WO2024002737A1 - Instrument for measuring electrical quantities - Google Patents

Instrument for measuring electrical quantities Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2024002737A1
WO2024002737A1 PCT/EP2023/066369 EP2023066369W WO2024002737A1 WO 2024002737 A1 WO2024002737 A1 WO 2024002737A1 EP 2023066369 W EP2023066369 W EP 2023066369W WO 2024002737 A1 WO2024002737 A1 WO 2024002737A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
measurement
connection
stage
storage unit
electrical component
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/EP2023/066369
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Carlo BALESTRAZZI
Matteo Nicolini
Original Assignee
Ht Italia S.R.L.
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Ht Italia S.R.L. filed Critical Ht Italia S.R.L.
Publication of WO2024002737A1 publication Critical patent/WO2024002737A1/en

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01R—MEASURING ELECTRIC VARIABLES; MEASURING MAGNETIC VARIABLES
    • G01R15/00—Details of measuring arrangements of the types provided for in groups G01R17/00 - G01R29/00, G01R33/00 - G01R33/26 or G01R35/00
    • G01R15/12—Circuits for multi-testers, i.e. multimeters, e.g. for measuring voltage, current, or impedance at will
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
    • H02S—GENERATION OF ELECTRIC POWER BY CONVERSION OF INFRARED RADIATION, VISIBLE LIGHT OR ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT, e.g. USING PHOTOVOLTAIC [PV] MODULES
    • H02S50/00—Monitoring or testing of PV systems, e.g. load balancing or fault identification
    • H02S50/10—Testing of PV devices, e.g. of PV modules or single PV cells

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an instrument for measuring electrical quantities, such as for example voltage, current, frequency, power, power factor and, in general, the operating parameters of an electrical generator, an electrical user device and/or any electrical circuit.
  • the instrument according to the invention is of the type suitable for detecting electrical parameters of a photovoltaic power source (any photovoltaic panel or group of panels, a photovoltaic array, a system comprising at least one photovoltaic panel, and the like, being understood to be included within this definition).
  • a photovoltaic power source any photovoltaic panel or group of panels, a photovoltaic array, a system comprising at least one photovoltaic panel, and the like, being understood to be included within this definition.
  • Measurement devices of the electronic type generally comprise an electric battery storage unit designed for their power supply during their operation.
  • the state of charge of the battery is essential in order to be able to perform measurements, since if it lost its charge, the instrument could no longer work.
  • routine maintenance operations by the respective users are provided, which essentially consist in charging the battery of each instrument at the end of each working day (so as to be sure that the instrument will be in perfect operating condition the following day).
  • the operator is therefore required to perform routine maintenance operations every day and, preferably, to be prepared with power backup devices: many of the measurement operations in fact are performed on electrical systems or apparatus located in regions where there is no connector to the power grid to which the instrument can be connected for any charging.
  • the aim of the present invention is to solve the problems described above, providing an instrument for measuring electrical quantities that does not require frequent charging of the electric battery storage unit designed for its power supply during operation.
  • an object of the invention is to provide an instrument for measuring electrical quantities that does not need to resort to backup batteries or supporting electrical storage units for its regular operation.
  • Another object of the invention is to provide an instrument for measuring electrical quantities that allows to perform the necessary measurements even if the electrical battery storage unit designed for its power supply during the operation is discharged and there are not any connectors to the electric grid for charging it.
  • Another object of the invention is to provide an instrument for measuring electrical quantities which allows to reduce the electric power dissipated during some types of measurements.
  • Another object of the invention is to provide an instrument for measuring electrical quantities whose space occupation and weight are not very different from those of measuring instruments of the known type suitable for the detection of the same quantities.
  • a further object of the present invention is to provide an instrument for measuring electrical quantities that has low costs, is relatively easy to provide in practice and is of assured application.
