Method & Apparatus for Prevention of Power Theft & Load
Balancing in a Power Distribution System
Abstract:
A system and method of theft-proof power distribution architecture is provided. The
proposed system includes a power delivery system from a source to a plurality of power
customers that includes an encoding apparatus at source, a decoding apparatus at
destination, a power distribution mechanism and a communication apparatus.
Power encoded at distribution source can only be utilized by a decoder at the destination.
Any attempts to tap power illegally from the distribution system without including t e
decoding device can cause severe voltage fluctuations or possible damage to power
equipment that is connected without a decoder. The proposed method(s) and the
system(s) are applicable to low tension or high tension electrical power lines. Also, they
are applicable to single phase or three phase power feeders or a combination thereof.
Additionally, a load balancing mechanism is proposed to match the phase current loading
in a multi-phase system.
Background of the Invention:
The field of this disclosure relates generally to electricity theft, and more particularly to the
prevention of electricity theft.
Electricity theft, an ongoing problem for all electricity providers. Most cases of electricity
theft occur when violators directly tap a power line by the way of hooks, clamps or
physically alter the internal mechanism of their electric meters, causing the electricity to
bypass the meter and not be recorded. As a result, violators are not charged for ~he total
number of kilowatt-hours actually used, causing lost revenue for the electricity providers.
Many inventions and methods have been proposed for detection of occurrence of power
theft in a power distribution system. An alert is raised to the authorities if any energy meter
tampering or power theft is discovered. An action is then mandated from the power
company to check and correct such instances. Although penalties and fi~es are in place to
dete estic and industrial consumers from illegally using electric power, still the losses
power pilferage are very high.
countries, theft detection is not effective as power companies and authorities lack
npower and infrastructure to check such instances. The existence of power mafias
exacerbates the situation.
There is a need to develop a mechanismthat does not allow power theft to occur in the first
place.Because residential and commercial electricity theft is a significant loss of revenue
for electric utility companies, many electric utility companies would · benefit from a system
that effectively curbs potential electricity theft . ... .., BEAM F PATENTED TECHNOLOGY
Summary of the Invention:
The object of the invention is to provide an electricity theft prevention device which is
simple, durable and of tamperproof construction. Any instance of drawing power from a
distribution system without a recording mechanism is defined as power or electricity theft.
A further object is to provide an electricity theft prevention device which will prevent
successful use of "jumpers", line hooks or other devices for shunting electric current
around a meter so that current can be secured without registering on the meter. More
particularly it is object to provide theft prevention mechanism in the form of a voltage
encoding device so arranged that any attempt to use "jumpers" will result in supplying a
higher voltage to the load wires than they are supposed to carry, with the result that
electric devices connected therewith will be burned out or otherwise damaged by the
excessive current or intermittent voltage bursts, thus curing anyone of using "jumpers" in
this manner. ·
Along with the prevention of power theft, it is the additional object of the invention to
balance electrical loads on multiple phases by dynamic allocation of phase source to
loads. This ensures balanced loading of phases resulting in minimal neutral return current,
thus minimizing power distribution losses.
In one aspect, a power receiver is provided. The power receiver includes at least one an
electricity meter as an energy metering device. The electricity meter includes a phase
decoding device for decoding phase rotations encoded in the distribution system .. The
electricity meter also includes a controller that balances phase loading by sensing
electrical loading on phases. The electricity meter also includes a wire or wireless
communication devic.e to exchange data with the power transmitter and electric company.
A safety cutoff mechanism is also included to avoid any damage due to decoder failure.
In another aspect, a power encoder is provided at the power source. The power encoder
includes a power encoding device for encoding phase rotations into the distribution
system. The power encoder also includes a wire or wireless communication device to
exchange data with the power receiver and electric company.
Brief Description of the Drawings:
is a schematic view of an exemplary system for use in preventing electricity theft;
2 is a schematic view of an exemplary power source and power encoder for use with
system illustrated in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a schematic view of an exemplary power destination node and power decoder
for use with the system illustrated in FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is an exemplary power encoder and decoder that the propo.sed system embodiment
uses at power source and destinations;
FIG. 5 is illustrati g the sinusoidal AC voltage and current that flows in the power system
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And TABLE 1 is an exemplary power assignment sequence at the power source encoder
crossbar output of FIG.4.
