8 ijaest volume no 2 issue no 1 a new approach for design and implementation of amr in smart meter...

8/7/2019 8 IJAEST Volume No 2 Issue No 1 a New Approach for Design and Implementation of AMR in Smart Meter 056 060

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A new approach for design and implementation

of AMR in Smart Meter

Ms.Priya S.Kamble Ms.Sonali T.BodkheM.E IVth Semester (Embedded System & Computing) Head of Department

Department of Computer Science & Engineering Department of Information TechnologyG.H.Raisoni College of Engineering,Nagpur G.H.Raisoni College of Engineering,Nagpur

[email protected]

Abstract-This paper elucidates a current measurement

method for wide range residual current measurement.

The paper discusses Automated Meter Reading, a

technology used to automate the task of reading

consumption records of subscribers. The problem is

first defined in terms of Utilities, critical infrastructureneeds, revenue protection and operational efficiencies.

Various drivers as well as impediments within such

scopes are the defined. Moreover, different technologies

proposed and implemented are discussed. The paper

concludes by capturing the conclusions obtained and

suggestions for further improvements of such

technologies for future applications.

Keywords — Automated Meter Reading, Advanced

Meter Management (AMM), Advanced Metering

Infrastructure

I.INTRODUCTIONAlthough there are a variety of industry

definitions, Automatic Meter Reading (AMR)generally is regarded as the reading of a utility meterby a means that does not require physical access orvisual inspection of the meter. Utility companiesacross the world are experiencing the need for amajor technological evolution in their day-to-dayoperational systems. A variety of factors arecontributing to the drive to overhaul the entiresystem, tools and processes. AMR system providesresidents access to their consumption of water, gas

and power meter remotely. At the same time themanagement department can analyze these real-timeand accuracy meter data in order to make optimalresource distribution for future use. The key tosuccessful AMR system depends on adopting whichcommunication tools. Obviously the remotecommunication channel can be either GPRS/RF orfiber network based on the public service network. Itcan ensure remote transmission reliable and fluentwithout any maintenance fee.

(A). Need to make optimum use of grid infrastructure:

Power Generation, Transmission & Distribution is

the last remaining mega sector which provides acritical service to customers without having real-timefeedback about how its services are utilized at itstermination points. In other words, power isgenerated at the source without any real-time datafrom where it is used. The utility system hastraditionally operated as an open loop where no real-time data has been captured on instantaneousdemand, consumption profiles, system performance,etc. This means that Power Companies generatepower at the top peak of their anticipated demand andblindly push it downstream to termination points. If the generated power is less than the actual demand,then there would be black-outs. And if it is more than

the aggregated demand, then the excess power isburnt in dummy loads.

(B). Need to change pricing model:

To achieve balanced loading across the distributionsystem and reduce peak demand cycles, customersneed to be enticed to change their consumptionbehavior. This can only be done through multi-tariff pricing of electricity service. Consumption shall thusbe charged differently based on the time it hasoccurred. Consumption during peak hours ispenalized by charging a higher tariff, while outsidepeak hours the tariffs could be considerably less.

(C) Improved fraud detection:

AMR allows utilities to detect whether or not a meterhas been tampered with or if wires have been cut atthe meter. The system will flag the account with acode notifying the meter reader to investigate thesingle.

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TRODUCTIONTROre are a variety of industryr are f

utomatic Meter Reading (AMc Metregarded as the reading of a utilitye readi ity

ns that does not require physical an quire pinspection of the meter.inspe er. UtilityUtil

ss the world are experiencing thes the wo ng thr technological evolution in thnolog t

nal systems. A varietysystem arietg to the drive tothe

and processes.process sto their cheir

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to make optimum use of grid k rid ructure:

ower Generation, Transmission &e on, Tra

the last remaining mega sectorast remaining megaritical service to customers withservice to ers

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Ms.Priya S.Kamble et al. / (IJAEST) INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ADVANCED ENGINEERING SCIENCES AND TECHNOLOGIESVol No. 2, Issue No. 1, 056 - 060

ISSN: 2230-7818 @ 2011 http://www.ijaest.iserp.org. All rights Reserved. Page 56



II. LITERATURE SURVEY

This article reviews the technical features of automatic meter read (AMR) systems for residentialsmall commercial natural gas meters, including alook at the new static gas meters. AMR systems aretoday quite widespread for electrical residentialmeters, but are still in an experimental (pilot projects)stage for other applications in utility meters, such asnatural gas residential and small commercial meters.

