Patent Publication Number: US-2015073734-A1

Title: Method and Device for Measuring Electrical Quantities

Description:
FIELD 
     The present disclosure refers to a method for measuring electrical quantities, at least voltage and current, preferably also power, in three-phase systems. 
     BACKGROUND 
     In three-phase power supply systems, it is known to measure the voltages of the three phases as well as the three currents flowing through the phase lines, wherein, via a corresponding combination of the related voltages and currents, the power and/or the energy can also be determined phase-wise. In this connection, the various characteristic values of the power may be determined, namely, active power, reactive power and apparent power. From apparent power and active power, the power factor cos φ can be determined in a known manner. 
     One problem with the hitherto existing measuring techniques is that when voltage sensors and current sensors are connected to the phase lines, errors can occur in the connections. For instance, a current probe may be arranged around a phase line the wrong way so that a false current direction will be determined, or the voltage sensors and current sensors may not be connected respectively in correct pairs to the three phases, but instead, for instance, two current sensors, e.g., for the second and third phase, are interchanged so that incorrect powers and also negative powers can result during power determination. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY 
     Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a technique by way of which incorrect or faulty connections can be detected quickly and safely and, subsequently, can preferably also be electronically corrected. Embodiments of the present disclosure also help ensure that, with the aid of previous tests, only reasonable measurements are determined, at least as far as the level of the voltage and current and a defined maximum deviation from a nominal system frequency are concerned. An allocation of voltage and current to the correct phase (sense of rotation—phase sequence) may also be provided. 
     Accordingly, the relative phase positions of the voltage signals as well as the current signals are evaluated in comparison with a given phase sequence, and the correctness or incorrectness of the connections of the voltage and current sensors to the phase lines are determined therefrom, wherein corresponding display signals for a display are output. 
     In a corresponding manner, a processor may be arranged to determine the relative phase positions of the voltage signals as well as the current signals in comparison with a given phase sequence, and to determine therefrom the correctness or incorrectness of the connections of the voltage and current sensors to phase lines, as well as to output corresponding display signals for a display. 
     As far as the correctness of the connections of the voltage and current sensors is concerned, in a three-phase system the directions of rotation for the phase voltages and phase currents, respectively, can be determined. To this end, difference angles between the individual phase voltages or between the individual phase currents may be determined. The determination of the difference angle is preferably provided a given bandwidth (margin), e.g., ±50°, in connection with a nominal phase angle, e.g., +120° and −120°, of the three-phase system. 
     Based on the voltage and current measurement data, a power calculation for each phase can be performed, wherein also the respective phase sequences are taken into account, and preferably the calculated powers will be displayed in connection with a corresponding phase sequence indication (correct phase sequence or reversed phase sequence). As far as the correct power calculation is concerned, the active power, the reactive power, and the apparent power can be calculated, respectively, and moreover, if desired, harmonic components can also be calculated via a Fast Fourier Transformation (FFT). Furthermore, in the power calculation, it can be taken into account whether a load operation (consumer operation) or a generator operation (e.g., by a connection of a photovoltaic system) is given. 
     To ensure reasonable measurements, the sensed voltages and/or currents are preferably compared beforehand with a given minimum threshold value, and subsequently, evaluations will only be carried out when the sensed voltages and/or currents exceed the threshold value. In a similar manner, frequency checks for the phase voltages and currents can be performed, i.e., it is checked whether a defined maximum deviation from a nominal system frequency is present in the sensed voltages or currents (e.g., 50 Hz—or in the USA—60 Hz). The check of the given nominal frequency is carried out within a defined frequency range around the nominal frequency. 
     Furthermore, for the power analysis, it is also expedient to determine the current flow direction for each phase, in order to thus detect any current sensors that are mounted the wrong way. Current sensors that are attached the wrong way will result in a reversed energy flow in the individual phase powers (generator and consumer power are interchanged). 
     In case of a faulty connection of one or more sensors to a phase line, in the present disclosure, a “correction” in the sense of an exchange of data can also be carried out, without any physical change of the sensor connection directly at the phase line, by, for instance, simply exchanging the measurement data of two phases, in order to thus produce a correct phase sequence. This correction can be carried out electronically and automatically by a processor. 
     The present disclosure will be explained in more detail in the following, in particular, for three-phase systems in a star or wye (“Y”) connection. The present disclosure can also be applied in the same manner to a three-phase system in a delta connection (“Δ” connection) in which there is no star point. In this case, reference will be made to a vectorial mid-potential, instead of having available a star point, i.e., a neutral line, directly as a reference point. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In the following, various embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  shows a block diagram of a device for measuring electrical quantities in the form of a multifunction measuring instrument; 
