Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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Administratable energy grid with data transmission function
Description
The invention relates to an energy grid with a data
transmission function for distributing electrical energy in
the industrial sector.
Furthermore, the invention relates to a connection box.
In a further aspect, the invention relates to a method for
operating the energy grid.
Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for measuring,
evaluating, performing diagnostics on and administrating the
energy grid.
Such energy grids are used for distributing electrical energy
in the industrial sector, for example in the sector of
automated assembly lines.
Prior art
It is known from the prior art, for example from document
DE10232303A1, to modulate digital data onto a supply voltage
and to transmit both the data and the supply voltage together
over an electrical energy distribution grid.
Document DE102004021380A1 discloses a power supply apparatus
which has a plurality of power supply components. The power
supply components are each provided with a communications
interface and are connected via this communications interface
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and a communications channel to a common analysis and control
unit. The analysis and control unit controls a load management
system for the power supply components.
Document DE10155189A1 discloses a method for regulating the
power supply to a plurality of field devices which are
connected via a data bus line and are supplied with power via
the data bus line. In this case, the current demand of the
individual field devices is determined and the current
consumption of the field devices is adjusted by means of
corresponding control signals. As a result, the current
consumption of individual field devices can be adjusted
centrally and therefore can be matched to the process
conditions.
Document US7058482B2 discloses a data sample and transmission
module for an energy distribution system. The module has a
microprocessor and a network connection. The microprocessor
takes one or more first signals as an indication of the nature
of the energy in the energy distribution system. The
microprocessor is in communication with a data network by
means of the network interface.
Document W02009127817A1 describes a self-organizing energy
distribution network for large areas. Said document discloses
connecting a communications network in parallel with the
energy distribution network and determining at least some of
the topography via switches and measuring devices, wherein the
energy distribution network is divided into zones, which can
then be shut down independently of one another.
One disadvantage in the prior art consists in that the
complexity involved in the diagnostic analysis and
administration of energy grids is very high for the industrial
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sector, for example for the manufacturing sector. For example,
the investigation into which area will require how much energy
at a specific point in time is very complex. In association
with this, it is also extremely difficult to shut down
superfluous loads in cost-optimizing fashion in the case of a
particularly high total energy consumption.
Object
The object of the present invention therefore consists in
simplifying the administratability of and the ability to
perform diagnostics on an energy grid of the type mentioned at
the outset with as little installation complexity as possible.
This object is achieved in that the energy grid comprises a
computer unit and a plurality of connection boxes,
wherein the computer unit has software and at least one
computer data network connection,
wherein each connection box has at least three energy
connections, which are electrically conductively connected to
one another via a branching internal energy line within the
connection box, and at leat one, preferably two box data
network connections,
wherein the computer unit is connected, via its computer data
network connection, to a data network, and wherein at least
one of the connection boxes is connected, via one of its box
data network connections, to the data network and therefore is
in data interchange with the computer unit via the data
network,
wherein at least one of the connection boxes is connected with
one of its energy connections, via an energy cable, directly
to an external electrical energy supply device,
wherein each connection box is connected, with at least one of
its energy connections, via in each case one energy cable, to
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one of the energy connections of at least one connection box
directly adjacent thereto, so that each of the connection
boxes is connected directly or via the electrical energy
connections of one or a plurality of other connection boxes to
the external energy supply device,
wherein each connection box is in bidirectional data
interchange with the at least one connection box directly
adjacent thereto via the energy cable connecting these two
connection boxes.
Here and in the text which follows, two connection boxes are
referred to as being directly adjacent when they are each
connected directly to one another with one of their energy
connections via an energy cable.
Furthermore, the term computer data network connection denotes
a data network connection of the computer unit and the term
box data network connection denotes a data network connection
of the respective connection box which is compatible with the
data network connection of the computer unit.
This object is furthermore achieved by a connection box which
has the following:
- at least three electrical energy connections, which are
electrically conductively connected to one another via a
branching internal energy line and which are each suitable
both for connection to another connection box and for
connection to an external load and for connection to an
external electrical energy supply device;
- for each energy connection, a modulation/demodulation device,
which is connected thereto and which is suitable for
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modulating data onto a supply voltage present at the energy
connection;
- a data network switch, which is connected to the
modulation/demodulation devices for data transmission and has
a microprocessor and at least one, preferably two external
box data network connections;
- at least one measurement means assembly, which is connected
to the data network switch, having means for detecting the
values of electrical variables at at least two different
measurement points in different branches of the internal
energy line.
A "data network switch" is in this case understood to mean a
data device with at least three data connections ("ports"),
which receives data and, in accordance with certain criteria,
passes these data on to some of these ports or retains these
data. In particular, a data network switch has more than three
ports and passes on various data received by it via a port to
one or more of the other ports. Furthermore, a data network
switch can have a processor, with which it can also process
the data.
The term "electrical variables" is understood here and in the
text which follows to mean, for example, current and voltage
and also variables to be determined therefrom, such as power,
for example.
Correspondingly, the term "means for detecting the values of
electrical variables at at least two different measurement
points" includes ammeters and voltmeters and the associated
measurement lines. Furthermore, an arithmetic logic unit can
also be included among these means since values such as rms
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values and/or power or active power can be determined from the
measured variables current and voltage by said arithmetic
logic unit.
The object is furthermore achieved by a method for operating
the energy grid, wherein the method comprises topology
identification, wherein the topology identification has the
following steps:
- sequential interrogation of the connection boxes by the
computer unit;
- implementation of direct neighbor identification between each
connection box and the at least one connection box directly
adjacent thereto,
wherein the direct neighbor identification is performed by
the bidirectional data transmission between each connection
box and the at least one connection box directly adjacent
thereto via the energy cable connecting these two connecting
boxes;
- transmission of the direct neighbor relationships of the
connection boxes to the computer unit;
- imaging of the topology of the energy grid corresponding to
the direct neighbor relationships transmitted by the computer
unit.
