PQ and Harmonic Assessment Issues on Low-Cost Smart Metering Platforms: A Case Study

Area of Science:

• Electrical Engineering
• Power Systems Engineering
• Measurement Science

Background:

• Smart metering platforms are widely deployed for energy monitoring.
• Existing smart meters often lack integrated power quality (PQ) measurement capabilities.
• Upgrading to dedicated PQ monitoring equipment can be cost-prohibitive for distribution networks.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the feasibility of implementing PQ metrics on low-cost, existing smart metering platforms.
• To determine if current smart meters can achieve standard compliance for PQ instruments without additional hardware.
• To investigate cost-effective solutions for enhancing PQ monitoring in distribution networks.

Main Methods:

• Case study utilizing the STCOMET smart metering platform.
• Analysis of device specifications to identify constraints for PQ metric implementation.
• Development and experimental verification of correction algorithms for PQ metrics, including harmonic analysis.
• Evaluation of on-board and external instrument transformer impacts on measurement accuracy.

Main Results:

• Demonstrated feasibility of implementing key PQ metrics using existing smart meter hardware.
• Identified and addressed device constraints through proposed solutions and algorithms.
• Experimental validation of harmonic analysis and other PQ metrics.
• Quantified the impact of internal and external transducers on measurement performance.

Conclusions:

• Low-cost smart metering platforms can be adapted for essential PQ monitoring, offering a cost-effective alternative.
• The STCOMET platform, with modifications, can meet certain PQ measurement requirements.
• Further research can optimize algorithms for broader PQ metric compliance and accuracy.