondary distribution system. Figures 8A and 8B further illustrate an income precision meter 40 having the combination of energy quality measurement 200, energy consumption measurement 145 and energy management according to the present invention. As illustrated, the rental accuracy meter 40 receives a signal from the temperature controller or HVAC controller from a printer 60 on a transducer 91. A signal is responsively converted to an electrical signal by the transducer 91 and compared to the temperature or other data of the power system, with predetermined settings 92 desired. These data are then analyzed by an energy analyzer 95 preferably to calculate analytically desired optimal schedules based on energy costs or billing data 94 and / or to carry out various load reduction functions. The analyzer 95 then communicates responsively to an energy consumer energy system for adjusting the temperature or other settings of the power system 93 as illustrated. Because the rental accuracy meter 40, preferably includes a power quality meter 200, the energy management controller 90 of the meter 40 can advantageously include real-time information to the consumer-power 60 about the quality of the energy. the energy received and how it affects the consumer's energy consumption- and the control capabilities. Additionally, this information can then be used to adjust the billing calculations or the energy consumption costs projected and related to the amount of energy consumed and / or the quality of the energy supplied from the power generator 80. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that said meter 40 according to the invention may also include information related to a third-party power generator or the same party as a large industrial company, ie, co-generation. The security access restrictor 98 as illustrated and as described above, can provide the consumer with data or information related to energy management and / or energy quality separate from the power generator 80. It will also be understood that this security access rest point 98 can be provided by the power generator 80 to allow the consumer 60 only limited access to data coming from the meter- rental accuracy 40 according to the present invention. The power management controller 90 also preferably provides centralized data retrieval and management from the power analyzer 95 that responds to predetermined command signals that come from a consumer 60. These functional capabilities preferably include spreadsheet interconnection. , basic reports, record tracking, global system control, enhanced user interfaces and other accesses (real time to energy utilization data for statistical manipulation and graphical consumer presentation 60. These manipulation capabilities are preferably handled by software with computer programs that reside in a microprocessor or memory in communication with it, and preferably include lilowatt load curves per day, week, and month, kilowatt duration curves, kVA / KQ load curves, energy factor curves, energy worksheets, demand worksheets, excessive reactive worksheets, fuel recovery, minimum contract demands, worksheets of rates, tables of billing dates, charts of claim histories, seasonal demand multiplier box and predictive monitoring. Communication is preferably done through a router or other data communication interconnection, i.e., data communication ports 41-44, with the consumer 60 as understood by those skilled in the art.

Also, according to the present invention as described above and as further illustrated in FIGS. 1-8B, methods are provided to measure the quality of the energy received by an energy consumer 60. The method preferably includes determining the frequency and duration of unwanted variations in an electrical signal representing the energy received by a power consumer 60 through electric power lines during a plurality of predetermined time periods and communicating a signal representing the unwanted energy variations to an 8D power generator. The method also preferably includes measuring the energy consumption of an energy consumer 60 that responds to an electrical signal representing a load of the consumer and communicates a signal representative of the amount of energy consumed that responds to a command signal received from a 80 power generator or another entity. The present invention also provides another method for measuring the quality of the energy supplied through electric power lines by an energy generator 80. The method preferably includes receiving an analog signal representing the voltage received through electric power lines and convert the received analog signal to a digital signal that represents the voltage. The frequency and duration of the undesired variations in the digital voltage signal are then determined during a plurality of periods of predetermined time. The data representing these unwanted variations are then stored and the signals representing the variations in duration and frequency are transposed to an energy generator 80 which responds to a redetermined command signal received from the energy generator 80. The step of determining the frequency and duration of unwanted variations preferably includes comparing the voltage signal with a threshold value of the predetermined voltage and determining a period of time in which the signal is above or below the predetermined voltage threshold value. In addition, the methods also preferably include measuring the energy consumption of an energy consumer that responds to an electrical signal representative of a consumer's load, and communicating a signal representative of the amount of energy used that responds to a received command signal from an energy generator. The power consumption can then also be controlled in response to predetermined command signals received from an energy consumer. By providing energy quality and energy consumption measurement, as well as other beneficial functions such as power management control 90, in a rental accuracy meter, meter 40 and associated methods, the present invention provides a compact solution and relatively inexpensive to problems associated with previous devices and systems. Additionally, communications capabilities The data of a precision meter of income 40 of the invention improves the ability of an energy generator to monitor the situations of energy quality in specific consumption sites, that is, including problems in the power distribution system. secondary 36, far from the power generating stations 21 or SCADA control facilities 22. These problems, for example, may include harmonic distortion, spikes, impulses or deviations, blackouts, partial shutdowns or other problems of the distribution system. which greatly affect the quality of the energy received by the energy consumer 60 in his industrial / commercial installation 41 or residence 42. Typical preferred embodiments of a rental precision meter 40 have been described in the drawings and description. associated methods, according to the invention and, although specific terms are used, they are used in a unique descriptive sense mind and or for purposes of limitation. The invention has been described in considerable detail with specific reference to these different illustrated modes. The invention is defined by the features of the independent claims and the preferred embodiments of the invention are defined in the dependent claims.