Here, the term "direct neighbor identification" means that a
connection box is identified with respect to the connection
box directly adjacent thereto, for example by virtue of the
connection box transmitting its IP address, the MAC address of
its data network switch and/or an individual identification to
the at least one connection box directly adjacent thereto.
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The term "topology" should be understood here and in the text
which follows to mean the grid structure of the energy
distribution. The topology therefore describes the layout of
the energy connections between the connection boxes which is
implemented via the connection of the energy cables. The term
"topology identification" should correspondingly be understood
to mean the identification of the layout of the energy
connections between the connection boxes, i.e. the wiring of
said connection boxes via energy cables.
The object is furthermore achieved by a method for measuring,
evaluating, performing diagnostics on and administrating the
energy grid, wherein the method comprises the following steps:
- determination of the values of electrical variables by the
individual connection boxes at their energy connections;
- interrogation of the values of the electrical variables of
the individual connection boxes by the computer unit;
- transmission of the values of the electrical variables from
the connection boxes to the computer unit;
- storage of the values of the electrical variables as
belonging to the respective connection boxes in a database of
the computer unit;
- regular calculation of the energy consumption at the
individual connection boxes by the computer unit;
- regular calculation of the total energy consumption by the
computer unit.
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Advantageous configurations of the invention are specified in
the dependent subclaims.
The invention relates to an energy grid with special
connection boxes and an associated operating and evaluation
method, which makes it possible to automatically identify and
reproduce the topology of the energy distribution in terms of
construction and wiring. On this basis, the current
consumption can thereupon be determined in specific branches,
for example also in the case of a tree-shaped or ring-shaped
grid structure. In particular, discrepancies with respect to
the setpoint value, for example a disproportionately high
current consumption, can be identified and localized, with the
result that consequently determined loads and/or entire energy
network segments can be connected and disconnected. For the
analysis, the corresponding values of relevant electrical
variables can be observed continuously, stored in a database,
held for any desired period and represented graphically.
Connection faults, wire breakage and overload as well as
undervoltage can be identified by the analysis of the values
of the respective electrical variables and eliminated.
For the direct neighbor identification, it is particularly
advantageous to transmit at least the identification of a
connection box with respect to the at least one connection box
directly adjacent thereto over the energy cable connecting
these two connection boxes because, as a result, the topology
of the energy grid can be imaged automatically. It is
advantageous here to ensure, by virtue of the use of
electrical filters in the connection boxes which can be
arranged in particular in the modulation/demodulation devices,
that the data used for the identification are interchanged
exclusively between the two connection boxes involved, namely
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one connection box and one connection box directly adjacent
thereto, because this enables direct neighbor identification.
In particular, this filter is a low-pass filter, preferably an
inductance which is connected in series with the internal
energy line and which is connected on the box side to ground
via a capacitance.
The data network switch is particularly advantageous because,
owing to its connection to the modulation/demodulation
devices, it is capable of transmitting data from one energy
connection of its connection box to another energy connection
of its connection box. Thus, despite the electrical filter,
data can also be transmitted via a plurality of connection
boxes via the energy cables connecting said connection boxes
up to the computer unit, for example.
Thus, a point-to-point data link is set up between in each
case two connection boxes via the energy cables. By virtue of
a large number of such point-to-point data links, certain
data, if desired, can also be transmitted over the entire
energy grid. At the same time, an electrically conductive
energy connection between all of the connection boxes involved
is also realized via the energy cables.
It is particularly advantageous that the data network switch
of the connection boxes has in each case at least one,
preferably two external box data network connections, as a
result of which barely any additional costs arise. As a
result, said data network switch can also transmit data over
the substantially faster data network in addition to or as an
alternative to the data transmission over the energy cables.
In principle, the data network can have any desired design. In
particular, however, a linear structure is recommended,
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firstly because this keeps the wiring complexity low and
secondly because each connection box as a result only requires
two data network connections. For a star point structure, it
is necessary for either a plurality of connection boxes,
preferably all of the connection boxes for compatibility
reasons, or the computer unit to each have more than two data
network connections or for the energy grid to comprise at
least one further component part which has more than two data
network connections.
It is particularly advantageous if that connection box which
is connected directly to the external electrical energy supply
with one of its energy connections via an energy cable is
connected to the respective energy connection of two
connection boxes directly adjacent thereto via two further
ones of its energy connections via in each case one further
energy cable because, as a result, a ring structure or a tree
structure is enabled in the energy distribution. This is
advantageous because, by sensibly combining a plurality of
loads in one branch of the energy distribution, these loads
can be administrated jointly and in particular the energy
supply to said loads can be connected and disconnected.
In order to produce a ring or tree structure, it is
furthermore advantageous if at least one of those connection
boxes which are not connected directly to the external
electrical energy supply is connected, with at least three of
its energy connections, to in each case at least three
connection boxes directly adjacent thereto. This is
advantageous because this enables a tree structure, wherein by
sensibly combining a plurality of loads in one branch, these
loads can be administrated and in particular switched on and
off jointly.
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Preferably, the connection boxes can have precisely three
energy connections. Then, optionally three connection boxes
directly adjacent to one connection box or else two connection
boxes directly adjacent to this connection box and a load can
be connected to this connection box.
In a further advantageous configuration, at least one
connection box is connected, with one of its energy
connections, to an external load via one of the energy cables.
This is advantageous because this ensures the power supply to
the load.
It is advantageous in this context to connect the load to the
energy connection of the connection box in question via an
electrically actuable switching device, which is also known as
an electrically actuable switching element. The electrically
actuable switching device can be a circuit breaker, a
semiconductor switching device, a relay, a contactor, a motor
protection relay or motor circuit breaker and a line circuit
breaker. The connection box can have one or more external
switching connections. The switching device can be connected
to one of these switching connections via a switching line.
These switching connections can belong to the data network
switch or are at least connected thereto.
