GB2629150A - Electric power monitor - Google Patents

Abstract

An electric power monitor 1 comprising a power input 2, a power output 3, a power meter and a communications module, wherein the power meter is configured to respond to the power passing through the monitor and the communications module is arranged to transmit data output from the power meter. The power monitor may comprise a regulator to control the amount of power supplied to the output. The communications module may transmit/receive data wirelessly. The power monitor may comprise a weatherproof housing and be suitable for use at a campsite. A plurality of monitors may be grouped in an electric power system and configured to provide power balancing or sharing between the monitors.

Description

ELECTRIC POWER MONITOR

[0001] This invention relates to electric power monitors, and the control of power output at predetermined levels, and is concerned particularly although not exclusively with electric power monitors at campsites, holiday parks, worksites, events and exhibitions.

[0002] The volume of domestic camping and caravanning trips in the UK is thought to have increased by around 70% in 2021, reaching an estimated 16.4 million. A considerable proportion of this growth is thought to be down to providing more glampingt or luxury camping style experiences, with people expecting a home-from-home experience, without the need to switch off from their usual electronic devices. With camping and caravanning on the increase and the power expectation of users growing exponentially, the issue of wasteful energy usage is also on the rise.

[0003] It is thought that there around 35,000 camping and caravan pitches with electricity in the UK, which could contribute around 52,000 tonnes of harmful carbon dioxide during a 30 week holiday season. This harmful carbon dioxide gas when released into the atmosphere warms the planet, causing climate change and is thus detrimental to the environment. In Europe, where camping and caravanning are also a popular holiday option, the consumption is thought to be around five times this amount.

[0004] Holidaymakers travel with numerous electronic devices and appliances that require electricity when in use or when charging. These range from the usual kitchen and personal care applications, right through to smartphones and tablets. The electricity requirement for each pitch is likely to increase further -2 -with the need to charge electric vehicles or EVs, the use of which is on the rise largely due to Government led schemes to encourage use of these EVs.

[0005] At some camping and caravanning pitches, a user can connect to a campsite electric hook-up point to be able to receive an electricity supply as they would at home. Typically, this will be a nominal 230 Volt, single phase, 50 Hertz supply, which is compatible with the majority of UK and modern European caravans, motorhomes, trailer tents, folding campers and tent hook-up connections.

[0006] This electrical supply can be used directly to power 230V equipment, (or 110v where applicable) or indirectly via a power supply unit that converts the mains power at 230V AC supply to a nominal 12V DC supply, usually (although not always) in conjunction with a leisure battery.

[0007] A user connecting to an electric hook-up point would typically bring a 25m cable to connect to an electrical supply bollard located in the ground within about 20 metres of each pitch. Typically, these hook-up bollards are individually protected against overload by a miniature circuit breaker (MCB) and a residual current device (RCD).

[0008] The MCB is a device to protect the site cabling from overloading and limits the amount of current each user can draw from the supply. Typically, these hook-up sites have maximum ratings of 10 Amperes or 16 Amperes, which limits the amount of power that can be used by each pitch at any one time. The RCD is designed to cut off the supply if a fault occurs in the connecting lead, or in any of the appliances or devices being used within that pitch.

[0009] Typically, the supply cable plug is a simple push fit connector to connect into the bollard socket. Some sites may have hook-ups that require the -3 -plug to be pushed in and then twisted. With this type of hook-up a button has to be pressed to release the supply cable plug.

[00010] When paying for electricity on site, there are a number of solutions in operation. Some caravan and campsites include a fixed charge for electricity within an overnight pitch fee. But this may not cover the total amount of electricity consumed by users of that pitch during their stay. Other parks incorporate metered systems, where electricity is through pre-payment to a meter, through a smartcard, RFID tag or otherwise. But should a user run out on their meter, their electricity supply will be cut-off until they have replenished the meter, causing inconvenience to the user and the park owner. Typically, they would need to visit a machine at reception or the park warden to top up their payment card.

[00011] Many parks are looking to reduce their carbon footprint by ensuring customers are not wasteful with their energy usage, and therefore aim to make the quantity of electricity consumed by each pitch transparent to the user. Prepaid meters and smartcard meters go someway towards allowing a user some awareness of their energy usage, in that when they run out of electricity they know how much they have spent. But these systems do not track their usage real-time, and expose the environment to potential damage every time that they switch on an appliance or device.

