2718results about "Power measurement by current/voltage" patented technology

A system for electric grid utilization and optimization, comprising a communications interface executing on a network-connected server and adapted to receive information from a plurality of iNodes, the plurality of iNodes comprising a source iNode, a sink iNode, and a plurality of transmission or distribution iNodes, an event database coupled to the communications interface and adapted to receive events from a plurality of iNodes via the communications interface, a modeling server coupled to the communications interface, and a statistics server coupled to the event database and the modeling server, wherein the modeling server, on receiving a request to establish an allocation of at least one of transmission losses, distribution losses, and ancillary services to a specific sink iNode, computes at least one virtual path for flow of electricity between a source iNode and the specific sink iNode and wherein the modeling server further computes, for each transmission or distribution iNode included in the computed virtual path, at least one energy loss and allocates a portion thereof to the specific sink iNode, is disclosed.

A multifunction sensor device which provides various transducer functions including means for performing temperature sensing, humidity sensing, ambient light sensing, motion detection, thermostat functions, switching functions, load switching and dimming functions, displaying actual and set temperature values, displaying time of day values and a means to put the device in an on, off or auto mode. The device has utility in environments such as that found in offices, schools, homes, industrial plants or any other type of automated facility in which sensors are utilized for energy monitoring and control, end user convenience or artificial or natural cooling, heating and HVAC control. The device can be used as a switch or dimmer, sensor or thermostat as well as to adjust and control all natural and artificial lighting, temperature and humidity devices. Key elements of the invention include overcoming the difficulty of mounting diverse sensors or transducers within the same device or housing; permitting these various sensors to exist in a single package that can be mounted to a wall in a substantially flush manner; and eliminating the requirement of an air flow channel in the device, thus minimizing any adverse effects on the motion detecting element or sensor as well as providing built in partial hysteresis. The device may include additional transducers or sensors and is constructed such that the temperature and humidity sensors are neither exposed to the flow of air in a room or area nor in an airflow channel whereby a chimney effect may occur. The device can transmit and receive real time data, relative data and actual discrete data in addition to switching and controlling loads locally or remotely. An embodiment utilizing airflow channels to direct air over the temperature and humidity sensors is also disclosed.

A system for monitoring utility consumption information, the system including a memory to store utility consumption information and a processor configured by the memory to provide a user interface to enable an user to view the utility consumption information in a time-segmented fashion.

A system for determining service outages and restorations includes an outage management server (OMS) that generates reports of outages and restoration information for metering endpoints. The outages may be caused by faults at various locations in the distribution network. The metering endpoint may include a transmitter having a battery backup that transmits the outage information upon a failure to detect a voltage at the endpoint. The transmission of the information may be filtered based on configurable criteria. The metering endpoints may also inform the OMS when power is restored.

A system for electric grid utilization and optimization comprising a communications interface executing on a network-connected server and adapted to receive information from a plurality of iNodes, the plurality of iNodes comprising a source iNode, a sink iNode, a plurality of transmission or distribution iNodes, an event database coupled to the communications interface and adapted to receive events from a plurality of iNodes via the communications interface, a modeling server coupled to the communications interface, and a statistics server coupled to the event database and the modeling server, wherein the modeling server, receives a request to establish an allocation of at least one of transmission losses, distribution losses, and ancillary services to a specific sink iNode, computes at least one virtual path for electricity flow between a source iNode and the specific sink iNode, the computed path being determined based on optimization of perceived comfort of users in affected areas.

Systems and methods are disclosed for using 802.11 based wireless protocols in various energy management applications wherein a host controller uses various types of communication networks to distribute information to an on-premise processor that in turn uses 802.11 based wireless protocols to communicate with various types of end devices, such as utility meters. Various forms of communication are defined between the end device, the on-premise processor, and the energy management host for accomplishing power load control, including determining when to activate or deactivate a load, requesting permission to activate a load, reading usage data, activating or deactivating a meter, and determining rate schedules. A flexible scheme allows control to be shifted to be resident in various entities. The architecture is applicable not only for power load control, but other control type and metering devices.

A method and system for controlling electric power consumption using a computer to create a forecast and then controlling devices that use power based on the forecast. An automatic reader device is used to gather power consumption data from a point of utility service. The power consumption data is then provided to a computer. The computer is used to create a forecast of energy use for instantaneous demand and time-based usage. The computer then provides alerts based on the forecast for the manual or automatic control of devices that consume electricity. The system may be managed locally or remotely by a computer, PDA, cell phone or other network enabled device.