Also, the switching device can be an integral part of the
connection box. Correspondingly, the connection box can also
have one or more internal switching connections, and the
switching device can be connected to one of these internal
switching connections and switched thereby, wherein the
internal switching connections belong to the data network
switch or are at least connected thereto.
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It is furthermore advantageous if the energy cables are three-
phase cables, the energy connections are three-phase
connections and the box-internal, branching energy line is a
three-phase line because, as a result, corresponding loads
which require three-phase current can be connected to the
energy grid and supplied with energy thereby. Correspondingly,
the modulation/demodulation device can be connected to only
one phase of the three-phase line. The modulation/demodulation
device can also be connected to two phases of the three-phase
line, however, as a result of which symmetrical data
transmission is enabled.
It is furthermore advantageous if the energy grid is a DC grid
or AC grid because, as a result, corresponding loads which
require direct current or alternating current can be connected
to the energy grid and supplied with energy thereby.
It is furthermore advantageous if the connection box, in
particular the modulation/demodulation device of the
connection box, has electrical filters, which are suitable for
preventing the transmission of the data modulated at the
associated energy connection to the other electrical energy
connections of this connection box via the box-internal energy
line. In particular, this is a low-pass filter, in particular
an inductance which is connected in series with the energy
connection and which, in a preferred embodiment, is connected
on the box side to ground via a capacitance.
If, as described above, the energy cables are three-phase
cables, the energy connections are three-phase connections and
the box-internal, branching energy line is a three-phase line
and the modulation/demodulation devices are connected to only
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one phase or to two phases of the three-phase line, the
electrical filters also only need to be connected to these one
or two phases.
It is furthermore particularly advantageous that the
connection box has in each case at least one, preferably two
box data network connections because the cable-based design of
the data network can therefore deviate from the design of the
energy grid. In this case, already existing and possibly
already permanently laid energy cables and/or data cables in a
production hall can be used, for example.
In this case, the connection boxes can also be connected to an
already existing data network, for example an Ethernet.
Secondly, it is also advantageous if a common data network
provided exclusively for this is set up exclusively via the
computer data network connection and the box data network
connections because then no additional or already existing
data network is required. In this case, a first connection box
can be connected with one of its box data network connections,
via a first data cable, to the computer data network
connection of the computer unit. The first connection box is
connected, with a further box data network connection, to one
of the box data network connections of a second connection
box, which is in turn connected via a data cable to a third
connection box, and this third connection box to a fourth
connection box, etc.
In a preferred embodiment, finally each of the connection
boxes is connected to the data network. In particular, each
connection box is connected with at least one of its box data
network connections to the box data network connection of at
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least one other connection box, with the result that each
connection box is connected with one of its box data network
connections directly or indirectly, i.e. via one or more other
connection boxes, to the computer data network connection of
the computer unit and is therefore in data interchange with
this computer unit via the data network thus formed. For this
it is advantageous if each connection box has two box data
network connections in series. The last connection box in the
chain actually only requires one box data network connection,
but has advantageously likewise two box data network
connections for compatibility reasons. This has the advantage
that all of the connection boxes within the energy grid are
universally usable.
In a further preferred embodiment, only the first connection
box is connected to the network, i.e. directly to the computer
unit. All further connection boxes transmit their data via the
energy cable. Thus, the first connection box performs the
function of a gateway.
In a preferred embodiment, individual components of the
connection boxes, in particular the data network switches
thereof, can also remain in operation when the energy cables
are not conducting any supply voltage. For this purpose, it is
particularly advantageous if the data network provides a
corresponding power supply via the data cables. An external
power supply for the connection boxes is also conceivable,
which comprises a corresponding supply line which can be laid,
for example, together with the data cables to the connection
boxes. The external power supply can comprise an external low-
voltage switched-mode power supply, in particular a 24 V
switched-mode power supply, which for its part is fed from a
separate current source, wherein this further current source
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can be isolated from the energy supply device such that it is
in operation even when the energy supply device is
disconnected.
In a further preferred embodiment, provision is made for the
connection boxes to transmit actively corresponding data, in
particular messages provided for this purpose, preferably
warning indications, to the computer unit in the event of the
onset of certain events, for example on measurement of a
particularly extraordinary value for an electrical variable.
In another advantageous embodiment, the connection boxes each
have a dedicated low-voltage switched-mode power supply,
preferably a 24 V switched-mode power supply, for supplying
power to its internal components, for example the measurement
means assembly, the data network switch and the
modulation/demodulation device. This switched-mode power
supply can draw its supply voltage from one of the energy
connections of the connection box. The connection box can also
have external connections of this low-voltage switched-mode
power supply, by means of which the low-voltage switched-mode
power supply is provided both for supplying power to external
low-voltage loads to be connected and for operating an
external electrically actuable switching device.
In a preferred embodiment, the data network fulfills the
Ethernet standard.
In a further embodiment, the data network uses wireless
transmission methods. In particular, the data network can be a
WLAN network. Correspondingly, the box data network
connections of each connection box can be replaced or
supplemented by a WLAN interface.
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In a further embodiment, the data transmission via the energy
cables can adhere to corresponding known standards, for
example to the Powerline standard.
In a further embodiment, the energy cables are so-called
"hybrid cables", which are characterized by the fact that they
have both corresponding energy lines and also corresponding
integrated data lines.
In a further preferred design, the energy grid additionally
has one or more so-called "repeaters" for amplifying the data
signals, which repeaters are designed in a similar manner to a
connection box and are connected to the energy grid, but are
formed with only two electrical energy connections.
It is particularly advantageous if the connection box has a
measurement means assembly. The measurement means assembly is
provided for determining electrical variables such as current,
voltage and power, for example. In particular, this
measurement means assembly can have an arithmetic logic unit,
by means of which it is suitable for calculating the active
power and the rms values of the voltage and the current at the
energy connections of the connection box. For this purpose,
measurement points are provided in a plurality of branches of
the energy line, said measurement points being electrically
conductively connected to the measurement means assembly via
measurement lines. If the energy line has a number n of
branches, precisely n-1 measurement points can be provided.