Claims (12)

NOVELTY OF THE INVENTION CLAIMS

1. In an electric energy meter that contains means in the same to measure an amount of electric energy generated by a supplier and transferred by means of a power supply line to a consumer's load-during a time interval of Measurement of energy, a method for monitoring the variations in the measured quantity of electrical energy, comprising the steps of: detecting a line voltage transferred by means of the power supply line to the load during the interval of time of energy measurement; detecting an increase in a magnitude of the detected line voltage from an acceptable voltage level to a level greater than the first impulse threshold voltage, after the start of a pulse time interval during which the voltage magnitude line detected is at all times greater than the acceptable voltage level; recording in pulse event if the magnitude of the detected line voltage exceeds the acceptable voltage level for a first predetermined amount of time after the start of the pulse time interval; and then the recorded impulse event will be reported to at least the supplier or consumer before concluding with the impulse time interval.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of: detecting- a decrease in the magnitude of the detected line voltage from the acceptable voltage level to a level less than the first offset threshold voltage, after the start a deviation time interval during which the magnitude of the detected line voltage is at all times less than the acceptable voltage level; record a deviation event if the magnitude of the detected Line voltage remains below the acceptable voltage level dur-before a second predetermined amount (ie time after the start of the time interval (Je deviation, and then report the recorded deviation event) at least the supplier or consumer before the conclusion of the deviation time interval

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said communication step comprises transferring data from an internal node to the meter to a line

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of capturing the detected line voltage as a waveform during the time interval of the telephone. impulse, and communicate the waveform to the supplier before the conclusion of the impulse time interval. nformity with claim 3, further comprising the steps of capturing the line voltage detected as a waveform during the pulse time interval; and communicating the waveform to the supplier before the conclusion of the impulse time interval. 6. The method according to claim 1, wherein said detecting step comprises detecting an increase in a magnitude of the detected line voltage from an acceptable voltage level to a level greater than a first impulse threshold voltage. , after the start of a pulse time interval during which the magnitude of the detected line voltage is at all times greater than at least a second intermediate pulse threshold voltage between the acceptable voltage level and the first threshold voltage of impulse. 7. The method according to claim 2, wherein said step of detecting an increase comprises detecting an increase in a magnitude of the detected line voltage from an acceptable level voltage to a level greater than a first threshold voltage. pulse, after the start of a pulse time interval during which the magnitude of the detected line voltage is at all times greater than at least a second intermediate pulse threshold voltage between the acceptable voltage level and the first impulse threshold voltage; and wherein said step of detecting a decrease comprises detecting a decrease in the magnitude of the detected line voltage from the acceptable voltage level to a level less than? n first deviation threshold voltage, after the start of a time interval of deviation during which the magnitude of the detected line voltage is at all times less than a second intermediate deviation threshold voltage between the acceptable voltage level and the first deviation threshold voltage. 8. The method according to claim 1, wherein said step of recording an impulse event comprises registering an impulse event if the voltage (ie detected line exceeds the second impulse threshold voltage during a first quantity). of predetermined time after the start of the impulse time interval 9.- An electric energy meter for reporting variations in the real-time line voltage, comprising: means for detecting a line voltage generated by a supplier and transferred by means of a power supply line to a load of a consumer; means responsive to said detection means for detecting an increase in a magnitude of the detected line voltage from an acceptable voltage level towards? n level greater than the first impulse threshold voltage, after the start of a pulse time interval during which the magnitude of the detected line voltage is at all times greater than that the acceptable voltage level; means responsive to said means for detecting an impulse event if the detected line voltage exceeds the acceptable voltage level for a first predetermined amount of time after the start of the pulse time interval; respond to said recording means to communicate the recorded impulse event to at least the supplier or the consumer before the conclusion of the impulse time interval. 10. The meter of consistency with the claim 9, which further comprises: means responsive to said detecting means for detecting a decrease in the magnitude of the detected line voltage from the acceptable voltage level to an interior level at a first deviation threshold voltage, after the start of a deviation time interval during which the magnitude of the detected line voltage is at all times less than the voltage level? acceptable; means responsive to said means for detecting-a decrease, for recording a deviation event if the detected line voltage remains below the acceptable voltage level for a second predetermined amount of time after the beginning of the deviation time interval; and means responsive to said means for recording an impulse event, for communicating the recorded deviation event to at least the supplier or consumer before the conclusion of the deviation time interval. 11.- The meter in accordance with the claim 10, wherein said means for communicating the recorded impulse event comprise a modem for transferring inferred data to the meter to an external telephone line by means of? data port. 12. The meter according to claim 11, wherein said means for recording an impulse event comprises means for capturing the detected line voltage as a waveform during the pulse time interval; and wherein said means for communicating the recorded pulse event comprises means for communicating the waveform to the supplier prior to the conclusion of the interval of the first impulse.