GB2561218A - Identification of electrical phase of an electrical device - Google Patents
Identification of electrical phase of an electrical device Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2561218A GB2561218A GB1705549.2A GB201705549A GB2561218A GB 2561218 A GB2561218 A GB 2561218A GB 201705549 A GB201705549 A GB 201705549A GB 2561218 A GB2561218 A GB 2561218A
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- phase
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- phase output
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- 230000005611 electricity Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 75
- 238000011144 upstream manufacturing Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 7
- 238000012545 processing Methods 0.000 claims description 22
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 claims description 16
- 238000013480 data collection Methods 0.000 claims description 11
- 230000001360 synchronised effect Effects 0.000 claims description 4
- 238000001514 detection method Methods 0.000 claims description 3
- 230000015654 memory Effects 0.000 claims description 2
- 238000005265 energy consumption Methods 0.000 abstract description 2
- 230000004044 response Effects 0.000 description 4
- 238000013459 approach Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000004891 communication Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000001419 dependent effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000010586 diagram Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000007689 inspection Methods 0.000 description 1
Classifications
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- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01R—MEASURING ELECTRIC VARIABLES; MEASURING MAGNETIC VARIABLES
- G01R29/00—Arrangements for measuring or indicating electric quantities not covered by groups G01R19/00 - G01R27/00
- G01R29/18—Indicating phase sequence; Indicating synchronism
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- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01R—MEASURING ELECTRIC VARIABLES; MEASURING MAGNETIC VARIABLES
- G01R19/00—Arrangements for measuring currents or voltages or for indicating presence or sign thereof
- G01R19/25—Arrangements for measuring currents or voltages or for indicating presence or sign thereof using digital measurement techniques
- G01R19/2513—Arrangements for monitoring electric power systems, e.g. power lines or loads; Logging
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- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01R—MEASURING ELECTRIC VARIABLES; MEASURING MAGNETIC VARIABLES
- G01R31/00—Arrangements for testing electric properties; Arrangements for locating electric faults; Arrangements for electrical testing characterised by what is being tested not provided for elsewhere
- G01R31/50—Testing of electric apparatus, lines, cables or components for short-circuits, continuity, leakage current or incorrect line connections
- G01R31/66—Testing of connections, e.g. of plugs or non-disconnectable joints
- G01R31/67—Testing the correctness of wire connections in electric apparatus or circuits
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
- H02J—CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY
- H02J3/00—Circuit arrangements for ac mains or ac distribution networks
- H02J3/26—Arrangements for eliminating or reducing asymmetry in polyphase networks
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- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
- Y02E40/00—Technologies for an efficient electrical power generation, transmission or distribution
- Y02E40/50—Arrangements for eliminating or reducing asymmetry in polyphase networks
Abstract
Electrical phase identification of a device 12 connected to a single phase of a multi-phase output of an upstream device 11, e.g. a two phase or three phase transformer, is performed by comparing a variation in voltage of the device over a reference time period with the variation in voltage at each of the phases of the multi-phase output over the same time period. The comparison may involve determining whether the respective variations are within a pre-defined threshold. The variations in voltage may correspond to an event within an electricity distribution network, such as an individual phase power outage, power restoration, dips, sag, swell, over- or under-voltage, or an injected control signal. The device whose phase is identified may be a utility meter that monitors a customers energy consumption.
Description
(71) Applicant(s):
Sanjaya Singhal
Sangam, Fatehsagar Road, Near Swaroop Sagar, Udaipur, India, 313001, India (72) Inventor(s):
Sanjaya Singhal
| (51) INT CL: | |
| G01R 19/25 (2006.01) | H02J 3/26 (2006.01) |
| (56) Documents Cited: GB 2486972 A EP 2388600 A1 EP 2204658 A1 US 20150097574 A1 | EP 2562554 A2 EP 2330430 A1 WO 2013/006273 A2 US 20110130991 A1 |
| (58) Field of Search: INT CL G01R, H02J Other: EPODOC & WPI |
(74) Agent and/or Address for Service:
A.A. Thornton & CO.