Detailed description of the Invention:
FIG. 1 is a top level schematic view of a power distribution network that incorporates an
exemplary system for preventing electricity theft. In the exemplary embodiment, system 1
includes a power distribution source 2 driving a power distribution network 4, a plurality of
theft proof electricity meters 3 connected to a power distribution network 4 via a plurality of
customer lines. In the present embodiment, the power distribution source 2 comprises the
electric utility company, a power distribution transformer,apower encoder and
communication device to exchange data from the power destination meters 3. In one
embodiment, meters 3 comprise a power decoding system, a mechanism to monitor and
track electricity usage, and/or communication mechanism to exchange information for
each energy customer associated with a respective customer line 18. Utility company at
power source 2 may interact with electricity meters at 3 to request and/or access
information using a variety of methods, including, but not limited to, wired and/or wireless
methods. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, many such communication
methods exist including, but not limited to, a telephone line, an automatic meter reading
system,an optical port, an RS-232 line, a wireless system, and/or various other modes of
communication.
Figure 2 illustrates an exemplary power transmitter node 2 that is deployed by the power
distribution company to setup a power transmission source for electricity customers. In the
present embodiment, 20 is the high voltage power input from the grid to a step-down type
power transformer 26 deployed by the power company. As will be appreciated by those
skilled in the art, the power transformer 2 can have multiple specifications with multiple
power phase inputs and has the capacity to support multiple customer power needs. The
output of the power transformer is coupled to a power measurement device 29 which in
connected to a phase rotation switch crossbar 22 that assigns power phases from the
power transformer output to the power distribution network 4. The phase a!?signment is a
sequencing pseudo random in nature and generated by a controller 21 that enables
switches though a control interface 25. The crossbar 22 input to output phase
nt sequence is known only to the power company and may be altered with time
algorithm whose software is running on the controller 21 . In the preferred
nt, as will be illustrated later, the metric used to determine the phase switching
zero crossings of the AC current. Details of the phase switching mechanism are
figure 5. The power measurement device 29 is used to record the electrical
loading per phase of the power transformer 26 and this information is communicated to the
controller through interface 24. In the preferred embodiment, the conJroller 21 transfers the
phase changing sequence of crossbar 22 and phase loading info(mation to the power
receiving devices via a communication device 27. As will be appreciated by those skilled in
the art, the order of connecting the phase crossbar 22 and the power measurement device
29 may be reversed with some design modifications ~ Also multiple valid ways to connect
different modules within 2 are possible in different embodiments.
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Figure 3 delineates a preferred embodiment for a power reception device 3 and is labelled
as the electricity meter or energy metering device in the present embodiment. The
proposed energy receiving device comprises a phase rotator crossbar 30, a protection
device 31, an energy recording device 32, a controller 33 and a communication device 34.
Electricity from the power distribution network 4 is phase rotation encoded by the power
transmitter at the power source. The phase rotation crossbar device 30 is managed by the
controller at the power receiver to decode the phase input through input 4. In the preferred
embodiment, as in the power transmitter, the metric used to determine the phase
switching interval is zero crossings of the AC current.Details of the phase switching
mechanism are shown in figure 5. The decoded power output 35 is coupled to a power
protection device 31 that acts like a safety mechanism to protect the system from
catastrophic failure in case decoder 30 becomes faulty. A communication device
interfaces to the controller 33 to transmit and receive data from the power transmitter and
the power company. The communication data includes, but is not limited to phase
crossbar switching codes, electrical loading per phase, device defects and device
tampering.
In a single and multiple phase system, the controller 33 will use information received from
the transmitter on phase loading and control the crossbar 30 such that electri~al
loadingacross all phases is balanced. Dynamic balancing of loads across the three phases
results in minimal distribution losses as current through the neutral wire is minimized.