[00012] For the site owner, there are a number of problems with the existing systems for distributing and monitoring energy usage. Typically, because the total incoming power to site is finite, site owners have to reset power breakers when guests have used too much power, or be available to provide top-ups for metered systems when a guest has run out, which might be in the middle of the night. They have an ongoing challenge to maintain control over electricity usage -4 -on a pitch-by-pitch basis, ensuring effective distribution of available power to all users. They need to be able to demonstrate transparent billing for each pitch, and cannot profit from resale of power from their supplier.

[00013] Some of the pitches may have a higher power requirement during their stay than others. The site owner has the task of distributing available power to the pitches that have a larger requirement than others, making a guestimate of power requirement prior to each user plugging in.

[00014] The issues are similar within events and exhibitions, where each exhibitor is assigned a pitch, and a power supply rigged up to that pitch for powering any lighting, projectors, laptops and other devices. The power requirement for each pitch is likely to be within quite a broad range, and it can be difficult to estimate the power requirement in advance of plugging-in to ensure the correct distribution.

[00015] The prior art shows a number of devices which attempt to address these needs in various ways.

[00016] EP 2 648 142 (Accenture Global Services Limited) discloses a hierarchical energy management system for executing demand response control over a plurality of communities of units. The system comprises at least one computer with network interface configured to communicate with the communities and their units over a network. The processor monitors electricity consumption by at least some of the plurality of communities by monitoring respective feeder lines from a local utility for each community, including periods of time during which the electricity is cut or reduced. This forms incoming electricity patterns of supply for the respective communities. It also aggregates data from each community for a plurality of units of each community that -5 -consume the electricity, to include consumption patterns on a per-unit basis. The system may also send an alert to a smart device management system (SDMS) of respective units to reduce the likelihood of a blackout or a brownout in the local utility. Whilst going some way towards managing energy within a network of connected sites, and storing data relevant to each site to assist with future predictions of usage specific to a type of user, the system does not provide real-time, transparent energy usage for each site, nor does it relate this energy usage in terms of predicted amount of possible environmental damage, to help to encourage a reduction in usage at each site.

[00017] US 2020 341 529 (Qualcomm Inc) discloses a system and method of communication amongst a plurality of smart sockets in a network. Each of the smart sockets monitors power quality characteristics and can sense when power fluctuations are present in the power supply, shutting down connected devices to prevent damage. A plurality of coordinating smart sockets can be implemented to optimize power utilization when the smart home environment is operating on backup power, during low electricity tariff periods, or when operating on a renewable energy source. Whilst this disclosure offers some support for intelligent management of power within a network, it is not concerned with encouraging a reduction in energy usage at each socket within a network. It also designed for multiple sockets within the same site, and not for multiple different users in neighbouring site.

[00018] Whilst the prior art appears to address the issue of monitoring power usage within a network of sites and/or sockets, it does not address the issue of pricing transparency through a 'pay-as-you-go' system, and does not provide both the users and the site owners with visibility of daily costs per user. Whilst the prior art attempts to prevent blackouts and shortages experienced by some users within a network, through early warning systems, it does not enable -6 -remote distribution of power to these users prior to any blackout occurring and allow the site owner real-time control over their site power supply. None of the prior art attempts to encourage users to think before they consume, providing them with daily costs on an ongoing basis.

[00019] Preferred embodiments of the present invention aim to provide a system of power management for multiple sites, that allows an owner of the system to manage, distribute and control power remotely to each of the site. Preferred embodiments also aim to provide a transparency in terms of power usage for each site, and an indication of energy usage in terms of likely environmental harm caused by such usage, for each site, to encourage responsible consumption.

[00020] According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided an electric power monitor comprising a power input, a power output, a power meter and a communications module, wherein the power meter is configured to respond to the power passing through the monitor and the communications module is arranged to transmit data output from the power meter.

[00021] Preferably, the electric power monitor further comprises a regulator configured to control the amount of power supplied to the power output according to configurable, pre-set levels.

[00022] Preferably, the communications module is configured to receive control signals from a remote source and the regulator is configured to respond to said control signals.

[00023] Preferably, the communications module is configured to transmit and/or receive data wirelessly. -7 -

[00024] The electric power monitor may further comprise an input power cable and connector and/or an output power cable and connector.

[00025] Preferably, both input and output connectors are provided and are of the same type.

[00026] The electric power monitor may further comprise a portable weatherproof housing in which electronic components of the monitor are housed.

[00027] The housing may have a maximum dimension that is 30 cm or less.

[00028] The electric power monitor may be rated to monitor current in the range 1 to 64 amps.

[00029] The electric power monitor may further comprise a display configured to display data relating to power passing through the monitor.