Old Bailey, London, EC4M 7NG, United Kingdom (54) Title of the Invention: Identification of electrical phase of an electrical device Abstract Title: Identification of electrical phase of an electrical device (57) Electrical phase identification of a device 12 connected to a single phase of a multi-phase output of an upstream device 11, e.g. a two phase or three phase transformer, is performed by comparing a variation in voltage of the device over a reference time period with the variation in voltage at each of the phases of the multi-phase output over the same time period. The comparison may involve determining whether the respective variations are within a pre-defined threshold. The variations in voltage may correspond to an event within an electricity distribution network, such as an individual phase power outage, power restoration, dips, sag, swell, over- or under-voltage, or an injected control signal. The device whose phase is identified may be a utility meter that monitors a customer’s energy consumption.
Fig.l
2/2
t
Identification of Electrical Phase of an Electrical Device
The present invention relates to identifying the electrical phase of an electrical device connected to an upstream device with multi-phase output and more particularly to a system, method and device for identifying the electrical phase of an at least two-phase transformer to which a downstream electrical device is connected.
BACKGROUND ART
Electricity distribution networks comprise generally a large number of system components, such as distribution transformers, cables and I or overhead lines. Electrical power supply is generally ensured by an alternating current (AC) with usually a sine waveform of an AC power circuit. Three-phase electricity distribution networks are very common, in which the three phases comprise equal amplitudes and are 120° out of phase to each other.
A four-wire system is often used for three-phase electricity distribution networks. When the high voltage level of the three-phase system is transformed to the lowest voltage level of the three-phase electricity distribution network, a distribution transformer with a 3-wire primary coil and a 4-wire, including center-earthed, secondary coil is often used. Generally, customers are connected to only one of the three phases, but it is often not known at which of the three phases of a certain phase transformer each customer is connected. A transformer is typically located upstream of a customer’s home that receives a phase of the transformer to provide power to the home.
However, it is useful for the utility companies operating the distribution transformers to know at least how many customers are connected to which phase of the distribution transformers within the electricity distribution network. Otherwise, if the number of customers of each of the phases of a distribution transformer is unequal between the phases, electrical imbalances can occur and could affect the power supply within the electricity distribution network; even a power blackout could occur due to the imbalances of power consumption between the phases. Further it is important to know which phase of the network each of the customers is connected in order to be able to service any problem related to the particular customer. Therefore, information about the connected customers to each phase of a transformer helps utility companies to prevent power outages and to optimize the electricity distribution more effectively and efficient.
WO 2013/013162 A2 discloses a requesting device requesting a phase-related response from an end-point not knowing its phase in a polyphase power source system. In response, the requesting device receives the phase-related response from the end-point, such as the number of zero-crossings and zero-crossing timings of the power source's waveform. The phase information of the phase-related response of the unknown-phase device can be compared to a known phase of a known-phase device. However, determining phase information from an injected signal and by defining hierarchy-levels between known-phase devices and unknown-phase devices can only be ensured in electricity network systems with very accurate time clocks used for timestamps of the zero-crossings of phases. The phase of an unknown-phase device is determined in case the zero-crossing timings of the phase of the unknown-phase device match with zero-crossing timings ofthe phase ofthe known-phase device. It will be apparent that this approach is not applicable if time information is not accurate within the electricity network, such as in low-cost electricity networks.
US 8,461,823 B2 discloses a method of metering electricity that includes calculating a first accumulated in-phase current indicative of a non-voltage component of energy flow to one or more customer premises during a period of time by a distribution transformer meter and calculating second accumulated in-phase current (indicative of a non-voltage component of energy flow) during a period of time by a feeder current meter coupled to a feeder line.
In view of the foregoing, it is clear that there is a need in the art to provide an improved technique to identify the electrical phase of an electrical device connected to an upstream device with multi-phase output which can be at least a two-phase transformer. It is further desirable that structural changes of the electricity distribution network itself or of components of the electricity distribution network are avoided or reduced to a minimum.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
From a first aspect the present invention provides a system for identifying the electrical phase of an electrical device connected to one of the phases of an at least two-phase transformer via an electricity distribution network according to the appended independent claim 1. From a second aspect, a method according to appended claim 17 is provided. Further preferable aspects are provided in the appended dependent claims.
