Analog Devices Energy Metering IC Provides High Accuracy Harmonic Analysis for Advanced Power Quality Monitoring

Analog Devices, Inc. (ADI) introduced an energy metering IC (integrated circuit) that offers real-time harmonic analysis for energy meters and power quality monitoring equipment. Designed for polyphase meters, the ADE7880 energy metering IC offers complete harmonic analysis, including magnitude and phase information, and delivers better than 1 percent accuracy over a dynamic range of 2000:1 up to the 63rd harmonic. The new device is the first to use ADI’s proprietary ARTM (adaptive real-time monitoring) harmonic analysis technology, which eliminates the need for custom development of sophisticated digital signal processing and reduces the demands on the system microcontroller.

"The presence of harmonics is a growing concern for energy systems worldwide as excessive harmonic currents can cause overheating of power transformers and false tripping of protective relays," said Ronn Kliger, Energy Group director, Analog Devices. "Harmonic pollution is growing as grid-connected loads and sources increasingly rely on power electronics that generate or consume harmonic power. The ADE7880 enables smart grid systems to accurately monitor harmonic pollution so that corrective action, when necessary, can be taken by utilities and their customers."

ADD Grup, a manufacturer specializing in smart meters, recently selected the ADE7880 energy metering IC to enable its new three-phase industrial meter. "Our high-end industrial meter required harmonic analysis along with traditional energy metering and power quality features," said Vladimir Culiuc, head of the Electric Meter Design Department, ADD Grup. "We chose the ADE7880 energy metering IC to build our design because it saved us considerable software development and validation time, which made it possible to meet an aggressive time to market schedule."

The ADE7880 energy metering IC key features include:

– Pin compatible with the popular ADE78xx high-accuracy energy metering IC devices designed for three-phase configurations.

– ARTM automatically tracks changes in the fundamental frequency, which eliminates any effects of frequency drift on accuracy of the measurements.

– For each harmonic, computes the voltage and current rms, power factor, and active, reactive and apparent powers.

– Computes THD+N (total harmonic distortion plus noise) ratio as well as harmonic distortion as a ratio of the fundamental.

– Delivers active and reactive energy accuracy better than 0.2% over a dynamic range of 5000:1. Accuracy better than 0.1% is achieved over a dynamic range of 1000:1 with gain calibration only.

– Incorporates seven sigma-delta ADCs (analog-to-digital converters), a digital integrator, voltage reference and all metrology signal processing. Suitable for class 0.2 meters.

The units are priced (in 1,000 piece quantities) at $9.47. The EVAL-ADE7880EBZE evaluation board for the ADE7880 is also now available and priced at $390.00.

More news and information regarding the latest developments in Smart Grid electronics can be found at Darnell’s SmartGridElectronics.Net.