         FIG. 2  shows a general flow diagram for checking the correctness of the connections of the sensors of the measuring instrument to the phase lines; 
         FIGS. 3 and 4  show partial flow diagrams for validating the voltage or the current for the purpose of checking whether a measurement basically makes sense; 
         FIG. 5 , in a partial flow diagram, illustrates a step shown in the diagram according to  FIG. 2  for analysis of the voltage rotation (direction of rotation of the voltage); 
         FIG. 6 , in the partial  FIGS. 6   a  and  6   b  that are considered to be joined together, shows a corresponding analysis of the current rotation in a partial flow diagram; 
         FIG. 7 , in the partial  FIGS. 7   a  and  7   b , shows the composition of a general three-phase phasor system by way of three components ( FIG. 7   a ), namely, with a positive direction of rotation (a so-called “positive-sequence system”), with a negative direction of rotation (a so-called “negative-sequence system”), and with a mere displacement or offset; 
         FIG. 8  shows a detailed flow diagram for a consumer-system power analysis generally illustrated in  FIG. 2 ; and 
         FIG. 9  shows in a corresponding detailed flow diagram for a generator-system power analysis according to  FIG. 2 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  schematically shows a measuring instrument  1 , i.e., a device for measuring electrical quantities, namely voltage and current, and preferably also for calculating the power and power factor in a three-phase system. The three phases of the three-phase system are referred to as L1, L2, and L3, wherein these designations will also be used for the actual phase lines. Furthermore,  FIG. 1  also indicates, in the range of the voltage measurement, a neutral-to-ground potential or starpoint voltage U N  that is allocated to the neutral line, neutral or zero point, or star point. 
     For measurement of the voltages U L1 , U L2 , and U L3 , and the currents I L1 , I L2 , and I L3 , voltage and current sensors  2  and  3  are provided. In the illustrated embodiment, the voltage sensors  2  are provided with a voltage divider  4 , respectively, wherein at the branch point of the latter, a respective amplifier  5  is connected. In accordance with the three phases L1, L2, and L3, there are given three channels, wherein, corresponding to these three channels, the outputs of the amplifiers  5  are connected with three channel inputs Ch1, Ch2, and Ch3 of an AD converter  6 . 
     The voltage measuring unit  2 ,  4 ,  5 , and  6  described so far is galvanically isolated  7 ,  8  from the rest of the measuring instrument  1  by way of transformers, in order to be able to supply, on the one hand, clock signals or control signals from a digital signal processor  9 , which is provided as a processing means  9 , via the upper galvanic separation  7 , as shown in  FIG. 1 , to the A/D converter  6 , or to supply from the A/D converter  6 , via the galvanic separation  7 , signals from the A/D converter  6  to the digital signal processor  9  (in the following briefly called DSP  9 ). On the other hand, the voltage supply of the voltage sensor unit, in particular of the A/D converter  6 , but also of the amplifiers  5 , is realized via the lower galvanic separation  8  in  FIG. 1 . Thereby it is taken into account that the neutral line N can be at a potential differing from the rest of the measuring device  1 . For the three voltage channels, the neutral line N is the reference point in case of a wye connection of the three-phase system, i.e., there is provided a connection to the star point of the power or mains supply. In the case of a delta connection, there is no star point, but a vectorial mid-potential will ensue in the three phases, and said mid-potential will serve as a reference potential. 
     The three voltage channels with the three input voltages U L1 , U L2 , and U L3  are synchronously sampled via the voltage sensors (dividers)  2  and the buffer amplifiers  5  by the A/D converter  6 , for instance, with a sampling rate of 5 kHz. The corresponding signal data is then transferred separately via the galvanic separation  7  to the DSP  9 . 
     The current sensors  3  can be of any type. For example, Rogowski sensors that provide a differentiated signal may be employed. As current sensors  3 , instance shunts and conventional current probes can also be used. As shunts also lie at a high potential for the current-voltage conversion, the current measuring element has to be galvanically isolated, which, however, is not necessary to further explain here. The currents I L1 , I L2 , and I L3  can have a high dynamic, and accordingly, for each current measuring channel, a range-change switch or band switch  10  may be provided that can be controlled independently from the others by the DSP  9  via control lines  11 . Furthermore, each current sensor  3  may have its own memory element  12  that contains data concerning the sensor type, the amplification, the phase position, and further parameters, in order to increase the accuracy of measurement, and said “Sensor ID” data will be read in by the DSP  9  via a bus  13 . 
     As a precaution it should be pointed out that, in contrast to the voltage channels, the three current channels with the current sensors  3  do not require a galvanic separation, as the preferably used current sensors  3 , namely, a Rogowski coil or a current probe, already ensure a galvanic separation due to the principle of measurement. 