  • an instrument for measuring electrical quantities of the type comprising at least one measurement stage, at least one terminal for connection to an electrical component to be subjected to measurements, and at least one electric battery storage unit, characterized in that it comprises a control and management unit which is interposed between the at least one terminal for connection to said electrical component and said measurement stage, said unit comprising at least one static converter which is connected upstream of at least one device for charging the at least one electric battery storage unit and of at least one switch for connection of said measurement stage alternatively to an output of said static converter and to said electric battery storage unit, said control and management unit being configured for at least one operation chosen between a power supply of said measurement stage and a charging of said electric battery storage unit.
  • FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the instrument for measuring electrical quantities according to the present invention
  • Figure 2 is a block diagram of an instrument according to the invention in a measurement configuration in which it is connected to a photovoltaic power source;
  • Figure 3 is a block diagram of an instrument according to the invention in a measurement configuration in which is disconnected from a photovoltaic power source and is supplied by an internal electric power storage apparatus previously charged by said photovoltaic power source;
  • Figure 4 is a block diagram of an instrument according to the invention in a measurement configuration in which it is disconnected from a photovoltaic power source and is supplied by the internal battery storage unit;
  • FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a control and management unit of an instrument for measuring electrical quantities according to the invention.
  • an instrument for the measurement of electric quantities according to the present invention is generally designated by the reference numeral 1.
  • the instrument 1 comprises at least one measurement stage 2, at least one terminal 3, 4 for connection to the electrical component A to be subjected to the measurements, and at least one electric battery storage unit 5.
  • the electric battery storage unit 5 is of the rechargeable type, in accordance with what is already provided for instruments of the known type (in any case providing the possibility to install a battery 5 of a more advanced type upon technological advancements in the field).
  • the instrument 1 can advantageously comprise a control and management unit 6 which is interposed between the at least one terminal 3, 4 for connection to the electrical component A (which is the subject of the measurement operations) and the measurement stage 2.
  • the control and management unit 6 conveniently comprises in turn at least one static converter 7 which is connected upstream of at least one device 8 for charging the at least one electric battery storage unit 5 and of at least one switch 9 for the connection of the measurement stage 2 alternatively to the output of the static converter 7 and to the electric battery storage unit 5.
  • charging device 8 means any charging circuit constituted by components of a known type (or not) arranged according to configurations of a known type (or not) and every respective possible combination thereof.
  • switch 9 means any element suitable for circuit switching, such as for example a pair of diodes in parallel (a case with maximum constructive simplicity) or other elements, or combination of elements, for switching of a known (or unknown) type.
  • the measurement stage 2 in an embodiment of unquestionable interest in practice and in application, comprises conveniently all the electronics of the instrument 1 according to the invention.
  • the control and management unit 6 is configured for at least one operation chosen between the power supply of the measurement stage 2 and the charging of the electric battery storage unit 5.
  • control and management unit 6 preferably does not perform an exclusive choice but operates according to three possible options of operation of the instrument 1 : a) exclusive power supply of the measurement stage 2; b) power supply of the measurement stage 2 and charging of the battery storage unit 5 (simultaneously); c) in the absence of electric power arriving from the electrical component A subjected to the measurements (for example from a photovoltaic power source) or from other storage apparatuses 10 (illustrated in the continuation of the present description), the power supply of the measurement stage 2 is ensured by the electric battery storage unit 5.
  • the electrical component A to be subjected to measurement may advantageously be an apparatus of the type of a photovoltaic power source.
  • photovoltaic power source in the present description means any photovoltaic system constituted by an indefinite number of individual panels (potentially even a single panel); if there is a plurality of panels, these may be mutually interconnected according to any layout (generic photovoltaic systems, photovoltaic arrays and the like), even with the interposition of specific management, control and interface apparatuses, while still falling under the definition of photovoltaic power source.
  • terminals 3, 4 for connection to the electrical component A are favorably two, each respectively connected to the output terminals of said electrical component A.