AMR systems allow the recording of gasconsumption in an efficient way with some importantadvantages for the overall gas system, both for theprovider and for the user. The main AMR benefits forthe customer are:

* Convenience. Meter readers are eliminated

* Efficiency. The AMR system eliminates estimatedmeter reads; and

* Accuracy. The electronic unit of AMR, equippedwith a reliable encoder technology, is more accuratethan manual (or semi-manual) meter reads, therebyeliminating human errors.

New enablers such as automated meter reading(AMR) can be applied to capture and leverageinformation to help utilities proactively achieve thesecompetitive objectives. Advanced capabilities such aspredictive analysis, simulation tools, contingencyanalysis and network monitoring can go far in givingutilities the power to be successful.

Automated meter reading systems are an attractivetechnology for cutting costs while increasing speedand control of metering activities. Whenorganizations, such as utilities, military installations,large industrial parks and school districts considerautomated meter reading technology, they discovermost available systems carry high initial capital costs.

Organizations that purchase systems without firstevaluating the full costs and benefits often find theyare locked into a technology that accomplishes lessthan they need.

AMR offers both utilities and their customer's keytangible benefits.

Benefits of AMR to utilities include:

Reduced meter reading costs

Ability to access difficult-to-read meters

Improved customer service

Reduced percentage of estimated bills

Improved meter reader safety

Implementation of real-time pricing

Reduced read-to-bill time

Distribution automation

Improved fraud detection

Reduced meter reading costs:

Conventional meter reading is a labor-intensiveprocess and can represent a considerable percentageof a utility's operating cost. In addition to the laborcomponent, ancillary elements such as vehicle costs,insurance claims, uniforms, etc. are recurring coststhat can be avoided by using a technology solution.Further, in many areas public utility commissionshave placed limitations on the number of times that autility can estimate a meter reading.

Implementation of real-time pricing:

Variable rate tariffs based on the time of day canbe used to encourage consumers to shift theirconsumption of valuable resources to off-peak hours,while also discouraging the usage during peak hours.This enables energy producers to reduce themaximum capacity of their plant and thereforeachieve a better return on capital.

Reduced read-to-bill time:

AMR allows utilities to reduce their read-to-billtime, by tightly integrating the meter data capture and

billing process. In many cases, improved meter dataacquisition permits utilities to increase billingfrequency or offer more billing options to theircustomers.

Distribution automation:

AMR can allow utilities to provide bettercustomer service by enabling a greater level of functionality over their distribution network,including: remote credits to pre-payment meters,remote connect/disconnect services, tamper/leak detection and outage notification.

Improved fraud detection:

AMR allows utilities to detect whether or not a meterhas been tampered with or if wires have been cut atthe meter. The system will flag the account with acode notifying the meter reader to investigate thesituation.

III. PROBLEM DEFINITION

The AMR system is composed of collector,concentrator and central station. The collector is dataacquisition module used for collecting everyhousehold’s energy meters data and then sending it tothe concentrator based on units. It also has thefunction of sending the alarm about power failure ortampering of meters or any other accidental events

happen. The alarm or report must be sent to theconcentrator with minimum latency in order to notifythe remote missionary of power managementinstantly.

