HK1186010B - Method for locating current consumption points in an electrical current distribution system, processing system and associated electrical current distribution system - Google Patents

Description

Method for positioning current consumption point in power distribution system, processing system and power distribution system

Technical Field

The invention relates to an electrical distribution system from a central node to current consumption points, each of which is connected to at least one electrical load. In these power distribution systems, individual currents connect each consumption point to a central node. In some cases, the individual current meters arranged at each consumption point are adapted to measure the energy consumed by the connected consumption point.

Background

The central node is for example a station, called MV/LV station, interfacing between the medium voltage distribution network (MV) and the low voltage distribution network (LV) to which the domestic users are connected.

LV networks are very dense, sometimes buried, mixed with various ages of cables and materials. In some cases they are operated by different electrical devices and undergo modification, expansion and maintenance, sometimes differently, without tracking or enumerating these events.

As such, the actual condition of the LV network is sometimes unknown. In particular, there is not always the possibility of establishing a connection between the outlet (outlet) of the MV/LV station and the current meter connected to the consumption point. The lack of knowledge of the precise structure of the LV network is the source of various problems. For example, it can cause improper assessment of the quality of the network connection, delays in actual maintenance, the occurrence of an imbalance between the electrical energy consumed by the phases of a three-phase network, difficulties in locating and describing power theft or fraud.

US2010/0007219 describes a system for automatic detection of system configuration, in which distribution transformers transmit their identifiers to their consumers via Power Line Communication (PLC), the consumers themselves sending messages with their own identifiers and the identifiers of their distribution transformers to a central system. Such systems make it possible to form connections between distribution transformers and their consumers. However, in such systems, cross-over problems may arise, causing distribution transformer identifiers to be received via consumers connected to other distribution transformers, and causing incorrect determinations of the configuration of the distribution system. Moreover, while such a system does have the potential to locate MV/LV stations on their MV outlets, it cannot locate user meters on LV outlets.

Disclosure of Invention

To this end, according to a first aspect, the object of the present invention is a method for locating current consumption points in an electric power distribution system, in which electric cables supply electric current to respective consumption points, each cable comprising a departure outlet from a central node, each consumption point having a first radio communication device of the power line communication type, called PLC, at least one measurement module being adapted to receive, at the exit of each cable, a PLC message via a second radio communication device of the PLC type and to measure the power level of said received message, said method being characterized in that it comprises the following steps following the reception, at the exit of a separate cable, of the same PLC message sent by a consumption point and indicating the identifier of said consumption point:

i/measuring said received power level associated with said indicated identifier by means of a measurement module at least at each of said outgoing outlets of the separate cable;

ii/comparing the measured power levels;

iii/selecting a maximum power level from the compared power levels;

iv/determining the cable for which the power level is measured at its outgoing output as the supply cable for said consumption point.

Such a method thus makes it possible to identify to which cable the electricity meter and/or consumption point corresponds, starting from the MV/LV station, so as to be able to learn about the type of LV network and thus improve operations related to repair, maintenance, quality evaluation, localized power theft, etc., of the connections to the LV network.

In particular, such an invention makes it possible to locate a user meter on the phase of the LV outlet supplying the user meter with power.

In an embodiment, the method for locating current consumption points in an electrical distribution system according to the invention further comprises one or several of the following features:

-a measurement module further adapted to send data over distance to a collection system, said method comprising the step of sending, by at least said measurement module, to the collection system a data table indicating the identifiers of the consumption points to which messages have been sent, said power levels measured by said measurement points, and the identifiers of the cables from which said levels are measured at their outgoing outlets, in order to determine the supply cables called consumption points from said collection points;

-performing long-range transmission using a second means for PLC communication;

-a consumption point comprises an electricity meter adapted to be increased according to the current consumed by said associated consumption point, said PLC message sent by a consumption point comprising data indicative of a reading of the electricity consumption by said consumption point;

-a filter is arranged between the central node and the cable-mounted measurement module for attenuating the PLC signal passing through the filter;

-the application of the filter between the central node and the measurement module can be controlled remotely; and

-for a given cable, determining the class of consumption points determined in step iv/as being powered by said given cable according to the class of power levels selected for said consumption points, according to the distance between each of them and the outgoing outlet of the cable.