     Accordingly, depending on the sensor type, a switching-over or change-over in the range of an operational amplifier  14  downstream of the respective range-change switch  10  is carried out, in order to provide an integration in the case of Rogowski sensors as current sensors  3 , or a simple amplification in the case of current probes as current sensors. See the amplifiers  14  in the individual current measuring channels, with the switchable elements in the feedback branch, namely, a capacitor  15  (for an integration in the case of Rogowski sensors) and a resistor  16  (in the case of current probes as current sensors  3 ). The switching-over or change-over is triggered by the DSP  9  via corresponding control lines  17 . Subsequent thereto, the thus-obtained current signals are in turn supplied to an A/D converter unit  18  with three channels, and therein the current signals will be converted into digital signals synchronously with each other as well as also synchronously to the voltage samplings in the A/D converter  6 . The digital current signals are supplied to the DSP  9 . 
     The present device  1  does not comprise analog settings for the balancing of the measured-value channels. Calibration data, see memory  19 , will be used for calibrating the voltage channels such that a defined reference voltage is applied to the voltage channels, wherein the reference voltage preferably lies near the final value of the measuring range. The reference voltage is compared with the respective measured effective value of the voltage, said effective value being calculated on the basis of the values of the A/D converter  6 . 
     On the other hand, as already mentioned, the data of the current sensors  3  are input respectively into a plug memory element  12 , wherein, apart from the calibration and amplification factor, the type of the current sensor  3 , as well as the final value of the measuring range and the respectively supported range, are also stored. Thus, the measuring device  1  can directly take into account the sensor type and the characteristic of the sensor  3 . In the case of a current probe being the current sensor  3 , the sensor signal is evaluated directly. In the case of Rogowski sensors, the signal will additionally be integrated in order to correctly map the original input signal differentiated by the Rogowski sensor. A configuration at the measuring device  1  itself is not required. 
     For alternating currents, the amplification factor suffices for the calibration. Additionally, the phase angle of the respective sensor is stored during the calibration, as, especially in the case of current probes, the phase angle can be different due to the magnetic characteristic of each current probe. As the phase angle for the active-power measurement is included directly via the cos φ (P=U*I*cos φ), the phase angle is also of importance for an accurate active power measurement. The same applies also to the reactive power, that is Q=U*I*sin φ (note, only the apparent power S=U*I is independent of the phase angle φ). 
     In case of a direct-current calibration, in addition to the amplification factor, a zero correction (offset) is also important. This is measured after the input voltage is shorted by the A/D converter  6 , and the result is then stored as an offset in the calibration memory  19 . 
     For reasons of safety, the respective current sensor ID can be checked by the DSP  9  at specified intervals, e.g., every 5 seconds, in order to find out whether there was an exchange of sensors. 
     Thereafter, the DSP  9  further processes the digitized values for the three voltage channels and the three current channels. 
     A main processor  20  forms the interface to a display  21  that is provided as a display means  21 , as well as to a key panel  22 , and is equipped with a visual display unit  23 , for instance with an LED, in order to send out flashing light signals or steady light signals depending on the state of operation. Apart therefrom, the main processor  20  can also take over signal processing tasks so that a distributed signal processing in combination with the DSP  9  is obtained. For instance, the main processor  20  can form longer averaging intervals from the 200 ms packets that it receives from the DSP  9 . 
     The arrangement of keys on the key panel  22  renders it possible, for instance, to influence the indication on the display  21  and, thus, to select different events for indication. 
     In this connection, for instance, the power factor calculated from the active power and the apparent power can also be indicated for each respective phase. 
     The corresponding sensor-type data are supplied to the DSP  9 , as mentioned above, and the parameters are taken into consideration in the signal processing, wherein a high accuracy can be obtained without the use of analog actuators or the like. In principle, the sensor types and the measuring ranges can be adjusted automatically, depending on which current sensor  3  is currently connected. 
     As already mentioned, the current signals and voltage signals are all sensed synchronously. The simultaneous sensing of the current and voltage channels is significant for the power calculation, since the phase position of voltage to current is of substantial importance in the active power calculation. 
     On the display means provided by the display  21 , the following indications, for instance, may be displayed: voltage and current per phase, direction of rotation of the phase, current flow direction, and congruence with the pertaining current input. In the course of this, information regarding whether the sensors are correctly connected is directly received. 
     The following indications can be provided in detail: 
     Voltage:
         if the voltage value lies below a threshold value, the voltage value will be displayed in a special way, e.g., in red;   if one of the displayed voltage values is indicated in this manner as being too low, or when there is no indication of the direction of rotation, neither in the clockwise direction nor in the counter-clockwise direction, a symbol, e.g., “X”, for an impossible result will be shown in the result column; and   the minimum threshold value can also be indicated, for instance, 1/20 of the range of the effective voltage.       

