Title of invention : Multifunction Meter with simultaneous connection to power, water and gas system

Technical Field

[0001] The technical field of this invention relates to building energy management and control system.

Background Art

[0002] AUTOMATIC METER READING SYSTEM FOR CONFIRMING THE USED AMOUNT OF POWER, WATER AND GAS WITHIN THIS MONTH IN REAL TIME FROM THE OUTDOOR, Application Number: 1020080045975, PURPOSE: An automatic meter reading system is provided to remove the necessity for a meterman to directly visit to a home or building. CONSTITUTION: A control device (20) photographs a number display unit of a meter(10) according to a used-amount data request signal from a used-amount display unit, and transmits the used-amount data obtained through digit analyzing to the used-amount display unit based on the wireless communication method. The control device is mounted in the meter. The used-amount display unit sends the used-amount data request signal to the control device through a bidirectional RF communication module (32).

Technical Problem

[0003] The power, water and gas meters are integral parts of all buildings. Usually, a meter is installed for each power branch, which may occupies huge space in large buildings. On the other hand, intelligent and comprehensive control and management of all branches, such as water, gas and electricity may is not cost- effective.

[0004] The issues arisen in pre-production phase are related to meter body design, the power part, the electronic part, and connection with the control center. There are also other problems while using current meters, as the difficulty of installing and occupying huge space on the wall and purchasing industrial accessories that should be prepared and installed. [0005] As for power meter, each meter must be made in single-phase or three-phase manner and be utilized and a single-phase meter cannot be used for three-phase electricity and vice versa. In the present available power meters, a power fuse is used permanently. As a result, the meter, although designed to 100 amps, indeed can utilize at least 15% to 50% of its power. Regarding water meters, corrosion or scaling are other issues that will occur unavoidably.

Summary of Invention

[0006] In this invention, intelligent control and management of water, gas and power branches are undertaken in a single unit. This can improve the quality of intelligent control and management system while making installation and maintenance processes cost-effective.

[0007] Also, in the case of a power meter, this invention uses an integrated single unit to control the consumption of several electricity subscribers, which saves a lot of space, cost and enhances the quality of the control and management of the building's electricity consumption.

[0008] As for water and gas consumption control, this device obviates the need for using meter by subscribers meter and without having to divide the water and gas lines into the invention, only by installing the sensor, the consumption rate can be controlled.

[0009] The parts and components embedded in this device include a set of modules, CPUs and sensors that are arranged together to eliminate the problems of present various meters from manufacturing to installation and servicing phases.

[0010] A large, functional display that exhibits all the information related to main dividers and outlets of utilities, the name of the subscriber and the subscription number, as well as the current status of charging and divider outage, is another part of this meter.

[0011] The user can use any of the touch keys to switch on /off each divider as well as read their data on the device display. On the other hand, the invention can be connected to water, electricity and gas distribution grid to exert management and control over subscriber consumption. [0012] If the distribution grid and utilities want to monitor the amount of energy consumed or decide to switch it on or off, the system can provide this service without the on-site presence of the technician. The subscriber may also be issued an alert remotely. The system uses the infrared protocol to transmit and receive all system information and manual system set up. It can be connected to all kinds of analog and digital fire alarm devices. If a warning is issued for a unit of the building, it can outage the electricity, water and gas of the concerned unit in the default manner.

Brief Description of Drawings

[0013] Fig. 1 - Device board zoning

[0014] Fig. 2 - Different parts of the device board

Description of Embodiments

[0015] The device board consists of six main zones, as illustrated in FIG 1. The first zone Z.1 is the data zone. This zone allows a bi-directional connection with the outside parts. Connection with the parent company, meters, fire extinguishers are among these communications. It communicates with the outside through four global protocols.

[0016] The Zone Z.2 is a device controlling center. This zone is responsible for central processing and controlling activities. All information and messages received from sensors and other CPUs are processed and the information is loaded onto the screen. Operating instructions from this zone are also issued to different parts of the system.

[0017] Zone Z.3 is the switching center that supplies power to other zones. In this zone, the DC voltage is converted to the voltage of each zone as well as the reading of single phase and three phase AC voltage.

[0018] Zone Z.4 manages and controls AC currents. This zone is designed to read various current sensors, calculation and initial processing of information as well as control of power relays. In the Z.5 zone multiplexers are embedded to detect alarms from outside the device and send information to the central CPU. [0019] In zone Z.6, the gas and water sensors are installed. The Modbus and Power Line communication protocol are applied. It also compares the inputs of all dividers with their outputs and calculates the difference in power consumption. Below is a description of each board function listed in FIG 2. CPU (1) controls all modules and functions. This part handles system in turn involves in various processes.