  • the instrument 1 according to the invention can comprise, downstream of the connection terminals 3, 4 and upstream of the control and management unit 6, an electric power storage apparatus 10 of the type of at least one capacitor, a battery of capacitors, at least one supercapacitor, a battery of supercapacitors, and the like.
  • Such storage apparatus 10 is efficiently suitable to store a predefined amount of electric power during specific measurement operations (for example during the detection of the “voltage-current” characteristic of the photovoltaic power source), as shown by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying Figure 2.
  • the storage apparatus 10 may usefully deliver the stored electric power toward the control and management unit 6 configured for at least one activity chosen between the power supply of the measurement stage 2 and the charging of the electric battery storage unit 5 (by means of the charging device 8).
  • the measurement stage 2 can validly comprise a processor 11 configured to control all the elements of said stage 2 and to deliver command signals to the control and management unit 6.
  • the processor 11 temporarily commands the switching (by means of the switch 9) of the power supply of the stage from the one that arrives from the converter 7 to the one that arrives from the battery storage unit 5 (in this manner, during the measurement operations no disturbances will occur, which may induce errors therein caused by the connection of an electrical load, constituted by the measurement stage 2).
  • the switching of the power supply of the stage 2 from the one that arrives from the converter 7 to the one that arrives from the electric battery storage unit 5, during single measurement operations has a duration comprised between 0.01 milliseconds and 10 seconds: in general, an attempt shall be made to shorten the duration of said switching, limiting it to the time strictly necessary for the acquisition of the signal to be measured, so that the instrument 1, during its normal operation, is almost constantly powered by the component A, including the charging of the battery 5. Normally, the time required to acquire the electric quantities of interest is on the order of a few milliseconds and therefore the duration of the switching described earlier shall be on the order of this value (equal or greater).
  • the switching may be performed exclusively for some specific measurements that require this solution, and shall not be used, usually, in all the other cases. In any case, it is not excluded to provide embodiments of the present invention and respective operational logic systems that allow to avoid the need to perform said switching at any type of measurement, without said measurement being affected in any manner by the additional electrical load constituted by said instrument 1.
  • the instrument 1 further comprises, directly downstream of the at least one terminal 3, 4 for connection to the electrical component A to be subjected to the measurements, a protection stage 12 provided with an overcurrent protection device 13, such as an electrical fuse, a magnetic circuit breaker and the like, arranged in series with respect to the at least one terminal 3, 4 and a voltage-sensitive variable resistor 14, which is arranged between the at least one terminal 3, 4 and a circuit portion chosen between a further terminal 4, 3 and the connection to the ground potential.
  • an overcurrent protection device 13 such as an electrical fuse, a magnetic circuit breaker and the like
  • the measurement stage 2 according to the invention can advantageously comprise at least one apparatus for measuring voltage, which is connected in parallel with respect to the terminals 3, 4 for connection to the electrical component A to be subjected to the measurements and is configured to detect the potential difference between them.
  • the measurement stage 2 according to the invention can furthermore conveniently comprise at least one current measurement apparatus 16, connected in series with respect to the terminals 3, 4 for connection to the electrical component A to be subjected to the measurements and configured to detect the value of current that flows across them.
  • Such measurement stage 2 can furthermore favorably comprise at least one analog-digital signal converter 17 arranged downstream of the at least one voltage measurement apparatus 15 and of the at least one current measurement apparatus 16.
  • the stage 2 further comprises the processor 11 and appropriate user interface means 18 of the type chosen from a display, a screen, a signal transceiver, a printer, and the like.
  • the electric power storage apparatus 10 may advantageously comprise a battery of capacitors 19 which are mutually arranged in a configuration chosen from series, parallel, and combinations thereof; said battery of capacitors 19 is arranged in parallel between the terminals 3, 4 for connection to the electrical component A to be subjected to the measurements.
