Showing papers on "Electricity meter published in 2011"

Smart meters for power grid: Challenges, issues, advantages and status

Abstract: Smart meter is an advanced energy meter that measures consumption of electrical energy providing additional information compared to a conventional energy meter. Integration of smart meters into electricity grid involves implementation of a variety of techniques and software, depending on the features that the situation demands. Design of a smart meter depends on the requirements of the utility company as well as the customer. This paper discusses various features and technologies that can be integrated with a smart meter. In fact, deployment of smart meters needs proper selection and implementation of a communication network satisfying the security standards of smart grid communication. This paper outlines various issues and challenges involved in design, deployment, utilization, and maintenance of the smart meter infrastructure. In addition, several applications and advantages of smart meter, in the view of future electricity market are discussed in detail. This paper explains the importance of introducing smart meters in developing countries. In addition, the status of smart metering in various countries is also illustrated.

Smart meters for power grid — Challenges, issues, advantages and status

Abstract: Smart meter is an advanced energy meter that measures consumption of electrical energy providing additional information compared to a conventional energy meter. Integration of smart meters into electricity grid involves implementation of a variety of techniques and software, depending on the features that the situation demands. Design of a smart meter depends on the requirements of the utility company as well as the customer. This paper discusses various features and technologies that can be integrated with a smart meter. In fact, deployment of smart meters needs proper selection and implementation of a communication network satisfying the security standards of smart grid communication. This paper outlines various issues and challenges involved in design, deployment, utilization, and maintenance of the smart meter infrastructure. In addition, several applications and advantages of smart meter, in the view of future electricity market are discussed in detail. This paper explains the importance of introducing smart meters in developing countries. In addition, the status of smart metering in various countries is also illustrated.

Forecasting the usage of household appliances through power meter sensors for demand management in the smart grid

Abstract: Electricity demand management mechanisms are expected to play a key role in smart grid infrastructures to reduce buildings power demand at peak hours, by means of dynamic pricing strategies. Unfortunately these kinds of mechanisms require the users to manually set a lot of configuration parameters, thereby reducing the usability of these solutions. In this paper we propose a system, developed within the BEE Project, for predicting the usage of household appliances in order to automatically provide inputs to electricity management mechanism, exactly in the same way a user could do. In our architecture we use a wireless power meter sensor network to monitor home appliances consumption. Data provided by sensors are then processed every 24 hours to forecast which devices will be used on the next day, at what time and for how long. This information represents just the input parameters required by load demand management systems, hence avoiding complex manual settings by the user.

Virtual machine power consumption measurement and management

Abstract: Embodiments of the virtual machine power metering system and method measure the power consumption of individual virtual machines. Power meter measurements for a physical host server are converted into individual virtual machine power meters that measure the power consumption of each individual virtual machine residing on the host server. The virtual machine power consumption is computed by generating a power model using the total power consumption of the host server and resource utilization for a virtual machine. Optimal power model coefficients are computed using the power model. The energy used by the virtual machine is computed using one of two embodiments. Embodiments of the system and method also can be used to obtain the power consumption for a specific activity (such as a service, request, or search query). In addition, the virtual machine power metering can be used for virtual machine power capping to allow power oversubscription in virtualized environments.

Detection apparatus and detection system

Abstract: A detection apparatus ( 102 ) connected to a device in a residence and an electricity meter ( 100 ) indicating an amount of electric power consumed by the device in the residence, the detection apparatus ( 102 ) including: a reception unit ( 1021 ) which receives the amount of electric power from the electricity meter ( 100 ); a collection unit ( 1024 ) which collects usage status of the device; a device information holding unit ( 1027 ) which holds device information including the usage status of the device and electric power consumption of the device corresponding to the usage status; and a determination unit ( 1025 ) which determines whether or not the electricity meter ( 100 ) is tampered, by comparing an estimated electric power consumption amount with the amount of electric power received by the reception unit ( 1021 ), the estimated electric power consumption amount being estimated from the usage status of the device by using the device information, in which the determination unit ( 1025 ) determines that the electricity meter ( 100 ) is tampered, when a difference between the estimated electric power consumption amount and the amount of electric power received by the reception unit ( 1021 ) is equal to or more than a predetermined threshold.