     Current:
         the current value of a particular phase will be indicated by way of an arrow pointing upwards (e.g., a black arrow), if the active power in this phase is positive;   the current value of the particular phase will be indicated by an arrow pointing downwards (e.g., a red arrow), if the effective power in this phase is negative;   if the current value lies below a given minimum threshold value, a no current flow and no phase circulation arrow will be indicated; and   the minimum threshold value is, for instance, 1/150 of the measuring range of the effective value of the current.       

     Indication of the direction of rotation:
         an (e.g., black) arrow in the clockwise direction will be displayed if the direction of rotation is positive;   an (e.g., red) arrow in the counterclockwise direction will be displayed if the direction of rotation is negative; and   a cross or a similar special character will be displayed if the direction of rotation is unknown or if the signal is too weak.       

     Power:
         the active power in the three phases “a” (L1), “b” (L2), and “c” (L3) will be displayed depending on the topology; and   if the active power is negative, this will be particularly emphasized on the display, for instance by the addition of a “−”. Furthermore, the effective power can be represented in colors, for instance red, if the power flow direction does not correspond to the chosen load or generator operation.       

     Feedback:
         if no error is detected, this will be correspondingly indicated, for instance, by the indication “No error detected”;   if the signals are too weak, it will be displayed. For example:
           Voltage in phase x is too low check connection;   Current in phase x is too low check connection or use a sensor with a smaller range; and   
           if a correction (switching-over or change-over) for the voltage and the current is possible, this will be indicated together with a request for an automatic correction. See also the following table 2 as an example.       

     In the following description, possible indications on the display  21  will be represented in two tables, namely, table 1 and table 2, wherein table 1 represents a measurement free from errors, whereas in table 2, for instance, the phases L2 and L3 are interchanged in the current sensors. 
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
                   
                 TABLE 1 
               
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 A (L1) 
                 B (L2) 
                 C (L3) 
                 Result 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
            
               
                   
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
            
               
                   
                 127.2  
                 V 
                 122.6  
                 V 
                 123.5  
                 V 
                 
                   
                 
               
               
                   
                 ▴0.888  
                 kA 
                 ▴1.059  
                 kA 
                 ▴1.085 
                 kA 
                 
                   
                 
               
               
                   
                 108.8  
                 kw 
                 133.9  
                 kW 
                 112.3  
                 kW 
                 ▴Consumer 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
               
            
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 ▾Generator 
               
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 No error detected. 
               
            
           
         
       
     
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
                   
                 TABLE 2 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
            
               
                   
                 A (L1) 
                   
                 B (L2) 
                 C (L3) 
                 Result 
               
               
                   
                   
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
            
               
                 127.2 
                 V 
                 122.6 
                 V 
                 123.5 
                 V 
                 
                   
                 
               
               
                 ▴0.888 
                 kA 
                 ▾1.059 
                 kA 
                 ▾1.085 
                 kA 
                 
                   
                 
               
               
                 108.8 
                 kW 
                 −108.8 
                 kW 
                 −112.3 
                 kW 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
           
               
            
               
                 Detected phase sequence: 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
            
               
                 Voltage: 
                 1 - L1 
                 2 - L2 
                 3 - L3 
               
               
                 Current: 
                 1 - L1 
                 2 - L3* 
                 3 - L2 
               
            
           
           
               
            
               
                 ▴ Consumer 
               
               
                 ▾ Generator 
               
            
           
         
       
