Three Phase Meter

Principals

Peter Ndawula

1
Basic energy metering principles
 • Energy can be represented in
three components, namely;
• Apparent energy, S: Product of
apparent power and time.
Measured in Volt-Ampere hour
Definition of an energy (VAh).
meter • Active energy, P: Product of
An electricity meter/Kilowatt active power and time. Measured
hour meter, or energy meter is in Watthour (Wh).
a device that is used to accurately • Reactive energy, Q: Product of
measure and record consumption of reactive power and time.
energy by an electrical load. The unit Measurement in Volt-Ampere
of energy is Kilowatt hour (kWh)
reactive hour (varh).
At Unity pf, P = S : Q = 0 3
 Principals of energy measurement Cont’d
Phasor diagram Vs Energy computation
Correct wiring
As indicated in the phase
diagram,
Whether wye or delta
connection, phases are
120degrees apart & each bears its
load independently.
Meaning phase voltage & current
should be specified in the same
dimension for correct
computation(Current with its
voltage).
 Principals of energy measurement Cont’d

Phasor diagram Vs Energy computation Wrong Wiring

As indicated in the phase diagram,
Whether wye or delta
connection, phases are
120degrees apart & each bears its
load independently.
Replacement of current/voltage
with non corresponding one,
distortion will be created and
hence wrong energy computation
by the meter.
 Principals of energy measurement Cont’d

Due to the varying nature of loads of a

power system, the energy meter is
designed to register in 4 quadrants.
❖ Quadrant 1-Meter Imports, Pf + &
lags due to inductive loads
❖ Quadrant 2-Meter exports, Pf - & lags
due to inductive loads
❖ Quadrant 3-Meter exports, Pf - &
leads due to inductive loads
❖ Quadrant 4-Meter Imports, Pf + &
leads due to Capacitive loads

6
 Principals of energy measurement Cont’d
Energy measurement in three phase meters start with
P =√3IVLcosθ
FACTS
3P3W configuration.
P =√3IVLcosθ “Energy is neither created nor
destroyed but just change from
Pt =√3IVL.t.cosθ one form to another”
E =√3IVL.t.cosθ The meter records
instantaneous current(A) and
3P4W configuration. Voltage(V) to compute power &
at a given time (t) to compute
Energy(E=pt)
P =√3√3IVP.cosθ(Rationalization)
√3
E =3IVP.t.cosθ(Phase Voltage)
√3 7
 Meter audit Outline
❑ Significance of meter audits
❑ The basic meter audit activities
❑ Basic energy metering principles
❑ Three phase meter installation codes/categories
❑ Three phase meter installation / Wiring
❑ Meter audits
❑ Interpretation of meter audit reports
❑ Tamper detection techniques
❑ Meter data analysis
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 Significance of a meter audit
What is a meter audit?
A meter audit is an investigation of the utility electricity metered supply to verify
the correctness of consumption including the security of the meter installation.
- Key activity of the meter maintenance process
Why meter audits?
• Compliance requirement – QoSC, Primary Grid Code,
Energy recovery guidelines, The weights and Measures
rules,2015.
• Revenue protection – Assurance through spot checks
• Technology Improvement/enhancement – Conditions
under which meters fail.
• Exceptional customer experience beyond compliance
 Triggers of a meter audit

• A sudden unexpected drop in electricity

consumption Between an
• A tip-off from a whistle blower exception
• Meter reading exceptions – Variance between alert and a
meter reads and summation of profile planned
routine audit,
• Suspected faulty meter
what would
• Planned routine audits you
• Exception alerts from AMI/AMR/IMON systems prioritize?
• Billing exceptions
 Basic meter audit activities
1. Planning – Data analytics, high risk customers,
available tools and resources
2. Scheduling of audits – Meter Access – Sometimes
highly confidential!
3. Implementation of the audit and reporting –
Right skills/Integrity
4. Analysis of audit reports – Right skills – Supervisors
role
5. Invoke energy recovery process - If fraud is
detected
6. Continuous monitoring
 Three phase meter evolution

Electromechanical
Digital (2005) Cewe prometer/100 Digital Prepaid (2011) Smart, prepaid/postpaid &
(Pre 2005)
TOU

Post paid meters Prepaid meters

Three Phase meter Installation codes/categories
LPU customer Code derivation
Customer
category P=1.73IV MD Remarks
T.O.U direct connect meter,for
Code 10.2 (1.73x100x415)/1000 72kVA
customers whose MD is below 72kVA

