A CMT Device for Electrical Energy Meter Detection

Background: Detection technology is a product development technique that serves as a basis for quality assurance. As electric energy meters (EEMs) are measurement instruments whose use is mandatory in several nations, their accuracy, which directly depends on their reliability and proper functioning, is paramount. In this study, to eliminate electromagnetic interference, a device is developed for testing a set of EEMs under a constant magnetic field interference. The detection device can simultaneously test 6 electric meters; moreover, in the future, it will be able to measure the influence of magnetic field strength on the measurement accuracy of EEMs, thereby improving the production efficiency of electric meter manufacturers. Methods: In this study, we first design a 3D model of the detection device for a single meter component; then, we establish a network, which includes a control system and performs the planning of the path of a block that generates a constant magnetic field. Finally, we control the three-axis motion and rotation of the block using a PLC to implement detection for the five sides of the EEM. Results and Discussion: The designed device can accurately determine whether an EEM can adequately function within the error range prescribed by Chinese national standard, under electromagnetic interference; this can enable reliable, automatic testing and fault detection for EEMs. Experiments show that our device can decrease the labor cost for EEM manufacturers and improve the production efficiency.