In particular, in some embodiments, the multi-phase output device can be at least a two-phase transformer. The transformer and each or designated electrical devices within the electricity network may each have a reference time and variations of the voltage of each phase of the two-phase transformer over the reference time of the twophase transformer and variations of the voltage of the electrical device over the reference time of electrical device are comparable within corresponding time frames of the reference times, Optionally a processing unit can determine the differences between the variations of the voltage of the electrical device and the variations of the voltage of each phase of the two-phase transformer within corresponding time frames of the reference times. Even unsynchronised time clocks with low time precisions can be used according to the present invention, because variations and trends of the different phases are compared with each other and not specific measured parameters, such as zero-crossings at very precise measured times. Preferably, time clocks of utility meters connected with the electrical device and/or each phase of the distribution transformer are used for defining the reference times.
The processing unit can further identify the phase of the two-phase transformer used by the electrical device by determining the least difference between the variations of the voltage of the electrical device and the variations of the voltage of each phase of the two-phase transformer.
In addition, the processing unit can compare the differences between the variations of the voltage of the electrical device and the variations of the voltage of each phase of the two-phase transformer with a pre-defined threshold. The threshold can be a fixed threshold defined by a user of the system or a varying threshold depending on current flowing though the network
Preferably, data collection units can collect time-stamped variations of the voltage of the electrical device and the time-stamped variations of the voltage of each phase of the two-phase transformer. Alternatively or in addition, the data collection units are operable to collect the variations of the voltage of the electrical device and the variations of the voltage of each phase of the multi-phase output device, and apply time stamps to each variation based on its own reference time source
In addition, the data collection units can comprise storage means such as memory devices for storing the variations of the voltage of the electrical device and the variations of the voltage of each phase of the two-phase transformer in relation to the reference times of the two-phase transformer and the electrical device.
Variations of the voltage of the electrical device and the variations of the voltage of each phase of the two-phase transformer in relation to the reference times of the twophase transformer can be storable in a pre-defined data format comprising data fields for storing the references times and selected patterns of the variations of the voltage of the electrical device and of the two-phase transformer.
In an embodiment, the variation in voltage is characterised by one or more events within the electricity distribution network, such as an individual phase power outage, power restoration, dips, sag, swell, momentary overvoltage, momentary under voltage or detection of injected control signals.
The processing unit can receive the variations of the voltage of the two-phase transformer and of the electrical device and determines the start times and/or durations of the corresponding time frames for comparing the variations of the voltage of each phase of the two-phase transformer with the variations of the voltage of the electrical device within corresponding time frames.
The processing unit also can receive the variations of the voltage of the two-phase transformer and of the electrical device via the electricity distribution network or via a separate telecommunication network.
The electrical device and I or data collection units can be utility meters and preferably electricity meters.
Multiple electrical devices and/or multiple phase transformers can be connectable to the electricity distribution network.
Variations of the voltage of each or designated electrical device and the variations of the voltage of each phase of the two-phase transformer in relation to the reference times of the two-phase transformer can be stored in a pre-defined data format comprising data fields for storing the references times and selected patterns of the variations of the voltage of each or designated electrical devices within the electricity network and of the two-phase transformer.
Unique identifiers of each or designated electrical devices within the electricity network and/or of each phase of the two-phase transformer can be stored in one specific data field part of each data set with the pre-defined data format of each electrical device and each phase of the two-phase transformer.
The least difference between the variations of the voltage of the electrical device and the variations of the voltage of each phase of the two-phase transformer can be determined by using the selected data fields of the relevant data sets of each electrical device and each phase of each two-phase transformer.
Variations of the voltage of the electrical device and the variations of the voltage of each phase of the two-phase transformer can be stored as digital data within the data sets.
The phase of the relevant two-phase transformer used by the relevant electrical device can be identified by analysing all available data sets of all electrical devices and/or all phase transformers connected to the electricity distribution network by comparing the stored variations of the voltage of the electrical device and of each two-phase transformer and by comparing the stored identifiers of each electrical device and of each phase of each two-phase transformer of the electricity distribution network.
