Practicing Electricity Smart Meter Device for Commercial and Domestic Use - Research Paper Example

Institution : xxxxxxxxxxx Title : Smart Metering Tutor : xxxxxxxxxxx Course : xxxxxxxxxxx @2010 Smart Metering Introduction A smart meter is an advanced type of an electrical meter which functions by recording the energy consumptions at intervals of one hour or less that an hour and delivers that information at least two times per day through some network in the premises. This is usually done for the purpose of monitoring the consumption and also provision of necessary information for billing. They therefore facilitate two way communications between the meter and the facility’s central unit. Smart metering has been adopted in Europe but to some degree, this is due to the influence of regulations. Several countries in Western Europe have taken up the policy of that is driven by regulations on introduction of smart meters (McGowan & Thomas, 2002). Regardless of the much attention on smart metering, there are several questions that are coming up. These includes an explanation of the smart meters, the benefits and the exact functions of the smart meters, the significance of adopting the technology, the intermediate results of this technology, barriers to the implementation of the smart meters technology, and the projected future of the technology. This report therefore looks at these concepts of smart metering. The report also focuses on smart metering in Europe incorporating results from specific projects in Europe, and a general view of the future of smart metering. 1). Aims and objectives 1.1 Aim The aim of this project is to devise, put up and put into practice electricity smart meter device for commercial and domestic use which passes the electricity information for close monitoring and billing. 1.2 Objectives To design a smart meter that will give an insight into the main aspects of smart metering. To understand the likely benefits of implementing smart metering and barriers to its implementation. To assess the issues associated with implementation of smart metering into the domestic and commercial markets. 2) Work summary 2.1) Background information Since the Introduction of electricity deregulation and a pricing system that is driven by the market, the government regulating bodies have been trying to find a means of matching energy consumption and generation. The traditional electricity meters only used to measure the energy consumed but could not give information as to when the energy was consumed. Back in 2008, the Department of Energy and climate Change (DECC) in Britain declared its plan to tell the suppliers to roll out smart meters for both gas and electricity in every home by the end of year 2020. Most of the electricity and gas meters are located in hidden places where they cannot be viewed by the customers. They also do not provide adequate information to the customer on how he or she is consuming the energy. Smart meters are therefore designed to keep the customer aware of his or her energy consumption at all the times. These have the ability to influence how the customers consume energy in their premises and may successfully manage to save the energy. The smart meters are part of the smart home system where various home appliances are integrated to help the consumers to control how they manage and deliver services at home (Jamasb, nuttall & Pollitt, 2006). 2.2 Programming Programming involves outlining the specifications for the software to be used. The first to be outlined are the specifications of the database and the interfaces that will be recognized by the software. In designing the specifications for the database, one must determine the type and the structure of the tables in the database, the information, forms and reports. One must also create the links between tables. 2.3 Meaning of smart metering Smart metering is a technology that involves various applications in remote meter reading, managing customer relationships, and value added services by use of the smart meters. Remote meter reading is the main application in this process. It is the provision of the data that is recorded by the meter to the metering system operator. Smart metering can be useful in providing solutions to customer relationship management, demand-sided management and also in enabling other value added services to the customers such as home automation. Smart metering can also enable remote electricity disconnection and load limitation. The meter can also be updated automatically to enable new services and enhance communication protocol. 2.4 How the smart meters work The smart meter system is a simple process of recording the electricity consumption data and them transmitting it to the central operation unit. It is a system of two way communication from the meter to the consumer and the operator as shown below. Figure 1: example of a smart metering system 2.5 Functioning of the smart meter system The smart meter system is composed of three main components. These are the smart meter, an advanced communication network, and the transaction management system (TMS) software. All these components play different important roles in ensuring the functionality of the entire system. 2.5.1 The smart meter The smart meter is made up of a solid-state meter, an intelligence module and a communication instrument. These parts work together to give intelligent results to the transaction management system (TMS). The meter offers all the typical metering functions at the same time acting as the database for storing the meter data in the database table. The intelligence module monitors various tables in the meter, performing various programmed tasks and monitoring power output and other conditions in the meter. The smart meters operate in an independent manner with the main responsibility of monitoring energy usage at intervals. 2.5.2 Advanced communication network This provides the means for passage of the data. It functions to transmit the information to the meter operators and the customers to keep them aware of their rate of energy consumption. In most cases, it is designed in a flexible manner to accommodate varying communication networks and protocols. 2.5.3 The Transaction Management System This is device for managing and monitoring the system. It is a software application that has the ability to manage two way data transmission in an advanced communication network system in multiple meters, for at home, in industrial and in commercial premises. It helps a certain premises t monitor several meters for consumption rate at various intervals. It also helps in monitoring real time usage during the high consumption events, real time meters alarms. It is possible for premises to monitor multiple various meter points with one device. 