[00030] The display may be configured to display one or more of KWh used to date, CO2 tonnage equivalent, cost of electricity used, status of equipment, signal strength, timestamp, historic data for CO2 tonnage used at a single or aggregated level within a configurable date range.

[00031] The electric power monitor may be provided in combination with the remote source that supplies said control signals.

[00032] In another aspect, the invention provides an electric power system comprising a plurality of monitors and at least one said remote source.

[00033] Said plurality of monitors and at least one remote source may be configured as a network. -8 -

[00034] Preferably, the network is configured to provide power balancing and/or power sharing between monitors.

[00035] The electric power system may further comprise a machine learning module configured to receive training data to establish a database of power usage over the network.

[00036] The electric power system may further comprise a processor configured to receive data from the database and estimate future power usage from that data.

[00037] Preferably, the processor is configured to receive further data that represents parameters of a user of a given monitor and/or parameters of apparatus of that user.

[00038] The electric power system may be located at a site where a number of users of the monitors are located.

[00039] The site may be a campsite, event site or exhibition site.

[00040] For a better understanding of the invention and to show how embodiments of the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which: [00041] Figure 1 shows one embodiment of electric power monitor in diagrammatic view, showing a power input, a power output, a power meter and a communications module within a housing; -9 - [00042] Figure 2 shows the electric power meter of Figure 1, showing one embodiment of an input power cable with an input power connector, and one embodiment of an output power cable with an output power connector; [00043] Figure 3 shows a plurality of electric power monitors of Figures 1 and 2, showing the power inputs operatively connected to a power bollard, and the power outputs operatively connected to mobile homes, also showing data being transmitted from the communications module to a remote source, and to a cloud storage; and, [00044] Figure 4 shows a block diagram showing one possible configuration of component parts that the electric power monitor comprises, and their interrelationship.

[00045] In the figures like references denote like or corresponding parts.

[00046] Figure 1 shows one embodiment of electric power monitor 1 for monitoring electric power. The electric power monitor 1 comprises a power input 2 and a power output 3, where the electric power monitor 1 can be positioned in-line between a power source and a pitch, to monitor electric power being used by that pitch.

[00047] 'Pitch' is taken to mean a typical camping, caravanning, mobile home or static caravan pitch, where power is typically distributed through a power bollard at each pitch, but may also mean a site, stand or stall within an exhibition or other temporary event, where power is required at multiple sites within the exhibition or event. 'Pitch' is also taken to mean a berth within a marina, or similar, and in industrial equipment applications, such as site generators, where variables such as power costs can be re-billed as part of a contractual term.

-10 - [00048] Within the electric power monitor 1 is a power meter 4 that is configured to read a quantity of power that is drawn through the cable between the power input 2 and the power output 3. The power meter 4 is operatively connected to a communications module 5, for receiving power data and transmitting power data, along with identification for the pitch, through a transmitter 6 to a remote source, not shown. 'Remote' means at a different location from the power regulator. This could be at a small or great distance.

[00049] Figure 2 shows the electric power monitor 1 of Figure 1 where the power input 2 comprises an input power cable 10 and an input power connector 11, and the power output 3 comprises an output power cable 12 and an output power connector 13. A user, upon arriving at a pitch, can simply plug the input power connector 11 into a power source, and connect the output power connector 13 to a power bank or any devices that require power, or directly into their mobile home or caravan. The electric power monitor 1 may be configured to be used with a 16 Amp source, but may also be configured to be used with other sources such as 32 Amp and 63 Amp.

[00050] The electric power monitor 1 is likely to be used outside, and therefore, in this case, it would be provided with a weatherproof housing 14. This weatherproof housing 14 protects the internal electronic circuitry from weather conditions such as wind and rain, which may cause damage.

[00051] Figure 3 shows, in diagrammatic form, one arrangement of electric power monitors 1 being used for multiple pitches, where each electric power monitor 1 is connected between a power bollard 19 and a mobile home 18. Each of the electric power monitors 1 is shown transmitting data to a remote source 9, where the data may be stored, or transmitted to the cloud 17 for storage. The data for each of the electric power monitors 1 will identify which of the electric power monitors 1 is transmitting, and provide an electric power reading from the power meter 4 contained therein.

[00052] The data obtained is specific to each pitch and therefore each user, and billing for the exact amount of power consumed by that user, or at that pitch, can be calculated. The remote source 9 would likely be accessed by a site owner or exhibition manager. The remote source 9 would likely comprise a platform and/or App for use through a mobile phone or tablet computer. It may also comprise a remote switch that enables the power supply to a specific pitch to be remotely turned on or off.