According to a second aspect, the object of the present invention is to have a measurement module comprising a first radio communication device of the power line communication type, called PLC, located in the middle of a current-conducting cable, adapted to measure, after receiving a PLC message on said cable indicating the identifier of a consumption point for which a message has been sent, the power level of said received message and to send remotely to a collection system a data table indicating the identifier of the consumption point for which a message has been sent, the power level of the measured message and the identifier of the measurement module of the conducting cable.

According to a third aspect, the object of the invention is a collection system with a power distribution system for consumption points, comprising radio communication means with at least one measurement module and adapted to receive, via said radio communication means, at least from said measurement module data tables, each data table indicating an identifier of a consumption point, a power level of a PLC message sent by said consumption point measured by a measurement device on a cable and an identifier of a cable or of a measurement module; the collection system is furthermore adapted to compare the power levels measured on the separate cables and indicated in the received data table in relation to the same message sent by the determined consumption point, to select the maximum power level from among the compared levels, and to determine the cable for which the power level is measured at its outgoing output as the supply cable of said determined consumption point.

According to a fourth aspect, the object of the invention is a power distribution system comprising:

cables, each comprising a departure outlet and distributing current to a respective consumption point,

one or several measuring modules according to the second aspect of the invention, adapted to measure the power level of PLC messages at the outgoing output ports of several supply cables,

the collecting system according to the third aspect of the invention.

Drawings

The invention will be better understood when reading the following description and when examining the drawings that accompany it. These drawings are provided for informational purposes, but in no way limit the invention, as follows:

FIG. 1 is a view of a portion of a power distribution network;

FIG. 2 is a detailed view of a portion of the power distribution network shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows a view of a consumption point (including a user meter and its load) in an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a flow chart of a method in one embodiment of the invention;

fig. 5 illustrates a filtration system in an embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed Description

In fig. 1, the MV outlets (medium power) of the distribution network 1 are diagrammatically shown, including the provision of several three-phase output branches MV B₁、......、B_nHT/MV (high voltage/medium voltage) substation 3.

The MV and LV distribution networks corresponding to branch B + will be described below, similarly to the networks corresponding to the other branches.

MV Branch B₁A plurality of MV/LV (medium/low voltage) substations 2, three of which are shown in fig. 1, are connected.

Typically, this number of MV/LV substations 2 is between 3 and 15. The MV/LV substation 2 is arranged between the MV and LV distribution networks.

For example, the voltage on the MV network is between 3 and 33kV, and the voltage of the LV network is from 110V to 600V.

In the following, the MV/LV substation 2 located in the bubble Z in fig. 1 and the network LV supplied by this MV/LV substation will be described. Other MV/LV substations and LV networks powered by these stations have similar structures.

The MV/LV substation 2 comprises a transformer F₁From MV branch B₁-a power supply adapted to perform a medium to low voltage conversion.

In MV/LV substation 2, transformer F1 is followed by a distribution table T₁Upstream node D₁。

In MV/LV substation 2, this table T₁Exit point D on a number of output LV (low voltage) three phases carrying current₁The current received is distributed to a plurality of users 10, single-phase or three-phase, typically between 20 and 200 users, who normally own the electricity meter. Fig. 2 is a more detailed view of the MV/LV substation 2 located in the bubble Z of fig. 1 and of the LV network supplied by this MV/LV substation 2.

Allocation table T₁A number of three-phase LV outlets are provided. Typically, this number is usually between 2 and 10. Consider two three-phase outputs with reference to FIG. 2Dep_aAnd Dep_b。

Likewise, for three-phase output port Dep_aFour single-phase cables 20 corresponding to the first, second, third and neutral lines of the voltage, respectively_a1、20_a2、20_a3、20_aNFrom the distribution table T₁Leaving to the user 10. Cable 20_a1、20_a2、20_a3Adapted to separately supply a current I_a1、I_a2、I_a3To these multiple users 10.

Similarly, for three-phase output port Dep_bFour single-phase cables 20 corresponding to the first, second, third and neutral lines of the voltage, respectively_b1、20_b2、20_b3、20_bNFrom the distribution table T₁Leaving to the respective user 10. Cable 20_b1、20_b2、20_b3Are adapted to be respectively I_b1、I_b2、I_b3Is delivered to these multiple users 10.