The reference time of each electrical device and of each phase of each two-phase transformer can be a universal time, such as coordinated universal time (UTC). Alternatively, the reference time of each electrical device and of each phase of each two-phase transformer can be time synchronized via the electricity distribution network or via the separate telecommunication network.
According to a third broad aspect of the invention there is provided a device for identifying the electrical phase of a downstream electrical device connected to one of the phases of an upstream device having a multi-phase output via an electricity distribution network, the identification device comprising means for comparing variations of voltage at the electrical device over a reference time period with the variation of voltage at each of the phases of the multi-phase output device over the reference time period; and means for determining which one of the phases the electrical device is connected based on the comparison
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Embodiments of the invention are described below in more detail, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 shows a schematic view of a three-phase distribution transformer, which three phases are connected to a number of electrical devices; and
Figure 2 shows a diagram of three voltage variation patterns;
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments will now be described with reference to Fig. 1 to 2 which relate to a system for identifying the electrical phase of an electrical device connected to one of the phases of a device having a multi-phase output via an electricity distribution network. The multi-phase device in these embodiments is described as a transformer with at least a two phase output, however, the skilled person will appreciate with the benefit of this disclosure that other devices with multi-phase output may be used..
Fig. 1 shows a schematic view of a multi-phase distribution transformer 11 having at least two phases as an output. In this embodiment, the transformer 11 has three phases L1, L2, L3 connected to a number of electrical devices 12. Preferably, the number of electrical devices 12 connected to each phase L1, L2, L3 is equal, which helps to avoid imbalances between the phases L1, L2, L3. Each electrical device is connected with a reference time clock 13, which is preferably part of a utility meter and connected to each one of the electrical devices 12. The electrical device 12 can be a household of a utility company customer or a high power-consumer connected directly to the electricity network 10. The electrical device could be a utility meter located in a household or another type of measuring device that can measure the voltage connected to a phase of a transformer. If a measuring device, it may be connected temporarily whilst the identification process of the phase as described herein is to be carried out. One reason a utility meter such as an electricity meter is suited to being the electrical device is that a majority of households that are provided with electricity from a utility company will have an electricity meter to measure the consumption of a utility and the electricity meter would conveniently already be connected to a single phase of a distribution transformer that can output a plurality of phases. A voltage variation pattern can be obtained from the electricity meter and compared with a correspondingly timed voltage variation pattern from the phases of the transformer and a determination can be made as to which phase the electrical meter is connected (described in more detail later).
The reference time clock 13 of each electrical device 12 can be an integral part of the electrical device 12, can be attached to the electrical device 12, and/or can be connected via a wire or wireless connection to the designated electrical device 12. The reference time clock 13 can also be connected with the electrical device 12 and/or the distribution transformer 11 via a network, such as the internet. In other embodiments, the electrical device 12 comprises the utility meter with an integrated reference time clock 13.
Within the electricity network 10 the electrical phase L1,L2,L3 of the multi-phase transformer 11, preferably a three-phase distribution transformer, used by the electrical device 12 is identified by using the reference time generated by the reference time clock 13, preferably the time clock of a utility meter, and variations of the voltage of each phase of the transformer 11 over the reference time of the transformer 11 and variations of the voltage of the relevant electrical device 12 over the reference time of electrical device 12 are compared within corresponding time frames of the reference times. The variations of voltage with time of each phase at the transformer 11 can be determined by a measuring unit 12a at the transformer, and the measuring unit 12a could be a utility or electricity meter. Each phase may be provided with a meter at the transformer or a single meter at the transformer may be able to determine the variations of voltage with time at each phase. A processing unit (not shown in Fig. 1) compares the variations of the voltage of the electrical device 12 and the variations of the voltage of each phase L1 ,L2,L3, of the transformer 11 by using the reference times of the transformer 11 and the electrical device 12, and the processing unit determines the differences between the variations of the voltage of the electrical device 12 and the variations of the voltage of each phase of the transformer 11. The processing device may be part of the utility meter.
