Automatic Meter Reading Research Articles

Hilbert diagnostics of Rayleigh-Benard convection in fluids

An combined optical and thermal imaging experimental system was designed to investigate Rayleigh-Benard convection of a fluid in a layer with two rigid isothermal boundaries and a free upper boundary under steady and unsteady thermal boundary conditions. The fluid surface structure was visualized using methods of reflected-light Hilbert optics. Noncontact control of the fluid layer thickness was performed using a specially designed remote meter based on an MBR-1 microscope with a smooth focusing unit based on the Meyer mechanism. The evolution of the dynamic structure of the surface and temperature field of the fluid being analyzed were studied experimentally, and the existence of flows in the form of two-dimensional rolls with axes of rotation parallel to the lateral boundaries (the walls of the cavity) was confirmed. It is shown that the highly viscous fluid flow has a thermal gravitational nature. Correspondence is found between the evolution of the thermograms and Hilbert schlieren patterns of surface structures in different modes of Rayleigh-Benard convection.

Smart metering and systems to support a conscious use of water and electricity

Brazilian water and electricity utilities demand management tools to allow their customers to analyze, monitor and control their consumption of these goods. From a social perspective, efficiency requires involved and active of clients who can monitor and audit the actual consumed amounts as well as the values saved as new habits are established.In response to this twofold demand, the proposed system automates remote metering and sub-metering of water and electricity (internal to the residence, installed at interest points) and is integrated into a structured knowledge tool. This integration environment receives the collected electricity and water meter measurements. It provides customers and utility companies with compiled reports containing the historical use, daily and hourly forecasts, and projected savings due to changes in consumption habits and/or use of more efficient equipment. For developing countries with social diversity, such as Brazil, this tool can make a difference in raising awareness by identifying actual consumption.Moreover, this solution adds a new component to the relationship between energy businesses and clients/customers, who can audit and verify their consumption as well as check the reliability of the energy/water service provided.

The Design of the Ethernet Meter Reading System Based on Broadband Power Line

According to the current national conditions and the intelligent communities’ requirements on the electric energy metering system based on the broadband power line communication (PLC), this paper introduces a design program for achieving the remote meter reading through the broadband PLC technology. The system takes the high-performance single chip microcomputer and the Ethernet controller RTL8019AS as the core, the low-voltage power line as the medium of data communication, and makes the electronic meters access to the Ethernet via the broadband power line, thereby achieving the remote automatic meter reading. The multi-functional low-voltage power line remote meter reading system constituted by this system and the backstage management system together will have broad application prospects. In addition, this paper also makes a preliminary study on the reliability of the meter reading system.

Design of an Automatic Meter Reading (AMR) Data Logger with Xbee

Design of an Automatic Meter Reading (AMR) Data Logger with Xbee

Development of Public Lighting Remote Monitoring System Controller

To realize the efficient and stable real-time monitoring and intelligent management of the urban public lighting, the remote monitoring system is developed. The system is composed of monitoring center and monitoring terminals, and realizes network connection via the advanced remote wireless communication technology GPRS. It uses TI Company’s MSP430 processor chip as the monitoring terminal controller, which integrates automatic control, data acquisition, communication and other technologies and has such functions as monitoring, remote control, anti-electricity theft, remote meter reading and communication. It’s proved by practice that the designed controller features reliable running, sound real-time performance and low cost, and has a broad and bright application prospect. The monitoring and management of public lighting is a typical sector and important part of the civil work. Due to the continuous development of urban construction and ever-enlarging lighting coverage, the traditional lighting management methods can not realize centralized monitoring, have poor real-time performance and cost lots of human and material resources; thus, can not satisfy the requirements of energy saving and efficiency improvement[1]. GPRS (General Packet Radio Service), the wireless packet exchange technology based on the second generation mobile communication system GSM, is very suitable for transmitting non-continuous, unexpected and small sets of street lamp monitoring data. Also, quick & easy log-on, real-time online, high-speed transmission, sound economical efficiency and many other advantages make GPRS become the first choice for remote measurement and control system[2]. Therefore, the development of GPRS-based public lighting remote monitoring system becomes a necessity. The designed monitoring system in this article is a typical distributed monitoring and data acquisition system integrating computer technologies, modern communication technologies and automatic control technologies. It conducts centralized monitoring and control on the cabinet transformer substations, transformer cabinets, control cabinets and other slave monitoring systems of the public lighting such as street lamps and landscape lamps of the city, to realize the real-time, remote monitoring and intelligent management of public lighting and ensure the efficient, all-weather running and on-demand, energy-saving lighting.

