Measuring System

This invention relates to a method for measuring a parameter whose value is calculable as an integral with time of a function of at least one variable. The method of this invention makes possible the use of a microprocessor when measurements such as effective (RMS) voltage, effective (RMS) current, average power, and energy are to be made by calculation from the outputs of current and potential transformers.

Use of a microprocessor for making the required measurements from current and potential transformer outputs has the advantage over previously known methods in that there is not required the use of separate measuring devices for each of the measurements and the microprocessor provides an output which can be transmitted to a central computer for use.

The method of this invention comprises a first step of sampling the value of the variable of which the parameter being measured is a function. The sampling is done periodically at a frequency asynchronous with the wave form of the variable. Periodically there is then made a calculation of the value of the function by summing the values for the function determined from the values for the variable obtained for each sample taken during the time between calculations.

In the Drawings:

FIG. 1 is a wave form showing the sampling points for the measurement.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing one form the microprocessor configuration can take for carrying out the method of this invention.

The theoretical basis for this measuring method is found in the fact that an exact integral equation can be approximated by a finite summation equation as follows: ##EQU1## where y is the parameter being measured and x is some function of the variable which when integrated over the period T gives the value for the parameter. N is the number of samples made between calculations (during period T) and .DELTA.t.sub.n is the sample period. The period between samples becomes .DELTA.t.sub.n .apprxeq.T/N. Obviously the larger the number of samples and the smaller the sample period the closer the finite sum approximates the integral.

Where the variable or variables which determine the parameter have values which follow a periodic wave form, a number of samples of the value of those variables is made during each period of the wave form with the frequency of the samples being asynchronous with the frequency of the variable. Therefore, with respect to the variable there is obtained a sliding sample so that over a period of time all parts of the wave form of the variable are sampled. It is, of course, important to use a large number of samples if the wave form of the variable is not symmetrical about the average, whereas a smaller number of samples suffices if the wave form is symmetrical.

It is convenient to utilize a microprocessor for calculating the required function of the variable to obtain a calculation of the value for the parameter being measured. Thus, it is possible to measure parameters of a 60 hertz power system by utilizing the standard current and potential transformers to provide inputs to a microprocessor through analog to digital converters so that the inputs provide the data required to calculate parameters such as RMS voltage, RMS current, average power, and energy.

If FIG. 1 shows the periodic variable, which may be current or voltage as it varies with time, it will be evident that the first series of samples A1-A5 are obtained from a part of the wave form which is different from that of the samples B1-B5, both of which are in turn different from the samples C1-C5. Thus, as each period passes the point of sampling slips with respect to the wave form in FIG. 1 so that over a number of cycles each part of the wave is sampled.

If the frequency of the wave of FIG. 1 is 60 hertz, then the period of an ideal sine wave would be 16.667 msec. and the sample period could be 3.125 msec. for 5 samples per cycle. If, for example, an RMS calculation of the voltage is desired it may be carried out as follows: ##EQU2## Similarly, the equation for RMS current becomes: ##EQU3##

The variables e and i represent the instantaneous ac voltage and current which are taken from potential and current transformers by way of analog to digital converters. Thus in FIG. 2 the analog to digital converters 12, 14, 16, and 18 provide voltage and current inputs to the microprocessor 20.

The microprocessor 20 may advantageously have connected to it the read only memory (ROM) 22, and the random access memory (RAM) 24 as well as a clock source and a power supply so the microprocessor can perform the necessary calculations.

The results of the calculated values produced by the microprocessor can be decoded directly by the decoder 28 and supplied to a digital display 30 for displaying the value of the parameter. Also, as shown in FIG. 2 the output of the microprocessor can be transmitted by transmitter 32 to a central computer which may be processing the data obtained.

Other measurements which can be made advantageously in accordance with this novel method are average power and energy.

Average power is defined as follows: ##EQU4## Thus, a product of two numbers can be evaluated by a table look-up approach with a suitable shift instruction for the factor 1/4N.

Energy is defined as follows: ##EQU5##

This relationship represents the energy for a given time period (T) which is directly related to the sample period and the number of samples.