A system for controlling remotely located electrically-powered systems in an electrical network includes a first transceiver. The first transceiver has an identifier in memory and wirelessly communicates bidirectionally with a control center via a plurality of additional wireless birdirectional transceivers. At least one of the plurality of additional wireless bidirectional transceivers is a site controller coupled to a wide area network. At least another of the additional wireless bidirectional transceivers is coupled to a meter. A microcontroller is coupled to the first transceiver and to a remotely located electrically-powered system. The microcontroller controls operation of the electrically-powered device from at least a state of powered on to a state of powered off when a signal associated with actuating the power state of the remotely located electrically-powered system is received. A keypad containing user selectable buttons is coupled to the microcontroller for receiving user input.

The present invention discloses a system for monitoring and estimating the consumption of energy resources in real-time. The system includes an interactive user module, a measuring unit and a wireless network. The measuring unit is interfaced to a utility meter. Optionally, the measuring unit can also function as a stand alone device. The measuring unit is further connected to the interactive user module via the wireless network. The system monitors energy resource consumption such as electricity, gas or water consumption in real-time, generates and displays graphs of energy resource consumption over user selected time periods and enables communication with at least one utility company. The system increases the users' awareness of their energy consumption and aids users in dynamic or deregulated pricing environments to shed load when the energy resource is most expensive. With knowledge of their energy use, the users can take proactive steps to control their energy consumption and save money. A method of estimating the energy resource consumption over a period of time is also provided.

An electric power meter includes an embedded decomposition module that is configured to decompose a power meter signal into constituent loads to segregate and identify energy consumption associated with each individual energy consumption device within a plurality of energy consumption devices coupled to the power meter.

A device for testing a wireless power network is disclosed. The network includes at least one power source, at least one load, and multiple resonators configured to couple wireless power from the at least one power source to the at least one load. The device includes: a user interface for receiving input from a user and providing information to the user; a measurement module for measuring, whether directly or indirectly, at least one operational characteristic of the wireless power network and information about the geometric arrangement of the multiple resonators in the wireless power network; a memory for storing design specifications about the wireless power network; and an electronic processor configured to calculate information about a performance of the wireless power network based on the measured operational characteristic, the information about the geometric arrangement of the multiple resonators, and the stored design specifications, and further configured to provide the performance information to the user through the user interface.

A power distribution monitoring system includes a number of power line mounted monitors. Each monitor can acquire data regarding the delivery of electrical power in the power line, wirelessly transmit and receive messages, and electromagnetically acquire and store operating electrical power from electrical current flowing in the power line. The system also includes an aggregator that can wirelessly transmit and receive messages and wirelessly output beacon messages. In response to beacon signals wirelessly output by the aggregator, each monitor co-acts with the aggregator to dynamically build a wireless communication network for the wireless communication of the data acquired by the monitor regarding the delivery of electrical power in the power line to the aggregator.

An elevated mesh network supported and operably coupled to street lamps can be used to remotely monitor and control field devices. The packet transceiver modules of the mesh network can also be coupled to sensors that monitor operation of a street lamp as well as environmental conditions. The elevated mesh network supported by street lamps can use RF links to couple with one or more remote field devices that also have packet transceiver modules. The elevated mesh network can also include a communications gateway that couples the elevated mesh network to an asynchronous communications system. The communications gateway is a store and forward system that can periodically connect to the asynchronous communications system in order to upload compressed data derived from the remote field devices. The asynchronous communications system can connect the elevated mesh network to a back-end computer system that may monitor, diagnose, and control the remote field devices.

Portable and wearable chemical detector devices, such as badges, that are analyte-general, rather than analyte-specific, and which provide an optimal way to notify and protect personnel against known and unknown airborne chemical hazards. The devices are advantageously low-cost, have low-power requirements, may be wearable and are designed to detect and alarm to a general chemical threat. A sensor device includes two or more sensor devices, a processing module coupled to each of the sensor devices and configured to process signals received from each of the two or more sensor devices to determine an environmental state; and a communication module that communicates information about the environmental state to a user.