     
       FIG. 2  illustrates, in a general way, a flow diagram for checking the correctness of the connection configuration, i.e., of the connection of the sensors  2 ,  3  with the individual phases or phase lines L1, L2, and L3 (in the following also referred to as A, B, and C). As already indicated, the corresponding calculation processes start every 200 ms, as is indicated in  FIG. 2 , with the introductory initial step S 1 . Then two steps S 2 , S 3  follow in which it is determined whether a reasonable measurement can or should be carried out with regard to the magnitude of the voltage and the current. In detail, in step S 2 , a voltage validation is carried out, and in step S 3 , a current validation is carried out. The manner in which the validations will be carried out is explained in more detail in the following by way of  FIG. 3  (voltage validation) and  FIG. 4  (current validation). 
     If, in steps S 2  or S 3 , the result is that the signal (voltage or current) is too small or that an invalid frequency is present, further calculation will be stopped and corresponding indications on the display  21  will be shown, as referenced in steps S 4 A and S 4 B in  FIG. 2 . 
     When the voltage signal or the current signal is deemed to be correct, the direction of rotation of the phase voltages (step S 5 , see also  FIG. 5 ) and the direction of rotation of the phase currents (step S 6 , see also  FIG. 6 ) will be checked. 
     If, in said checks according to steps S 5  and S 6 , a direction of rotation cannot be determined, this will also be indicated on the display  21 , as referenced in step S 4 C. 
     Then, according to steps S 7 A to S 7 D, a so-called component analysis (decompensation) is carried out, as referenced in  FIG. 7  ( FIGS. 7   a ,  7   b ), wherein positive and negative voltage and current components U + , U −  and I + , I −  are determined, for which the variables U S  and I S  are set in the course of the further calculations, according to  FIG. 2 . 
     Then, according to the steps S 8  and S 9  in  FIG. 2 , a respective power analysis is carried out, depending on whether the system connected to the three-phase mains is a consumer system (step S 8 , see also  FIG. 8 ) or is a generator system (step  9 , see also  FIG. 9 ). To this end, according to step S 10 , it is manually input whether there is given a consumer operation or a generator operation. 
     If, from the respective power analysis in step S 8  or step S 9 , no result can be determined, notification is made according to step S 4 D, and further calculations are stopped. Otherwise, if, as will be explained in the following in more detail by reference to  FIG. 8  and  FIG. 9 , corresponding power values can be allocated, this will be displayed together with the corresponding power values on the display  21  according to step S 11 . 
     By way of the processing means  9 , i.e., of the DSP  9 , after an initial step S 21  for “voltage validation,” the individual respective phase voltages U X  are compared with a minimum threshold value (“lower limit”), as referenced in step S 22  and as illustrated in  FIG. 3  which illustrates the processes in step S 2  according to  FIG. 2 . If it ensues from the corresponding query, step S 23 , that this is not the case, but that at least one phase voltage is lower than the minimum threshold value, this will be indicated on the display  21  according to step S 24 , and the further calculations will be stopped. If, however, the phase voltages U X  lie within an acceptable range, it will be checked next according to step S 25  whether the phase voltages deviate by a defined maximum deviation from a nominal system frequency (f). If, according to decision step S 26 , the result thereof is negative, it will be displayed according to step S 27  that no reliable frequency is present, and further processing will be stopped. If, however, the measured system frequency (f) is within the given limit, this will be recorded correspondingly according to step S 28 , and the calculations will continue according to step S 5  ( FIG. 2 ). 
     In a corresponding manner, the steps illustrated in detail in  FIG. 4  are carried out in the course of the current validation, as referenced in step S 3  in  FIG. 2 . After an initial step S 31 , as shown in  FIG. 4 , it is checked once again in step S 32  whether all phase currents I X  lie above a lower threshold value, and in decision step S 33 , whether this is the case or not. If even only one phase current I X  lies below the lower threshold value, this will be indicated on the display  21  according to step S 34 , and the calculation processes will be terminated, as referenced in step S 4 A in  FIG. 2 . 
     If, however, all phase currents lie above the lower threshold value, then according to step S 35  it is checked whether the phase currents deviate by a defined maximum deviation from a nominal system frequency (f). If not, see step S 36 , exit N, as this will be displayed once again according to step S 37 , and the further determinations are terminated. If the system frequency is present, this will be indicated according to step S 38 , and the signal processing will continue according to step S 6  in  FIG. 2 . 
     The voltage validation according to  FIG. 3  and the current validation according to  FIG. 4  can be carried out successively or in parallel to each other, depending on the design of the processing means, i.e., the digital signal processor  9 . Parallel processing is preferred, as indicated schematically in  FIG. 2 . 
       FIG. 5  illustrates in detail the analysis of the check of direction of rotation of the voltage according to step S 5  in  FIG. 2 . After an initial step S 51 , there follows an initialization step S 52 , wherein the direction of rotation of the respective phase voltage U is set to be equal to the variable X. Then the difference angles a′, b′, and c′ are calculated according to step S 53  in  FIG. 5 , i.e., 
         a ′=φ( U   1 )−φ( U   2 )
 
         b ′=φ( U   2 )−φ( U   3 )
 
         c ′=φ( U   3 )−φ( U   1 ).
 