The measurement means assembly can calculate, by means of its
arithmetic logic unit, the electrical variables in the
remaining branch which does not have a measurement point.
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Furthermore, the measurement means assembly can, using its
arithmetic logic unit, calculate the active power and the rms
values of the voltage and current from the measured values.
This is particularly advantageous for keeping the data rate
during transmission of these electrical variables to the
computer unit low.
If the box-internal, branching energy line is a three-phase
line, it is advantageous if each measurement point has three
subordinate measurement points, which are arranged in the
three different phases of the energy line because the
electrical variables of each phase can thus be determined.
Furthermore, it is advantageous if the connection box has, at
at least one energy connection, an electrical fuse or at least
one connection for an electrical fuse or a corresponding
electromechanical switch since, as a result, it is possible to
fuse different energy cables differently or to isolate
different energy cables by disconnection in order to be able
to use energy cables with smaller cross sections in the
individual branches of a tree structure, for example, than in
the main distribution.
In an advantageous development, the connection box has a
memory unit, in which it can store, inter alia, the values
determined by said connection box for the electrical
variables. Furthermore, the memory can also store the setpoint
values for the electrical variables. This has the advantage
that this connection box can also be used as an autonomous
unit without further connection boxes and/or without a
computer unit. As a result, in the event of a network fault,
the determination of electrical variables can be continued.
The corresponding data can then be transmitted to the computer
unit to be connected thereto for this purpose, for example at
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a later point in time for evaluation. It is thus also possible
for a group of connection boxes to be operated without a
computer unit. Then, the energy grid consists of connection
boxes which are connected to one another via energy cables and
preferably also via data cables. One of the connection boxes,
for example the first connection box, can in this case perform
an administrative function and thus can temporarily or
permanently replace the computer unit. For reasons of
compatibility, any connection box can be suitable for
performing this function.
The method for operating the energy grid comprises topology
identification. This topology identification comprises direct
neighbor identification between connection boxes which are
directly adjacent to one another. As a result, the individual
connection boxes acquire information on the identity of the at
least one connection box directly adjacent thereto. This
information is transmitted to the computer unit at the request
of the computer unit together with the dedicated identity of
the respective connection box via the energy cables and/or via
the data network. On the basis of this information which the
computer unit preferably acquires from all of the connection
boxes, the computer unit images the topology of the energy
grid with a sorting algorithm contained in its software. In
this case, the transmission of redundant data is accepted. As
an alternative to this, the connection boxes which are
directly adjacent to one another can negotiate between
themselves which of them will transmit their common neighbor
relationship to the computer unit. As a result, transmission
capacities can be saved.
Advantageously, the topology identification is repeated
regularly, i.e. at regular time intervals, for example at time
intervals of less than 10 seconds, in particular less than 5
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seconds, particularly preferably 3 seconds, wherein, after
each topology identification, each connection box checks its
connection to the data network, whereupon either the data to
be transmitted to maintain the basic functions of the energy
grid are transmitted via the respective energy connections and
the corresponding energy cables when the data network is not
connected or the data to be transmitted for maintaining basic
functions of the energy grid are preferably transmitted via
the data network when the data network is connected.
In this case, the topology identification is one of the basic
functions of the energy grid. Furthermore, transmission of the
values of electrical variables such as current, voltage and
power from individual connection boxes to the computer unit
also takes place and can likewise be one of the basic
functions of the energy grid. It is particularly advantageous
to determine the rms values of specific electrical variables,
in particular current and voltage, and the active power for
each electrical connection in the connection box itself, in
particular in the measurement means assembly, and to transmit
these values to the computer unit because this saves on
transmission capacities.
If only some connection boxes are connected to the data
network, but other connection boxes are not connected to the
data network, data can be transmitted, for example, between
some connection boxes via data cables and between other
connection boxes via energy cables.
In an advantageous configuration, when the data cable is
connected, further data are also transmitted via the data
network, for example data with a comparatively high data
capacity, for example video data from a surveillance camera or
automation data for connected loads.
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In the computer unit, in addition to the topology information,
each connection box in the computer unit can be uniquely
denoted by a name. Advantageously, this denoted name can give
an indication of a load which is connected to the connection
box.
Thus, the computer unit can assign the name of each connection
box to a MAC address of the data network switch of this
connection box and store it in a database belonging to the
computer unit. It is furthermore advantageous if the computer
unit assigns the values of the electrical variables of each
connection box to the respective name of this connection box
and therefore to the MAC address thereof. This has the
advantage that the system can also continue to assign the
already stored data to the associated connection box even
after a shutdown, a rundown or a system crash.
It is furthermore advantageous that, with this system, changes
to the topology can be identified by renewed topology
identification and a comparison between the newly imaged
topology and the stored topology. Correspondingly, a warning
indication can be provided which contains not only the
information that the topology has changed, but also the point
at which this change has occurred and what type of change this
is.
In this context, it is particularly advantageous if the energy
grid has a ring structure, i.e. an energy connection of a
connection box is connected to a further energy connection of
the same connection box indirectly via a plurality of other
connection boxes. As a result, a single fault in the ring
structure of the energy wiring does not immediately come to
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bear because the energy distribution has an alternative path,
but can be identified by the direct neighbor identification
and correspondingly eliminated before a second fault
potentially occurs in the ring structure. This applies
particularly to DC and AC grids because these have only one
current-conducting core on which the data are also
transmitted.
In order to measure, evaluate, perform diagnostics on and
administrate the energy grid, it is particularly advantageous
to implement regular calculation of the energy consumption at
the individual connection boxes by means of the computer unit
and regular calculation of the total energy consumption by
means of the computer unit because, in this way, it is
possible not only to estimate the costs of the total energy
consumption but also to analyze to which load a particularly
high energy consumption may be attributable or in which energy
branch there is a particularly high energy consumption.
Furthermore, superfluous loads can be defined and disconnected
as soon as the total energy exceeds a reference value to be
fixed.