Figure 4 illustrates one of the many possible architectures for phase rotator cros.sbar
switches 22 and 30. In the preferred embodiment, the power distribution system is taken
as a 3-phase system with transmitter crossbar switch depicted in 22 and the receiver
crossbar switch is depicted by 30. Three phase lines at the power transmitter source are
labelled as 231, 232 and 233. The neutral is marked as 234. Power distribution line wires
are labelled as 41-45. The phases in these wires are changing with time in accordance
with the connections of the crossbar switch 22 on the transmitter side. The power source
side crossbar 22 comprises a multitude of make and break switches 220 that couple the
phase and neutral wires 231-234 on input side to the power distribution network wires 41-
n the output side. The crossbar switches 220 may be implemented, bot not limited by
state switches, physical contactors and relays, and Thyristors. The crossbar
ing sequence is determined by an algorithm running on a controller at the power
itter unit. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the input side of the
r crossbar 22 has four wires and the output side has five wires. The phase
sw1tching across lines is done by first duplicating the power path through an extra line, and
then switching off the original power path which was duplicated. The duplicated line carries
the current once the original path is disconnected. This is primarily done to avoid any
transients during power line switching in the crossbar. An additional transient
circumvention mechanism is proposed where the switching in crossbar occurs only during
zero crossing events. This is illustrated in figure 5 where a power sinewave voltage 501
and current 502 are shown for some arbitrary electrical load. As will be appreciated by
those skilled in the art, ensuring crossbar switching during zero crossing events 500 of the
sinusoidal current will further minimize any possible transients that might occur. Power
PATENTED TECHNOLOGY
path duplication and zero current crossings are prescribed to be used together in the
proposed invention to avoid any kind of transient behavior.
In an exemplary instance of phase rotator crossbar operating mechanism, Table 1
portrays a probable switching mechanism of the power distribution network exemplified in
figure 4.1n the embodiment of figure 4, power source lines 231-234 are connected to
power distribution network 41-45 through a phase rotator crossbar 22 for encoding and 30
for decoding. With reference to table 4, the crossbar switches in the power transmitter
couple the fixed power sources inputs 231-234 to output lines 41-45whose power identity
alters with time. The power identity at the output lines 41-45 of the crossbar is primarily
dependent on the crossbar switch control. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art,
multiple ways to control the crossbar switches exist and the example in table 1 is only one
of the many possibilities. The power carrying lines 41-45 are assigned different inputs as
time progresses. The time interval between the assignments is also pseudo random and is
programmed into the system aprioi by the power utility company. Assignments are done
such that the power identity changes without the system experiencing any transient
behavior. For executing a line swap, line duplication is always performed. This is possible
by the existence of the extra line in the power distribution network. For example, Referring
to table 1 in the present embodiment input 231 is duplicated to lines 41 and 45 during the
reassignment process. In addition, as mentioned earlier, reassignments through crossbar
switching are done during zero crossing of the power carrier current.
Multiple crossbar switch architectures are possible in different embodiments and are not
limited by the preferred embodiments.
As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, any entity that attempts to bypass the
proposed energy metering device, phase rotation over the power distribution network will
alter line identity periodically and swap phase and neutral power lines thus exposing the
illegal load to phase to phase voltages and/or undesired phase sequencing that can
damage the illegal load. Also, altering of phase sequencing is highly catastrophic,for three
ph e loads. In the proposed invention, the only way to be able to use the distribution
power is to use a legal metering device incorporating an embodiment of the
sed invention.
od and system described herein facilitate preventing electricity theft and balance
I loads per phase in a power distribution network. As such, the method and
m described herein facilitate eradication of electricity theft and enable increasing
revenues for utility companies. Such a system obviates the need for logistics and
manpower needed by power companies to prevent electricity theft.
Exemplary embodiments of methods and systems for detecting electricity theft are
described above in detail. These and other many embodiments of the proposed invention
exist ,and are not limited by the scope of the presented embodiment. For example, the
energy recording may be done before the phase decoding occurs and vice versa. In •
another embodiment, a single phase consumer load can be coupled . to a three phase
system through a design variant of the phase rotator crossbar switch.
PATENTED TECHNOLOGY
The methods and systems for preventing electricity theft are not limited to the specific
embodiments described herein, but rather, components of the methods and systems may
be utilized independently and separately from other components described herein. For
example, the methods and systems described herein may have other applications not
limited to practice with residential electricity meters as described herein. Rather, the
present invention can be implemented and utilized in connection with many other
industries. While the invention has been described in terms of various specific
embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention can be practiced with
modification within the spirit and scope of the claims.