     Thereupon it will be checked, either by parallel processing or successive processing in a loop, whether the difference angles a′, b′, and c′ are equal to −120°±a margin of 50°, as referenced in step S 54  in  FIG. 5 . If this is true, then a negative direction of rotation of the phases is present, and the allocation of the actual phase voltages U 2  and U 3  will be exchanged according to step S 55 . Following step S 55 , indications that the direction of rotation for the voltage phases is negative and that the voltage allocation was electronically exchanged are recorded according to step S 56 , and according to step S 56 A, a corresponding indication that the direction of rotation of the voltage is “Rot U=NEG” is shown on the display  21 . 
     If, however, the result of the query according to step S 54  is negative, i.e., there is no negative direction of rotation, according to a query step S 57  it is checked whether the respective difference angles a′, b′, and c′ are equal to +120°±50°. If this does not apply, then according to step S 58 , it will be determined that the direction of rotation of the voltage is inadmissible (=X), and for the indication thereof there will also be carried out a corresponding allocation of X to U, whereupon, according to step S 58 A, a corresponding indication of “Rot U=X” will be displayed on the display  21 . 
     If, however, the result of the query in step S 57  is positive, then the direction of rotation of the voltage is determined to be admissible, i.e., positive and practicable, as referenced in step S 59 , whereupon a corresponding indication that the direction of rotation for the voltage is positive and that the allocation of the voltage values is acceptable will be displayed according to step S 59 A (“Rot U=POS”). Depending on the results displayed in steps S 56 A, S 59 A, and S 58 A, the next position in the diagram according to  FIG. 2  will now be step S 7 B, S 7 A, or S 4 C. 
     The analysis of the direction of rotation of the current according to  FIG. 6  (which is, in detail, composed of  FIG. 6   a  and  FIG. 6   b ) is more complex due to the fact that the current sensors not only can be connected to the incorrect phase, they can also be connected incorrectly to the perhaps correct and pertinent phase such that a wrong direction of current flow will result therefrom. 
     In the analysis of the direction of rotation of the current, the first steps S 601  to S 607  are comparable to the steps S 51  to S 57  according to  FIG. 5 . After an initial step S 601  and an initialization step S 602  with the variable allocation I=X as well as, in addition, the initialization of the polarity, a calculation of the individual phase difference angles a=φ(I 1 )−φ(I 2 ), b=φ(I 2 )−(I 3 ), and c=φ(I 3 )−(I 1 ) is carried out in step S 603 . 
     Then, according to step S 604 , it is once again checked whether the difference angles a, b, and c are equal to −120°±50° (in accordance with the margin), and if yes, then this will be determined according to step S 605  as a mix-up of the connections. According to step S 606  in  FIG. 6   b , the direction of rotation of the current will be set as negative and the current allocation will be changed, whereupon according to step S 606 A, it will be indicated that the direction of rotation of the current is negative. 
     If the query according to step S 604  shows that none of the difference angles a, b, and c is equal to the angle −120°±50°, and that no interchange of the current sensors  3  relative to the phases L1, L2, and L3 is given, then, similar to step S 57  in the analysis of the direction of rotation of the voltage according to  FIG. 5 , according to the query step S 607 , it is checked whether the difference angles a, b, and c are equal to +120°±50°. If not, then for each current sensor, i.e., for each phase, according to a loop arrangement referenced in step S 608  in  FIG. 6   b , an inversion of the respective phase current I X  is carried out, as referenced in step S 609 . Then, once again, according to step S 610 , the difference angles a, b, and c will be calculated in the same manner as already indicated above, and, according to step S 611 , the query whether the difference angles are all different from −120°±50° is repeated. If even only one of the difference angles is equal to said angle −120° or lies within the allocated margin, it will be recorded according to step S 612  that the respective phase current I X  was inverted and that the polarity of the current was changed. Then, the processing will be continued at step S 606 , and it will be indicated according to step S 606 A that the direction of rotation of the current is negative (despite the inversion of the respective phase current I X  according to step S 609 ). 
     If, however, it follows from the query according to step S 611  that none of the difference angles a, b, and c lies within the angle range of −70° to −170°, it will be queried according to query step S 613 , similar to step S 57  in the case of the analysis of the direction of rotation of the voltage according to  FIG. 5 , whether each of the angles a, b, and c is equal to 120°±50°, i.e., lies within the range of +70° to +170°. If this is not the case, an exit to step S 615  is carried out via the loop node S 614 , according to which the direction of rotation of the current is set equal to X and the current allocation is set equal to X, whereupon a corresponding indication will be carried out according to step S 615 A, namely, that the direction of rotation of the current cannot be determined properly. 
     If, however, in the query step S 613  the result is positive (exit Y), then the process continues with step S 616 , wherein it is recorded that the respective phase current I X  was inverted and that the polarity of the current was changed. This means that an incorrect connection of, for instance, a current probe sensor  3  at the respective phase line was corrected automatically by inverting the corresponding phase current. 