Furthermore, it is also possible to fix individual reference
values for individual connection boxes, and when these
individual reference values are exceeded, for a display, a
signal or an alarm to be triggered, for example.
It is particularly advantageous to compare the voltage at two
electrical energy connections, which are connected to one
another via an energy cable, of two connection boxes which are
directly adjacent to one another. If this voltage difference
exceeds a specific value, this is regarded as being a clear
indication of a connection fault, for example of a
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particularly high contact resistance, a defective or missing
cable. Thereupon, a corresponding visual or acoustic warning
signal, a corresponding display on a monitor of the computer
or a comparable alarm can be triggered, with the result that
the fault can be eliminated quickly or even identified so
early it is eliminated even before it has actually occurred,
for example when an energy cable becomes loose in its holder
in an undesirable manner.
Exemplary embodiment
An exemplary embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the
drawing and will be explained in more detail below. In the
drawing:
Figure la shows a linear energy grid with a minimally
connected data network;
Figure lb shows the linear energy grid with wiring of the
minimally connected data network;
Figure 2a shows the linear energy grid with a completely
connected data network;
Figure 2b shows the linear energy grid with wiring of the
completely connected data network;
Figure 3a shows the linear energy grid with a partially
connected data network;
Figure 3b shows the linear energy grid with wiring of the
partially connected data network;
Figure 4 shows an energy grid with a first tree structure;
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Figure 5 shows an energy grid with a second tree structure;
Figure 6 shows an energy grid with a ring structure;
Figure 7 shows a block circuit diagram of a connection box;
Figure 8 shows a connection box with a load connected via an
external switching device;
Figure 9 shows an energy grid with a switchable ring
structure;
Figure 10 shows a flowchart illustrating a method for
operating the energy grid.
Figure la illustrates a linear energy grid with an associated
first data network 2. Figure lb also illustrates explicitly
the data network 2 with possible, suitable wiring. This wiring
is exclusively a single data cable 21, with which a first
connection box 4 is connected to a computer unit 1. This first
connection box 4 performs the function of a gateway with
respect to the further energy grid.
The topology is this energy grid results from the following
wiring via the energy cables 5, 5', 5", 5"', 5"":
The first connection box 4 is connected to an external energy
supply device 3 via a first energy cable 5. In addition, the
first connection box 4 is connected to a second connection box
4' via a second energy cable 5'. The second connection box 4'
is connected to the third connection box 4" by a third energy
cable 5", which third connection box for its part is
connected to the fourth connection box 4' by a fourth energy
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cable 5"1. The fourth connection box 41" is finally
connected to the fifth connection box 4"" by a fifth energy
cable 5"", which fifth connection box is located at the end
of the chain and is therefore not connected to a further
connection box. Each of the connection boxes is additionally
connected to in each case one load 6, 6', 6", 6"1, 6"" by
in each case one further energy cable (not denoted).
This results in the following direct neighbor relationships:
The first connection box 4 has the second connection box 4' as
direct neighbor. The second connection box 4' has the first
connection box 4 and the third connection box 4" as direct
neighbors. The third connection box 4" has the second
connection box 4 and the fourth connection box 4"1 as direct
neighbors. The fourth connection box 4"' has the third
connection box 4'' and the fifth connection box 4"" as
direct neighbors. The fifth connection box 4'"' has the
fourth connection box 4"1 as direct neighbor.
Figure 2a illustrates, in the same way, the abovementioned
linear energy grid, i.e. with the same topology as in the
previous example, but not only the first connection box 4 but
all of the connection boxes 4, 4', 4", 41", 4"" are
connected to the data network 2 via the corresponding data
cables 21, 21', 21", 21"', 21"".
Figure 2b explicitly illustrates a possible wiring suitable
for this purpose of the data network 2. In this case, the
first connection box 4 is connected not only to the computer
unit 1 by the first data cable 21 but also to the second
connection box 4' by a second data cable 21'. The second
connection box 4' is connected to the third connection box 4"
by a third data cable 21", which third connection box for its
part is connected to the fourth connection box 4''' by a
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fourth data cable 21"'. The fourth connection box 4"' is
finally connected to the fifth connection box 4'"', which
represents the end of this chain and is therefore not
connected to a further connection box.
The topology of this energy grid results from the following
wiring via the energy cables 5, 5', 5", 5"', 5"":
The first connection box 4 is connected to the external energy
supply device 3 via the first energy cable 5. In addition, the
first connection box 4 is connected to the second connection
box 4' via the second energy cable 5'. The second connection
box 4' is connected to the third connection box 4" by the
third energy cable 5", which third connection box for its
part is connected to the fourth connection box 4"' by the
fourth energy cable 5"1. The fourth connection box 4"' is
finally connected to the fifth connection box 4"" by the
fifth energy cable 5"", which fifth connection box is
located at the end of the chain and is therefore not connected
to a further connection box. Each of the connection boxes is
additionally connected to in each case one load 6, 6', 6",
6"1, 6"" by in each case one further energy cable (not
denoted).
This results in the following direct neighbor relationships:
The first connection box 4 has the second connection box 4' as
direct neighbor. The second connection box 4' has the first
connection box 4 and the third connection box 4" as direct
neighbors. The third connection box 4" has the second
connection box 4' and the fourth connection box 4"' as direct
neighbors. The fourth connection box 4"' has the third
connection box 4" and the fifth connection box 4"" as
direct neighbors. The fifth connection box 4'"' has the
fourth connection box 4"' as direct neighbor.
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Figure 3a illustrates, in the same way, the linear energy
grid, i.e. with the same topology as in the two previous
examples, but with a partially connected data network 2. In
this case, the connection boxes 4 and 4" are connected to the
data network 2 by in each case one data cable 21, 21".
Figure 3b explicitly illustrates a possible wiring, suitable
for this purpose, for the data network. In this case, the
first connection box 4 is connected both to the computer unit
1 by the first data cable 21 and to the third connection box
4" by the third data cable 21".