A wireless electrical power metering system is provided. A processor having a multichannel power line transceiver, a wireless transceiver, and a power meter attached thereto measures power consumption information on a power line inductively coupled with the power meter. The processor converts the power consumption information into IP-based data, and transmits same over the wireless transceiver. The information can be wirelessly received by a remote monitoring station or transmitted across the Internet for storage, analysis, and billing. The processor generates appliance control signals and generates same across the multichannel power line transceiver to remotely control appliances in response to power consumption trends. The processor provides firewall capabilities, and relays information between a wired or wireless network and a power line network, thereby expanding the size of existing household networks. Further, the processor allows multiple dwellings to be networked using power lines, and households to be connected to the Internet via a power line network.

An energy usage coordinator controls the energy usage of individual buildings of a group (or portfolio) of buildings in one or more load zones. These buildings have all contracted with an energy company which controls (directly or indirectly) the energy usage coordinator. By agreeing to lower energy usage during times of peak usage (when the energy company may otherwise have to pay very high prices on the spot or short term market), the owners or managers of the buildings receive a preferential energy rate from the energy company. Such a preferential rate may be in the form of a fixed rate reduction or a variable rate reduction. Alternatively, the energy company may determine that the energy is currently selling for twice what its building portfolio has contracted to pay for it so it requests some portion of the portfolio to reduce usage so that it can sell the excess / saved energy in the market.

A system, method and computer program product for processing utility data of a power grid is provided. In one embodiment, the system includes a datamart comprised of a plurality of physical databases storing utility data, a plurality of applications comprising an automated meter application configured to process power usage data from a plurality of automated meters, a power outage application configured to identify a location of a power outage, and a power restoration application configured to identify a location of a power restoration. The system may include an analysis engine comprising a plurality of analysis objects with each analysis object configured to process data to provide a specific analysis, wherein said analysis engine is accessible via one or more of the plurality of applications, and the system may include a report module configured to receive an output from the analysis engine and to output a report. The plurality of applications may also include a fault analysis application, a transformer analysis application, a theft detection application, a power flow application, a substation automation application, a load shed application and others.

A circuit tracer for use with circuit breakers equipped with sensors capable of sensing at least a change in the power consumption of the circuit and transmitting, preferably wirelessly, such information. The information is received directly or indirectly by a circuit tracer having a display, the display showing all the circuit breakers equipped with the sensors. Upon changing the load of an electricity outlet, such as a wall outlet, a light source, HVAC, pump, electrical machinery, etc., the sensor equipped circuit breaker provides an indication of such power or current consumption change to the circuit tracer. This allows the user of the circuit tracer to associate on the circuit tracer the circuit breaker with the specific electricity outlet. The association information may be saved on a central server or database for future use.

A system and method of providing utility data services is provided. In one embodiment the method includes receiving meter data of the measured power consumed by a plurality of power customers, receiving delivered power data that includes data of the power delivered to the plurality of power customers, determining a difference between the meter data and the delivered power data, determining that the difference between the meter data and the delivered power data is greater than a predetermined amount, and indicating a discrepancy if the difference between the meter data and the delivered power data is greater than a predetermined amount. In addition, the method may include determining that a discrepancy varies over time by a predetermined amount and providing a discrepancy notification such as wirelessly and / or via power line.

Apparatus and method including acquiring a signal indicative of power consumption; detecting a transient in the signal; extracting a feature indicative of the transient, wherein extracting the feature includes: fitting a plurality of models to the transient, selecting one of the plurality of models as a model for the transient, and defining the feature indicative of the transient based on at least one parameter of the model for the transient; and classifying the transient based on the feature.

A system that facilitates and implements energy savings decisions by a home owner. The system will provide a mechanism to reduce the peak level of energy demand. A controller in logical communication with energy consuming appliances responds to request for energy from energy consuming appliances and devices by permitting or curtailing energy supply to the appliances or devices based on evaluation of a plurality of logical considerations. The controller may be operated to provide energy to fewer than all of the energy requesting appliances to reduce the energy demand on an energy supply source, including the instantaneous peak demand.

A system and method is provided to enable consumers to intelligently manage their consumption of energy. In one embodiment, waveform data is collected for a plurality of appliances which may be found in a residential or commercial setting using a plurality of multi-port outlet monitoring devices. The collected waveform data is processed and analyzed to obtain power consumption profiles that indicate power consumption on a per-appliance and / or per-outlet basis and / or per user basis.