[0020] Apart from device management, this main CPU itself can work in parallel with other processors and, if there is a conflict, it obviates it or in case of technical problem with other components parts, replace itself with others parts to keep the device running properly. Using the parallel system in this set, the probability to get the error data equals to zero and information are transmitted with very high security. Data is stored separately in the set, and each part is responsible for keeping its own data, but at the same time central CPU is responsible for monitoring and retrieval of data when needed.

[0021] The second CPU (2) in this device is only used to calculate the current. The ADC has 16 12-bit input lines, which can query each line one million times per second and collect information and keep it in its own parcels. Until requesting central CPU, this CPU controls relay output. It is also responsible for specifying the three-phase or single-phase output.

[0022] Another CPU (3) is designed to synchronize information from outside the device and coordinates the main CPU (1) and the external communication modules. This CPU is equipped with a greater storage auxiliary memory to store all the other data as a hard drive on this device.

[0023] The 7100 (4) c is a powerful processor responsible for connecting to the outdoors via SMS or GPRS, which is programmed to simultaneously enhance data security through two outdoor connections. In order to improve system security, another module 7100 (4.b) is also installed outside the system so that comparing these two modules assures accurate system operation. This module is equipped with a GPS that can detect and transmit the data on the location of the device or other information related to this area. This module is only compatible with the coordinator CPU. [0024] Graphic LCD (5) is a unique selective monochrome that enables information to be displayed so that each subscriber can easily grasp and extract what is needed. This LCD can simultaneously display subscribers and utility consumption information.

[0025] External 1C (6) that specially is designed to connect with outside and works only with infrared and temperature sensors. Its main function is to make a bi directional connection with the meter reading manager and also to indicate the operating temperature of the device.

[0026] The 1C 485 (7) is available to send and receive information with outside OF device system. This secure protocol is designed to be connected to a water and gas sensor, and if the connection is interrupted or eavesdropped for any reason, it is reported to the main CPU and countermeasures are implemented.

[0027] Also, this port makes possible to communicate with the fire alarm. This is fully bi-directional connection and can handle more than 1 ,000 sensors at a time.

[0028] The ULN IC (8), which supplies 16 outputs lines to relays and switches power lines on and off and in addition it must receive instructions from two processors at the same time. Otherwise, it will be switched off.

[0029] 16:1 multiplexers (9) are embedded to receive information from 16 current sensors and transmit them to the motherboard's CPU. The main task of this part is to detect leakage power from neutral and phase (Electricity Theft). It can also detect electrocution and report it to the center and order a quick power outage.

[0030] A 1 :16 multiplexer (10) is placed in the board which is designed to receive information from fire alarms in case of notification and to cut electricity, water and gas utilities with a consensus decision to reduce casualties and financial damage of the fire.

[0031] The real time and date IC (11) which is used to display on the LCD, but its other important function is to synchronize the two main CPUs at startup and stop times.

[0032] IC memory (12) is another part on which information on the LCD for the main CPU is stored. In order to store power consumption data in the second CPU, a memory IC is incorporated. A temperature sensor (14) is embedded within the system to indicate the temperature inside the device. There are also some infrared sensors (15) to send and receive information. The sensors (16) are designed to receive the voltage of the three main phases of the grid in the system, which also read the grid frequency. The main CPU processes this part.

[0033] A part designed for an analogue input of the fire alarm device (17) which can accommodate up to 16 devices or be used in general for analogue devices. A number of touch keys (18) are embedded for user interface and are responsible for changing LCD screens as well as switching the power on or off and shutting on/off the water and gas valves.

[0034] The power line part whose function is to transmit and receive data and connect with the outside of the main power grid. This part is designed for a secure connection with the parent company. In this model, we do not need a network cable or a mobile system and the information is transmitted via power lines. An additional power line (19.b) is also provided outside the system to raise the security factor.

[0035] An auxiliary memory (20) is provided in the system that can store up to 8 GB data and is directly connected to the CPU controller. It collects data from other system memories.

[0036] There are three main antenna (21) and data and location finders in this part. The SIM card module (22), which acts as device ID, also provides the device a secure connection with outside. In order to prevent system hacking, the device also connects with the outside via another SIM module (22. b).

[0037] A digital communication module (23) for remote connection with external devices is also available in the system, which can only be connected via a serial port. A batch of 32 MOSFET transistors (Metal Oxide Semiconductor Field Effect Transistor) (24) is embedded in the system, which is operated only through the second CPU. This batch adjusts the sensitivity of the transformer readability, eliminating the need for high-cost analogue-to-digital ICs.

[0038] A current sensor (25) is installed inside the system and it checks system current. The sensor has a precision of 0.001 to 0.01 amps, and it's working class is 0.1. Another current sensor (25. b) is installed outside the system to calculate the total current. Comparison of internal and external sensor information determines the accuracy of system performance. These sensors have two outputs with different measurement coefficients that simultaneously measure the current.

