SYSTEM FOR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRICAL ENERGY

Abstract

The present invention relates to a system for distributing electrical energy, comprising an electricity grid configured to supply electrical energy to end users, characterized in that the grid is operated on a direct voltage.

Claims

1. A device for billing energy consumption within a system for distributing electrical energy, the system comprising: an electricty grid configured to supply electrical energy to end users, characterized in that the grid is operated on a direct voltage; the device comprising: a connection for consumption of electrical energy from an electricity grid; a connection for supplying electrical energy to a consumer connection; a connection for data communication with an administrator of the electricity grid; a metering device connected to the connection for consumption and to the connection for data communication and configured to: monitor the amount of electrical energy consumed at the consumption point; and monitor the moment the electrical energy is consumed; a data processing unit connected to the metering device and to the connection for data communication and configured to determine, via the connection for data communication, the electric power available for consumption at the connection; determine, via the connection to the metering device, the power consumed; and make available to an output for data output the amount of the electric power available for consumption at the connection.

2. The device as claimed in claim 1, coupled to a control member which is configured to: set a target value for the consumed electrical energy, consume the target value of electrical energy, supply electrical energy to an energy buffer coupled to the control member when the electrical energy actually consumed by users connected to the control member is less than the target value; and draw electrical energy from the energy buffer coupled to the control member when the electrical energy actually consumed by users connected to the control member is greater than the target value.

3. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a measuring device is arranged in series with a first pole of the connection for delivering electrical energy to a consumer connection for the purpose of measuring a current level, and wherein a controller is provided for the purpose of breaking, on the basis of the measured signal, the connection between the connection for consumption of electrical energy from an electricity grid and the connection for delivering electrical energy to a consumer connection, and wherein a coil is arranged in series with a second pole for the purpose of preventing rapid fluctuations in the current level.

4. The device as claimed in claim 3, wherein, when the connection between the connection for consumption of electrical energy from an electricity grid and the connection for delivering electrical energy to a consumer connection is broken, the controller connects the connection for delivering electrical energy to a consumer connection to a power supply.

5. A system for distributing electrical energy, comprising: an electricity grid configured to supply electrical energy to end users, characterized in that the grid is operated on a direct voltage.

6. The system as claimed in claim 5 further comprising a protection device configured to detect change in a power consumption at the connection of an end user and to limit the power consumption at the connection of the end user if the change is greater than a predetermined threshold value.

7. The system as claimed in claim 6, wherein the protection device is configured to detect a change on the basis of the measured presence of harmonic current or voltage components.

8. The system as claimed in claim 6, wherein the protection device is configured to detect the power consumption and to limit or shut off the connection of the end user if the power consumption is greater than a predetermined threshold value.

9. The system as claimed in claim 5 further comprising a device for preventing corrosion of metal reinforcing parts in buildings in the vicinity of a system, wherein said device comprises a measuring device for determining a current, in particular a leakage current, through a metal reinforcing part and a device for injecting a current into the system, wherein a control device is provided for injecting the current such that the current through the metal reinforcing part becomes zero.

10. The system as claimed in claim 5, comprising a method for calibrating a leakage current detection device for use in the system, wherein said method comprises the steps of: injecting a known test current during operation; measuring the response; designating the response not correlated to the test current as leakage current; designating a subsequently measured current which differs from the leakage current as faulty; and repeating the foregoing steps at a predetermined interval.

11. A method for determining the sequence of electrical elements in a ladder network, wherein the electrical elements are provided with a measuring device for measuring the voltage with which they are supplied and a communication device for communicating via their power connection at least the measured voltage and a unique code to a control device, and which are configured to receive via the communication device power-on or power-off instructions, comprising the steps of: supplying a reference voltage to each of the electrical elements prior to their being placed in the ladder; placing the electrical elements in the ladder network; detecting the unique codes of the electrical elements present with the control device; switching the electrical elements on and off one by one and receiving the voltage measured by the electrical elements with the control device; and determining the sequence in which the electrical elements are present in the ladder on the basis of the general principle that the higher the voltage measured, the closer to the voltage source.

12. The system of claim 5, further comprising a user connection, wherein said user connection is provided with USB connections for electrical apparatuses, and wherein said USB connections are configured for power and data transfer.

Description

[0035] FIG. 1 shows a device 1 for balancing energy consumption, comprising a connection 2 for consumption of electrical energy from an electricity grid 3, a connection 4 for delivering electrical energy to a consumer connection, a connection 5 for data communication with an administrator of the electricity grid, a metering device 6 connected to the connection for consumption and to the connection for data communication and configured to monitor the amount of electrical energy consumed at the consumption point; and to monitor the moment the electrical energy is consumed; a data processing unit 7 connected to the metering device and to the connection for data communication and configured to determine, via the connection for data communication, the electric power available for consumption at the connection, to determine, via the connection to the metering device, the power consumed, and to make available to an output for data output the amount of the electric power available for consumption at the connection.