     If, according to the calculation and query (step  613 ) the direction of rotation of the current in the three-phase system is acceptable, the direction of rotation for the current is stated as positive, as is indicated in step S 617  in  FIG. 6   b . It is also stated that the current allocation is acceptable, whereupon a corresponding indication that the direction of rotation for the current is positive will be effected in the display  21  according to step S 617 A according to  FIG. 1 . 
     For the sake of completeness, it shall be noted here that in the diagrams according to  FIG. 2  to  FIG. 6  (as well as  FIG. 8  and  FIG. 9 ), correct processes or connections are always illustrated by solid lines in the flow, whereas incorrect connections or faulty connections are illustrated with broken lines (dotted or dashed lines). 
     In  FIG. 7 , in the partial  FIGS. 7   a  and  7   b , by way of an example, there is schematically illustrated the composition of a three-phase system ( FIG. 7   b ) through individual symmetric components ( FIG. 7   a ), in order to illustrate the component analysis according to steps S 7 A to S 7 D in  FIG. 2 . 
     According to  FIG. 7A , three components or phase sequences are illustrated, namely, a positive sequence P, a negative sequence N, and a zero sequence or mere displacement or offset Z (Z—Zero). The positive sequence P has phasors A + , B + , and C +  in the correct order (wherein, in accordance with convention, vector diagrams always rotate in the counterclockwise direction, in accordance with the phase angle always increasing during time). The negative sequence N has phasors or phases in the order of A − , C − , and B − . The zero sequence Z comprises three phasors A 0 , B 0 , and C 0  that are parallel to each other. 
     From the sequences P, N, and Z, an irregular system is composed according to  FIG. 7   b , wherein the three symmetrical components are arranged as follows: It begins with the zero sequence Z (A 0 , B 0 , C 0 ), after which follows the positive sequence P (A + , B + , C + ), and finally the negative sequence N (A − , C − , B − ), as referenced by the arrows A 0  to C −  in the diagram according to  FIG. 7   b.    
     In a corresponding manner, conversely, the general system according to  FIG. 7   b  can be decomposed into symmetrical components according to  FIG. 7   a.    
     This is a technique that has, in principle, been sufficiently known for decades and therefore needs no further explanation here. 
     Now, in a corresponding manner, according to steps S 7 A to S 7 D in  FIG. 2 , the symmetrical components U + , U − , I + , and I −  (for the individual phases, respectively) will be set equal to U S  or I S , and, in the following, the power analysis according to steps S 8  and S 9  in  FIG. 2 , which is illustrated in more detail in  FIG. 8  and  FIG. 9 , will be explained in more detail, on the one hand for a consumer system ( FIG. 8 ) and on the other hand for a generator system ( FIG. 9 ). 
     According to  FIG. 8 , after an initial step S 81 , there will be calculated in a step S 82  the phase angle ā between the respective voltage and current component for each sequence P and N, i.e., for the positive-sequence component P and the negative-sequence component N. Thereupon it is checked in step S 83  whether the phase angle ā is equal to an angle of 10°, with a margin of ±40°. If this is true, the process directly proceeds to the final step S 11  (see also  FIG. 2 ), i.e., the voltage and the current match. If, however, this check has a negative result, then in a subsequent step S 84  it is checked whether the phase angle ā corresponds to the angle 190°, with a margin of ±30°. If yes, then the current polarity is inverted according to step S 85  in  FIG. 8 , and the indication “polarity I=changed” is prepared. Afterward, the new allocation is displayed in step S 11 . 
     If, however, it is determined in step S 84  that no inversion of the current is necessary (which means that the respective current probe has been mounted correctly on the phase line), it will be checked according to step S 86  whether the phase angle ā between current and voltage is equal to 130°±40°. If this is true, the current allocation is changed according to step S 87  in the manner indicated in  FIG. 8 , and the process proceeds to the final step S 11 , wherein the new allocation is displayed. 
     Otherwise, according to step S 88 , another phase check is carried out, namely, whether the phase angle ā is equal to 250°±40°. If not, the process proceeds to the indication “No result” according to step S 4 D (see  FIG. 2 ). If, however, the phase angle ā falls within the specified angle range, according to step S 89  the current allocation will be changed, and in step S 11  the new allocation of the current channels to the voltages will be indicated. 
       FIG. 9  illustrates an approach for a case in which a generator system is connected to the three-phase mains system L1, L2, and L3, for instance, in the case of a photovoltaic system that supplies current to the mains. 
     After an initial step S 91 , the phase angle ā between the respective voltage and the respective current for the positive-sequence/negative-sequence system components (see  FIG. 7 ) is calculated in step S 92 . Then, according to step S 93 , a check is made whether the phase angle ā is equal to 190°±40°. In contrast to  FIG. 8 , here no current is drawn from the mains, but rather current is supplied to the mains, and therefore the comparison angle is increased by 180° compared to the power analysis in the case of the consumer system according to  FIG. 8 . 