[0039] The current sensor (26) whose main function is to detect leakage currents that work on the neutral and phase simultaneously. It has an accuracy of 0.001 ampere and is directly connected to the multiplexer. Number of 16 SSR relays (27) are included. Each relay equals 100 output amp and characterized with no noise and very low power consumption.

[0040] There is also a 5 Position DIP Switches in the system, which is connected to the second CPU and controls output for the main power outlets. This part determines whether the output is three-phase or single-phase. This allows the meter to operate in either a single-phase, a three-phase or hybrid-manner.

[0041] There is a typical bazar (29) for short alarms with high and low tones indicating different situations. A fan (30) is embedded for cooling the internal parts of the device.

[0042] A 220 V DC to 12V AC inverter (31) is used to running LCD. A DC TO DC (32) circuit that can receive up to 24 V input and provides CPU controller and mobile module power. There is a DC TO DC (33) circuit that can receive 24 V of input and provide power to the entire device.

[0043] There are two gas (34) and water (35) sensors outside the system on the main grid that are connected to the central device by a network cable.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

[0044] 1. Incorporation of large number of meters simultaneously in a small package of 13 ^* 35 ^* 30

[0045] 2. An integrated data center

[0046] 3. Very low manufacturing cost

[0047] 4. Short manufacturing time

[0048] 5. Very fast and convenient installation [0049] 6. Small occupation area

[0050] 7. No accessories needed for final operation

[0051] 8. A common meter reading for all subscribers

[0052] 9. The transparent information and data on the screen for the subscriber

[0053] 10. The minimum in person servicing

[0054] 11. High and variable output power in multifunction meter

[0055] 12. No sedimentation (corrosion) occurs and mechanical parts are not placed the water meter

[0056] 13. Adjusting the inlet pressure of water and gas

[0057] 14. Very comprehensive and versatile software with strong database

[0058] 15. Possibility of mobile communication with the software

[0059] 16. It is possible to control current up to 800 amps

[0060] 17. It is possible to compare inputs and outputs of water, power and gas

The technical specification of invention

[0061] 1. Three Phase Input Simultaneous with 800 Amp tolerance

[0062] 2. Main line neutral input

[0063] 3. 16 single phase line output each with 50 amp

[0064] 4. Output up to 5 three phase lines and one single phase line

[0065] 5. Ability to dedicate a combination of three-phase and single-phase as hardware to the device with software approval from the control center

[0066] 6. The separate inlet and outlet connection terminals from the inner part of the meter

[0067] 7. Small size of parts

[0068] 8. It has ports for connection to water and gas sensors and obviates separate meters for them

[0069] 9. Precision of measurement in the power part as 0.001 amps for each line [0070] 10. Precision of measurement in water part as a liter per minute [0071] 11. Precision of measurement in the gas part as one cubic meter per minute

[0072] 12. It can limit the consumption of each subscriber if needed for electricity, water and gas

[0073] 13. It can outage utilities of subscriber from the control center

[0074] 14. It can connect to global communication protocol

[0075] 15. Single phase and three phase smart phase control for each line separately to prevent damage to consumers in case of sudden power failure or network fluctuations

[0076] 16. It has a residual-current circuit breaker for each output

[0077] 17. It has separate neutral lines at output

[0078] 18. It can monitor theft electricity and power outages automatically and report them to the control center

[0079] 19. It can find unauthorized branches of water and gas, both before and after the meter

[0080] 20. It can be connected to analog and digital fire alarms and outage all dividers in emergency

[0081] 21. It is equipped with the main grid frequency meter and prevents possible Damage

[0082] 22. It reads all information about nominal and active power and reactive power on all single phase and three phase lines

[0083] 23. It can send utilities outage alert to the subscriber with the high consumption rate

[0084] 24. It allows purchasing charge for consumption of three types of utilities weekly, monthly and yearly

[0085] 25. Displaying consumer information based on price set such as total amount of charge or account balance, etc.

[0086] 26. Power outage in case of short circuit or overload without the need for separate fuses and mechanical devices [0087] 27. Using two models of mechanical relay and SSR

[0088] 28. It can be connected to other gas and water sensors via RS485 port

[0089] 29. Built-in battery to continue operating while power outage

[0090] 30. Simultaneous two-way communication of the device with the parent company via 5 SMS and GPS protocols, Modbus, Powerline and Infrared

[0091] 31. GPS to track meter and find installation location

[0092] 32. Storing all the information in the device memory and sending it to the distribution grid or distribution company agent at given times

[0093] 33. A 8 GB memory is located on the meter.