Smart Gas Meters: Technologies and Challenges

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Smart Gas Meters: Technologies & Challenges Dr. R S Shekhawat, New Products Development (Gas Metering) Secure Meters Ltd.

Transcript of Smart Gas Meters: Technologies and Challenges

Smart Gas Meters:

Technologies & ChallengesDr. R S Shekhawat,

New Products Development

(Gas Metering)

Secure Meters Ltd.

22

ContentsMechanical meters and associated problems

What is ‘smart’ device?

Embedding smartness in meters

– The desired functionality of smart meters

– The design attributes enabling smartness

– How different flow metering technologies enable these features?

– The race/compromise of different functionality/features for optimal

product

Communication sub-systems

– ZigBee and associated SEP x.y

– Sub-GHz RF

– Bluetooth

– WiFi (futuristic)

Benefits

– The consumer

– Utility/DistributorSmart Ultrasonic

Gas Flow Meter

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Mechanical meters and associated

problemsIndia domestic installation base consists of diaphragm

meters

These are predominantly based on mechanical

measurement and are prone to various drawbacks

associated with it namely Accuracy degradation over period of time- Mechanical parts

Manual reading – No smart billing options like prepayment

No AMR functionality- No i/o’s and modules provisions

Prone to tampers- tilt , bypass, etc

There are two solutions to approach the above problem

which is practiced worldwide namely Retrofit mechanical meter with electronic interface

Electronic measurement based on emerging technologies

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Benefits derived out of its’ smartness

Ease of installation and communication,

Self-diagnosis,

improved readability and reliability.

Less subject to effects of temperature and humidity than

analog devices.

although vibration can still affect them, the effects are far

less than with analog devices.

Smart [transmitters] also provide increased accuracy.

And because can replace several different types of

devices, using them allows for inventory reduction.

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The desired behaviour of a Smart [Gas]

MeterRecord the consumption with best possible accuracy

Report energy consumption at any interval & on

excessive consumption

Elicit behavior of consumption patterns

Correlate consumption rates with appliances in house

Govern consumption by set limits (prepay mode)

Raise alerts/alarms for tampers

Remotely readable and controllable (tariff and supply)

Improved revenue collection with lower overheads

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Design attributes for smart functionality

Convert consumption in digital values, store & display

(The conversion must be high resolution (few ml))

Have good local amount of memory for local storage

(upto a month)

Flag/log different type of events (e.g. excess usage)

Event-driven communications with minimum delay

Inbuilt self diagnosis

Auto-calibration

Stop/resume flow switch

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Hybrid Smart Gas Flow Meters

Measurement still using mechanical elements

(diaphragms etc)

Compensation of errors easier (combination of gears

and electronically computed)

Coupling of mechanical index using magnetic or

magneto-optical

Degradation effects still persist: diaphragm material

shrinkage, gear train wear and tear, and thus need

recalibration after 5-7 years

Bigger in size & weight

Usually Noisy

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Electronic - Ultrasonic

Inherently electronic measurements (transit time or

frequency method)

Natural interface to electronic systems

Wide dynamic range

Easier calibration (in-built)

Small in size and thus much lighter

Longer life (no moving parts)

Differentiation between NG & air

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Electronic – Thermal

Very low starting flow (4 LPH)

Noise-less and wear free

Compact design

Differentiation between NG & air

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Electronic – Charge flow

Highly accurate

Minimal signal processing

Low power

Small in size

Gamma ray source containment is an issue

Heavy due to shielding of radiation

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Communication systems (Home Area

Network)

Wired or wireless

Metering Bus (Mbus)

ZWave

Bluetooth

ZigBee

Wi-Fi

GSM/GPRS

Mesh Radio

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