Traditionally, Utility companies have faceddifficulties in embracing Automation in most of theiroperational environment. While the need for modernBilling and Accounting systems had forced Utilitiesto modernize their back-office systems, the front-endof the system has seen almost no change in the

nn nsumens e

resources toreg the usage duringthe u

gy producers to reg producty of their plant and thty eir pla

r return on capital.tu tal.

ead-ad-tot

cycy

vingvingessful.l.

attractiveeasing speed

vities. Whenitary installations,

ol districts considerdistrictshnology, they discover, they disco

ry high initial capital costs.a ital costs.

chase systems without firstc t firststs and benefits often find theysts t i

technology that accomplishes lessechnolo pl

both utilities and their customer's k nd thei 's k enefits.e

fits of AMR to utilities include:f its of A de:

Reduced meter reading costeduced

bility to access difficuto acc cu

ved customercustome

ercec

-bill time:

allows utilities to reduce their reir e, by tightly integrating the meter dat,

illing process. In many cases, imprg p ss. In many cacquisition permits utilities toition permits utilitifrequency or offer more billiorustomers.

Distribution automation:to :

AMR can alloA a oustomer servicervi

functionalityincluding: rincremote cremot

etectioetecti

Im





operational procedures, tools and systems in the past100 years. In most utilities across the globe,consumption records of customers are still recordedby utility staff using pen and paper (or lately by HandHeld Computers and PDA’s) and inputted off -lineinto Utility’s backend systems. Accounting andBilling, however, are somewhat exception to the factas these tasks are to a large extent automated.

IV. AUTOMATED METER READING (AMR)Consumption records of customers are generally

kept in terminal devices inside the premises of customers. These terminals, generally known asmeters, are overwhelmingly Electromechanical. Byvirtue of being electromechanical, such meterspresent utilities with the various challenges.

V. CURRENT MANUAL SYSTEM

Let’s try to expand the problems in manual meter reading on the following resources:

1. Meter reading resource: Time

1. Time to access the site.

2. Time to read the meter manually.2. Meter reading resource: Accuracy/re

work/Manpower cost.

1. Accuracy of noting the readings.

2. Chances of errors while reading.

3. Errors while recording what was read.

4. Errors during data entry.

3. Meter reading resource:

Hard to access meters: (any meter which takesmore than 15 minutes to access)

1. Rural accounts

2. Indoor meters

3. Obstacles

4. Manual Meter reading:

Commercial Implications

1. Conveying tamper recording remains onthe meter reader’s loyalty.

2. No clue on demand/ over drawls by theconsumer.

3. Delay in meter readings, delay bills,delayed revenue, delay in cash-flow.

VI. TECHNOLOGIES USED IN AMR

AMR can be implemented using a variety of technologies. Depending on the scope, availableinfrastructure and network topologies, manytechnologies could be employed to realize AMRsystems. Generally however, these technologies aredivided into three groups:

(a). Legacy Options:

These comprise traditionally available technologiesused in communication systems today, such as POTS

(Plain Old Telephone System), Public Wireless(Paging, GSM, CDMA, GPRS, etc) and Satellite(Low Orbit Communication Satellites).

(b). Broadband Options:

Newer technologies used for large bandwidth datacommunication such as Broadband over Power lines(BPL) and Wireless Broadband (Wi-Fi, WiMax, etc).

(c).Cost-Effective Options:

These are the technologies of choice for lowbandwidth; cost sensitive applications using PrivateWireless (licensed & unlicensed ISM Band) andNarrowband Power Line Communication (PLC).

Legacy technologies are Capable of supporting largescale AMM projects and can access geographicallydispersed meters via dial-up or dedicated/sharedlines. On the flip side, such links are expensive tosecure and operate in many locations and countries.While for large industrial customers, or collection of meters, using phones lines to access meter might be justifiable, assigning a single phone line to aresidential meter does not make economic sense.

WAEPD has equipped 12 meters installed in remote,difficult to pass mountains with this type of AMR.Most of these meters are inaccessible during 6months of year due to heavy snow and harsh climate

conditions. Broadband options, on the other hand,provide large communication bandwidth and usecommercially available components and CuttingEdge Technologies and Standards. However, suchsystems prove to be too expensive for AMMapplications. They can only be justified if Utilitiesplan to venture into providing their customers withservices other than Power (e.g. Video On Demand, IPTelephony, Video Surveillance, High Speed Internet,Etc). Unlicensed spread spectrum or licensed

anual meter

te.

meter manually.l source: Accuracy/resour

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Accuracy of noting the readings.noting s.