In the MV/LV substation 2, a processing system 40, also called concentrator, is electrically connected to the distribution table T₁Upstream node D₁。

The processing system 40 includes a radio frequency transmit/receive module 41, a PLC transmit/receive module ("power line communication") 42, a microcontroller 43, and a memory 44. Database 45 is stored in memory 44 of processing system 40.

Each cable 20 is due to a bypass distributed along the cable_ai、20_bi(where i is between 1 and 3) to supply (between 1 and 10) consumption points, such as a home or group of homes, a factory, etc.

Here consider the consumption point 10_{a_1}、10_{a_2}、10_{a_3}、10_{a_4}、10_{a_5}、10_{b_1}、10_{b_2}、10_{b_3}、10_{b_4}。

In general, since the connection between the cable departure of the substation and the user is not easy to establish, the distribution of consumption points related to the identified cable on the outlet of the MV/LV substation 2 is not known, since in many cases the cable has a buried part, is modified or bypassed many times, etc.

The length of these cables can vary and can be up to 200 meters.

Referring to fig. 3, the structure of the consumption point 10j is described, where j takes values a _1, a _2, a _3, a _4, a _5, b _1, b _2, b _3, b _ 4.

Consumption point 10_jComprising a current meter 30_jArranged at the cable C and the electrical load 33_jIn between, cable C supplies it (one of cables 20a1, 20a2, 20a3, 20b1, 20b2, 20b3), electrical load 33_jIs a consumption point 10_jThe true electrical load.

In the embodiment considered, the current meter 30_jIncluding a PLC transmission-reception module 31_jA microcontroller 32_jElectronic or electromechanical counting module 34_jAnd a memory 35_j。

When the load 33 is_jConsumption is given to consumption point 10_jThe counting module 34 counts the current I supplied by the cable C for power supply_jAdapted to measure the load 33_jThe power consumed and as a function increases a count of the units of power consumed, for example in kilowatt-hours (kWh).

In the embodiment considered, the meters of the consumption points, or at least a part of them, are adapted to transmit, by PLC transmission, at a regular frequency, the counting data generated by the counting module of the processing system 40.

For example, the frequency may be on the order of once every ten minutes up to once a day.

So referring to consumption point 10_jIn the microcontroller 32_jBy a counting module 34_jTo PLC Transmit/receive Module 31_jProviding count data. So that the PLC transmission/reception module 31_jThe data is prepared to be adapted to the PLC protocol and then transmitted to the processing module 40 via the PLC through the cable to which the consumption point is connected.

Recall from the theory of PLC it is known to include superimposing on the alternating current through the cable a high frequency and low energy electrical signal containing the data to be transmitted. The PLC signal is received by any PLC receiver on the same grid.

In one embodiment, processing system 40 receives a request to connect to slave allocation table T₁The readings sent by the different meters of the LV distribution network from which they originate, for example, are stored in the memory 44, and then, where applicable, one or several operations of cascading, averaging, etc. are performed before being sent in sequence, where applicable, resulting in higher level information arriving at the network. Thus, similar real-time count data for each meter is available in the MV/LV station 2.

The PLC message includes a field indicating a message sender identifier and a field indicating a message address identifier. These identifiers are for example PLC addresses.

The PLC messages sent by these meters, conveying readings or other types, are located in the distribution table T₁And then located in an allocation table T connected to the MV/LV station under consideration₁Even via crossings with LV cables connected to other MV/LV stations 2.

Therefore, when the latter is ignored, the reception of these messages is not possible to determine the meters 30_jAt the cable 20_ai、20_bi(where i is between 1 and 3), where j takes the values a _1, a _2, a _3, a _4, a _5, b _1, b _2, b _3, b _ 4.

In one embodiment of the invention, and with reference to FIG. 2, there will be 21 each_a、21_bThe measuring module is arranged in a distribution table T of the MV/LV transformer substation 2₁Each three-phase outlet Dep downstream_a、Dep_bThe above.

The database 45 associates the identifier of each cable with the identifier of the measuring module installed on the three-phase outlet from which said cable originates and with the identifier of the phase to which the cable corresponds.