The topology of this energy grid results from the following
wiring via the energy cables 5, 5', 5", 5"', 5'"':
The first connection box 4 is connected to the external energy
supply device 3 via the first energy cable 5. In addition, the
first connection box 4 is connected to the second connection
box 4' via the second energy cable 5'. The second connection
box 4 is connected to the third connection box 4" by the
third energy cable 5", which third connection box for its
part is connected to the fourth connection box 4"' by the
fourth energy cable 5"'. The fourth connection box 4"' is
finally connected to the fifth connection box 4"" by the
fifth energy cable 5'"', which fifth connection box is
located at the end of the chain and is therefore not connected
to another connection box. Each of the connection boxes is
additionally connected to in each case one load 6, 6', 6",
6'", 6"" by in each case one further energy cable (not
denoted).
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This results in the following direct neighbor relationships:
The first connection box 4 has the second connection box 4' as
direct neighbor. The second connection box 4' has the first
connection box 4 and the third connection box 4" as direct
neighbors. The third connection box 4" has the second
connection box 4' and the fourth connection box 4"' as direct
neighbors. The fourth connection box 4"' has the third
connection box 4" and the fifth connection box 4Ú Ú ' as
direct neighbors. The fifth connection box 4' T T T has the
fourth connection box 4"' as direct neighbor.
Figure 4 illustrates an energy grid whose topology has a first
tree structure.
The topology of this energy grid results from the following
wiring via the energy cables 5, 5', 5", 5'", 5"":
The external energy supply device 3 is connected to the first
connection box 4 via the first energy cable 5. The first
connection box 4 is connected to the second connection box 4'
by the second energy cable 5'. Furthermore, the first
connection box 4 is connected to the fourth connection box
4"' by the fourth energy cable 51". The second connection
box 4 is connected to the third connection box 4" by the
third energy cable 5". The fourth connection box 4"' is
connected to the fifth connection box 4'"' by the fifth
energy cable 5"".
This results in the following direct neighbor relationships:
The first connection box 4 has the second connection box 4'
and the fourth connection box 4' l as direct neighbors. The
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second connection box 4' has the first connection box 4 and
the third connection box 4" as direct neighbors. The fourth
connection box 4"' has the first connection box 4 and the
fifth connection box 4"" as direct neighbors. The fifth
connection box 4'"' has the fourth connection box 4"' as
direct neighbor.
Therefore, the first connection box 4 is connected in total to
two directly adjacent connection boxes 4', 4"' and to the
energy supply device 3 and produces a tree structure.
No load is connected to the first connection box 4. In each
case one load 6', 6", 6"1, 6"" is connected to all of the
other connection boxes 4', 4", 4'", 4"" via in each case
one energy cable (not denoted).
For reasons of completeness, the computer unit 1 is also
illustrated, with this computer unit being connected to the
first connection box 4 via a data cable 21.
Figure 5 illustrates an energy grid with a second tree
structure.
The topology of this energy grid results from the following
wiring via the energy cables 5, 5', 5", 5"', 5"":
The external energy supply device 3 is connected to the first
connection box 4 via the first energy cable 5. The first
connection box 4 is in this case connected to the second
connection box 4' by the energy cable 5'. The second
connection box 4' is connected to the third connection box 4"
by the third energy cable 5". Furthermore, the second
connection box is connected to the fourth connection box 4"'
by the fourth energy cable 5'". The fourth connection box
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4"' is connected to the fifth connection box 4' l I I by the
fifth energy cable 5"". Therefore, the second connection box
4' is connected to in total three directly adjacent connection
boxes 4, 4", 4' and produces a tree structure.
This results in the following direct neighbor relationships:
The first connection box 4 has the second connection box 4' as
direct neighbor. The second connection box 4' has the first
connection box 4, the fourth connection box 4"' and the third
connection box 4" as direct neighbors. The third connection
box 4" has the second connection box 4' as direct neighbor.
The fourth connection box 4"' has the second connection box
4' and the fifth connection box 4'" as direct neighbors. The
fifth connection box 4"" has the fourth connection box 4"'
as direct neighbor.
No load is connected to the second connection box 4'. In each
case one load 6, 6", 6"1, 6"" is connected to all of the
other connection boxes 4, 4", 4'", 4"" via in each case
one energy cable (not denoted).
For reasons of completeness, the computer unit 1 is also
illustrated, with the computer unit being connected to the
first connection box 4 via a data cable 21.
Figure 6 illustrates an energy grid with a ring structure.
The topology of this energy grid results from the following
wiring via the energy cables 5, 5', 5", 5"1, 5 ' l I:
The external energy supply device 3 is connected to the first
connection box 4 via the first energy cable 5. The first
connection box 4 is connected to a second connection box 4' by
a second energy cable 5'. The second connection box 4' is
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connected to a third connection box 4" via a third energy
cable 5". The third connection box is connected in turn to
the first connection box 4 via a fourth energy cable 51". The
resultant ring can be extended as desired by adding further
connection boxes.
This results in the following direct neighbor relationships:
The first connection box 4 has the second connection box 4'
and the third connection box 4" as direct neighbors. The
second connection box 4' has the first connection box 4 and
the third connection box 4" as direct neighbors. The third
connection box 4" has the second connection box 4 and the
first connection box 4 as direct neighbors.
For reasons of completeness, the computer unit 1 is also
illustrated, with the computer unit being connected to the
first connection box 4 via a data cable 21. The first
connection box 4 is connected to the second connection box 4'
via a second data cable 21'. The second connection box 4' is
connected to the third connection box 4" via a third data
cable 21".
Furthermore, meshed grids are also possible, in which a
combination of tree, ring and linear structures can be
implemented.