A first reference time clock 13a provides the reference time for the transformer 11 and a reference time clock 13 provides the reference time for the electrical device 12. The first reference time clock 13a may be part of the measuring unit 12a at the transformer 11 or a separate unit connected (physically or otherwise) to the measuring unit 12a. Variations of the voltage of each phase of the transformer 11 over the reference time of the transformer 11 and variations of the voltage of the electrical device 12 over the reference time of electrical device 12 are compared within corresponding time frames of the reference times of the transformer 11 and the electrical device 12. Finally, the differences between the variations of the voltage of the electrical device and the variations of the voltage of each phase of the transformer are determined.
In a preferred embodiment, the processing unit identifies the phase L1,L2,L3, of the transformer 11 used by each electrical device 12 within the electricity network 10 by determining the least difference between the variations of the voltage of each electrical device 12 within the electricity network 10 and the variations of the voltage of each phase L1,L2,L3 of the transformer 11. That is, the processing unit can compare variations of voltage at the electrical device 12 over a reference time period with the variation of voltage at each of the phases of the transformer 11 over the reference time period and determine which one of the phases the electrical device 12 is connected based on the comparison.
In addition, the processing unit compares the differences between the variations of the voltage of each and/or a designated electrical device 12 within the electricity network 10 and the variations of the voltage of each phase L1 ,L2,L3 of the transformer 11. The variations may be compared with a pre-defined threshold. The use of a pre-defined threshold helps to improve the robustness of the comparison. As long as the differences of the variations of the voltage are under the pre-defined threshold, conformity of the compared variations is assumed. The threshold can be a fixed threshold defined by a user of the system or a varying threshold depending on current flowing though the network. In addition or alternatively, the least difference between the variations of the voltage of each or designated electrical devices 12 within the electricity network 10 via the electricity distribution network 10 and the variations of the voltage of each phase of the transformer 11 is determined. In case the least difference of all variations of the voltage of each or designated electrical devices 12 within the electricity network 10 and of each phase L1,L2,L3 of the transformer 11 is found, it can be reasonably assumed that the identified electrical device 12 is connected to the identified phase L1 ,L2,L3 of the relevant distribution transformer 11.
Data collection units (not shown in Fig. 1) can collect time stamped variations of the voltage of the electrical device and the time stamped variations of the voltage of each phase of the transformer 11 within the electricity network 10.
In a preferred embodiment, the data collection units comprise storage memory for storing the variations of the voltage of the electrical device 12 and the variations of the voltage of each phase L1 ,L2,L3, of the transformer 11 in relation to the reference times of the transformer 11 and the electrical device 12.
It will be appreciated that the variations of the voltage of each or designated electrical devices 12 within the electricity network 10 and the variations of the voltage of each phase L1,L2,L3 of the transformer 11 in relation to the reference times of the transformer 11 can be storable in a pre-defined data format comprising data fields for storing the references times and selected patterns of the variations of the voltage of each or designated electrical devices 12 within the electricity network 10 and of the transformer 11.
Start times and/or durations of the corresponding time frames are defined by characteristic events within the electricity distribution network 10, such as an individual phase power outage, restoration time after a power outage or injected control signals.
The processing unit receives preferably the variations of the voltage of the transformer and of each or designated electrical devices 12 within the electricity network 10 and determines the start times and/or duration of the corresponding time frames for comparing the variations of the voltage of each phase of the transformer 11 with the variations of the voltage of each or designated electrical devices 12 within the electricity network 10 within corresponding time frames.
The processing unit receives the variations of the voltage of the transformer 11 and of each or designated electrical devices 12 within the electricity network 10 via the electricity distribution network 10 or via a separate telecommunication network.
In one embodiment, the data collection units are part of utility meters. Multiple electrical devices 12 and/or multiple phase transformers 11 are connected to the electricity distribution network 10.
Variations of the voltage of the two-phase transformer 11 and of each or designated electrical devices 12 within the electricity network 10 are transmitted via the electricity distribution network 10 or via a separate telecommunication network.
The variations of the voltage of each or designated electrical devices 12 within the electricity network 10 and the variations of the voltage of each phase L1,L2,L3 of the transformer 11 in relation to the reference times of the transformer 11 are storable in a pre-defined data format comprising data fields for storing the references times and selected patterns of the variations of the voltage of each or designated electrical devices 12 within the electricity network 10 and of the transformer 11.