[0036] In a preferred embodiment this device for billing energy consumption is coupled to a control member 8 which is configured to set a target value for the consumed electrical energy, to consume the target value of electrical energy, to supply electrical energy to an energy buffer coupled to the control member when the electrical energy actually consumed by users connected to the control member is less than the target value; and to draw electrical energy from the energy buffer coupled to the control member when the electrical energy actually consumed by users connected to the control member is greater than the target value. set a target value.

[0037] FIG. 2 shows a detail 9 of a system according to FIG. 1, wherein so-called congestion management is performed. There is a constant supply, which can be fully planned/adjusted. A constant power with a guaranteed lower threshold value is made available from the grid, optionally supplemented with “happy hour” power, whereby a “smart grid” is constructed downstream of the meter (within the indicated circle) instead of upstream of the meter. This achieves that each apparatus consumes power in accordance with a priority schedule. There is no master in the system, each apparatus comprises intelligence.

[0038] FIG. 3 shows a protection device 10 according to the present invention, wherein a measuring device 12 is arranged in series with a first pole 11 of the connection for delivering electrical energy to a consumer connection for the purpose of measuring a current level, and wherein a controller 13 is provided for the purpose of breaking, on the basis of the measured signal, the connection between the connection for consumption of electrical energy from an electricity grid and the connection for delivering electrical energy to a consumer connection, and wherein a coil 15 is arranged in series with a second pole 14 for the purpose of preventing rapid fluctuations in the current level.

[0039] When the connection between the connection for consumption of electrical energy from an electricity grid and the connection for delivering electrical energy to a consumer connection is broken, the controller particularly connects the connection for delivering electrical energy to a consumer connection to a power supply.

[0040] FIG. 4 shows a device 16 for preventing corrosion of metal reinforcing parts in buildings, comprising a measuring device 17 for determining a current, in particular a leakage current, through a metal reinforcing part 18, and a device 19 for injecting a current into the system, wherein a control device is provided for injecting the current such that the current through the metal reinforcing part becomes zero. The unit designated with AgSO.sub.4 is a reference cell used inside the device to measure galvanic potentials. Both silver sulfate and copper sulfate are suitable.

[0041] FIG. 5a shows a device and graphs of current curve during a method for calibrating a leakage current detection, comprising the steps of injecting a known test current during operation; measuring the response; designating the response not correlated to the test current as leakage current; designating a subsequently measured current which differs from the leakage current as faulty and repeating the foregoing steps at a predetermined interval.

[0042] FIG. 5b is a graph which shows when a fault is determined.

[0043] FIG. 5c shows a DC protection system with communication consisting of a power line communication (PLC), overload protection, shorting protection, ground leakage protection.

[0044] FIG. 5d shows a safe power-on circuit which ensures that users can switch on in the case of a non-shorting network.

[0045] FIG. 5e shows a circuit which makes it possible to realize a non-shorting network. Users can switch on by means of this circuit without short-circuit power, which is normally not possible, but is possible here because the conditions have been defined, the current lies wholly in the LF range, whereby the protection does not intervene, the current is fully under control, and operates according to the ramp-up method.

[0046] FIGS. 6a and 6b show a method for determining the sequence of electrical elements in a ladder network, wherein the electrical elements are provided with a measuring device for measuring the voltage with which they are supplied and a communication device for communicating via their power connection at least the measured voltage and a unique code to a control device, and which are configured to receive via the communication device power-on or power-off instructions, comprising of supplying a reference voltage to each of the electrical elements prior to their being placed in the ladder, placing the electrical elements in the ladder network, detecting the unique codes of the electrical elements present with the control device, switching the electrical elements on and off one by one and receiving the voltage measured by the electrical elements with the control device, and determining the sequence in which the electrical elements are present in the ladder on the basis of the general principle that the higher the voltage measured, the closer to the voltage source. The incoming DC voltage is measured with a low power controller. Each device per se comprises an ADC, which ADC is calibrated by a source. A random device is then switched on, and measurement takes place again. The difference between the values indicates the voltage difference (for instance 16 bits precisely) and the ID sequence on the bus is determined on the basis hereof. These numbers can be used for location determination.

[0047] FIGS. 7a-c show a consumer connection in which electrical apparatuses are connected by means of a USB connection, over which power and data transfer takes place.

[0048] The small users are powered by a USB PD 1.0 connection. A number of power profiles up to 100 W are now available within this set standard; these can be expanded in future to for instance 60 V at 5A, which can produce a power of 300 W. Opted for is to make a network with a safe low voltage specially for USB power supply and to place a non-insulated DC/DC in the connection point. These are very compact and efficient, whereby they can be built in. The USB connection can also be configured to make data available to a television or computer, whereby all apparatuses require a single connection. This can for instance also be a standard lamp which can be operated via the network. Operation takes place with a main power supply, and small power supplies are used locally in order to provide power in combination with the USB data, which behaves as ethernet. This for instance means that a laptop is provided with ethernet (TCP/IP) and power from the USB PD, so every user is then connected to ethernet, whereby home automation and power supply are combined.

[0049] The above stated examples are purely illustrative and in no way serve to limit the scope of protection of the present application as defined in the following claims.