Claims:
1. We claim all designs that statically or dynamically change the phase identity and/or potential of the power line. A method for preventing electricity theft in a power distribution system and a method for dynamic phase load balancing that includes:
1.a) A power transmission and reception apparatus
1.b) A power encoding device at the power distribution source/ transmitter that generates encoded power at the power source. Where Power encoding device means that does scrambling and sequencing of the power line phases and neutral line identity at the source. Where scrambling means phase connectivity rotation at source output with a pre-programmed sequence.
1.c) A power decoding device at the power receiving device that generates decoded power. Where power decoding means the does de-scrambling of power line at the destination/receiver. Where de-scrambling means tracking phase rotation at receiver input and generate usable power with unscrambled phases and neutral lines at receiver output
1.d) A single phase or multiple phase energy metering device comprising a power decoding device
1.e) A power distribution system comprising a single power transmitter and a plurality of receivers.
1.f) A power redistribution mechanism at the receiver to balance phase loading across multiple phases being received by the receiver
1.g) A power line duplication method on an extra distribution line or buffer line
1.h) A zero crossing voltage and current detection mechanism at the power source and destination
1.i) A wired/wireless communication device at the power source and plurality of destinations.
2. An power reception apparatus at power destination comprising:
2.a) a power decoder device
2.b) a power redistribution device to balance loading across phases
2.c) an electricity power units recording mechanism
2.d) wired or wireless communication device
2.e) power decoder failure protection and isolation mechanism
3. A Power transmission apparatus at power source comprising:
3.a) A power encoder device
3.b) Per phase loading computation device
3.c) Wired or wireless communication device
3.d) Power encoder redundancy mechanism
3.e) Power encoder failure detector and isolator
4. A power decoder device as in claims1 & 2 comprising:
4.a) A dynamic interconnect device and switchgear comprising multiplexors, crossbars based connect and disconnect switch mechanisms to interface the power phases and neutral lines from the power distribution wires to the power output wires using mechanical, electro-mechanical, electrical or electronic means.
4.b) An electronic circuit to control the power destination switch mechanism with a sequence aligned with the power encoder at the power transmitter
4.c) A zero current crossing and zero voltage crossing detector to apply power line switching signal at zero crossing to minimize switching transients.
4.d) A mechanism in power receiver to balance loading of phase lines by dynamically selective loading of less loaded phases and relieving of heavy loaded phases.
5. Wherein the power reception system& apparatus detailed in claims 1, 2 & 4 at the receiving end is an independent functional device or integrated into an electrical metering device.
6. A power encoder device as in claims 1 & 3 comprising:
6.a) A dynamic interconnect device and switchgear comprising multiplexors, crossbars based connect and disconnect switch mechanisms to interface the power phases and neutral lines from the power source to the power distribution wires using mechanical, electro-mechanical, electrical or electronic means.
6.b) An electronic circuit and device to control the power source switch mechanism with a sequence aligned with the power decoder at the power receiver
6.c) A zero current crossing and zero voltage crossing detector to apply power line switching signal at zero crossing to minimize switching transients.
6.d) A mechanism in power transmitter to continuously measure loading of phase lines
7. In said invention in claims 1,2 & 4, the power encoder is connected at the output of the power distribution transformer of the electric utility company
8. In said invention in claim 1-6, wherein the power decoder at the receiving is a part of electrical metering device or an independent functional entity.
9. Wherein in claim 1-8, the phase rotation sequence in is updated in the power encoder and the power decoder through a wired and wireless communication between the power encoder and the power decoder.
10. Wherein a wired or wireless communication mechanism is used as a medium to exchange sequence, phase loading, energy consumption, encoder-decoder health parameters & failure information across the power transmission apparatus, plurality of power reception apparatuses and the electric utility company.

, Description:FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an exemplary system for use in preventing electricity theft;
FIG. 2 is a schematic view of an exemplary power source and power encoder for use with the system illustrated in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a schematic view of an exemplary power destination node and power decoder for use with the system illustrated in FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is an exemplary power encoder and decoder that the proposed system embodiment uses at power source and destinations;
FIG. 5 is illustrating the sinusoidal AC voltage and current that flows in the power system
And TABLE 1 is an exemplary power assignment sequence at the power source encoder crossbar output of FIG.4.