What data can smart meters in agricultural markets detect?

The detectable data and application value of smart meters in agricultural markets

In the operation and management of agricultural markets, smart meters, as the core energy monitoring equipment, can not only achieve basic electricity measurement, but also provide support for safety control, cost optimization, and merchant services through multi-dimensional data collection. The detectable data mainly covers the following four categories, each corresponding to a specific application scenario:

1、 Basic electricity metering data

This is the core functional data of smart meters, directly related to merchant electricity bill settlement and market energy consumption statistics, mainly including:

Real time current/voltage: It can dynamically monitor the current (unit: A) and voltage (unit: V) of each electrical circuit, reflecting the operating status of the merchant's electrical equipment in real time. For example, when the merchant starts the refrigeration cabinet, lighting, electric scale and other equipment at the same time, the current data will rise synchronously, helping to determine whether the electrical load is within a reasonable range.

Active power/reactive power: Active power (unit: kW) directly corresponds to the actual energy consumed (such as equipment operation and lighting consumption), and is the core basis for calculating electricity bills; Reactive power (unit: kVar) reflects the reactive power loss generated by inductive equipment such as motors and transformers. The combination of the two can calculate the power factor, helping the market optimize grid efficiency and avoid fines from power supply departments due to low power factors.

Accumulated electricity consumption: divided into total accumulated electricity consumption and accumulated electricity consumption by time periods (such as peak, off peak, and off peak periods), supporting automatic statistics by day, week, and month. Farmers' markets can achieve precise billing for "one household, one meter" based on this, while analyzing the overall peak electricity consumption during different periods (such as the peak electricity consumption caused by merchants turning on equipment during morning market hours), providing a basis for off peak electricity scheduling.

2、 Electricity safety monitoring data

Farmers' markets are densely populated with merchants and have complex electrical equipment (such as refrigerators, electric fryers, aquatic aerators, etc.). Safety data monitoring can effectively prevent electrical fires, mainly including:

Line temperature: Some smart meters have built-in temperature sensors that can detect the temperature of the meter's wiring terminals and surrounding lines (unit: ℃). When the line has poor contact, overload, or short circuit, the temperature will rise abnormally. The meter can trigger real-time warnings (such as local sound and light alarms or remote platform push notifications) to avoid fires caused by overheating.

Leakage current: For humid environments such as aquatic areas and meat processing areas, smart meters can detect leakage current (unit: mA) in the circuit. When the insulation of the equipment is damaged and causes leakage, the data will exceed the safety threshold (usually 30mA), and the meter can be linked to a leakage protector to automatically cut off power, protecting the personal safety of merchants and consumers.

Overcurrent/Overvoltage Protection Data: When the electrical load exceeds the rated current of the circuit (such as when a merchant privately connects high-power equipment) or when there is abnormal voltage fluctuation in the power grid (such as overvoltage caused by lightning strikes), the meter will record the duration and peak values of overcurrent and overvoltage, trigger trip protection, and upload fault data to the management platform for operation and maintenance personnel to locate the problem.

3、 Merchant electricity usage behavior data

Through long-term data collection, smart meters can analyze merchants' electricity usage habits and provide reference for market management, mainly including:

Distribution of electricity usage periods: For example, merchants in the vegetable area may open their refrigerators for replenishment from 3-5 am, while merchants in the meat area may use meat grinders from 6-9 am. The data can identify the merchant's normal operating hours. If a merchant experiences abnormally high electricity during non operating hours (such as forgetting to turn off the device), the management can promptly remind them to help them save electricity costs.

Equipment operation status data: If the electricity consumption data of a merchant's refrigerated cabinet continues to be abnormal (such as fluctuating power), it may indicate equipment failure. The management can proactively provide repair suggestions to avoid food spoilage caused by equipment damage and improve market service quality.

Identification data of illegal electricity consumption: By comparing the historical electricity consumption of merchants with current data, if there is a sudden increase in electricity consumption in a short period of time (possibly due to private connections) or abnormal electricity consumption at night (possibly due to illegal residents), the electricity meter can mark abnormal data to assist the market in investigating illegal behavior and regulating business order.

4、 Energy management statistical data

For the overall agricultural market, the summary data of smart meters can support energy-saving renovation and cost control, mainly including:

Comparison of electricity consumption in different zones: For example, due to the continuous operation of aerators and circulating water pumps, the electricity consumption in aquatic areas is usually higher than that in dry areas. By comparing data in different zones, high energy consumption areas can be identified and equipment can be optimized accordingly (such as replacing energy-saving aerators).

Monthly/quarterly energy consumption trend: Calculate the changes in total electricity consumption in different seasons (such as summer when refrigeration equipment is operating at full capacity and electricity consumption is higher than winter), help the market formulate annual energy budgets, and evaluate the effectiveness of energy-saving measures (such as the proportion of electricity consumption reduction in lighting areas after replacing LED lighting).

Power factor statistics: If the overall power factor in the market is lower than 0.9 (the qualified value required by the power supply department), reactive power loss electricity fees will be generated. The reactive power that needs to be compensated can be calculated through meter data, and reactive power compensation devices can be configured to reduce additional electricity expenses, saving tens of thousands of yuan in energy consumption costs annually.