  • the battery of capacitors 19 shall comprise, furthermore, respective switches 20, for the exclusion, as a consequence of appropriate command signals that arrive from the processor 11 of the measurement stage 2, of at least one capacitor 19 from the series of capacitors 19 for a progressive increase of the stored power (during specific electrical measurements that provide for this operation).
  • Such step of discharge of the capacitors 19 and power supply (by virtue of the power delivered by the battery of capacitors 19) of the measurement stage 2 and of the electric battery storage unit 5 is shown by way of non-limiting example in Figure 3.
  • Figure 4 instead shows, again by way of non-limiting example, an operating step in which the measurement stage 2 is completely powered by the electric battery storage unit 5.
  • the present invention solves the problems described above, providing an instrument 1 for measuring electrical quantities that does not require frequent charging of the electric battery storage unit 5 assigned to the corresponding power supply during operation.
  • the instrument 1 according to the invention does not require the use of backup batteries or supporting electrical storage units for its regular operation.
  • the instrument 1 allows to perform the necessary measurements even if the electrical battery storage unit 5 assigned to the corresponding power supply during operation is discharged and connectors to the electric grid for charging it are not present.
  • the instrument 1 according to the invention allows to reduce the electric power dissipated during some types of measurements.
  • the instrument 1 according to the invention has a space occupation and weight that are not very different from those of measuring instruments of the known type suitable for the detection of the same quantities.
  • the instrument 1 according to the invention is relatively easy to provide in practice and has low costs: these characteristics make the instrument 1 according to the invention an innovation of assured application.
  • the materials used, as well as the dimensions, may be any according to the requirements and the state of the art.

Abstract

An instrument (1) for measuring electrical quantities, comprising at least one measurement stage (2), at least one terminal (3, 4) for connection to the electrical component (A) to be subjected to the measurements, and at least one electric battery storage unit (5). The instrument comprises a control and management unit (6) which is interposed between the at least one terminal (3, 4) for connection to the electrical component (A) and the measurement stage (2). The unit (6) comprises at least one static converter (7) which is connected upstream of at least one device (8) for charging the at least one storage unit (5) and of at least one switch (9) for the connection of the measurement stage (2) alternatively to the output of the static converter (7) and to the storage unit (5). The control and management unit (6) is configured for at least one operation chosen between the power supply of the measurement stage (2) and the charging of the electric battery storage unit (5).

Description

INSTRUMENT FOR MEASURING ELECTRICAL QUANTITIES
The present invention relates to an instrument for measuring electrical quantities, such as for example voltage, current, frequency, power, power factor and, in general, the operating parameters of an electrical generator, an electrical user device and/or any electrical circuit.
In particular, the instrument according to the invention is of the type suitable for detecting electrical parameters of a photovoltaic power source (any photovoltaic panel or group of panels, a photovoltaic array, a system comprising at least one photovoltaic panel, and the like, being understood to be included within this definition).
Measurement devices of the electronic type generally comprise an electric battery storage unit designed for their power supply during their operation.
The state of charge of the battery is essential in order to be able to perform measurements, since if it lost its charge, the instrument could no longer work.
For this reason, routine maintenance operations by the respective users are provided, which essentially consist in charging the battery of each instrument at the end of each working day (so as to be sure that the instrument will be in perfect operating condition the following day).
In some cases it is possible to have backup batteries or power banks (both of these types of devices must be recharged periodically) in order to compensate for any insufficient charging of the battery of the instrument.
The operator is therefore required to perform routine maintenance operations every day and, preferably, to be prepared with power backup devices: many of the measurement operations in fact are performed on electrical systems or apparatus located in regions where there is no connector to the power grid to which the instrument can be connected for any charging.
The aim of the present invention is to solve the problems described above, providing an instrument for measuring electrical quantities that does not require frequent charging of the electric battery storage unit designed for its power supply during operation.