     If the phase angle ā lies within the specified range, everything is acceptable, and the process will proceed to the final step S 11 . If, however, this is not true, a check will be made according to step S 94  whether there is an incorrect attachment of the respective current sensor  3 , i.e., it will be queried whether the angle ā is equal to 10°±30°. If so, then the current direction will be inverted or the polarity of the current I will be changed according to step S 95 , and according to the final step S 11 , the new allocation will be displayed. 
     If the result of the query according to step S 94  is negative, an attachment of the current sensors at the correct phase will be checked, wherein, according to the query step S 96 , the phase angle ā will be compared with a comparison angle 310°) (±40°, and if this is true, then the current allocation will be exchanged according to the step S 97  in  FIG. 9 , and this change will be displayed accordingly as a new allocation, as referenced in step S 11 . 
     If another phase interchange is given, according to step S 98 , the phase angle ā will be compared with the angle 70° (±40° margin), and if the query result is positive, in a corresponding manner according to step S 99 , a current allocation, varied in comparison with step S 97 , is determined and the indication thereof is prepared, namely, that the current allocation was changed, as referenced in the final step S 11 . 
     If, however, in step S 98  the result is negative, no result can be determined, which will be displayed accordingly according to step S 4 D (see also  FIG. 2 ). 
     As already mentioned, the comparison angles in steps S 93  to S 98  according to  FIG. 9  are displaced by 180°, respectively, in contrast to the angles according to  FIG. 8 , wherein a periodicity of 360° has to be taken into account: Thus, the angle 190° results from 10°+180°; 10° results from 190°+180°=370°, wherein 360° have to be deducted; 310° results from 130°+180°; and 70° results from 250°+180°, by subtracting 360°. 
     Moreover, the sequences or flows explained above by way of the diagrams according to  FIG. 2  to  FIG. 9  can be summarized in the following evaluation procedure: 
     1. If even only one voltage value in a phase is too low, the check of the voltage phase rotation and the power analysis cannot be carried out, and, therefore, a termination will be effected, and the voltage that is too low will be indicated on the display. Thereupon, the process proceeds to step No. 7. 
     2. If an invalid frequency is given, the check of the phase rotation and the power analysis also cannot be carried out. An invalid frequency status will be displayed, and the data processing will be terminated. 
     3. The check of the direction of rotation of the voltage will be carried out on the basis of the check of the phase angle differences (wye connection) with regard to 120° plus a margin. 
     4. If the direction of rotation is positive, the process proceeds to step No. 7. 
     5. If the direction of rotation is negative, the voltage allocation regarding the phases L2 and L3 is changed. The process thereafter proceeds to step No. 7. 
     6. If no valid direction of rotation can be determined (for instance, for angles outside the margin), only a current rotation can be checked, but no power analysis can be carried out. 
     7. If, in the current check it is determined that the value of the current in any phase is too low, no check of the current phase rotation and also no power analysis can be carried out. An indication is displayed that a current that is too low is present, and the algorithm is terminated. 
     8. The phase rotation in the current system is checked by checking the phase angle differences of the phase currents with respect to angles of 120° (±bandwidth). 
     9. If the direction of rotation is positive, the process continues with step No. 12. 
     10. If the direction of rotation is negative, an exchange in the current allocation, namely, for the phases L1 and L3, is proposed, and the process proceeds to step No. 12. 
     11. If no valid status for the direction of rotation can be determined, the process will invert the polarity in the phase L1 or L2 or L3, one after the other, in order to thereupon once again check the rotation according to the preceding steps No. 9 and No. 10. If, by such an exchange, the direction of rotation becomes positive or negative, once again a corresponding polarity exchange of the corresponding current input is proposed. 
     12. If the direction of rotation of the voltage as well as the direction of rotation of the current are positive (namely, either from the beginning or due to a new allocation or a polarity change), the process continues to step No. 14. 
     13. In all other cases, an indication of an invalid allocation is displayed and the data processing is terminated. 
     14. The phase difference between current and voltage is checked according to the above explained diagrams,  FIG. 8 , and  FIG. 9 , with regard to a power analysis, wherein either all data are acceptable from the beginning and the status “OK” will be displayed, or, when the explained changes lead to a positive result, this will be displayed with the indication of the new allocation. 
     This will be carried out for a consumer system (in which current will be drawn from the mains) and for a generator system (in which current will be supplied to the mains). 
     15. Otherwise, as has already been mentioned above, an indication will be displayed, respectively, that no result is possible. 
     In principle, as a matter of course, the present measuring device  1  can also be used for conventional single-phase systems and so on, wherein the various checks set out above, with regard to the connection of sensors in a phase-correct manner and the possibility of the determination of a direction of rotation, might become unnecessary. 
     As disclosed herein, a given bandwidth in respect of a measured or determined phase angle and/or difference angle may be considered to be an error margin (or simply referred to as a “margin”), i.e., it may be considered to be a defined maximum deviation from, e.g., a nominal value.