The Application of the Internet of Things in the Smart Grid

The application and development of the Internet of Things have close relationship with the construction of smart grid. Generally, each of electrical equipment can be connected together by wireless communication technology and sensing technology in the Internet of Things to make the smart grid become a real-time interactive electrical network. This paper summarizes the development situation, analyzes its structure and characteristics and introduces the key technologies supporting the application of the Internet of Things. In view of the functions and features of the Internet of Things and the development requirements of smart grid, it analyzes the specific application scope and level of the Internet of Things in the smart grid. It makes some concrete analysis and discussion about the application of the Internet of Things in the asset management and remote automatic reading meter system of smart grid and summaries and prospects the application situation of the Internet of Things in the smart grid

Performance Evaluations on UAV-Aided Automated Meter Reading

This paper presents a novel approach of using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for automated meter reading (AMR) applications in rural areas where there are a few consumers scattered across a wide area. Compared to traditional meter reading systems, the use of UAVs for AMR brings several advantages, such as low cost operation, flexibility and online system management. In this paper, the advantages of integrating an Inertial Navigation System (INS) and a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver for a robust localization and navigation system for automated meter reading applications are investigated. In addition, the results of field tests related to the proposed navigation and localization system, and experimental studies on sensor node lifetime, are given to prove the effectiveness of the proposed system. The proposed system can be used by utility providers to extend or improve their services.

Improved Maximum Likelihood S‐FSK Receiver for PLC Modem in AMR

This paper deals with an optimized software implementation of a narrowband power line modem. The modem is a node in automatic meter reading (AMR) system compliant to IEC 61334‐5‐1 profile and operates in the CENELEC‐A band. Because of the hostile communication environments of power line channel, a new design approach is carried out for an S‐FSK demodulator capable of providing lower bit error rate (BER) than standard specifications. The best compromise between efficiency and architecture complexity is investigated in this paper. Some implementation results are presented to show that a communication throughput of 9.6 kbps is reachable with the designed S‐FSK modem.

Android based Measurement System with Optical Character Recognition

Across the world, electric utilities are deploying smart meters also known as AMI (Automated Metering Infrastructure) to their residential customers and industrial applications. Smart meters provide two-way digital communications between the utility and the customer. Thus, enabling, customer energy management and demand response via both information and rate programs. Utility operational advantages such as outage detection and management, remote meter reading, and remote customer connections are possible by smart meters. Smart meter deployment causes controversies regarding mainly health, privacy and cost. Traditional measurement system met with lot of difficulties in terms of estimated billing and energy wastage. A measurement system lying in between Smart meters and traditional meter reading system is proposed here. Android is the first truly open and comprehensive platform for mobile devices. It is an open-source development platform for creating mobile applications. This application contains OCR (Optical Character Recognition), barcode reader and data transfer applications. A prototype measuring system using Android hand held device is developed. Meter Identity and reading is two important parameters for any measurement system. These two parameters are captured and stored in android data base for future analysis. The consumer data base and meter readings can be exported to PC. A SQlite(Structured Queried Language) data base also created in the PC. Data base can be converted in to CSV (Comma Separated Values) files and can be exported to android device. OCR is the mechanical or electronic translation of scanned images of handwritten, typewritten or printed text into machine-encoded text.