Intelligent electronic device with broad-range high accuracy

Abstract: A method and apparatus provides high-accuracy measurements of an electrical parameter across a broad range of parameter input values. In one embodiment, an intelligent electronic device (IED), e.g., a digital electrical power and energy meter, with a plurality of independently-adjustable gain factors measures a parameter, and calculates and stores calibration factors associated with known values of the measured parameter. The IED or meter applies the stored calibration factors when measuring unknown values of the measured parameter, to improve the accuracy of the measurement.

A prepaid meter using mobile communication

Abstract: Energy meters in India have dominantly been electromechanical in nature but are gradually being replaced by more sophisticated and accurate digital and electronic meters. A high percentage of electricity revenue is lost to power theft, incorrect meter reading and billing, and reluctance of consumers towards paying electricity bills on time. Considerable amount of revenue losses can be reduced by using Prepaid Energy Meters. A prepaid energy meter enables power utilities to collect energy bills from the consumers prior to the usage of power by delivering only as much as what has been paid for. This paper suggests a prepaid energy meter behaving like a prepaid mobile phone. The meter contains a prepaid card analogous to mobile SIM card. The prepaid card communicates with the power utility using mobile communication infrastructure. Once the prepaid card is out of balance, the consumer load is disconnected from the utility supply by the contactor. The power utility can recharge the prepaid card remotely through mobile communication based on customer requests. A prior billing is bound to do away with the problems of unpaid bills and human error in meter readings, thereby ensuring justified revenue for the utility. The proposed prepaid meter is implemented in a software model and Matlab has been used for simulation.

Method and system for non-intrusive load monitoring and processing

Abstract: A system and method for use in a non-intrusive load monitoring system to identify specific types of loads and communicate the identified load information to interested parties. The non-intrusive load monitoring system includes an electricity meter that measures load information from a home or facility. The load information is analyzed by comparing the information to a series of load signatures for various known electrical loads to identify the specific type of electric load. Once the type of load is identified, the system utilizes the information to analyze the operation of the load and relay messages to the home owner regarding such operation. The load information may be used by a utility to better predict and manage peak and average electricity consumption over the year. Upon customer authorization, the load identification information may also be relayed to third parties for use in directed sales campaigns and discount promotions.

Microcontroller Based Single Phase Digital Prepaid Energy Meter for Improved Metering and Billing System

Abstract: This paper presents a single phase digital prepaid energy meter based on two microcontrollers and a single phase energy meter IC This digital prepaid energy meter does not have any rotating parts The energy consumption is calculated using the output pulses of the energy meter chip and the internal counter of microcontroller (ATmega32) A microcontroller (ATtiny13) is used as a smart card and the numbers of units recharged by the consumers are written in it A relay system has been used which either isolates or establishes the connection between the electrical load and energy meter through the supply mains depending upon the units present in the smart cardEnergy consumption (kWh), maximum demand (kW), total unit recharged (kWh) and rest of the units (kWh) are stored in the ATmega32 to ensure the accurate measurement even in the event of an electrical power outage that can be easily read from a 20×4 LCD As soon as the supply is restored, energy meter restarts with the stored values A single phase prepaid energy meter prototype has been implemented to provide measurement up to 40A load current and 230V line to neutral voltageNecessary program for microcontrollers are written in c-language and compiled by Win-AVR libc compiler DOI: http://dxdoiorg/1011591/ijpedsv1i2138

Methods for generating TLPs (typical load profiles) for smart grid-based energy programs

Abstract: Most electric power companies implement an automatic meter reading (AMR) system operating at quarter-hour intervals The companies install the system (an electric meter) at the homes of their high-voltage (HV) customers who consume a significant amount of power each month When first introduced to the industry, the AMR system simply measured customers' peak power and billed them Recent studies are examining the same system's applicability in the cutting-edge smart grid technology A growing number of studies are focusing on AMR-based distribution network load analysis and demand prediction to promote the dissemination of smart grid-based services Researchers are basically using AMR customers' usage data to analyze loads and generate the virtual load profile (VLP) of non-automatic meter reading (nAMR) customers Generating VLP requires clustering and classification that are among the various data mining techniques adopted by researchers This study reviewed previous research findings that reported AMR-based typical load profile (TLP) generation, and utilized the AMR data of some KEPCO HV customers for TLP generation Analyses were performed via three clustering techniques, and the strengths of the techniques were compared

