Multi-branch current/voltage sensor array

• US 9,310,397 B2
• Filed: 01/29/2013
• Issued: 04/12/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: El-Essawy, Wael, Ferreira, Alexandre Peixoto, Keller, Thomas Walter, Rajamani, Karthick, Rubio, Juan C., Schappert, Michael A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Vazquez, Arleen M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rodak, Lee
• Application Number:
  US13/752,668
• Publication Number:
  US 20140210453A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,169 Days
• Field of Search: 324/117.R, 324/117.H, 324126-127, 324/142, 324/103.R, 324251-252, 324/76.11, 324/522, 324/713, 324/348, 34087001-87003, 702/60, 702/62, 702 64- 65, 702/38
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 15/142 Arrangements for simultaneous measurements of several parameters employing techniques covered by groups G01R15/14 - G01R15/26
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 15/183 using transformers with a magnetic core

Abstract

A sensor array including multiple current sensors provides input for power measurement and management systems. The sensor array includes split ferrite cylinder portions connected by a frame, so that when the array is installed around multiple branch circuits in a power distribution panel or raceway, the ferrite cylinders are completed to surround the conductor(s) of the associated branch circuit. Voltage sensing may also be incorporated within the sensors by providing an electrically conductive plate, wire or other element that capacitively couples to the corresponding wire(s).

Claims

1. A current-sensing device for measuring individual currents passing through multiple wires corresponding to multiple branch circuits, the current-sensing device comprising:

a first frame member having a base portion and a first set of extensions securing corresponding ones of a first set of ferrite cylinder portions disposed along a length of the first frame member and corresponding to the multiple branch circuit wires;

a second frame member having a cover portion and a second set of extensions securing corresponding ones of a second set of ferrite cylinder portions along a length of the second frame member and corresponding to the first set of ferrite cylinder portions, such that when the cover portion of the second frame member is fastened over the base portion of the first frame member, the first set of extensions extend through voids formed through the cover portion of the second frame member, wherein the length of the voids along the length of the second frame member is greater than a width of the extensions along the length of the first frame member portion so that the first frame member is slideably coupled to the second frame member to provide movement between a closed position in which the first set of multiple ferrite cylinder portions are located proximate to or contacting corresponding ones of the second set of multiple ferrite cylinder portions to form substantially closed magnetic flux loops surrounding the corresponding wires of the multiple branch circuits and an open position in which the first set of multiple ferrite cylinder portions are displaced from the corresponding ones of the second set of multiple ferrite cylinder portions so gaps are formed therebetween for passage of the corresponding wires without disconnecting an end of the corresponding wires; and

multiple current sensors coupled to the corresponding magnetic flux loops formed by the first and second sets of multiple ferrite cylinder portions.

2. The current-sensing device of claim 1, wherein the multiple current sensors comprise multiple semiconductor current sensors located within gaps formed in the corresponding magnetic flux loops formed by the first and second sets of multiple ferrite cylinder portions.

3. The current-sensing device of claim 1, wherein the multiple current sensors comprise multiple coils, each wound around a corresponding one of the first set of multiple ferrite cylinder portions.

4. The current-sensing device of claim 1, wherein the first and second sets of ferrite cylinder portions are positioned by the first frame member and the second frame member, respectively, such that cylindrical voids defined between each of the first set of ferrite cylinder portions and corresponding ones of the second ferrite cylinder portions are parallel and spaced appropriately for receiving multiple branch circuits emanating from standard circuit breakers spaced at intervals of one-half inch, one inch or two inches.

5. The current-sensing device of claim 1, further comprising multiple voltage-sensing elements for sensing electrical potentials at corresponding ones of the multiple wires.

6. The current-sensing device of claim 5, wherein the multiple voltage-sensing elements comprise a film affixed to or deposited within corresponding ones of at least one of the first set of ferrite cylinder portions or the second ferrite cylinder portions.

7. The current-sensing device of claim 1, further comprising a processing circuit integrated within the first frame member for measuring outputs of the multiple current sensors and providing information determined from the multiple current sensors to an external system via an interface.

8. The current-sensing device of claim 7, wherein the interface is a wireless interface integrated within the first frame member.

