Analog Devices, Inc. has introduced four energy metering ICs (integrated circuits) designed to improve the accuracy and performance of commercial, industrial, and residential smart meters. A smart meter accurately measures how much electricity is consumed or generated, and communicates with the local utility for power monitoring, billing, and other purposes. ADI’s new energy metering ICs enable smart electricity meters to deliver improved customer billing accuracy, advanced power quality monitoring, and reduced operating costs for utility companies.
According to Ronn Kliger, Energy Group director, Analog Devices, “The devices introduced….are significant in that they are able to measure total active and reactive energy with accuracy and dynamic range exceeding Class 0.2 specifications for energy meters. The four new devices are also the first in the industry to measure both reactive energy and active energy with 0.1 percent accuracy. In addition, one device also offers capabilities to measure fundamental-only energies, which is critical for power quality measurements.” ADI recently formed a dedicated energy group, headed by Mr. Kliger, to address the growing technology needs for electric metering, substation automation, and emerging applications, such as solar/wind generation, energy storage, and others.
Over the next five years, analysts report that up to 200 million smart meters will be installed worldwide fueled by the growing number of smart grid deployments. In China, a $596 billion stimulus program for smart grid expansion is currently underway with 170 million smart meters expected to be deployed within the next three to five years. Eighteen million homes—13 percent of all U.S. households—will get smart meters within three years as part of U.S. government grants to upgrade the country's electric grid. In Europe, Italy and Sweden have already completed Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) deployments that converted all meters to smart meters. France, Spain, Germany, and the United Kingdom are expected to complete AMI roll-out within the next 10 years.
High-accuracy, Poly-phase Electrical Measurement ICs ADI’s new ADE7878, ADE7868, ADE7858, and ADE7854 high-accuracy energy metering ICs are designed for poly-phase configurations, including three and four wire, wye and delta services. The ICs feature 0.1 percent accuracy for both active and reactive energy measurements over a dynamic range of 1000:1—a first for the industry—and 0.2 percent accuracy for both active and reactive energy measurements over a dynamic range of 3000:1. The new products also deliver 0.1 percent accuracy over 1000:1 dynamic range for RMS (root-mean square) current and voltage measurements.
In addition to per-phase and neutral-energy measurements, the ADE7868 and ADE7878 are able to monitor energy quality parameters such as SAG, peak, period, angle measurements, and phase sequence. Another industry first is the ability of the ADE7868 and ADE7878 to detect various tamper conditions—while continuing to operate properly—reducing field calls and meter troubleshooting time.
The ADE7878, ADE7868, ADE7858, and ADE7854 energy metering ICs are sampling now and are housed in a 40-lead LFCSP (lead-frame chip-scale package).
For more information, visit http://www.analog.com/pr/Energy-Measurement. Analog Devices, Inc., Three Technology Way, Norwood, MA 02062, 781-937-1472.