Laboratory reproduction of on-field low power quality conditions for the calibration/verification of electrical energy meters

– In this work we present a method for testing static active energy meters in low power quality conditions recorded at installation sites. Voltage and current waveforms recorded on the field with a calibrated portable instrument were reproduced with an accurate phantom power generator up to the 40th harmonic. The error on the active energy measurement of an energy meter under test (WDUT) in conditions reproduced from the on-field measurements was evaluated in comparison with a reference meter (WREF). On-field data were recorded at a 50 kW self production photovoltaic facility. This method allows the laboratory reproduction of realistic (distorted) on-field conditions in a metrologically traceable framework