T.O.U KVA meter,for customers whose

MD is above 72kVA but below
Code 20 (1.73x800x415)/1000 574kVA 500kVA.Customer charged for MD

T.O.U KW meter,for customers whose

MD is above 500kVA but below
1500kVA.Customer charged for
HT due to limited high KW.Grouped millers are subjected to
Code 30 rated CTs 500kVA to 1500kVA code 30

T.O.U KW meter, for customers whose

HT due to limited high MD is above 1500kVA.Manufacturing
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Code 40 rated CTs Above 1500kVA businesses.
Code 50 Street lights designed for public use.etc
Maximum demand billing parameter

▪ MD 1 (Shoulder)
▪ MD 2 (Peak)
▪ MD 3 (Off peak)
▪ MD 4 (Max of 1,2,3) - KVA
▪ MD 5 (MD Active)- KW
Three Phase Meter Installation/Wiring
▪ 1-Ph, 2-wire, whole current
▪ CT Connect (kVA-LV)
▪ 3-Ph, 4-wire CT connect
▪ 3-Ph, 3-wire CT/VT connect

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 1-Ph, 2-wire, whole current

Operation 1-Phase,2-wire wiring

 Whole current is basically a jargon
term to mean direct flow. In such
meters, current flowing is converted
into an indirect variable which is
measured by the meter.

 The meter connection is direct wiring

(Drag in and out) as shown in the
figure .

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 CT Connect
CT wiring
CT Connect/kVA-LV Voltages fed direct
CTs marked JK,PQ,S1S2,etc Ring type CTs wired to the
meter

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 3P3W HT Installation

Explanation Circuit diagram

3Phase-3Wire system uses balanced loads phenomenon.The two CTs

and VTs should be able to measure power which should be actual and
comparing with 3Phase-4wire measurement. This kind of measurement is
cheaper compared 3Phase-4Wire.
Any two phases say Red and Blue can be considered while the other
phase say Yellow can reference as seen.

CT Connection.

Out going-Full
Connection Incomer Out going-Half tap tap
1S1 1S2 1S3
M.U 3S1 3S2 3S3

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  2 Wattmeter evolution.
From the phasor diagram,
P=W1+W2
=VRYIRCOS(30-θ)+VBYIBCOS (30+θ)
Assumption of balancd loads states
VLIL=VRIR=VYIY=VBIB
2Wattmeter P=VLIL(cos(30- θ)+cos(30+ θ))
cosA+cosB=2(cos (A+B)cos (A-B))
Phasor diagram
P=VLIL(cos(30- θ)+cos(30+ θ))
P=2VLIL(cos (30- θ+30+θ)cos (30- θ-30-θ))
=√3VLILcosθ

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HT 3phase 3wire Installation/Wiring
INCOMING

A B C
METERING UNIT

1S1
CT1 1S2

3 ENERGY METER
2

8
2S1 7
10
CT2
2S2 9 11

33/11kV 110V b

Note:
1. From the diagram S2 represents
A B C either half tap or full tap
2. Elster A1700 meter has been used in
the diagram

OUTGOING
 HT 3phase-4wire connection

INCOMING

 In 3phase-4Wire connection, all the 3 A B C

pairs of LN voltage have to be

METERING UNIT

1S1
CT1

measured accurately in order to

1S2

2S1

determine how much power can be

CT2
2S2

consumed by each of the 3 phases.

1

3 ENERGY METER
2

4 5

8
3S1 7
10
CT3
3S2 9 11

CT Connection.

Outgoing- Outgoing-Full
n

Connection Incomer Half tap tap 33/11kV 110V b

1S1 1S2 1S3

2S1 2S2 3S3

Note:
1. From the diagram S2 represents
A B C
M.U 3S1 3S2 3S3
either half tap or full tap
2. Elster A1700 meter has been used in
the diagram

OUTGOING
 Recent MU Wiring Error………….

Wrong Correct

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 3 Phase metering audits
Threshold Values at common configured CT Ratio
Min current
Important things to know CT Ratio display(3%) Remarks
before carrying out an audit The meter display 1.5A and
50/1 1.5 above
▪ Feeder
The meter display 4.5A and
▪ Voltage level 150/1 4.5 above
The meter display 9A and
▪ Wiring configuration 300/1 9 above

▪ CT ratio / Thresholds The meter display 18A and

600/1 18 above
▪ Installation security The meter display 36A and
1200/1 36 above
 Threshold is defined as minimum physical quantity.
 In Energy meters threshold mean that minimum current below
which a meter does not display.
 For Elster meters threshold value is at 3% of the CT
configuration.
 Meter constants per category