Within this aim, an object of the invention is to provide an instrument for measuring electrical quantities that does not need to resort to backup batteries or supporting electrical storage units for its regular operation.
Another object of the invention is to provide an instrument for measuring electrical quantities that allows to perform the necessary measurements even if the electrical battery storage unit designed for its power supply during the operation is discharged and there are not any connectors to the electric grid for charging it.
Another object of the invention is to provide an instrument for measuring electrical quantities which allows to reduce the electric power dissipated during some types of measurements.
Another object of the invention is to provide an instrument for measuring electrical quantities whose space occupation and weight are not very different from those of measuring instruments of the known type suitable for the detection of the same quantities.
A further object of the present invention is to provide an instrument for measuring electrical quantities that has low costs, is relatively easy to provide in practice and is of assured application.
This aim and these and other objects are achieved by an instrument for measuring electrical quantities of the type comprising at least one measurement stage, at least one terminal for connection to an electrical component to be subjected to measurements, and at least one electric battery storage unit, characterized in that it comprises a control and management unit which is interposed between the at least one terminal for connection to said electrical component and said measurement stage, said unit comprising at least one static converter which is connected upstream of at least one device for charging the at least one electric battery storage unit and of at least one switch for connection of said measurement stage alternatively to an output of said static converter and to said electric battery storage unit, said control and management unit being configured for at least one operation chosen between a power supply of said measurement stage and a charging of said electric battery storage unit.
Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become better apparent from the description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment of the instrument for measuring electrical quantities, illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:
Figure 1 is a block diagram of the instrument for measuring electrical quantities according to the present invention;
Figure 2 is a block diagram of an instrument according to the invention in a measurement configuration in which it is connected to a photovoltaic power source;
Figure 3 is a block diagram of an instrument according to the invention in a measurement configuration in which is disconnected from a photovoltaic power source and is supplied by an internal electric power storage apparatus previously charged by said photovoltaic power source;
Figure 4 is a block diagram of an instrument according to the invention in a measurement configuration in which it is disconnected from a photovoltaic power source and is supplied by the internal battery storage unit;
Figure 5 is a block diagram of a control and management unit of an instrument for measuring electrical quantities according to the invention.
With reference to the figures, an instrument for the measurement of electric quantities according to the present invention is generally designated by the reference numeral 1.
The instrument 1 comprises at least one measurement stage 2, at least one terminal 3, 4 for connection to the electrical component A to be subjected to the measurements, and at least one electric battery storage unit 5.
The electric battery storage unit 5 is of the rechargeable type, in accordance with what is already provided for instruments of the known type (in any case providing the possibility to install a battery 5 of a more advanced type upon technological advancements in the field).
The instrument 1 according to the invention can advantageously comprise a control and management unit 6 which is interposed between the at least one terminal 3, 4 for connection to the electrical component A (which is the subject of the measurement operations) and the measurement stage 2.
The control and management unit 6 conveniently comprises in turn at least one static converter 7 which is connected upstream of at least one device 8 for charging the at least one electric battery storage unit 5 and of at least one switch 9 for the connection of the measurement stage 2 alternatively to the output of the static converter 7 and to the electric battery storage unit 5.
The term “charging device 8” means any charging circuit constituted by components of a known type (or not) arranged according to configurations of a known type (or not) and every respective possible combination thereof.
The term “switch 9” means any element suitable for circuit switching, such as for example a pair of diodes in parallel (a case with maximum constructive simplicity) or other elements, or combination of elements, for switching of a known (or unknown) type.
It is specified that the measurement stage 2, in an embodiment of unquestionable interest in practice and in application, comprises conveniently all the electronics of the instrument 1 according to the invention.
The control and management unit 6 is configured for at least one operation chosen between the power supply of the measurement stage 2 and the charging of the electric battery storage unit 5.
