ELECTRIC DEVICE FOR ENERGY CONTROL

Abstract

An electric energy control device includes: a measuring device to measure an electric current; a voltage sensor to measure an electric voltage; and a power calculation unit which receives current information from the current sensor and voltage information from the voltage sensor, and is configured to calculate the electric power consumed at the power output of the electric meter. The device also includes a control member which receives information concerning the electric power consumed from the power calculation unit, calculating the difference between the electric power information item and a preceding value, if an absolute value of the difference being less than the threshold remaining idle and if an absolute value of the difference being greater than the threshold outputting a message containing a power value to a terminal for recharging an electrical storage battery. The recharging terminal being remote from the measuring and control members.

Claims

1. Electric device for energy control comprising a measuring device comprising a current sensor configured to measure an electric current downstream of a low-voltage electric meter, a voltage sensor configured to measure an electric voltage at the power output of the low-voltage electric meter, and a power calculation unit receiving a current information from the current sensor and a voltage information from the voltage sensor, and being configured to calculate the electric power consumed at the power output of the electric meter; and a control member receiving information of the electric power consumed from the power calculation unit, calculating the difference between said information of electric power consumed and a preceding value, comparing the absolute value of said difference with a threshold, in case of an absolute value of said difference being less than the threshold remaining idle and in case of an absolute value of said difference being greater than the threshold outputting a message containing a power value to a terminal for recharging an electrical energy storage battery, the recharging terminal being remote from the measuring member and the control member, said preceding value being said power value contained in the preceding message.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the measuring member and the control member have a common housing.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the control member comprises a communication member configured to establish a link at least one-way to the recharging terminal.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the recharging terminal is configured to receive said message and adapt its energy consumption to the difference between a contract power and the power value contained in said message.

5. The device according to claim 4, wherein a slave recharging terminal is controlled by said control member.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein said threshold is greater than or equal to 1% of the contract power.

7. The device according to claim 1, wherein the frequency for comparing the absolute value of said difference with said threshold is less than or equal to 100 Hz.

8. The device according to claim 1, wherein said message is output at a frequency at least 10 times less than the frequency for comparing the absolute value of said difference with said threshold.

9. The device according to claim 1, wherein the calculation of the difference between a contract power and the power value is performed by the control member, the new power at which the charger must operate being transmitted to said charger.

10. The device according to claim 1, wherein a communication with a central server controlling by default the charger is established by the control member.

11. The device according to claim 1, wherein the control member is configured to output a message containing a power value to each terminal for recharging an electrical energy storage battery connected to said device, each recharging terminal being remote from the measuring member and the control member, said preceding value being said power value contained in the preceding message.

12. The device according to claim 1, wherein the electric device for energy control implements artificial intelligence functions configured to optimize the distribution of powers in the case of simultaneous management of a plurality of recharging terminals.

13. The device according to claim 1, wherein the electric device for energy control comprises a charge distribution member between phases of a three-phase low-voltage electric meter.

14. The device according to claim 1, wherein the electric device for energy control is devoid of communication link with the electric meter.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0042] Other specific features and advantages of the invention will be described in detail in the following description, made with reference to the appended drawings, wherein:

[0043] FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a device according to one aspect of the invention.

[0044] FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a device according to another aspect of the invention.

[0045] FIG. 3 is a detail view of the housing.

[0046] The appended drawings mainly contain elements of certain character. Therefore, not only may they be used to better understand the present invention, but also to help to define it, if necessary.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0047] As illustrated in FIG. 1, the electric device for energy control is provided to come to connect on an electrical installation, existing as well as to be created. The electrical installation may be a domestic or small company installation. The electrical installation comprises an electric meter 4 connected to the low-voltage mains ensuring the power supply, for example in 110 or 220 volts, 50 or 60 Hz, single- or three-phase. The electrical installation comprises a local power distribution network 10 supplying the consumer members by electrical wires, including a terminal for recharging an electrical energy storage battery.

[0048] The electric device for energy control 1 comprises a measuring member 2 adapted to the local area network. The measuring member 2 comprises a current sensor 3 configured to measure an electric current at the power output of a low-voltage electric meter 4. The current sensor 3 may comprise a measuring loop around the electrical wires 5 of the electric meter 4. The current sensor 3 is disposed close to the electric meter 4 upstream of line connections, distribution boxes and consumer members. The current sensor 3 is different from the electric meter 4. The electric device for energy control 1 is different from the electric meter 4. The electric device for energy control 1 is devoid of communication with the electric meter 4.

[0049] The measuring member 2 comprises a voltage sensor 6 for measuring an electric voltage at the power output of an electric meter 4. The voltage varies from a few percent around the rated voltage. It is preferable to measure it with an accuracy better than the delivery accuracy. The voltage sensor 6 is different from the electric meter 4.