The measuring module 21a comprises three PLC transmitting/receiving modules, respectively 22_a1、22_a2、22_a3A microcontroller 24_aElement 26 for measuring the power level of a PLC message_aAnd a memory 25_a。

Element 26 for measuring the power level of a PLC message_aAdapted to the reference neutral line 20_aNTo measure and locate each cable 20_a1、20_a2、20_a3Any of the measurement modules 22 of (1)_a1、22_a2、22_a3The power level (RSSI level) of the signal corresponding to the PLC message received.

Memory 25_aIncluding a microcontroller 24_aSoftware application 251 running thereon_a。

Similarly, the measurement module 21b comprises three PLC transmission/reception modules, respectively 22_b1、22_b2、22_b3A microcontroller 24_bElement 26 for measuring the power level of a PLC message_bAnd a memory 25_b。

Element 26 for measuring the power level of a PLC message_bAdapted to the reference neutral line 20_bNTo measure and locate each cable 20_b1、20_b2、20_b3Any of the measurement modules 22 of (1)_b1、22_b2、22_b3The power level of the signal to which the PLC message was received.

According to these embodiments, the PLC transmit/receive module is inductive or capacitive in nature.

In the PLC communication, the processing system 40 and the current module 21_a、21_bAnd a meter 30_{a_1}、30_{a_2}、30_{a_3}、30_{a_4}、30_{a_5}、30_{b_1}、30_{b_2}、30_{b_3}、30_{b_4}Identified by an identifier, such as an individual PLC address.

In an embodiment of the method for locating a consumption point in the power distribution system 1, with reference to fig. 4, the following steps are performed.

In step 100, the meter 30_{a_1}、30_{a_2}、30_{a_3}、30_{a_4}、30_{a_5}、30_{b_1}、30_{b_2}、30_{b_3}、30_{b_4}Middle meter 30_iSending an indication address 30_iOf the PLC.

As explained above, in step 101, in the measurement module 21_a、21_bAnd each PLC receiver in controller 40 receives this message independently of the identifier of its address indicated in the message.

Then, at each PLC receiver 22_a1、22_a2、22_a3、22_b1、22_b2、22_b3During reception of the PLC messages, the respective measuring modules 21_a、21_bAdapted to run respective software applications 251 on the microcontrollers 24a, 24b_a、251_bThe following steps are then performed.

Thus, in step 102, 21 are provided, respectively_a、21_bUsing the elements 26a, 26b for measuring the power level, e.g. by each PLC receiver 22_a1、22_a2、22_a3、22_b1、22_b2、22_b3Power level of received RSSI (received signal strength indication) type signals of the IEEE802.11 standard.

In step 103, the first step is performed by the following steps of 21_aAnd 21_bTo determine a data vector for each facies, comprising:

an identifier of the measurement module is determined,

correlation phase (phase 1 for receiver)22_a1And a receiver 22_b1Phase 2 for receiver 22_a2And a receiver 22_b2Phase 3 for receiver 22_a3And a receiver 22_b3)，

Meter 30 at the source of the PLC message_iIs determined by the identifier of (a) in the database,

the power level of the message received on the relevant phase measured by the measurement module.

In step 104, the measurement module 21 thus measures_a、21_bEach determined vector is then sent from the measurement module to the concentrator 40 by the PLC.

In step 105, the concentrator 40 compares the received data containing the same meter address 30_iAnd it selects one with the maximum power level from among these vectors thus compared.

In step 106, the concentrator 40 compares the phase indicated in the selected vector and the identifier of the measurement module indicated in the selected vector with the meter 30_iAssociated to populate the database 45.

As such, the present invention enables to determine which single-phase cable outlet on the MV/LV station 2 the consumption point corresponds to, via the correspondence between the identifier of each single-phase cable in the DB45 and both the identifiers of the measurement modules and the phases.

Steps 100 to 106 are then repeated for PLC messages that continue to be sent by separate meters, so that it is possible to locate a different meter with a PLC transmitter/receiver.

Thus, by making it possible to determine which cable is going to meter 30 at the cable exit when the structure and carriage (carriage) of the part of the intermediate cable is not known in advance_iPower supply, the present invention is very useful.