In addition, the least difference between the variations of the voltage of each or designated electrical devices 12 within the electricity network 10 and the variations of the voltage of each phase L1,L2,L3 of the transformer 11 is determined by using selected data fields of the relevant data sets of each or designated electrical devices 12 within the electricity network 10 and each phase of each transformer 11.
Preferably, variations of the voltage of each or designated electrical devices 12 within the electricity network 10 and the variations of the voltage of each phase L1,L2,L3 of the transformer 11 are stored as digital data within the data sets.
The relevant phase L1,L2,L3 of the transformer 11 used by each or designated electrical devices 12 within the electricity network 10 is identified by analysing all available data sets of all electrical devices 12 and/or all phase transformers 11 connected to the electricity distribution network 11. The stored variations of the voltage of all electrical devices 12 and of each two-phase transformer 11 are compared by comparing the stored identifiers of each electrical device 12 and of each phase L1 ,L2,L3 of each transformer 11 of the electricity distribution network 10.
The reference time of each electrical device 12 and of at least one phase L1,L2,L3 of each transformer 11 is a universal time, such as coordinated universal time (UTC).
Alternatively, the reference time of each electrical device 12 and of at least one phase L1,L2,L3 of each transformer 11 is synchronized via the electricity distribution network 10 or via the separate telecommunication network.
Examples of voltage variations VL-i, VL2 at a reference time for a time period t of phases L1 and L2 are shown in Fig. 2 along with a voltage variation V12 at a similar reference time for an electrical device 12. The phase at the top of Fig. 2 can be the first phase L1 of the three-phase distribution transformer 11 (shown in Fig. 1 but not shown in Fig. 2), and the time-dependency of the phase L1 is known and certain time frames, for example between selected times, such as t1 and t2 as shown in Fig. 2, can be determined. The phase shown in the middle of Fig. 2 may be a second phase L2 of the distribution transformer 11 within the electricity network 10 (not shown in Fig. 2). At the bottom of Fig. 2, a voltage variation pattern with respect to time for an electrical device 12 is shown but the phase L1 or L2 to which the electrical device is connected is unknown. At the time t1 the phase of electrical device 12 is slightly different compared to the phase L1 of the first distribution transformer 11 but, nevertheless, the pattern of voltage variations of the phases L1 and of the electrical device are very similar as is the frequency of the patterns. It can be clearly seen from Fig. 2 that the phase L2 of the other distribution transformer does not fit with the phase of the electrical device 12 and therefore the electrical device 12 is not connected to the phase L2. Such a comparison can be carried out by the processing unit that is in communication (either physically or wirelessly connected) with the electrical device 12 and the measuring unit 12a.
On closer inspection, the patterns VLi and V12 are only shifted slightly in time and the time frame between t1 and t2 of the pattern VLi corresponds with the time frame t1 ’ and t2’ of pattern Vi2. In case the time difference between t1 and t1 ’ is less than the shift of the other phases L2, L3 of the relevant distribution transformer 11, it can be assumed that the electrical device 12 is connected to the phase L1 and that the time difference is caused due to an imprecise reference time clock 13 of the electrical device 12.
It will also be appreciated that perturbations (such as outage) in a power supply from a particular phase of distribution transformer can be compared to the perturbations that occur in the power supply that is delivered to the individual electrical devices via in the individual utility meters. The processing unit can have half hourly meter data as input data and the processing unit will correlate the perturbation of the supply attributes over time and based on the synchronised time scale of the transformer 11. In the example of figure 2, a perturbation which is an outage, P1, is shown in the top voltage variation pattern VLi. A similar perturbation is shown in bottom voltage variation pattern V12 and from this information, the processing unit can determine that the electrical device 12 is connected to phase L1 at least for the time period that the comparison and determination has taken place. Note that this may be a temporary determination, that is, the device 12 may only be connected temporarily to the phase L1. As another example of a type of perturbation, at time t3 in the voltage pattern VLi, a dip in the voltage may occur. A similar dip occurring in pattern V12 can be identified at a similar time (in this case t3’) and a determination made that electrical device 12 is connected to phase L1. Note that one or more of the aforementioned comparisons or other 10 comparisons of the patterns can be made and not all of the comparisons need to be made.