The analysis of typical seasonal load duration curves of low-voltage consumers

The paper presents some typical daily load curves formed by averaging data collected by the system for remote energy meter reading in time period longer than two years. Data from nearly 7000 energy meters at low–voltage consumers are processed, statistically reliable daily load curves are obtained and their characteristics are listed. Typical load duration curves of months belonging to winter and summer season are formed on the basis of daily load curves and depicted in the paper. These seasonal load duration curves of different load classes at low voltage are mutually compared. The influence of different number of working days, Saturdays and Sundays on monthly load duration curves is discussed, and corresponding load factors and loss factors for winter and summer months are statistically analysed.

ENMS Study Based on GPRS System

This paper introduces a kind of ENMS system based on GPRS, according to the technical requirements for meter reading systems of residential area. It enables remote meter reading of residential area. In this article network diagram is Shown and the block diagram of meter reading management center and the main functions are explained. Compared with traditional implementations, the communication of the program design has obvious advantages.

Smart Meters Reading Through Power Line Communications

The classical solutions for collecting data from energy meters, based on human readings, tend to be replaced by modern solutions. Automatic Meter Reading (AMR) is such a modern solution. It means to automatically collect data from different kinds of meters. In this way consumption of water, gas and energy can be remotely measured. An Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) is an AMR infrastructure with bidirectional smart meters – gateway communication, this offering new advantages. This paper describes an AMI system based on Power Line Communications. Smart meters are connected through a LonWork type industrial bus to a Gateway. The Gateway commands the maters, reads data from them and communicates, through GSM, with a Data Acquisition Center (DAC) were data is processed. The paper details the gateway’s software.

How Smart is Your City?

This article discusses a $3.7 million energy program that is expected to save the city of Cumberland, Maryland, $8 million in energy and operating costs over 15 years. A smart grid system with automated meter‐reading (AMR) on a network was installed that also provides citywide WiFi service. The AMR system alone will reduce labor costs, improve the city's cash flow by allowing monthly instead of quarterly billing, and speed up the leak‐detection and repair process, thereby reducing water loss and protecting residents' property. The article discusses the smart‐grid concept in the municipal utility context, which aligns with water conservation. It allows two‐way digital communication between the utility and the customer, helps the utility operate more efficiently, curtails waste, and holds down prices. In addition, it helps customers see their own water and electricity use, which supports informed choices about how much to use, when to use it, and at what cost. Smart‐grid technology is discussed, along with system affordability.

Tank‐Mounted AMR Saves Rural Community Time, Money

When the Monroe County Water District (MCWD) in Paris, Missouri, decided to convert from radio frequency (RF) to automatic meter reading (AMR), the utility wanted to install antenna systems on eight key water towers. During this process, however, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) personnel expressed concern about potential risk of damage to the tanks' protective surfaces, limited handrail mounting options, and the range that would be required to link the service area for automatic water, gas, and electric billing.

Remote Power Automatic Meter Reading System Based on GPRS

A remote power automatic meter reading system based on GPRS is introduced in this paper. The system using GPRS for communication and collecting the energy data in real-time, realize the optimization of the system resources. The components, structure, working process and the GPRS wireless transmission used in the remote power automatic meter reading meter are described and the practical application shows that the system obtained the desired results.

AMR Technology Helps Utility Avert Water Shortage

This article discusses how Suffolk County Water Authority (SCWA), New York, used mobile automated meter reading (AMR) technology to establish a consumption benchmark among customers in a study area by monitoring consumption patterns. The collected data supported SCWA's theory by showing a morning and evening usage rate three times higher than during the day. Analysis also showed an interesting trend ‐ 3 percent of the homes consumed 25 percent of the 11 mil gal, and 12 percent of the homes used 50 percent of all water consumed. This information will help SCWA enhance its education and awareness program to help customers better understand their water consumption and adjust usage accordingly.

