NEW PERSPECTIVES IN AMR TECHNOLOGY IMPLEMENTATION
FOR CONSUMER LOAD MANAGEMENT
M.I.C. STEPHENSONCambridge University- UK
Barcelona 12-15 May 2003
38 CAM_Stephenson_A1 CONTROL & MONITORING, DEVELOPMENT OF COSTS & COMPETITIVENESS 1
M. SCUTARIUElectrica Muntenia Sud- Romania
PresenterP.M. STEPHENSON Kingston University- UK
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AMR- Automatic Meter Reading
“Reading a utility meter without the requirement for visual inspection of the meter”
Meter Interface Unit
Data Collection
Unit
Data TransmissionExamples phone lines /dial-up
power line carrier, LAN, Wireless (handheld or WLAN)
Utility Company Computer database
Barcelona 12-15 May 2003
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Technologies for enhanced AMR
Short-range radio data communication
BLUETOOTH 802.11
Packet-based data communication over mobile telephone networks
GPRS (General Packet Radio Service)
Barcelona 12-15 May 2003
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General Packet Radio Service-GPRS
• Used for email / web browsing from mobile phones• Packet-based data protocol
No dial-up time and speed comparable with a modem
• Charged by-the-byte not by-the-second
• Can provide a cost-effective, wireless, always-on, two-way data link between electricity company and its meters
Card Phone
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GPRS- Key facts
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PACKET data transfer GPRS module
Data transfer rate 56kbit/s
Typical cost per module €140
Typical data cost per MB €1.50 - €2.50
Typical module dimensions
45x89x11mm
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GPRS enabled AMR System
Utility Company Computer
Mobile Phone Provider
Internet
Barcelona 12-15 May 2003
DATA
PACKETS
2 way data transfer
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Benefits of GPRS-enabled AMR• Infrastructure already exists – mobile phone net gives economic, packet based data transfer
• Data is charged by-the-byte and system is “always ready” to send packets • Uses the internet – communicating with many meters simply requires a single broadcast message
• Intelligent Meters may send back additional information eg Peak load, Power Quality, Outage etc
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GPRS Real-Time Pricing Application
2. Determines the list of customers for tariff change
1.Central computer registers change in price band
• ------------
• -------------
• ------------
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3. Via the internet and GPRS connection, it updates all meters to the new tariff or price
Barcelona 12-15 May 2003
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Bluetooth and 802.11 devices- Key Facts
Barcelona 12-15 May 2003
Bluetooth 802.11
Typical Range ~50m 200m
Data transfer rate 1Mbit/s 11Mbit/s
Typical cost per module
€5 €50
Typical module dimensions
30x20x5 mm 50x50x5 mm
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Bluetooth /802.11• Short-range radio data technology (50* - 200m)• Designed for wireless networking and to eliminate wires between mobile devices
• 1- 11Mbit/s bandwidth (20x-200x faster than a modem)
• Bluetooth devices identify each other when brought close together*
(*Bluetooth range depends on class)
Bluetooth Module
Barcelona 12-15 May 2003
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Why use Bluetooth?
• 1Mbit/sec data rate provides ample bandwidth
• 2.4GHz band is license-exempt, worldwide
• Modules are small, inexpensive (~$5 each) & could be retro-fitted to an existing digital meter
• Non-directional – does not require line of sight
• Bluetooth devices identify each other uniquely and automatically
Barcelona 12-15 May 2003
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Hardware for wireless enabled AMR
Digital Utility Meter
Small antenna
Low-power Microcontroller
Small amount of RAM/ROM
Bluetooth/802.11 Transceiver
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• Bluetooth devices in piconets communicate with each other
• Data can be cascaded from one BT meter to another and aggregated at the meter-reading unit.
• Cost savings–meter reader needs no entry to premises-200 meters read in minutes via hand unit
Bluetooth based AMR - Data cascading
Barcelona 12-15 May 2003
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Extension of wireless based AMR system - Data Logging
• Each digital meter already has a small CPU and memory
• Adding data-logging capability would be trivial software matter.
• Load profile data can be stored, and downloaded when the meter is read
• Half-hourly load data for six months could be downloaded in 20 seconds via Bluetooth.
Barcelona 12-15 May 2003
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CONCLUSIONS
1 - GPRS• Packet-based data over mobile telephone networks - flexible and economic
• Two-way data link for AMR anywhere with mobile phone coverage
• A rapid and relatively cheap way to communicate in real-time with a large number of utility meters
• Uses the internet, with possibilities to create a “dedicated or private internet”
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CONCLUSIONS
2 - Bluetooth / 802.11• Short-range radio data communication• Devices low cost / flexible but short range
• Allow Automatic Meter Reading (AMR) without personnel entering premises, giving cost savings and potential for enhanced data recovery
• Overlapping piconets allow data cascading
• BT/802.11 devices do not need line of sight
Barcelona 12-15 May 2003
NEW PERSPECTIVES IN AMR TECHNOLOGY IMPLEMENTATION
M.I.C. STEPHENSON
Cambridge University- UK
Barcelona 12-15 May 2003
38 CAM_Stephenson_A1 CONTROL & MONITORING, DEVELOPMENT OF COSTS & COMPETITIVENESS 17
M. SCUTARIU
Electrica Muntenia Sud- Romania
Presenter
PAULE STEPHENSON
Kingston University- UK
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