SELF-PHASING ELECTRIC METER AND AUTOMATION SYSTEM

• US 20170248639A1
• Filed: 02/26/2016
• Published: 08/31/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/2016
• Status: Active Application

• Current Assignee: Siemens Industry Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Industry Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Vaughn, Tyrell Craig, White, Joe Wallace
• Application Number:
  US15/055,082
• Publication Number:
  US 20170248639A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 21/006 Measuring power factor
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 21/06 by measuring current and voltage G01R21/08 - G01R21/133 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 22/10 using digital techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 29/18 Indicating phase sequence; Indicating synchronism
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2642 Domotique, domestic, home control, automation, smart house
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 30/12 Two-phase, three-phase or polyphase transformers
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 71/7445 Poly-phase adjustment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/30 Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for improving the carbon footprint of the management of residential or tertiary loads, i.e. smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the buildings sector, including also the last stages of power distribution and the control, monitoring or operating management systems at local level
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/20 End-user application control systems

Abstract

Building automation systems, energy meters, and associated methods. A method includes receiving a plurality of voltage inputs and a plurality of current inputs from a multiphase power source. The method includes selecting a first voltage input from the plurality of voltage inputs. The method includes performing a signed power factor computation between respective pairs of the first voltage input and each of the plurality of current inputs. The method includes identifying a pair with a greatest positive power factor value. The method includes designating the identified pair with the greatest positive power factor value as an associated phase pair.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving a plurality of voltage inputs and a plurality of current inputs by an energy meter and from a multiphase power source;

selecting a first voltage input from the plurality of voltage inputs by the energy meter;

performing a signed power factor computation between respective pairs of the first voltage input and each of the plurality of current inputs by the energy meter;

identifying a pair with a greatest positive power factor value by the energy meter; and

designating the identified pair with the greatest positive power factor value as an associated phase pair by the energy meter.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the selecting, performing, identifying, and designating processes are repeated for each of the voltage inputs and current inputs that are not designated as an associated phase pair.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the signed power factor computation is performed using a voltage value for the first voltage input and current values for each of the current inputs.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the energy meter also stores each of the power factors.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the energy meter stores the associated phase pair.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the energy meter thereafter performs metering functions using the associated phase pair.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the method is performed in response to receiving an external command via a network connection to the energy meter.

8. An energy meter, comprising:

a plurality of voltage input connections and a plurality of current input connections;

a controller operatively connected to the voltage input connections and the current input connections; and

a memory operatively connected to the controller, wherein the energy meter is configured to;

receive a plurality of voltage inputs at the voltage input connections and a plurality of current inputs at the current input connections, from a multiphase power source;

select a first voltage input from the plurality of voltage inputs;

perform a signed power factor computation between respective pairs of the first voltage input and each of the plurality of current inputs;

identify a pair with a greatest positive power factor value; and

designate the identified pair with the greatest positive power factor value as an associated phase pair.

9. The energy meter of claim 8, wherein the selecting, performing, identifying, and designating processes are repeated for each of the voltage inputs and current inputs that are not designated as an associated phase pair.

10. The energy meter of claim 8, wherein the signed power factor computation is performed using a voltage value for the first voltage input and current values for each of the current inputs.

11. The energy meter of claim 8, wherein the energy meter also stores each of the power factors.

12. The energy meter of claim 8, wherein the energy meter stores the associated phase pair.

13. The energy meter of claim 8, wherein the energy meter thereafter performs metering functions using the associated phase pair.

14. The energy meter of claim 8, wherein the energy meter is configured to perform the processes in response to receiving an external command via a network connection to the energy meter.

15. A building automation system, comprising:

a site controller; and

an energy meter having a plurality of voltage input connections and a plurality of current input connections, a controller operatively connected to the voltage input connections and the current input connections, and a memory operatively connected to the controller, wherein the energy meter is configured to;

receive a plurality of voltage inputs at the voltage input connections and a plurality of current inputs at the current input connections, from a multiphase power source;

select a first voltage input from the plurality of voltage inputs;

perform a signed power factor computation between respective pairs of the first voltage input and each of the plurality of current inputs;

identify a pair with a greatest positive power factor value; and

designate the identified pair with the greatest positive power factor value as an associated phase pair.

16. The building automation system of claim 15, wherein the selecting, performing, identifying, and designating processes are repeated for each of the voltage inputs and current inputs that are not designated as an associated phase pair.

17. The building automation system of claim 15, wherein the signed power factor computation is performed using a voltage value for the first voltage input and current values for each of the current inputs.

18. The building automation system of claim 15, wherein the energy meter also stores each of the power factors.

19. The building automation system of claim 15, wherein the energy meter stores the associated phase pair.

20. The building automation system of claim 15, wherein the energy meter thereafter performs metering functions using the associated phase pair.