대용량 데이터 처리기술을 배전자동화 시스템에 적용

Quantities of data in the DMS (Distribution management system) or SCADA (Supervisory control and data acquisition) system is enormously large as illustrated by the usage of term flooding of data. This enormous quantity of data is transmitted to the status data or event data of the on-site apparatus in real-time. In addition, if GIS (Geographic information system) and AMR (Automatic meter reading), etc are integrated, the quantity of data to be processed in real-time increases unimaginably. Increase in the quantity of data due to addition of system or increase in the on-site facilities cannot be handled through the currently used Single Thread format of data processing technology. However, if Multi Thread technology that utilizes LF-POOL (Leader Follower -POOL) is applied in processing large quantity of data, large quantity of data can be processed in short period of time and the load on the server can be minimized. In this Study, the actual materialization and functions of LF POOL technology are examined.

The Smart Three-Phase Electric Meter Based on ENC28J60 and MSP430F149

The electric meter is a direct tool by which power enterprise charges for electricity Tariff. This paper describes software and hardware designs of MSP430F149 SCM as the core control processor and smart remote transmission three-phase electric meter with the use of power collection special chip CS5460A to complete power measurement. This instrument integrates data monitoring and measurement of the power with LCD. And it can realize the functions of data remote transmission through communication connection between ENC28J60 chip and main controller and easily of real-time monitoring, data collection, system monitoring. This electric meter has some advantages such as powerful function, low cost, strong disturb-resistant ability, etc. and can meet the management requirement of the electricity energy intelligence, which is one of the main development trend in the future. This smart power data collection system will get a good application in the power industry informatization process .

Performance of Equalizer Schemes in Power Line Communication Systems for Automatic Metering Reading

In this paper, we propose and analyze the equalizer schemes, zero-forcing (ZF) and minimum mean square error (MMSE) in power line communication (PLC) system for automatic meter reading (AMR). For efficient implementation of AMR system with PLC, effects of impulsive noise and multipath channel should be mitigated. To overcome these effects, the above equalizer schemes are employed. System performance is evaluated in term of bit error rate. From simulation results, it is confirmed that the equalizer can significantly improve bit error rate (BER) performance in PLC system, and MMSE equalizer provides better performance than ZF scheme. The results of this paper can be applied to AMR system as well as various smart grid services using PLC.

A Survey of Communication Protocols for Automatic Meter Reading Applications

Utility companies (electricity, gas, and water suppliers), governments, and researchers have been urging to deploy communication-based systems to read meters, known as automatic meter reading (AMR). An AMR system is envisaged to bring on benefits to customers, utilities, and governments. The advantages include reducing peak demand for energy, supporting the time-of-use concept for billing, enabling customers to make informed decisions, and reducing the cost of meter reading, to name a few. A key element in an AMR system is communications between meters and utility servers. Though several communication technologies have been proposed and implemented at a small scale, with the wide proliferation of wireless communication, it is the right time to critique the old proposals and explore new possibilities for the next generation AMR. We provide a comprehensive review of the AMR technologies proposed so far. Next, we present how future AMRs will benefit from third generation (3G) communication systems, the DLMS/COSEM (Data Language Messaging Specification/Companion Specification for Energy Metering) standard and Internet Protocol-based SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) signaling at the application level. The DLMS/COSEM standard provides a framework for meters to report application data (i.e. meter readings) to a utility server in a reliable manner. The SIP protocol is envisaged to be used as the signaling protocol between application entities running on meters and servers. The DLMS/COSEM standard and the SIP protocol are expected to provide an application level communication abstraction to achieve reliability and scalability. Finally, we identify the challenges at the application level that need to be tackled. The challenges include handling failure, gathering meter data under different time constraints (ranging from real-time to delay-tolerance), disseminating (i.e., unicasting, multicasting, broadcasting, and geocasting) control data to the meters, and achieving secure communication.