[0050] The measuring member 2 comprises a power calculation unit 7 receiving current information from the current sensor 3 and voltage information from the voltage sensor 6. The power calculation unit 7 is configured to calculate the electric power consumed at the power output of the electric meter 4. The power calculation unit 7 performs the product of the current value measured by the voltage value measured. The measuring member 2 comprises a control member 8 receiving the electric power consumed value from the power calculation unit 7. The control member 8 calculates the difference between said electric power consumed value and a preceding value. The control member 8 compares the absolute value of said difference with a threshold, and in case of absolute value of said difference being less than the threshold remains idle. In case of absolute value of said difference being greater than the threshold, the control member 8 outputs a message containing a power value to the terminal 11 for recharging an electrical energy storage battery. Said preceding value is said power value contained in the preceding message. The threshold may be set at 1% of the contract value of the contract with the electrical energy supplier or at a higher value. The comparison of the absolute value of said difference with said threshold is performed regularly. The comparison of the absolute value of said difference with said threshold is performed at predetermined intervals, for example at a frequency less than or equal to 100 Hz.

[0051] The output of said message by the control member 8 is performed at a frequency at least 10 times less than the frequency for comparing the absolute value of said difference with said threshold. Said message is output less than 10 times per second.

[0052] The recharging terminal 11 is remote from the measuring member 2 and the control member 8. Said message may be sent over a LAN network 9. The calculation unit 7 and control member 8 may be produced with the aid of a microcontroller.

[0053] The calculation of the difference between a contract power and the power value may also be carried out at the control member 8. In this case, it is the new power at which the charger must operate that is transmitted to said charger. It is also possible to implement a communication with a central server that controls by default the charger.

[0054] In the embodiment of FIG. 2, a plurality of recharging terminals 11 are supplied from the same electric meter 4.

[0055] A recharging terminal, slave, may be controlled by said control member 8. As a variant, a recharging terminal may be controlled by said control member 8 via another recharging terminal.

[0056] FIG. 3 illustrates an example of embodiment of the electric device for energy control 1. The measuring member 2 is equipped with a housing 12 housing and protecting the power calculation unit 7 and the control member 8. The current 3 and voltage 6 sensors are disposed outside of the housing 12.

[0057] The measuring member 2 comprises, inside the housing 12, at least one connector 20, particularly a connector in single-phase version and two connectors in three-phase version, ensuring the link with the mains for the power supply of said housing 12, with the recharging terminal or terminals 11 and with the current 3 and voltage 6 sensors. The measuring member 2 comprises a power transformer 21 connected by the intermediary of the connector 20 to the leads of the electric meter 4. The power transformer 21 may be of the 230/5 volts or 110/5 volts type. The measuring member 2 comprises a rectifier 22 supplied by the power transformer 21. The rectifier 22 may comprise a diode bridge.

[0058] The measuring member 2 comprises a carrier current communication device 23 supplied by the rectifier 22 and connected to the leads of the electric meter 4 to thus communicate with the recharging terminal or terminals 11. The communication member 23 establishes a link at least one-way to the recharging terminal 11. The link is a link at least one-way and preferably two-way. The recharging terminal 11 receives the message output by the control member 8 and transmitted by the communication member 23. The recharging terminal 11 adapts its energy consumption to the difference between a contract power and the power value contained in the message. Alternatively, the communication of the measuring member 2 to the recharging terminals 11 may be performed by the LAN network. The measuring member 2 comprises a galvanic isolation member 24 mounted between the connector 20 connected to the leads of the electric meter 4 and the communication member 23. The galvanic isolation member 24 comprises, for example, a photodiode.

[0059] The measuring member 2 comprises a processor 25 connected to the connector 20 to receive the measurement information from the current 3 and voltage 6 sensors and to output at least one instruction, particularly in the form of a message, to at least one recharging terminal 11. The processor 25 is pre-programmed to fulfil the functions of processing current and voltage and control measurements. The processor 25 is supplied by the rectifier 22.

[0060] The control member may be configured to output a message containing a power value to each terminal for recharging an electrical energy storage battery connected to the electric device for energy control. Each recharging terminal is remote from the measuring member and the control member. Said preceding value is said power value contained in the preceding message.

[0061] In one embodiment, artificial intelligence functions are implemented by the electric device for energy control and/or by said server. The artificial intelligence functions are provided to optimize the distribution of powers in the case of simultaneous management of a plurality of recharging terminals, according to FIG. 2.

[0062] Moreover, many low-voltage electric meters are three-phase. In this case, the electric device for energy control may comprise a charge distribution member between the phases. This is all the more interesting as the distribution between the phases of a network downstream of a meter is often fixed and unsuitable.