Feasibility study on low voltage DC systems using smart meter data

The introduction of Smart Meter (SM) is a first stage towards Smart Grid to develop future energy system. The main difference of a SM with a traditional meter is that instead of only showing the current usage on the meter itself, it can also communicate the usage details directly to a Distribution System Operator. In order to make overall reduction in energy consumption, increasing awareness about the energy consumption is an important factor. The SM data gives that facility by visualizing the energy consumption in real time. The energy consumption can also be reduced by using low voltage Direct Current (DC) distribution in houses and offices. Several factors have increased the recent interest in DC power system. The number of devices that operate on DC continues to increase in both homes and offices. Most of the devices require Alternating Current (AC) to DC conversion between the AC supply and the DC side of the device. These need of conversion from 230V AC to low voltage DC inside the DC power consuming apparatus results in a low overall efficiency of the AC system. This work focused on feasibility of using 230V AC to 48V DC converter with SM for a house with low voltage DC distribution system.