Intelligent home system accessing to intelligent power gird and new energy and energy efficiency managing method

Abstract: The invention relates to an intelligent home system accessing to an intelligent power gird and new energy and an energy efficiency managing method. The system comprises a bus and an intelligent interaction terminal, wherein the bus is provided with an electric supply input end and a new energy input end, the electric supply input end is serially connected with an electric supply accessing switch and an intelligent electricity meter, the input end of the intelligent electricity meter is accessed to an optical cable compound cable and the output end is connected to the bus through the electric supply accessing switch; the new energy input end is connected with corresponding new energy equipment through the corresponding new energy accessing switch; the intelligent interaction terminal comprises a microprocessor and a peripheral interface circuit thereof, the intelligent interaction terminal is connected with the new energy equipment through an RS485 interface and an acquisition device used for acquiring information of the intelligent electricity meter; and the intelligent interaction terminal is in wireless communication connection with the electric supply accessing switch and the intelligent home equipment through wireless radio interfaces, wherein the electric supply accessing switch is provided with a corresponding wireless interface. The intelligent home system realizes dual-direction interaction of users and a power grid, can receive various kinds of information from the power grid and preferential measures in real time through the intelligent interaction terminal of the intelligent electricity meter, guides the users to optimize home electricity and saves cost.

Process for detecting energy theft

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to detecting energy theft within an energy distribution system and more particularly to systems and methods for detecting energy discrepancies in voltages and/or currents reported by electric meters present in a distribution circuit, without requiring installation of additional hardware at the transformer. Typically, the location of each of at least two meters is determined with respect to a transformer. The line resistances within the distribution circuit are determined starting with a line resistance farthest from the transformer. Estimated line voltages are determined for at least one electric meter using the estimated line resistances, and the estimated voltages are compared to actual voltage readings for the at least one electric meter. The existence of line loss is determined based on this comparison.

Energy-saving device and method for portable terminal

Abstract: An energy-saving apparatus and method for a portable terminal are disclosed in the present document. The apparatus includes: an electricity meter module, configured to detect battery power consumption parameters under driving of a data acquisition module; the data acquisition module, configured to drive the detection of the electricity meter module, and output the collected battery power consumption parameters to a data analysis module; the data analysis module, configured to estimate power consumptions of all running devices at present in the terminal according to the input battery power consumption parameters, and output a power consumption optimization instruction to a power consumption optimization execution module; and the power consumption optimization execution module, configured to adopt corresponding power consumption optimization approaches according to the input power consumption optimization instruction.

Platform, system and method for energy profiling

Abstract: An energy usage management platform is provided for remotely managing energy usage of multiple end user devices or appliances, including a smart grid network with an energy data server adapted to manage multiple electric device energy usage profiles, and an electric meter for transmitting electricity usage data to the energy data server, thereby enabling the energy data server to monitor energy usage of identified electric devices, wherein there is substantially no requirement to install an electricity usage sensor on the specific electric devices.

Consumption breakdown monitoring through power state sensing

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for estimating power breakdowns for a set of one or more appliances inside a building by exploiting a small number of power meters and data indicative of binary power states of individual appliances of such set. In one aspect, a breakdown estimation problem is solved within a tree configuration, and utilizing a single power meter and data indicative of binary power states of a plurality of appliances. Based at least in part on such solution, an estimation quality metric is derived. In another aspect, such metric can be exploited in a methodology for optimally placing additional power meters to increase the estimation certainty for individual appliances to a desired or intended level. Estimated power breakdown and energy breakdown—individually or collectively referred to as consumption breakdown—rely on measurements and numerical simulations, and can be evaluated in exemplary electrical network utilizing binary sensors.

ARM-based energy management system using smart meter and Web server

Abstract: In this paper a low cost real-time ARM-based energy management system is proposed. It is conceived as part of a distributed system that measures the main power system quantities and give the possibility to manage the whole power plant. An integrated Web Server allow to collect the statistics of power consumptions, power quality and is able to interface devices for load displacement. The device is characterized by easy access to the information and the combination of a smart meter and data communication capability allow local and remote access. In this way it is possible to manage the power consumption of the power system leading to an overall reduction in consumption and costs.