The voltage variation pattern or image described above can be a representation of a root mean square that has been taken of the power supply and generated. By comparing images of voltage variations, a determination of the relevant phase can be made. Accurate sine wave representations of a voltage are not required.
The utility meter used in the aforementioned embodiments is preferably an electricity meter comprising means for measuring the consumption of electricity. Such measuring means are known to those skilled in the art and are therefore not described in detail herein.
In addition to the embodiments of the invention described in detail above, the skilled person will recognize that various features described herein can be modified and/or combined with additional features, and the resulting additional embodiments of the invention are also within the scope of the accompanying claims.
Claims (29)
1. System for identifying the electrical phase of an electrical device connected to one of the phases of a device having a multi-phase output via an electricity distribution network, the system comprising means for comparing variations of voltage at the electrical device over a reference time period with the variation of voltage at each of the phases of the multi-phase output device over the reference time period; and means for determining which one of the phases the electrical device is connected based on the comparison.
2. System according to claim 1, wherein the comparing means and determining means form part of a processing unit.
3. System according to claim 2, wherein the processing unit is configured to identify the phase of the multi-phase output device used by the electrical device based on the difference between the variations of the voltage of the electrical device and the variations of the voltage of each phase of the multi-phase output device.
4. System according to any of the preceding claims 2 or 3, wherein the processing unit is configured to compare the differences between the variations of the voltage of the electrical device and the variations of the voltage of each phase of the multi-phase output device with a pre-defined threshold.
5. System according to claim 4, wherein the threshold is a fixed threshold defined by a user of the system or a varying threshold depending on current flowing though the network.
6. System according to any of the preceding claims 1 to 5, wherein one or more data collection units are operable to collect time stamped variations of the voltage of the electrical device and the time stamped variations of the voltage of each phase of the multi-phase output device.
7. System according to any of the preceding claims 1 to 6, wherein one or more data collection units are operable to collect the variations of the voltage of the electrical device and the variations of the voltage of each phase of the multi-phase output device, and apply time stamps to each variation based on its own reference time source.
8. System according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the data collection units comprise storage memories for storing the variations of the voltage of the electrical device and the variations of the voltage of each phase of the multi-phase output device in relation to the reference times of the multi-phase output device and the electrical device.
9. System according to any of the preceding claims 1 to 8, wherein the variations of the voltage of the electrical device and the variations of the voltage of each phase of the multi-phase output device in relation to the reference times of the multi-phase output device are storable in a pre-defined data format comprising data fields for storing the references times and selected patterns of the variations of the voltage of the electrical device and of the multi-phase output device.
10. System according to any of the preceding claims 1 to 9, wherein the variation in voltage is characterised by one or more events within the electricity distribution network, such as an individual phase power outage, power restoration, dips, sag, swell, momentary over voltage, momentary under voltage or detection of injected control signals.
11. System according to any of the preceding claims 2 to 10, wherein the processing unit is configured to receive the variations of the voltage of the multi-phase output device and of the electrical device and determines the start times and/or durations of the corresponding time frames for comparing the variations of the voltage of each phase of the multi-phase output device with the variations of the voltage of the electrical device within corresponding time frames.
12. System according to any of the preceding claims 2 to 11, wherein the processing unit is configured to receive the variations of the voltage of the multi-phase output device and of the electrical device via the electricity distribution network or via a separate telecommunication network.
13. System according to any of the preceding claims 6 to 12, wherein the electrical devices and I or data collection units are utility meters.
14. System according to any of the preceding claims 1 to 13, wherein multiple electrical devices and I or multiple multi-phase output devices are connected to the electricity distribution network.
15. System according to any preceding claim, wherein the multi-phase output device is a multi-phase transformer or at least a two phase transformer.
16. System substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings.
17. Method for identifying the electrical phase of an electrical device connected to one of the phases of an at least a multi-phase output device via an electricity distribution network, comprising:
comparing variations of voltage at the electrical device over a reference time period with the variation of voltage at each of the phases of the multi-phase output device over the reference time period;
determining which one of the phases the electrical device is connected based on the comparison.