Figure 7 illustrates a block circuit diagram of a connection
box 4 according to the invention by way of example for all
connection boxes 4, 4', 4", 4"', 41 l". For reasons of
clarity, the reference symbols of the first connection box 4
are therefore also used for the other boxes 4', 4", 4"1,
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The connection box 4 therefore has a first energy connection
411, a second energy connection 412 and a third energy
connection 413, which are each provided for connecting energy
cables 5, 5', 5", 5"1, 5"". The energy connections 411,
412, 413 are conductively connected to one another via an
internal energy line 43. The energy line 43 has three branches
431, 432, 433, which are connected to the energy connections
411, 412, 413 via in each case one modulation/demodulation
device 441, 442, 443.
The connection box has in each case one measurement point 462,
463 at two energy branches 432, 433. In the present exemplary
embodiment, the energy cables 5, 5', 5", 5"', 5"" are
three-phase cables, the energy connections 411, 412, 413 are
three-phase connections, and the energy line 43 is a
three-phase line, with the result that each measurement point
462, 463 has three subordinate measurement points, namely one
for each phase of the energy line 43. These subordinate
measurement points are not denoted in the drawing.
A measurement means assembly 46 is connected to these two
measurement points 462, 463, i.e. to the subordinate
measurement points thereof.
Correspondingly, the modulation/demodulation devices 441, 442,
443 also need to be connected to only one or two of the three
phases of the respective energy connections 411, 412, 413. In
the present case, the modulation/demodulation devices 441,
442, 443 are connected to two phases of the energy connections
411, 412, 413 and thus ensure symmetrical data transmission.
The third phase of the respective energy connection 411, 412,
413 is passed mechanically through the respective
modulation/demodulation device 441, 442, 443 without any
electrical connection to said
respective
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modulation/demodulation device 441, 442, 443 and is connected
directly to the corresponding third phase of the energy line
43.
Furthermore, the connection box 4 has a data network switch 45
with two external box data network connections 42, which are
provided for connection of data cables 21, 21', 21", 21'",
21"".
The data network switch 45 is connected to the three
modulation/demodulation devices 441, 442, 443 and to the
measurement means assembly 46 via a data bus with four data
bus lines 471, 472, 473, 476, with this preferably being an
I2C bus.
Furthermore, the connection box 4 has a low-voltage
switched-mode power supply, preferably a 24 V switched-mode
power supply, which is not illustrated in the drawing for
reasons of clarity. By means of this low-voltage switched-mode
power supply, internal components of the connection box 4, in
particular the measurement means assembly 46, the data network
switch 45 and the modulation/demodulation devices 441, 442,
443, can be supplied with electrical energy required for their
operation.
On the box side, the modulation/demodulation devices 441, 442,
443 each have at least one electrical filter, preferably a
low-pass filter, in particular in each case one low-pass
filter per connected phase. This filter is particularly
preferably a series-connected inductance, which is preferably
connected to ground on the box side via a capacitance. Data
transmission on the energy line 43 is prevented by the
electrical filter. For example, no data transmission can take
place via the energy line 43 from the first energy connection
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411 to the second energy connection 412 of the first
connection box 4. If, however, data transmission is desired
from, for example, the first energy connection 411 to the
second energy connection 412, the data network switch 45 can
transmit the corresponding data from the first
modulation/demodulation device 411 to
the second
modulation/demodulation device 442, with the result that said
data can be modulated onto energy connection 412 connected
thereto again and from there transmitted on via an energy
cable 5', for example to the second connection box 4' which
may be connected thereto.
As an alternative to this, a data cable 21' can be connected
to one of the box data network connections 42. The data can
then be transmitted to the second connection box 4' which may
be connected thereto via this data cable 21'.
If it should be desirable, for example, for the fifth
connection box 4"" to transmit data to the computer unit 1
in the energy grid illustrated in Figure 3b, for example,
these data would be transmitted first via the fifth energy
cable 5"" to the fourth connection box 4'" and from there
via the fourth energy cable 5"' to the third connection box
4" since the fourth and fifth connection boxes 4"" and 4"'
are not connected to the data network 2. From the third
connection box 4", the data are transmitted via the third
data cable 21" to the first connection box 4 and from there
via the first data cable 21 to the computer unit 1.
In this case, the data network switch 45 of each participating
connection box 4, 4", 4, , l, 4"" searches for
the
respectively most favorable transmission path in accordance
with its protocol. The data transmission via the box data
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network connections 42 in this case has priority over data
transmission via the energy connections 411, 412, 413.
Furthermore, the data network switch 45 has a switching
connection assembly 451 with a plurality of external switching
connections 48 for driving and/or interrogating in each case
one electrically actuable switching device 7, illustrated in
Figure 8.
Figure 8 illustrates a connection box 4 with a load 6
connected via the electrically actuable switching device 7.
The connection box 4 is connected to an energy cable 5 via its
first energy connection 411. The connection box 4 receives
electrical energy from the external energy supply device 3 via
this energy cable 5.
The connection box 4 is connected to a second energy cable 5'
by its second energy connection 412.
The connection box 4 is connected to a first electrical
connection 71 of the electrically actuable switching device 7
via an energy cable (not denoted) by its third energy
connection 413. This electrically actuable switching device 7
is connected to the electrical load 6 by a second electrical
connection 72 via a further energy cable (not denoted). In
addition, one of the switching connections 48 of the first
connection box 4 is connected via a switching line 8 to a
control connection 73 of the electrically actuable switching
device 7.
On reception of a corresponding control signal at its control
input 73, the electrical switching device 7 connects its first
electrical connection 71 electrically conductively to its
second electrical connection 72.
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Thus, the computer unit 1 can also connect and disconnect the
power supply to one or more loads 6, 6', 6", 61", 6"" via
the respective connection box 4, 4', 4", 4"', 4"". The
loads 6, 6', 6", 61", 6"" can of course be connected via
such switching devices 7 to the respective connection boxes 4,
4', 4", 41", 4"" via in each case one such switching
device 7 and can therefore be connected and disconnected both
in the energy distributions illustrated in Figures 1 to 6 and
in all other possible topologies. Such a switching device 7
can also be arranged in entire branches of the energy grid and
is thus capable of connecting and disconnecting entire network
segments and/or changing the topology.