A method and system are associated with distributed generation of electric power. Power demand data of at least one electric power consumer is monitored over time. Power supply data of a regional power distribution system is also monitored over time. The power demand data and the power supply data are analyzed to coordinate control of at least one distributed generation system associated with the electric power consumer.

A programmable system for monitoring electricity consumption by a residence or business, including:(a) a Measuring Transmitting Unit integrated in a main circuit breaker or utility meter in the residence or business; comprising: (1) a means of receiving AC analog signals, converting the AC analog signals to DC analog signals, summing the DC analog signals, and outputting the information; (2) a microcontroller; (3) a power line carrier transmission interface controller; and (4) a power supply for powering the Measuring Transmitting Unit; and(b) a programmable Receiving Display Unit, comprising: (1) a power supply for powering the Receiving Display Unit; (2) a power plug; (3) a power line carrier transmission interface controller; (4) a data decoder; (5) a microcontroller; (6) memory associated with the microcontroller; (7) a visual display; and (8) a mechanism for inputting to the Receiving Display Unit; andwherein the Measuring Transmitting Unit translates current to digitally encoded signals, and transmits the signals over existing power circuits in the residence or business; and the Receiving Display Unit receives the signals, decodes them, and translates them for viewing. A method for monitoring electricity consumption by a residence or business is also included.

The present invention discloses a system for monitoring and estimating the consumption of energy resources in real-time. The system includes an interactive user module, a measuring unit and a wireless network. The measuring unit is interfaced to a utility meter. Optionally, the measuring unit can also function as a stand alone device. The measuring unit is further connected to the interactive user module via the wireless network. The system monitors energy resource consumption such as electricity, gas or water consumption in real-time, generates and displays graphs of energy resource consumption over user selected time periods and enables communication with at least one utility company. The system increases the users' awareness of their energy consumption and aids users in dynamic or deregulated pricing environments to shed load when the energy resource is most expensive. With knowledge of their energy use, the users can take proactive steps to control their energy consumption and save money. A method of estimating the energy resource consumption over a period of time is also provided.

A system and method is provided for detecting an island condition using active detection. The active detection involves biasing the voltage, frequency, current or phase of a distributed resource connected to a utility network. Biasing the distributed resource involves inducing a change of voltage, frequency, current or phases above or below the normal operating values. The impact of this biasing on the system operating parameters can then be measure to determine if an island condition exists. Once an island condition has been detected, the system can initiate an anti-islanding procedure to remove the distributed resource from the utility network such as opening a breaker connecting the distributed resource to the network. Additionally, the system and method can include a passive element for detecting frequency and voltage (or other parameters) shifts above certain points.

A remotely monitored and controlled building automation system is disclosed providing efficient offsite use of BAS personnel to monitor and control such systems while utilizing relatively inexpensive alarm monitoring services to advice of system emergencies. In a first preferred embodiment, the building automation system transmits a simplified BAS / energy alarm (including only building identity information) via a specially adapted and configured local security panel to an offsite monitoring center. Thereafter, the alarm is re-transmitted to a BAS web server and on to a BAS website. The BAS website provides notification of the energy alarm to trained BAS technicians located at a remote dealer and enables such personnel, via the website to maintain two-way communication with the building automation system from which the alarm originated. Such personnel are thereby enabled to fully analyze and properly respond to the circumstances which resulted in the alarm. In a second preferred embodiment, the building automation system transmits the simplified BAS alarm directly to a security monitoring center. A BAS controller is disclosed, especially configured and adapted to generate an “energy alarm” upon reception of sensor data indicating the existence of conditions beyond programmed parameters and to provide two way communication of detailed BAS data between the controller and an offsite location. In addition, an especially configured and adapted security panel is disclosed, including a specially coded sensor position, whereby reception of a simplified BAS alarm by the security panel is recognized and re-transmitted to a monitoring center as an energy alarm.

A display system that communicates with existing automated meter reading communications systems to provide information to a user. The display includes a radio that listens to communications between a utility meter and the reading system. When the display recognizes a particular utility meter identifier, it captures meter read information and stores it in memory. The information may then be presented to the user. Alternatively, a broadcast message may be communicated, that when received by the display, causes the display to extract information from the receiver. A manual override button may be provided to allow a user to manually request information from the meter. The display will extract information from the meter upon receipt of the manual request.