18. Method according to claim 17 further comprising:
determining differences between the variations of the voltage of the electrical device and the variations of the voltage of each phase of the multi-phase output device.
19. Method according to claim 18 further comprising:
comparing the differences between the variations of the voltage of the electrical device and the variations of the voltage of each phase of the multi-phase output device with a pre-defined threshold.
20. Method according to one of the preceding claims 17 to 19, wherein the variation in voltage is characterised by one or more events within the electricity distribution network, such as an individual phase power outage, power restoration, dips, sag, swell, momentary over voltage, momentary under voltage or detection of injected control signals.
21. Method according to any preceding claims 17 to 20, further comprising transmitting the variations of the voltage of the multi-phase output device and of the electrical device via the electricity distribution network or via a separate telecommunication network.
22. Method according to one of the preceding claims 17 to 21, wherein the variations of the voltage of the electrical device and the variations of the voltage of each phase of the multi-phase output device in relation to the reference times of the multi-phase output device are stored in a pre-defined data format comprising data fields for storing the references times and selected patterns of the variations of the voltage of the electrical device and of the multi-phase output device.
23. Method according to one of the preceding claims 17 to 22, wherein unique identifiers of each electrical device and/or of each phase of the multi-phase output device are stored in one specific data field part of each data set with the pre-defined data format of each electrical device and each phase of the multi-phase output device.
24. Method according to one of the preceding claims 22 to 23, wherein a least difference between the variations of the voltage of the electrical device and the variations of the voltage of each phase of the multi-phase output device is determined by using the selected data fields of the relevant data sets of each electrical device and each phase of the multi-phase output device.
25. Method according to one of the preceding claims 17 to 24, wherein the reference time of each electrical device and of each phase of the multi-phase output device is a universal time, such as coordinated universal time (UTC).
26. Method according to one of the preceding claims 17 to 24, wherein the reference time of each electrical device and of each phase of each multi-phase output device r is synchronized via the electricity distribution network or via the separate telecommunication network.
27. Method substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings.
28. A device for identifying the electrical phase of a downstream electrical device connected to one of the phases of an upstream device having a multi-phase output via
10 an electricity distribution network, the identification device comprising means for comparing variations of voltage at the electrical device over a reference time period with the variation of voltage at each of the phases of the multi-phase output device over the reference time period; and means for determining which one of the phases the electrical device is connected based on the comparison..
29. Device for identifying the electrical phase of an at least two-phase transformer used by an electrical device connected via an electricity distribution network with the two-phase transformer substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings.
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Application No: GB1705549.2 Examiner: David Burns
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB1705549.2A GB2561218B (en) | 2017-04-06 | 2017-04-06 | Identification of electrical phase of an electrical device |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB1705549.2A GB2561218B (en) | 2017-04-06 | 2017-04-06 | Identification of electrical phase of an electrical device |
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| Publication Number | Publication Date |
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| GB201705549D0 GB201705549D0 (en) | 2017-05-24 |
| GB2561218A true GB2561218A (en) | 2018-10-10 |
| GB2561218A8 GB2561218A8 (en) | 2018-10-24 |
| GB2561218B GB2561218B (en) | 2022-10-19 |
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| GB1705549.2A Active GB2561218B (en) | 2017-04-06 | 2017-04-06 | Identification of electrical phase of an electrical device |
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Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DE102020130863A1 (en) | 2020-11-23 | 2022-05-25 | innogy eMobility Solutions GmbH | Method for the automated detection of a switching matrix of electrical consumables connected to a three-phase distribution network, in particular charging devices for electrical energy storage devices and charging devices |
Families Citing this family (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN108345681B (en) * | 2018-02-28 | 2022-04-26 | 宁波三星医疗电气股份有限公司 | Method and system for automatically identifying electric meter type based on link detection |
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Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB2561218A8 (en) | 2018-10-24 |
| GB201705549D0 (en) | 2017-05-24 |
| GB2561218B (en) | 2022-10-19 |
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