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di/dt Current Sensor and Digital Integrator Technology

ADE7759 Energy Measurement Group Precision Converters (PRC) Division

Current Induces Magnetic Field

When current passes through a conductor, magnetic field is formed around the conductor. The magnitude of magnetic field is directly proportional to the current:

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Voltage induced in a wire loop by Changing Magnetic Field

The changes in magnetic field induces a electromotive force (EMF) within a wire loop. The EMF is a voltage signal and is proportional to the changes in the magnitude field inside the loop.

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Voltage Output Proportional to di/dt

Combining the two formulas:

The output voltage of the loop is therefore proportional to the time-differentiation (di/dt) of the current

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An example of di/dt sensor

EMF (in volt) outputs from a air core coil around a long straight wire is*:

e.g. a Current Transformer (CT) without the ferrite core can be used as a di/dt sensor
* the coil is assumed to be rectangular shape and has N-turn

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di/dt sensor has all advantages of CT

di/dt sensor has the same advantages of CT: Electrical isolation The di/dt sensor detects current without any contact to the conductor Capable of handling high current di/dt is capable of handling very high current Low power consumption No significant power consumption needed for current sensing Low temperature shift The output varies very little with changes in temperature

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But better
di/dt sensor outperforms CT in many ways: No DC or high current saturation The saturation point of air is extremely high comparing with ferrite core Light weight No need to use heavy ferrite core Phase characteristics Air core has linear phase response (90 phase shift for sinusoidal signal) Low cost
Even a small di/dt sensor can accurately detect hundreds of Amperes of current

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Why a digital integrator?

Advantages of digital implementation: Stability of performance The operating condition of an energy meter is very hostile. Digital processing provides reliable performance over the long operating life required. Analog components are susceptible to drift over time and temperature which will result in large measurement error. Outstanding phase characteristics Analog components can introduce slight phase variation and would require phase calibration. A digital integrator has consistent and accurate phase response. Reduced cost No external component (high performance op-amp) is needed to implement the integrator.

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Building an integrator: using op-amp

An analog integrator using an op-amp:

Error includes: offset error, leakage current, long-term stability of op-amp and temperature drift

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Building an integrator: digital integrator

Time domain

Frequency domain

Integration in time domain is equivalent to the following in the frequency domain: Magnitude: -20dB/decade Phase: 90 phase shift for all frequency

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Digital Integrator in ADE7759

Digital Integrator in ADE7759:

Magnitude Response: -20dB/decade

Phase Response: less than 0.05 deviation from -90

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ADE7759 Block Diagram

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Block Diagram: A meter based on the energy metering IC

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ADE7759 Overview of Functionalities

Incorporated digital integrator and PGA simplify choice for current sensors Surpasses IEC1036 requirement. Less than 0.1% error over a large current dynamic range Provides the following information: kW, kWHr Instantaneous Power, Voltage, and Current waveforms Temperature measurement Voltage SAG warning Full digital calibration through serial port

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ADE7759 Functional Block Diagram

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