HeatProbe: a thermal-based power meter for accounting disaggregated electricity usage

Abstract: To promote energy-saving behavior, disaggregating electricity usage is critical for increasing consumer awareness of energy usage behavior. This study proposes HeatProbe, a thermal-based power meter system that uses thermal imaging to track disaggregated appliance usage. We have designed, prototyped, and tested the HeatProbe system. Results show that HeatProbe successfully senses individual appliance operating durations with an average error of 125.03 seconds, achieving 80.2% appliance power accounting accuracy in different appliance usage scenarios.

Apparatus and method for energy management of electric devices

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus and method for energy management of electric devices, which individually displays various pieces of energy related information, such as consumption time, power consumption amount, current electricity rate and future electricity rate, in an apparatus provided to each electric device and controls the presence of operation of an individual electric device so as to make more effective use of limited energy resources in commercialized smart grid and smart meter technologies in which the energy price is changed depending on time. To this end, the operating state of each of the electric devices is estimated based on a variation in total energy consumption amount detected by a meter.

Systems, methods, and apparatus for providing energy management utilizing a power meter

Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus for providing energy management utilizing a power meter are provided. A request for a graphical user interface may be received by a power meter in communication with an external device. The requested graphical user interface may be associated with at least one of (i) operation of the power meter or (ii) provision of electrical power to one or more loads. Based at least in part on the received request, information associated with the graphical user interface may be generated by the power meter and communicated to the external device.

Profiling power consumption on desktop computer systems

Abstract: Background. Energy awareness in the ICT has become an important issue: ICT is both a key player in energy efficiency, and a power drainer. Focusing on software, recent work suggested the existence of a relationship between power consumption, software configuration and usage patterns in computer systems. Aim. The aim of this work was collecting and analysing power consumption data of a general-purpose computer system, simulating common usage scenarios, in order to extract a power consumption profile for each scenario. Methods. We selected a desktop system running Windows XP as a test machine. Meanwhile, we developed 11 usage scenarios, classified by their functionality, and automated by a GUI testing tool. Then, we conducted several test runs of the scenarios, collecting power consumption data by means of a power meter. Results. Our analysis resulted in an estimation of a power consumption value for each scenario and software application used, obtaining that each single scenario introduced an overhead from 2 to 11 Watts, corresponding to an increase of about 12%. Conclusions. We determined that software and its usage patterns impacts consistently on the power consumption of computer systems. Further work will be devoted to evaluate how power consumption is affected by the usage of specific system resources, like processors, disks, memory etc.

Prediction of electric power consumption for commercial buildings

Abstract: Currently many commercial buildings are not continuously monitored for energy consumption, especially small buildings which constitute 90% of all such buildings. However, readily available data from the electric meters can be used for monitoring and analyzing energy consumption. Efficient utilization of available historical data (from these meters) can potentially improve energy efficiency, help to identify common energy wasting problems, and, in the future, enable various Smart Grid programs, such as demand response, real-time pricing etc. This paper describes application of computational intelligence techniques for prediction of electric power consumption. The proposed approach combines regression and clustering methods, in order to improve the prediction accuracy of power consumption, as a function of time (of the day) and temperature, using real-life data from several commercial and government buildings. Empirical comparisons show that the proposed approach provides an improvement over the currently used bin-based method for modeling power consumption.

Opportunistic communications to improve reliability of AMI mesh networks

Abstract: Driven by the need to improve energy efficiency and reduce environmental impact, we observe a thrust towards enabling a Smart Grid. It is envisaged that to achieve these goals, the Smart Grid will be equipped with communications infrastructure and mechanisms which will enable near real time control of the grid components. One of the key elements of the Smart Grid is the Automated Metering Infrastructure (AMI) which is expected to facilitate the transport of meter readings from a smart electricity meter at the customer premises to the utility provider, and control data in the other direction. These communications can be realised by deploying a self-organising mesh network composed of smart metering nodes connected to concentrator nodes which in turn are connected to the utility provider data management systems. This paper explores a cooperative communications approach to improve reliability of such mesh networks. The proposed opportunistic forwarding protocol called ‘ORPL’ has been realised as an enhancement on top of the Routing Protocol for Low Power and Lossy Networks (RPL), a connectivity enabling mechanism in AMI mesh networks. In ORPL, smart meter nodes select multiple candidate relays to facilitate reliable transport of smart metering data to the concentrator node. Moreover, it is designed to work in a distributed manner thereby ensuring scalability.