In one embodiment, in the phase of locating the meters, the concentrator 40 successively commands each meter to send specific PLC messages in order to implement the steps of the method for locating described above.

In another embodiment, these steps are performed using messages that are not location specific, such as using meter reading messages.

In the embodiment described with reference to fig. 4, after performing steps 100 to 104 with respect to the message sent by the meter under consideration, a step 106 of comparing the vectors of the database 45 with the information is performed before performing steps 100 to 104 with respect to another meter. In another embodiment, steps 100 through 104 are performed for consecutive meters, and steps 105 and 106 are not performed between these two iterations. Then, once the concentrator 40 has all the data vectors determined for all the meters, it then repeats steps 105 and 106, taking into account the different meters for each new iteration.

In this embodiment, the data vector indicates the output cable (or measurement module) and the identifier of the phase. In another embodiment, the data vector instead indicates an identifier of the single phase cable itself.

In another embodiment, the consumption point has no meters, but comprises a PLC transmitter/receiver for performing the method according to the invention.

In the embodiment, the measuring module 21_a、21_bThese vectors are communicated to the concentrator 40 via the PLC. In another embodiment, the vectors are communicated by other communication means, such as radio communication links and the like.

In one embodiment, the concentrator 40 is further adapted to order the meters assigned to a given cable in descending order of the power level of the received signal and deducing therefrom the classification of these meters according to their proximity with respect to the MV/LV substation (using the maximum power level corresponding to the maximum proximity).

In one embodiment, in order to increase the difference between the different power levels measured for the messages sent by the same meter, at the cable exit Dep_a、Dep_bSum positionDownstream of the outlet a measuring module 21_a、21_bWith the addition of a filtering system F as shown in fig. 2.

In the embodiment shown in fig. 5, the filtering is capacitive. For example, an X2 stage capacitor C is arranged between the neutral point and each phase of the same outlet (for example a capacitance with a value in the range of 100nF to a few micro F, which corresponds to an attenuation target for power level values of approximately 2 dB).

In this embodiment, it is appropriate that the measurement module 21 is provided with a measuring device for two reasons_a、21_bThe inductive and capacitive couplers of the PLC transmitter/receiver in (1) are separated as far as possible from the capacitor of the filter F.

Firstly, the linear inductance of the supply cable is beneficial for filtering; the larger the distance between the coupler and the capacitor, the higher the inductance will be. Furthermore, if three capacitors are placed close to the coupler, there is a uniformity of the signal level between the phases (unity), which will reduce the effectiveness of the method according to the invention. Typically, the distance between the capacitor and the coupler of the filter on the same phase is comprised in the range [0, 1; 2 ].

In one embodiment, this filtering can be improved by adding a ferrite element 29, which ferrite element 29 can be clipped to each cable associated with each, for example corresponding to an inductance of 20 nanohenries, which makes it possible to locally increase the inductance of the cable. The filtering thus performed on each phase combining capacitance and inductance becomes more efficient than a single capacitance when the current in the cable is less than 10 amps. For effective filtering, a delay is therefore required until the current flowing in the supply cable is less than 10 amperes before the positioning method according to the invention is implemented. This arrangement has the advantage of not requiring an inductor to be installed for filtering that can support a rated current (typically of the order of 400 to 630 amps).

In one embodiment, for example, in the case where the filter F would excessively reduce the PLC signal intended for the concentrator 40, the execution of the filter F is controlled by the concentrator 40, for example by controlling the switches arranged between each capacitor and the phase cable 1, 2 or 3 to which it is connected. In the current position, the switch is open, the filter passes (pass), and the concentrator 40 receives information from the meter. In the "meter locate" position, the switch is closed and the filter is active.

In one embodiment, by one or more measurement modules 21_a、21_bPerforms the function of the concentrator 40.

In this way, the invention makes it possible to locate meters installed on a power distribution network, having PLC communication means, and to locate meters even if all the meters in the network do not have such communication means.

The present invention does not require the installation of a current sensor at the low voltage outlet. The present invention can be implemented even when a consumption point does not consume power, then the communication meter associated with the consumption point is referred to as a dormant (dormant) meter.