[00053] The user at each pitch may also have access to the data, through the electric power monitor 1 itself, or through the data being transmitted to a user's App on their mobile phone, tablet computer or similar device. The user would be able to see the amount of power that they have consumed through the App or through a display, and also be presented with this data in terms of quantity of carbon dioxide that might have been released into the environment as a function of the amount of power consumed. It is thought that visibility of this data may encourage a user to switch off unnecessary power, or to attempt to keep within predetermined limits or guide quantities.

[00054] The figures show an electric power monitor 1 that is cable mounted, but the electric power monitor 1 may also be Electric Hook Up or EHU mounted, or it may be mounted within a power distribution box, not shown.

[00055] The Cloud 17 based platform may include features such as logging of usage data, cost management and billing, calculations of carbon dioxide generated as a by-product of power usage, notifications to all users within a network of pitches, notifications to specific pitches within the network, and an -12 -aggregate data provision. The cloud platform 17 may comprise a two-way data transfer to the electric power monitor 1, through a GSM connection, or otherwise. The cloud platform 17 may comprise a two-way data transfer to the electric power monitor 1 over wifi, or even through the power cables themselves, not shown.

[00056] The remote source 9 may comprise an App for a smartphone or tablet, where the App provides access to user accounts, consumption data and associated costs, carbon dioxide tonnage data and environmental impact, various payment gateways, and remote device switching and control.

[00057] The remote source 9 may alternatively or additionally comprise a static device application, such as through software run on a computer, where the software provides site management support for power, location services, service level provisioning, pitch specific cost management and billing, and remote device isolation and switching capabilities.

[00058] The electric power monitor 1 may comprise a display 15 and an interface 16 within the weatherproof housing 14. Alternatively, the interface and display may be provided on a user's smartphone or tablet 9 as shown in Figure 3. The display may provide information to the user such as KWh used to date, CO2 tonnage equivalent, cost of electricity used, status of equipment, signal strength, timestamp, historic data for CO2 Tonnage used at a singular or aggregated level within a configurable date range, user and supplier details.

[00059] The electric power monitor 1 may also comprise a regulator, not shown, and configured to regulate power. The regulator provides a system to balance out power across multiple pitches so that those pitches that have a greater requirement for power at any one time can be provided with additional -13 -or surplus power from another pitch that has a lesser requirement. Alternatively, this power can be distributed through the regulators to those pitches that have purchased a greater quantity than other pitches. In yet a further embodiment, the regulators can be controlled by Artificial Intelligence or AI, such that data accumulated over time is able to predict usage at a particular pitch according to demographics or arrangement of likelihood of electric appliances and devices at that pitch.

[00060] The regulators can be controlled by the cloud platform 17, where this is achieved through selectable maximum power levels at the device level with the ability to automatically switch off or limit supply if the power requirement is exceeded. This allows for users to pay for their perceived 'power band' and pay for an upgrade only when needed.

[00061] These systems of monitoring all power consumption across multiple pitches within a microgrid, provides the ability to distribute and balance power by re-directing or limiting power dynamically. The regulators will be capable of balancing this power either automatically, through pre-set logic options, or by way of direct user action by monitoring continuous power usage through the user's electric power monitor 1 and raising alerts according to pre-set conditions.

[00062] The electric power monitor 1 may also include the ability to buy and sell electric power between users within the microgrid. This will either be controlled from the cloud platform 17, by the remote source 9 or through the electric power monitor 1 itself, or even perhaps a combination of these three different possibilities.

[00063] The electric power monitor 1 may comprise a power meter 4 that is a GSM meter with switching provision, that can be plugged into an existing power -14 -point, such as a power bollard 19 that is typically provided at each pitch -or shared between pitches.

[00064] The remote source 9 may be configured to make decisions automatically based on previously provided, user-defined parameters. Power costs are passed onto the user with a pay-as-you-go system and each user may also be notified of the amount of carbon dioxide, in terms of tree years, that each 'stay' at that pitch produces, to demonstrate the likely environmental impact of the power they have consumed.

[00065] The site owner and the user may be provided with means to isolate the electric power monitor 1 via the cloud platform 17 by switching a relay within the electric power monitor 1, via a virtual switch.

[00066] It is thought that a similar microgrid may occur at events and exhibitions, within marinas, or at other sites where multiple power supply units are provided, within a microgrid arrangement.

