Metering component testing

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12339344-B2
Application number	US-202418597014-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 6, 2024
Priority date	Jun 22, 2023
Publication date	Jun 24, 2025
Grant date	Jun 24, 2025

Abstract

In various embodiments, a process for performing metering component testing includes obtaining a configuration associated with at least one metering component installed at a site to be metered and performing a metering component test. The metering component test includes at least one of: detecting phase assignment of the at least one metering component based at least on the configuration, and detecting polarity of the at least one metering component based at least on the configuration. The process includes outputting information associated with the metering component test.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method, comprising:
obtaining a configuration associated with at least one metering component installed at a site to be metered;
detecting phase assignment of the at least one metering component based at least on the configuration including by:
detecting a phase assignment of a first metering component associated with a first line including by:
discharging a battery by a predefined power amount on the first line; and
determining that the first metering component associated with the first line detects a change, wherein the change is within a pre-defined deviation from the predefined power amount; and

detecting a phase assignment of a second metering component associated with a second line including by:
discharging the battery by the predefined power amount on the second line; and

determining that the second metering component associated with the second line detects the change, wherein the change is within a pre-defined deviation from the predefined power amount; and
outputting information associated with the at least one metering component.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein detecting the phase assignment of the at least one metering component based at least on the configuration includes:
determining whether a measurement on the first metering component changed by an expected amount;
in response to a determination that the measurement on the first metering component did not change by the expected amount:
determining that a measurement on the second metering component changed by the expected amount;
determining that the second metering component is on the first line; and
setting a phase adjustment factor for the second metering component to reflect the determination that the second metering component is on the first line;

in response to a determination that the measurement on the first metering component changed by the expected amount:
determining that the first metering component is on the first line;
setting a phase adjustment factor for the first metering component to be 1;
discharging the battery by the predefined power amount on a second line; and
determining whether the measurement on the second metering component changed by the expected amount;

in response to a determination that the measurement on the second metering component did not change by the expected amount and a determination that the measurement on the first metering component changed by the expected amount:
determining that the first metering component is on the second line; and
setting a phase adjustment factor for the first metering component to reflect the determination that the first metering component is on the second line;

in response to a determination that the measurement on the second metering component changed by the expected amount:
determining that the second metering component is on the second line; and
setting a phase adjustment factor for the second metering component to be 1.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the phase adjustment factor for the second metering component to reflect the determination that the second metering component is on the first line is: the absolute value of a voltage on the first line divided by a voltage on the second line.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the phase adjustment factor for the first metering component to reflect the determination that the first metering component is on the second line is: the absolute value of a voltage on the second line divided by a voltage on the first line.

5. The method of claim 2 , wherein at least one of the first metering component and the second metering component includes a Rogowski coil.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising detecting polarity of the at least one metering component based at least on the configuration.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein detecting polarity of the at least one metering component includes:
turning an AC output of an inverter off;
reading a phase factor adjusted power from the first line and the second line;
determining that the sum of: the absolute value of the phase factor adjusted power on the first line and the absolute value of the adjusted power on the second line is greater than 0;
in response to the determination that the sum of: the absolute value of the adjusted power on the first line and the absolute value of the adjusted power on the second line is greater than 0, determining whether the adjusted power on the first line is greater than 0;
in response to a determination that the adjusted power on the first line is not greater than 0, flipping a polarity of the first line in software;
in response to a determination that the adjusted power on the first line is greater than 0:
determining whether the adjusted power on the second line is greater than 0;
in response to a determination that the adjusted power on the second line is not greater than 0, flipping a polarity of the second line in software; and
turning the AC output of the inverter on.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein flipping the polarity of the first line in software includes setting a polarity adjustment factor to −1 and flipping the polarity of the second line in software includes setting a polarity adjustment factor to −1.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising detecting that the at least one metering component is present including by:
reading continuity of the first metering component and the second metering component;
determining whether the first metering component is present;
determining whether the second metering component is present; and
determining a quantity of metering components present based at least on the determination of whether the first metering component is present and the determination of whether the second metering component is present.

10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining at least one adjustment factor; and
determining correct power metering based on the at least one adjustment factor.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the site to be metered includes:
a solar power system;
a meter with service disconnect;
an energy bridge; and
at least one load.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the solar power system includes:
a hub configured to wirelessly communicate with a plurality of power electronics modules, wherein each of the plurality of power electronics modules of at least a portion of the plurality of power electronics modules is associated with a corresponding photovoltaic panel; and
a controller configured to detect the phase assignment of the at least one metering component, wherein the controller is physically connected to the hub and communicates with the hub via wiring that also carries power from photovoltaic panels to an inverter.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein detecting the phase assignment of the at least one metering component is included in a commissioning procedure for the solar power system.

14. The method of claim 11 , wherein the at least one metering component is communicatively coupled to the meter with service disconnect and the at least one load.

15. The method of claim 1 , wherein obtaining the configuration includes:
receiving metering type information;
determining at least one pre-requisite based at least on the received metering type information; and
updating the determined at least one pre-requisite based at least on user input.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the at least one pre-requisite includes at least one of:
the at least one metering component is present;
at least one load at the site is on; and
the site is ready to be energized.

Assignees

• Lunar Energy Inc

Inventors

• Evans Kyle Breuning
• Wolf Sebastian
• Pecharromán Arribas César

Classifications

• G01R22/065

  related to mechanical aspects · CPC title

• G01R35/04 Primary

  of instruments for measuring time integral of power or current · CPC title