.. hances of errors while readins while

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e comprise traditionally available te led in communication systems today,i o

Plain Old Telephone System),n Telephone(Paging, GSM, CDMA, GPRS,, GSM, CD , G(Low Orbit Communication Sat(L n

(b). Broadband Options

Newer technologies uN iesommunication sucom io

(BPL) and Wireleire

(c).(c .Cost-Effe fe

TheseThesebandwandWiri





narrowband technology is proven to be thetechnology of choice for AMR applications. In thistechnology, the communication between Meters andData Collectors are done thru peer to peer radio links,where radio coverage is determined by RFtechnology and permitted power dissipation.

VII. AMR USING RF

Automated Meter Reading System consists of thefollowing 4 components:

1. Energy Meter

2. Interfacing Device

3. Data Communication Media

4. Remote PC with compatible software

1. Energy Meter:

Energy meter is a device which is used to measurethe energy consumed by the customer .Basicallyenergy meter is of two types Electro-Mechanicalmeter and Digital meter. Now a day’s digital metersare used because they are having high accuracy, withlimited control and theft detection capability atnodes.

2. Interfacing Device:

It is a device which takes out readings from meterand passes those readings to the remote pc throughcommunication media. It also consists of a circuitwhich can switch ON/OFF power supply of customer.

3. Data Communication Media:

For transporting the data from the energy meter tothe Host PC a communication media is necessary.Communication can be done by two ways,

a. Wired Communication:

Power lines, phone lines, dedicated lines.

b. Wireless Communication:

RF, GSM, GPRS.

Service provider can use any communication mediadepending upon the services available to the serviceprovider.

4. Remote PC with compatible software:

The heart of the meter reading station is the MeterReading Software which resides in the PC at theMeter Reading Station. It is a standalone systemwhich is responsible for collecting meter reading,storing them to the data base, calculation of bills,switching ON/OFF of power supply, and providinganalysis facility.

System Architecture of AMR

VIII. FEATURES AND PARAMETERS

The billing system is based on reading meters every 2months and sending printed power consumption billsto subscribers by utility staff. According to fieldstudies about 20 percent of meters can't be readbecause of closed doors and limited hours of readingthrough daytime.

(A.) Selection Criteria:

The two most important tasks of the selection processwere the selection of AMR technology and theselection of metering equipment.

(1). Selection of Technology:

The selected technology had to meet the followingrequirements:

(a) Easy to integrate and synergize with the currentworking system of the utility

(b) Able to be deployed quickly

(c) Able to grow from a small number to a largerollout with minimal extra effort

(d) No special training should be required for theutility staff. The learning curve for the utility must besteep.

(e)No special resources should be required to

supervise and control the pilot(f)No disruptions and/or undue burdens upon thecurrent practice and processes as a result of the pilotroll out.

(g)Minimal regulatory clearances, if needed

(2).Selection of metering equipment:

The following criteria were applied while selectingthe appropriate metering device for the pilot

m meterer pc through

s of a circuitwer supply of

a :

from the energy meter ton eter tounication media is necessary.i e .e done by two ways,e d s,

unication:ion:

, phone lines, dedicated lines., dedicat

ess Communication:ess

, GSM, GPRS.SM, G

provider can use any comvider ca coupon the services avn the s av

System Architecture of AMRSys f AMR

VIII. FEATURES AND PARARE

The billing system is based on realling system is based omonths and sending printed pod s dto subscribers by utility sts studies about 20 percentt because of closed doorsb d doorthrough daytime.thro ti

(A.) Selection Cr n C

The two moTh owere thewereselectioelecti

(1)1





(a)Ability to work in harsh weather conditions

(b)Ability to work in harsh and unpredictable electricconditions

(c)Ability to detect and record specific events

(d)Accuracy of Class of operation to be equal orbetter than existing

(e)Tamper Resistant

(f)Should be able to provide a wider set of measurements than the existing meters

(g)Soft Connect/Disconnect (Ability to cut off/restoreservice to customer remotely and without the need tomanipulate physical wirings or components

(B). Performance Criteria:

(a). Ability to reduce the number of unread meters ineach cycle

(b).Estimate loss of revenue

(c).Provide extensive data for analysis

(d).Estimate time saved in reading each meter

(e).Help utility upgrade the skills of its staff

(f).Able to sufficiently and practically demonstratethe benefits of AMR

(C). Selection of technology and metering instrument:

Keeping the above guidelines in view, it wasconcluded that the process of collection of data mustbe as close to present system as possible. It should bepossible for any member of the utility staff to installthe meters, without applying any complex procedureor using any sophisticated equipment. It was

therefore decided to choose Wireless walk-by meterreading system. The selection of this method of datacollection would function very well in a systemwhere there would be a mixture of manually readmeters and remotely read AMR equipped meters.Regulatory constraints limited the choice of usingISM band RF frequencies. The usage of 2.4 GHz wasdropped due to weak penetration of radio signals intoconcrete walls and shorter "reach" distances ascompared to sub-GHZ bands.433 MHz band waschosen over 868 MHz band due to relatively simpleregulatory norms as well as easy availability of components. In order to make installation anddeployment simple, all the constituent components of

the system, (metering instrument, and wirelesscommunication system and control mechanism) werepackaged in single chassis. This made it easy toinstall the AMR meter without the need for additionalwiring or equipment.

It was decided not to mix different types of systems in the first stage, and hence the scope of thepilot was limited to single phase installations. Thenumber of installations was chosen to be 50 so as tobe manageable and yet provide a reasonable amount

of data for analysis. The duration of the pilot was setat 3 months with a further extension of 3 months if desired. As can be concluded from the table, thesolution provided to the utility was quite unique,specially tailored to their needs.

IX. APPLICATION

Automatic per day bill generation andmonitoring of meter

Used for water meter control and monitoringsystem

Industrial electrical energy conservation

Used for distribution and maintains insupply sector

X.CONCLUSIONS

Regarding low efficiency of traditional metersmanagement, among them: high costs of gatheringinformation, the need to be at the meter's installinglocation and low accuracy due to the man's role indata aggregation; it would be unavoidable to developautomated meter reading and management as a partof a larger automated network..The data wascollected and analyzed every 2 weeks. As the newAMR digital meters were installed in series with theconventional electromechanical ones their recordswere compared. All the 50 installed meters respondedto the commands. The least connecting distance wasof a meter enclosed in a metal box behind two wallsin an Indoor situation and the farthest connecting

distance belonged to a meter installed outdoor behinda house wall. Time needed to get the lastconsumption records is 15 seconds which is 1/4 of the time needed to reach inside a house and read themeter.

XI. REFERENCES

[1] Wei Yang, Yue Zhuo,CorporationTechnology,Siemens Ltd., (China),Shanghai, China

“A residual current measurement method with acombination of MR and Hall Effect sensors.” 978-1-4244-7374-8/10/$26.00 ©2010 IEEE

[2] Ali Bahramiazar, “Automated Meter ReadingUsing RF Technology”.

[3] Richard Chi-Hsi Li, “Key Issues in RF and RFICCircuit Design,” book , 2005.

[4] H.G.RodneyTan,C.H.Lee, “ Automatic Power Reading Meter Using GSM Network”, 978-981-05-9423-7 c_ 2007 GRPS.

rument:nt:

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se Wireless walk-a by metereterection of this method of datae tction very well in a systemction y te

d be a mixture of manually readd e a mixt lotely read AMR equipped meters.d AM e

constraints limited the choice of usinited the usiRF frequencies. The usage of 2.4 Ghe usage

d due to weak penetration of radio sid due n of racrete walls and shorter "reach" distacr e walls " dista

ared to sub-GHZ bands.433 MHto sub-ver 868 MHz band due to868 M ue to

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ution and maintautionrr

X.CONCLUSIONS

Regarding low efficiency of traditiording low efficiency omanagement, among them: highment, amo : hinformation, the need to be at talocation and low accuracy dd

ata aggregation; it wouln;automated meter readiut ea

f f a larger automatea la toollected and anan

AMR digitalA lonventiononv

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8 ijaest volume no 2 issue no 1 a new approach for design and implementation of amr in smart meter...

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