Furthermore, the present invention does not require access to meter data such as load curves, which in some cases are considered confidential and often not considered the nature of the dispenser.

Claims (10)

1. Method for locating consumption points in an electrical distribution system (1), in which electrical cables (20bN, 20b1, 20b2, 20b3) provide current to respective consumption points (10b _1, 10b _2, 10b _3, 10b _4), each cable comprising an outlet from a central node (D1), each consumption point having a first radio communication device (31j) of power line communication, called PLC, at least one measuring module (21a, 21b) at the departure point of each cable being able to receive PLC messages via a second radio communication device (22a1-22a3, 22b1-22b3) of PLC type and to measure the power level of said messages received,

said method is characterized in that, after receiving the same PLC message sent by a consumption point and indicating the identifier of said consumption point, on a departure outlet of a separate cable, it comprises the following steps:

i/measuring, by said measurement module, said received power level on each said outgoing outlet of a separate cable associated with said indicated identifier;

ii/comparing the measured power levels;

iii/selecting a maximum power level from the compared power levels;

iv/determining the cable for which the power level is measured at its outgoing output as the supply cable for the consumption point.

2. Method for locating consumption points according to claim 1, the measuring module (21a, 21b) of which is also adapted to remotely send data to a collecting system (40), the method comprising the step of remotely sending, by the measuring module, to the collecting system a data table indicating the identifiers of the consumption points to which messages have been sent, the power level measured by the measuring module, and the identifier of the cable to which said level is measured at its outgoing output, for the purpose of determining, by the collecting system, the supply cable called consumption point.

3. Method for locating a consumption point according to claim 2, wherein remote transmission is performed using the second radio communication device (22a1-22a3, 22b1-22b 3).

4. A method of locating a consumption point according to claim 1, wherein a consumption point (10j) comprises an electrical meter (34j) adapted to be increased in dependence on the current consumed by the associated consumption point, the PLC message sent by a consumption point comprising data indicative of the electrical reading consumed by the consumption point.

5. Method of locating consumption points according to claim 1, wherein a filter (F) is arranged between the central node (D1) and the cable-mounted measuring modules (21a, 21b) for the purpose of attenuating the PLC signals passing through the filter.

6. Method of locating consumption points according to claim 5, wherein the application of the filter (F) between the central node (D1) and the measurement modules (21a, 21b) can be controlled remotely.

7. Method of locating consumption points according to any of the preceding claims, wherein for a given cable (20bN, 20b1, 20b2, 20b3), the classification of consumption points (10b _1, 10b _2, 10b _3, 10b _4) determined in step iv/is determined to be powered by said given cable according to the classification of the power level selected for said consumption points, according to the distance between each consumption point and the cable departure outlet.

8. A measuring module (21a, 21b) comprising a first radio communication device (22a1-22a3, 22b1-22b3) of the power line communication type, called PLC, located in the middle of a current-conducting cable (20bN, 20b1, 20b2, 20b3) and adapted to measure the power level of a message received after receiving a PLC message on said cable indicating the identifier of a consumption point to which said message has been sent and to remotely send to a collecting system (40) a data table indicating the identifier of a consumption point to which said message has been sent, the power level of the message measured and the identifier of the measuring module of the conducting cable.

9. A collection system (40) of a system (1) for distributing electric current to consumption points (10b _1, 10b _2, 10b _3, 10b _4), comprising radio communication means (42) adapted to receive, via said radio communication means, data tables from at least one measurement module (21a, 21b), each data table indicating an identifier of a consumption point, a power level of a PLC message sent by said consumption point measured by a measurement device on a cable, and an identifier of a cable or of a measurement module;

the collection system is further adapted to compare the power levels measured on the separate cables and indicated in the received data table in relation to the same message sent by the determined consumption point, to select the maximum power level from among the compared levels, and to determine to select the cable for which the power level is measured at its outgoing output as the supply cable of said determined consumption point.

10. A system (1) for distributing electrical current, comprising:

cables (20bN, 20b1, 20b2, 20b3), each comprising a departure outlet and distributing current to respective consumption points,

one or several measuring modules (21a, 21b) according to claim 8, adapted to measure the power level of a PLC message at the outgoing output of several supply cables,

the collection system (40) according to claim 9.