Direct connect
 VT 1:1,CT 1:1
CT Connect
 VT 1:1,CT determined by size
HT Connect
 VT 11000/33000/110/100 CT (If 1A MU Tapped core/1A)
 VT 11000/33000/110/100 CT (If 5A MU Tapped core/5A)
 VT 11000/33000/110/100 CT (If 5A Meter,1A MU, Tapped core*5/1A)
 Common three phase meter anomalies

METER ANOMALY FAULT FINDING TECHNIQUE Confirm if terminal

Hissing current connections are firm
Confirm if power is ok
Check meter programming
Use Multimeter to check voltage on meter config Vs wiring (3P3W or
terminals 3P4W)
Meter not displaying Phase failure
Use Multimeter to check voltage
Check for metering cable continuity
on meter terminals
Confirm if metering unit is ok check meter wiring
If switch gear, confirm if VT is ok Check meter wiring
Check for metering cable continuity Confirm if all CTs follow the
Reverse run same direction.
Use Multimeter to check voltage on meter
terminals If for one phase, Reverse
Voltage imbalance connection.
Confirm if metering unit is ok
Error 40000 Replace the meter
If switch gear, confirm if VT is ok Negative power factors for
check meter wiring some phases.
Upgrade CT and program the
check meter wiring
Meter in saturation meter.
Confirm shorting links are open Error xxxxx Replace the meter
Missing current Confirm if metering unit is ok Over voltage/Current & under Check meter programming.
confirm if CTs are ok voltage/Current.
check meter wiring
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Check for metering cable continuity Wrong date and time Reprogram
 Tamper detection techniques
No. Type of Tamper Applicable to Effect Detection Technique

1. Hardware Tampering
a. Installation of foreign •1- Phase Meters Reduces energy -Use a clamp meter to Compare
resistors on Meter’s •3- Phase Meters registration by a given measured current with that in
PCB percentage depending the instrumentation data of the
on the resistance of the meter
resistor - Check status of seals, body
screws and body of the meter
for cuts
-- Usually body is re-sprayed

b. Cutting of Internal CT •1- Phase Meters Reduces energy -Use a clamp meter
CORES •3- Phase Meters registration to by either - Check status of seals, body
1/3 or 2/3 depending screws and body of the meter
on the no. of cores cut for cuts
-- Usually body is re-sprayed
 Tamper detection techniques
No. Type of Tamper Applicable to Effect Detection Technique

c External CT reversal 3 – Phase Meter Reverses the direction of flow -Check for correct CT wiring
(KVA) of current i.e from import to - Check the energy in the export
export register
-Request for a download analysis

d. Shorting of external 3 – Phase Meter Reduces energy registration to -Use a clamp meter
CTS (KVA) by either 1/3 or 2/3 -Down load analysis
depending on the no. of CT’s
Shorted

e. Removal of Voltage •1 phase Reduces energy registration to -Use a clamp meter

Links electromechanical by either 1/3 or 2/3
•3 – Phase (KVA) depending on the no. of
voltage links removed
 Tamper detection techniques

No. Type of Tamper Applicable to Effect Detection Technique

f. Cutting or installation 3 – Phase – KVA HT Cuts down registration -Use a clamp meter to Compare
of resistors in the of energy by a given measured current with that in the
metering cable percentage depending instrumentation data of the meter
on the no. of cores - Check status of metering cable
affected

g. Installation of relays 1 – Phase Energy consumed when -Meter’s Pulsing LED is on

on the meter’s PCB to 3- Phase the meter is switched permanently (Doesn’t Pulse) even
switch on and off the off is not registered at when power is being consumed
meter all - Meter seals, body and screws
are tampered with
 Tamper detection techniques
No. Type of Tamper
2. Software Tampering
a. Removal of some Hours
of the Day from the Tariff
band for all rates, Usually
alternate days are
removed
f. Removal of some days of
the week from the tariff
band
Applicable to Effect Detection Technique
-3 phase Energy consumed during -Monitor the Pulsing LED throughout the day. During
-(Elster) the hours removed is not tampered hours, LED is on permanently
billed at all but stored in -Compare the summation of the rates to total import (
the meter’s LP total import > Rates)
-- software Audits from Metering Asset Management
3 phase Energy consumed during -Monitor the Pulsing LED throughout the day. During
(Elster) the days removed is not tampered hours, LED is on permanently
billed at all but stored in -Compare the summation of the rates to total import
the meter’s LP since sum forget to adjust the total import band, the
total import will be greater
-- Request for a software Audit from Metering Asset
Management
Software tampering