Correspondingly, Figure 9 illustrates a switchable ring
structure, following on from the energy grid illustrated in
Figure 6. The third connection box 4" is in this case
connected to a first electrical connection 71 of the switching
device 7 via an energy cable (not denoted). The second
electrical connection 72 of the switching device 7 is
connected to an energy connection of the first connection box
4 via the fourth energy cable 51". In the normal state, the
two electrical connections 71, 72 of the connection box 7 can
be electrically isolated from one another. If required, the
connection box 4, at the request of the computer unit 1, emits
a signal via one of its switching connections 48 for
instructing the switching device 7 connected thereto to
electrically conductively connect its electrical connections
71, 72 to one another and therefore in order to ensure an
additional energy connection between the third connection box
4" and the first connection box 4.
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Figure 10 illustrates a flowchart for a method for operating
an energy grid. First, topology identification takes place via
the energy cables 5, 5', 5", 5"', 5"". This is based on
direct neighbor identification, which will be explained below
using an example:
In Figure 4, for example, the first connection box 4 receives,
from the connection boxes 4', 4"' directly adjacent thereto,
the identification of said connection boxes, for example their
IP address and/or the MAC address of the data network switch
45 thereof of any other internal identification, via the
corresponding energy cables 51", 5'. Thereupon, these
identifications can be transmitted together with the dedicated
identification of the connection box 4 to the computer unit 1
in this case via the data cable 21.
In the same way, the connection boxes 4', 4", 4'", 4""
also collect the identifications of their respective direct
neighbors and transmit these together with their respective
dedicated identification via the energy cables 5', 5", 5"1,
5"" and via the first data cable 21 to the computer unit 1
in the above-described way.
These data are collected and evaluated in the computer unit 1.
As a result, the topology of the energy grid can be imaged and
stored. This topology identification can be repeated
regularly, i.e. at regular time intervals, for example at time
intervals of less than 10 seconds, in particular less than 5
seconds, particularly preferably 3 seconds. After each
repetition, a comparison of the newly determined topology with
the stored topology takes place. If a change is established,
an alarm can be triggered as a result, for example.
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In particular, this is of great importance for the ring
structure illustrated in Figure 6. If a fault occurs within
the ring structure which consists, for example, in that one of
the energy cables 5', 5", 5"' is missing or does not have
any electrical contact, the energy flow is maintained via an
alternative path. However, owing to the repetition of the
topology identification, this fault is identified immediately
and can be eliminated correspondingly before it has any
effects on the power supply to individual loads 6', 6".
The measurement means assembly 46 of each connection box 4,
4', 41 T, 4'", 4"" can measure values of electrical
variables such as current and voltage, for example, in two
branches 432, 433 of the energy line 43 and calculate the
corresponding values in the remaining branch 431, which does
not have a measurement point using an arithmetic logic unit.
With the aid of the arithmetic logic unit, then in each case
the rms values of the current and voltage and the active power
are determined in all three phases of the three branches 431,
432, 433 and transmitted to the computer unit 1 at the request
of the computer unit 1. By virtue of the determination and
transmission of only the rms values of the current and voltage
and the active power, transmission capacity is saved in
comparison with complete transmission of all measured values.
This procedure can be repeated regularly, i.e. at regular time
intervals, for example at time intervals of less than 10
seconds, in particular less than 5 seconds, particularly
preferably 3 seconds.
In accordance with the flowchart illustrated in Figure 10,
topology identification is implemented at regular intervals.
After each topology identification, it is established by each
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connection box 4, 4', 4", 4'", 4"" whether one of its box
data network connections 42 is connected to the data network
2.
Correspondingly, the computer unit 1 can determine which of
the connection boxes 4, 4', 4", 4"1, 4"" are connected to
the data network 2.
Correspondingly, in addition, the data network switch 45 of
such a connection box 4 can decide, in accordance with its
protocol, whether only basic functions or additionally also
automation functions are implemented and whether the
respective data are transmitted via a box data network
connection 42 and a data cable 21, 21', 21", 211", 21""
connected thereto or via the corresponding energy connection
411, 412, 413 and an energy cable 5, 5', 5", 5"1, 5""
connected thereto.
By evaluating and storing the values of relevant electrical
variables in a database of the computer unit 1, graphical and
statistical evaluations can also take place which give an
indication of the total energy consumption and the individual
energy consumption at each connection box.
Thus specific loads 6, 6', 6", 61", 6"" to be established,
for example superfluous loads, can also be disconnected
depending on the total energy consumption.
The invention is not restricted to the exemplary embodiment,
but is multiply variable in the context of the disclosure. The
above-described energy grid is, for example, by way of
example, a three-phase grid; the disclosed embodiments can be
transferred to other energy grids such as DC and AC grids,
however. The described embodiments can also be transferred to
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any desired topologies, in particular topologies which are
substantially more extensive than those shown. In particular,
the application is not restricted to the administration by a
central computer unit 1. Instead, the connection boxes 4, 4',
41 l, 4'", 4"" can also be autonomously self-administrating,
for example by virtue of the first connection box 4 wholly or
partially taking on the described characteristics and the
described functions of the computer unit 1.
I
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List of Reference Symbols February 15, 2012
Administratable energy grid with data transmission function
File Ref.: P210-30 WO P H
1 Computer unit
2 Data network
21, 21', 21",.... Data cables
3 External energy supply device
4,41,4",... Connection boxes
411, 412, 413 Electrical energy connections
42 Box data network connections
43 Energy line
431, 432, 433 Different branches of energy line
441, 442, 443 Modulation/demodulation devices
45 Data network switch
451 Switching connection assembly
46 Measurement means assembly
462, 463 Measurement points
471, 472, 473, 476 Data bus lines
48 External switching connections
5, 5', 5", ... Energy cables
6, 6', 6", Loads
7 Switching device
71, 72 Electrical connections of switching
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device
73 Control connection of switching
device
8 Switching line