In greater detail, the control and management unit 6 preferably does not perform an exclusive choice but operates according to three possible options of operation of the instrument 1 : a) exclusive power supply of the measurement stage 2; b) power supply of the measurement stage 2 and charging of the battery storage unit 5 (simultaneously); c) in the absence of electric power arriving from the electrical component A subjected to the measurements (for example from a photovoltaic power source) or from other storage apparatuses 10 (illustrated in the continuation of the present description), the power supply of the measurement stage 2 is ensured by the electric battery storage unit 5.
With particular reference to an embodiment of assured operational validity, it is specified that it will not be possible to charge the electric battery storage unit 5 without also supplying power to the electronics of the system, and therefore to the measurement stage 2.
With particular reference to an embodiment of unquestionable interest in practice and in application, the electrical component A to be subjected to measurement may advantageously be an apparatus of the type of a photovoltaic power source.
The expression “photovoltaic power source” in the present description means any photovoltaic system constituted by an indefinite number of individual panels (potentially even a single panel); if there is a plurality of panels, these may be mutually interconnected according to any layout (generic photovoltaic systems, photovoltaic arrays and the like), even with the interposition of specific management, control and interface apparatuses, while still falling under the definition of photovoltaic power source.
Systems for the conversion of light energy (irradiated light) which provide for the use of photovoltaic coatings or pigments and/or other equivalent technical solutions are also included in the definition of photovoltaic power source.
In this case the terminals 3, 4 for connection to the electrical component A (photovoltaic power source) are favorably two, each respectively connected to the output terminals of said electrical component A.
With particular reference to a measurement instrument 1 according to the invention suitable to perform the appropriate electrical measurements provided for a photovoltaic power source (component A to be subjected to the measurements), it is specified that the instrument 1 according to the invention can comprise, downstream of the connection terminals 3, 4 and upstream of the control and management unit 6, an electric power storage apparatus 10 of the type of at least one capacitor, a battery of capacitors, at least one supercapacitor, a battery of supercapacitors, and the like.
Such storage apparatus 10 is efficiently suitable to store a predefined amount of electric power during specific measurement operations (for example during the detection of the “voltage-current” characteristic of the photovoltaic power source), as shown by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying Figure 2.
At the end of the measurement operations, and following disconnection from the electrical component to be subjected to measurement (as shown by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying Figure 3), the storage apparatus 10 may usefully deliver the stored electric power toward the control and management unit 6 configured for at least one activity chosen between the power supply of the measurement stage 2 and the charging of the electric battery storage unit 5 (by means of the charging device 8).
It is specified that the measurement stage 2 can validly comprise a processor 11 configured to control all the elements of said stage 2 and to deliver command signals to the control and management unit 6.
During the time required for the execution of some measurement operations by the stage 2, the processor 11 temporarily commands the switching (by means of the switch 9) of the power supply of the stage from the one that arrives from the converter 7 to the one that arrives from the battery storage unit 5 (in this manner, during the measurement operations no disturbances will occur, which may induce errors therein caused by the connection of an electrical load, constituted by the measurement stage 2).
It is specified that the switching of the power supply of the stage 2 from the one that arrives from the converter 7 to the one that arrives from the electric battery storage unit 5, during single measurement operations, has a duration comprised between 0.01 milliseconds and 10 seconds: in general, an attempt shall be made to shorten the duration of said switching, limiting it to the time strictly necessary for the acquisition of the signal to be measured, so that the instrument 1, during its normal operation, is almost constantly powered by the component A, including the charging of the battery 5. Normally, the time required to acquire the electric quantities of interest is on the order of a few milliseconds and therefore the duration of the switching described earlier shall be on the order of this value (equal or greater).
Obviously, the switching may be performed exclusively for some specific measurements that require this solution, and shall not be used, usually, in all the other cases. In any case, it is not excluded to provide embodiments of the present invention and respective operational logic systems that allow to avoid the need to perform said switching at any type of measurement, without said measurement being affected in any manner by the additional electrical load constituted by said instrument 1.