9. A method of measuring currents passing through multiple wires corresponding to multiple branch circuits, the method comprising:

securing a current-sensing device around the multiple wires, wherein the current-sensing device includes multiple current sensors coupled to corresponding magnetic flux loops formed by first and second sets of ferrite cylinder portions that are integrated within a corresponding first frame member and a second frame member, respectively, wherein the first frame member has a base portion and a first set of extensions securing corresponding ones of a first set of ferrite cylinder portions disposed along a length of the first frame member and corresponding to the multiple branch circuit wires, wherein the second frame member has a cover portion and a second set of extensions securing corresponding ones of a second set of ferrite cylinder portions along a length of the second frame member and corresponding to the first set of ferrite cylinder portions, and wherein the cover portion of the second frame member is fastened over the base portion of the first frame member so that the first set of extensions extend through voids formed through the cover portion of the second frame member, wherein the length of the voids along the length of the second frame member is greater than a width of the extensions along the length of the first frame member portion so that the first frame member is slideably coupled to the second frame member so that the securing provides movement between a closed position so that the first set of multiple ferrite cylinder portions are located proximate to or contacting corresponding ones of the second set of multiple ferrite cylinder portions to form the magnetic flux loops to surround the corresponding wires of the multiple branch circuits, and an open position in which the first set of multiple ferrite cylinder portions are displaced from the corresponding ones of the second set of multiple ferrite cylinder portions so gaps are formed therebetween for passage of the corresponding wires without disconnecting an end of the corresponding wires; and

measuring the currents by measuring an output of the current sensors.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising sensing electric potentials at the wires using a voltage-sensing element integrated in at least one of the first or the second frame members.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising installing the current-sensing device in a building power distribution panel or raceway, wherein the multiple branch circuits are multiple branch circuits of the building, and wherein the measuring measures the current consumed by multiple loads supplied by the multiple branch circuits.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising transmitting a result of the measuring to an external system from an interface integrated with the first frame member.

13. A current-sensing device for measuring individual currents passing through multiple wires corresponding to multiple branch circuits, the current-sensing device comprising:

comprising;

a first frame member having a base portion and a first set of extensions securing corresponding ones of a first set of ferrite cylinder portions disposed along a length of the first frame member and corresponding to the multiple branch circuit wires;

a second frame member having a cover portion and a second set of extensions securing corresponding ones of a second set of ferrite cylinder portions along a length of the second frame member and corresponding to the first set of ferrite cylinder portions, such that when the cover portion of the second frame member is fastened over the base portion of the first frame member, the first set of extensions extend through voids formed through the cover portion of the second frame member, wherein the length of the voids along the length of the second frame member is greater than a width of the extensions along the length of the first frame member portion so that the first frame member is slideably coupled to the second frame member to provide movement between a closed position in which the first set of multiple ferrite cylinder portions are located proximate to or contacting corresponding ones of the second set of multiple ferrite cylinder portions to form substantially closed magnetic flux loops surrounding the corresponding wires of the multiple branch circuits and an open position in which the first set of multiple ferrite cylinder portions are displaced from the corresponding ones of the second set of multiple ferrite cylinder portions so gaps are formed therebetween for passage of the corresponding wires without disconnecting an end of the corresponding wires, wherein the first and second sets of ferrite cylinder portions are positioned by the first frame member and the second frame member, respectively, such that cylindrical voids defined between each of the first set of ferrite cylinder portions and corresponding ones of the second ferrite cylinder portions are parallel and spaced appropriately for receiving multiple branch circuits emanating from standard circuit breakers spaced at intervals of one-half inch, one inch or two inches;

multiple semiconductor current sensors coupled to the corresponding magnetic flux loops formed by the first and second sets of multiple ferrite cylinder portions;

multiple voltage-sensing elements comprising a film affixed to or deposited within corresponding ones of at least one of the first set of ferrite cylinder portions or the second ferrite cylinder portions for sensing electrical potentials at corresponding ones of the multiple wires; and

a processing circuit integrated within the first frame member for measuring outputs of the multiple current sensors and providing information determined from the multiple current sensors to an external system via an interface.