[00067] The electric power monitor 1, in combination with the cloud platform, may restrict output power levels based on user defined requirements. The Cloud then calculates the available power left on the microgrid so that the power supplier can re-direct some or all of their remaining capacity to other parts of the microgrid. The electric power meter 1 may have up to 25 selectable levels of power restriction available as well as providing a range of warning signals should a consumer exceed their selected power level. These warnings included but are not limited to, pulse of power (on -off -on) to give a visual warning, automatic disconnect, automatic increase to next level of power or sending of notification to the remote device applications (such as phone or tablet).

-15 - [00068] Figure 4 shows one possible embodiment of block diagram showing component parts that make up the electric power monitor 1, comprising power sensors 22 and 24 operatively connected to the power meter 20, a CPU 26 and communications chip 27, all being powered by a power supply 29. An aerial 30 transmits and receives data from the communications chip 27. The CPU 26 configures an LED user interface 28 to show a user various information relating to the readings from the power sensors 24 and 22. A control relay 25 is operatively connected to the CPU 26, and also operatively connected to an isolation switch 31.

[00069] The CPU 26 may take in the raw pulse data from the power meter 20 and convert it into data that can be transmitted, via GSM or otherwise. This data may be converted into a form that is meaningful to the cloud platform.

[00070] It is to be understood that the various features that are described in the following and/or illustrated in the drawings are preferred but not essential. Combinations of features described and/or illustrated are not considered to be the only possible combinations. Unless stated to the contrary, individual features may be omitted, varied or combined in different combinations, where practical.

[00071] In this specification, the verb "comprise" has its normal dictionary meaning, to denote non-exclusive inclusion. That is, use of the word "comprise" (or any of its derivatives) to include one feature or more, does not exclude the possibility of also including further features. The word "preferable" (or any of its derivatives) indicates one feature or more that is preferred but not essential.

[00072] All or any of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all or any of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, -16 -except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive.

[00073] Each feature disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent, or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

[00074] The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment(s). The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.

Claims (21)

1. CLAIMS1. An electric power monitor comprising a power input, a power output, a power meter and a communications module, wherein the power meter is configured to respond to the power passing through the monitor and the communications module is arranged to transmit data output from the power meter.
2. 2. An electric power monitor according to claim 1, further comprising a regulator configured to control the amount of power supplied to the power output according to configurable, pre-set levels.
3. 3. An electric power monitor according to claim 2, wherein the communications module is configured to receive control signals from a remote source and the regulator is configured to respond to said control signals.
4. 4. An electric power monitor according to claim 3, wherein the communications module is configured to transmit and/or receive data wirelessly.
5. 5. An electric power monitor according to any of the preceding claims, comprising an input power cable and connector and/or an output power cable and connector.
6. 6. An electric power monitor according to claim 5, wherein both input and output connectors are provided and are of the same type.
7. 7. An electric power monitor according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising a portable weatherproof housing in which electronic components of the monitor are housed.
8. 8. An electric power monitor according to claim 7, wherein the housing has a maximum dimension that is 30 cm or less.
9. 9. An electric power monitor according to any of the preceding claims, rated to monitor current in the range 1 to 64 amps.
10. 10. An electric power monitor according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising a display configured to display data relating to power passing through the monitor.
11. 11. An electric power monitor according to claim 10, wherein the display is configured to display at least one of KWh used to date, CO2 tonnage equivalent, cost of electricity used, status of equipment, signal strength, timestamp, historic data for CO2 Tonnage used at a single or aggregated level within a configurable date range.
12. 12. An electric power monitor according to claim 3 or to any of claims 4 to 11 as appendant thereto, in combination with the remote source that supplies said control signals.
13. 13. An electric power system comprising a plurality of monitors according to claim 12 and at least one said remote source.
14. 14. An electric power system according to claim 12, wherein said plurality of monitors and at least one remote source are configured as a network.
15. 15. An electric power system according to claim 14, wherein the network is configured to provide power balancing and/or power sharing between monitors.
16. 16. An electric power system according to claim 14 or 15, further comprising a machine learning module configured to receive training data to establish a database of power usage over the network.
17. 17. An electric power system according to claim 16, further comprising a processor configured to receive data from the database and estimate future power usage from that data.
18. 18. An electric power system according to claim 17, wherein the processor is configured to receive further data that represents parameters of a user of a given monitor and/or parameters of apparatus of that user.
19. 19. An electric power system according to any of claims 13 to 18, located at a site where a number of users of the monitors are located.
20. 20. An electric power system according to claim 19, wherein the site is a campsite, event site or exhibition site.
21. 21. An electric power monitor or system, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.