It is noted, moreover, that the instrument 1 according to the invention further comprises, directly downstream of the at least one terminal 3, 4 for connection to the electrical component A to be subjected to the measurements, a protection stage 12 provided with an overcurrent protection device 13, such as an electrical fuse, a magnetic circuit breaker and the like, arranged in series with respect to the at least one terminal 3, 4 and a voltage- sensitive variable resistor 14, which is arranged between the at least one terminal 3, 4 and a circuit portion chosen between a further terminal 4, 3 and the connection to the ground potential.
The measurement stage 2 according to the invention can advantageously comprise at least one apparatus for measuring voltage, which is connected in parallel with respect to the terminals 3, 4 for connection to the electrical component A to be subjected to the measurements and is configured to detect the potential difference between them.
The measurement stage 2 according to the invention can furthermore conveniently comprise at least one current measurement apparatus 16, connected in series with respect to the terminals 3, 4 for connection to the electrical component A to be subjected to the measurements and configured to detect the value of current that flows across them.
Such measurement stage 2 can furthermore favorably comprise at least one analog-digital signal converter 17 arranged downstream of the at least one voltage measurement apparatus 15 and of the at least one current measurement apparatus 16.
The stage 2 further comprises the processor 11 and appropriate user interface means 18 of the type chosen from a display, a screen, a signal transceiver, a printer, and the like.
It should be noted that the electric power storage apparatus 10 may advantageously comprise a battery of capacitors 19 which are mutually arranged in a configuration chosen from series, parallel, and combinations thereof; said battery of capacitors 19 is arranged in parallel between the terminals 3, 4 for connection to the electrical component A to be subjected to the measurements. The battery of capacitors 19 shall comprise, furthermore, respective switches 20, for the exclusion, as a consequence of appropriate command signals that arrive from the processor 11 of the measurement stage 2, of at least one capacitor 19 from the series of capacitors 19 for a progressive increase of the stored power (during specific electrical measurements that provide for this operation).
Such step of discharge of the capacitors 19 and power supply (by virtue of the power delivered by the battery of capacitors 19) of the measurement stage 2 and of the electric battery storage unit 5 is shown by way of non-limiting example in Figure 3.
Figure 4 instead shows, again by way of non-limiting example, an operating step in which the measurement stage 2 is completely powered by the electric battery storage unit 5.
Advantageously, the present invention solves the problems described above, providing an instrument 1 for measuring electrical quantities that does not require frequent charging of the electric battery storage unit 5 assigned to the corresponding power supply during operation.
Conveniently, the instrument 1 according to the invention does not require the use of backup batteries or supporting electrical storage units for its regular operation.
Advantageously, the instrument 1 according to the invention allows to perform the necessary measurements even if the electrical battery storage unit 5 assigned to the corresponding power supply during operation is discharged and connectors to the electric grid for charging it are not present.
Favorably, the instrument 1 according to the invention allows to reduce the electric power dissipated during some types of measurements.
Efficiently, the instrument 1 according to the invention has a space occupation and weight that are not very different from those of measuring instruments of the known type suitable for the detection of the same quantities. Validly, the instrument 1 according to the invention is relatively easy to provide in practice and has low costs: these characteristics make the instrument 1 according to the invention an innovation of assured application.
The invention thus conceived is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the appended claims; all the details may furthermore be replaced with other technically equivalent elements.
In the embodiments shown, individual characteristics, given in relation to specific examples, may actually be interchanged with other different characteristics that exist in other embodiments.
In practice, the materials used, as well as the dimensions, may be any according to the requirements and the state of the art.
The disclosures in Italian Patent Application No. 102022000013459 from which this application claims priority are incorporated herein by reference.
Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.