Systems, methods, and apparatus for evaluating load power consumption utilizing a power meter

Abstract: Systems (100), methods (200), and apparatus for evaluating load power consumption utilizing a power meter (105) are provided. A power line signal for a structure associated with a power meter (105) may be measured (205) by the power meter (105). The power line signal may be decomposed (210) by the power meter (105) into respective power consumption data for a plurality of individual loads (115a-n) powered by the power line signal. The power consumption data for a load (115) included in the plurality of individual loads (115a-n) may be compared (230) by the power meter (105) to expected power consumption data for the load (115). Based at least in part upon the comparison, the power meter (105) may determine (235) whether the load is operating within one or more desired parameters.

System, Method and Computer Program Product for Determining Load Profiles

Abstract: A system, method and device for determining load profile of a power line conductor supplying power to a plurality of power customers is provided. In one embodiment the system comprises an automated meter reading system configured to receive meter data comprising data of the power consumed by each of the plurality of power customers as measured by the power meters; a phase detection system configured to determine one of the plurality of power lines to which each of the power meters is electrically connected; a meter grouping system configured to determine groups of power meter that are commonly connected to the plurality of power line conductors; and a load profile system configured to determine a load profile for each group of power meters by combining the meter data from each meter of each group over a plurality of time periods.

System and method for updating firmware

Abstract: The present disclosure can update firmware of home electronic devices using an energy meter installed at each energy consumer house The energy meter receives firmware from a remote server managing the firmware of home electronic devices and transmits the firmware to home electronic devices The energy meter may bypass the firmware of the home electronic devices received from the remote server, or pre-download and transmit to the home electronic devices at a time the update is to be implemented

Integrated electric meter with var capability

Abstract: An integrated electric meter with VAR capability is disclosed. In one aspect, an electric meter (200) determines a plurality of power related parameters for an AC network, and a VAR generation unit (205) integrated with the electric meter (200) uses the plurality of power related parameters to inject a desired amount of reactive power in the AC network and correct power factor.

Electricity distribution system and electricity distribution method

Abstract: An electricity distribution system includes an electricity supply control unit that receives information on power consumption, estimates the current and the future power consumption, and controls the supply of electricity to the electric device; an information display unit that displays information on a power use situation of an electric device electrically connected with the electricity supply control unit; and a battery server that accumulates power, in which the electricity supply control unit communicates the information on the power consumption with a new electric device when the new electric device is electrically connected, and when the amount of available power is exceeded by supplying electricity to the electric device, does not supply electricity to the electric device, makes the information display unit display that the amount of available power is exceeded by supplying electricity to the information display unit, and determines whether to use the power accumulated in the battery server.

Electronic instrument transducer for MV networks with fiber optic insulation

Abstract: The development trends of electrical networks clearly indicate that grids of the future will include more and more smart components. In the new smart grids, smart components fulfill measurement and control tasks: in this scenario, not only the simple energy consumption, but also other parameters have to be measured. Among these parameters certainly there is the quality of energy. Therefore new smart meters have to face the issue of measuring energy consumption and energy quality over a wide frequency range. The first part of an electric meter are voltage and current transducers. So, in this paper an electronic instrument transducer for medium voltage networks with fiber optic insulation is presented. Its design, simulation and experimental characterization are shown.

Remote electric power metering system

Abstract: The utility model discloses a remote electric power metering system which comprises an electric meter terminal, a concentrator and a metering center PC terminal. The key point lies in that a collector is arranged between the electric meter terminal and concentrator, thereby forming a four-layer two-way transmission structure formed by the electric meter terminal, the collector, the concentrator and the metering center PC terminal; the two-way data transmission between the collector and the electric meter terminal is realized by virtue of a 485 communication module; the two-way data transmission between the concentrator and the collector is realized by virtue of a wireless network module; and the two-way data transmission between the concentrator and the metering center PC terminal is realized in GPRS/CDMA communication mode. The utility model has the advantages of convenient networking, low cost, stable data transmission, strong anti-jamming capability and simple and convenient maintenance; and is applied to the remote electric power metering, power utilization management and user power utilization information feedback.