Claims

1. An instrument for measuring electrical quantities of the type comprising at least one measurement stage (2), at least one terminal (3, 4) for connection to an electrical component (A) to be subjected to measurements, and at least one electric battery storage unit (5), characterized in that it comprises a control and management unit (6) which is interposed between the at least one terminal (3, 4) for connection to said electrical component (A) and said measurement stage (2), said unit (6) comprising at least one static converter (7) which is connected upstream of at least one device (8) for charging the at least one electric battery storage unit (5) and of at least one switch (9) for connection of said measurement stage (2) alternatively to an output of said static converter (7) and to said electric battery storage unit (5), said control and management unit (6) being configured for at least one operation chosen between a power supply of said measurement stage (2) and a charging of said electric battery storage unit (5).
2. The instrument according to claim 1, characterized in that said electrical component (A) to be subjected to measurement is of the kind of a photovoltaic power source, said terminals (3, 4) for connection to said electrical component are two, respectively connected to the output terminals of said electrical component (A).
3. The instrument according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises, downstream of said connection terminals (3, 4) and upstream of said control and management unit (6), an electric power storage apparatus (10) of the type of at least one capacitor (19), a battery of capacitors, at least one supercapacitor, a battery of supercapacitors and the like, said storage apparatus (10) being adapted to store a predefined amount of electric power during specific measurement operations, at the end of said measurement operations and as a consequence of disconnection from said electrical component (A) to be subjected to measurement, said storage apparatus (10) delivering the stored electric power toward said control and management unit (6) configured for at least one activity chosen between the power supply of said measurement stage (2) and the charging of the electric battery storage unit (5).
4. The instrument according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said measurement stage (2) comprises a processor (11) which is configured to control all the elements of said stage (2) and to deliver command signals to said control and management unit (6), at the time needed for the execution of some measurement operations by said stage (2), said processor (11) temporarily commanding the switching of the power supply of said stage (2) from said power supply that arrives from said converter (7) to the one that arrives from said electric battery storage unit (5).
5. The instrument according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said switching of the power supply of said stage (2) from the one that arrives from said converter (7) to the one that arrives from said electric battery storage unit (5), during individual measurement operations, has a duration comprised between 0.01 milliseconds and 10 seconds.
6. The instrument according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises, directly downstream of the at least one said terminal (3, 4) for connection to the electrical component (A) to be subjected to the measurements, a protection stage (12) provided with an overcurrent protection device (13), such as an electrical fuse, a magnetic circuit breaker and the like, arranged in series to said at least one terminal (3, 4) and a voltage- sensitive variable resistor (14), which is arranged between said at least one terminal (3, 4) and a circuit portion chosen between a further terminal (4, 3) and the connection to the ground potential.
7. The instrument according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said measurement stage (2) comprises at least one voltage measurement apparatus (15), which is connected in parallel with respect to said terminals (3, 4) for connection to the electrical component (A) to be subjected to the measurements and is configured to detect the potential difference between them, at least one apparatus for measuring current (16), connected in series with respect to said terminals (3, 4) for connection to the electronic component (A) to be subjected to the measurements and configured to detect the value of current that flows between them, at least one analog-digital signal converter (17) arranged downstream of said at least one voltage measurement apparatus (15) and of said current measurement apparatus (16), said processor (11) and said user interface means (18) of the type chosen from a display, a screen, a signal transceiver, a printer, and the like.
8. The instrument according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said electric power storage apparatus (10) comprises a battery of capacitors (19) which are mutually arranged in a configuration chosen from series, parallel, and combinations thereof, said battery of capacitors (19) being arranged in parallel between said terminals (3, 4) for connection to the electrical component (A) to be subjected to the measurements.
9. The instrument according to claim 8, characterized in that said battery of capacitors (19) comprises respective switches (20) for the exclusion, as a consequence of command signals that arrive from said processor (11), of at least one capacitor (19) from said series of capacitors (19).
PCT/EP2023/066369 2022-06-27 2023-06-19 Instrument for measuring electrical quantities WO2024002737A1 (en)

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