2.6 Technologies involved in smart metering Smart metering, also known as automated meter reading is a change from the traditional electricity meters. It is advancement in the metering technology where additional devices have been added to ensure continuous monitoring of energy consumption and billing. The simplest technology of automated meter reading is the Clip-on Customer Display Unit that offers fats solution to immediate feedback on electricity consumption. The other one is the Standard Meter with internal communication. This is composed of various active meters with various capabilities. The other one is British Electro technical and Allied Manufactures Association (BEAMA) Minimum Meter Specification. This represents the recommendation of the manufacturers of electricity and gas meters in the United Kingdom. The association recommends a minimum measurement for smart meters that follows the EU directive. Other technologies include the Automated Meter Management (AMM) which is an additional function to the Automated Meter Reader. This technology allows the meter suppliers, and the operators to control the functions of the meter and its configuration. This technology also allows for direct communication between the meter operators and the customers and switching them remotely form the credit to debit financing. The technology of communication is enabled by various networks such as Home Area Network (HAN), Local Area Network (LAN), and the Wide Area Network (WAN). Security wise, the meters can be disabled such that the suppliers do not receive utilizations data (Jiménez 2006). 2.7 Benefits of Smart Metering Smart metering has several benefits as explained below. To achieve these benefits, proper price signals must accompany the smart meters. The consumer must also be educated on the new meters so that they can be able to change their energy consumption behavior. 2.7.1 Benefits to the service providers Smart metering reduces the costs of manual reading of the electricity bills due to ability to read meters remotely. The service providers are also able to remotely control the electrical load that sometimes involves shut downs. It enables the service providers to detect power outages. The smart meters enable the service providers to monitor the customers’ usage information thereby enabling in design and implementation of demand management programs. The smart meter system enables the service providers to detect unauthorized power usage and unnecessary power losses. The service providers are able to monitor power consumption and enable them to plan for the demand. It is also easy for the service providers to control the price tariffs (Nuttall, Gobson & Oftendal, 2010). 2.7.2 Benefits to the electricity consumers The consumers can save money since they will be changing their consumption as the tariff changes. They will therefore be increasing the demand when the tariffs are low. Being able to monitor and get information on their consumption, one will also be able to control the power usage thus saving money Consumers will also be able to receive faster services since everything will be done remotely including power reconnections and repair. 2.7.3 Benefit for developers: Due to proper demand management, payments can be reduced and this will enable business runners to benefit from reduced power costs. Profitability increases as the expenses on electricity and gas reduces. Businesses that have different departments can also be able to monitor the power usage and encourage efficiency (Nuttall, Gobson & Oftendal, 2010). 2.8. Potential Barriers for Smart Metering Deployment There are various factors that may hinder successful implementation of the smart meters. These include: 2.8.1 Technical Barriers Components of the commercially available smart meters may often lack interoperability due to proprietary software solutions. This can be solved by use of open hardware communication standards which are still under development. Some of the requirements for successful metering may include standardization of the hardware as well as the software and also standardization of the communication protocol (Cronin 2010). 2.8.2 Economic barriers One of the key economic barriers to smart metering lies in the distribution of the benefits among various stakeholders. Since it requires that benefits be shared evenly among the stakeholders, free riding may occur. In most cases, there are no constructive business cases in deploying the smart meters if an individual party such as a supplier evaluates a smart metering even out for their personal view. There usually prevails high level of uncertainty concerning the benefits. For example, in defining the amount of energy that is saved when tariffs change from peak to off peak. High costs are incurred in connecting a full scale smart meter and this may make the investors to avoid them. 2.8.3 Legal Barriers to smart metering According to the current regulatory framework in most countries the electricity meters are owned by the energy suppliers. The electricity networks are therefore hesitant to develop innovative services mostly in cases where it can render their assets. There are no legal provisions concerning deployment of smart meters and this hinders the interested investors from investing in them. For example it is not clearly explained how they can recover the cost. Basically there is no legal framework that dictates smart metering. For example, of there exists a requirement for meter inspection, the benefits have to be reduced. 2.9 Risks associated with smart metering Installation and use of smart meters is associated with many risks. It is therefore important for these risks to be considered before the meters are adopted. These include: Hardware malfunction may cause technological risks. This can be avoided conducting adequate research before purchasing the meters and also engaging the support of the supplier before the meters are installed. Security and efficiency of the meters is not guaranteed. The meters can also be accessed by both the electricity providers and the consumers and this may compromise the security of the data. Efficiency is not guaranteed and the meters are subject t mechanical failure. The meters may also become outdated due to the fast moving development in the domestic and commercial service provision. This may happen if new developments bring in combined meters for water, gas and electricity. The costs of the meters may also be impacted by prevailing local conditions such as economic and technological conditions (Jiménez 2006). 2.10 Application of smart metering in Europe There are regulations in Western Europe that drive smart metering. Sweden was the first country to adopt the policy that allowed a regulation for guiding adoption of smart meters. Meter developers are therefore working hard to develop the smart meters since they will offer much awareness and will influence the manner in which consumers use the energy. Smart metering has however been adopted differently in different European countries (Lafferty & Ruud, 2008). 2.10.1 Smart metering in North Ireland A national smart meter plan in Ireland was announced in 2008 by the energy minister whose goal was to achieve smart meters adoption in all Irish homes by 2012. This move was necessitated by the rising costs of electricity and malfunctioning of the prepayment system. The main aim of the smart meter system in North Ireland was to ensure visibility into consumption habits of energy consumers, and create a basis for monitoring time of energy consumption and the price at that time. This was also to validate the functioning of Smart Grid technology in Ireland. 2.10.2 Smart metering in UK UK is a member of the National Energy Efficiency Action Plans (NEEAP) whose other members include Germany, Denmark, Finland, and Norway among others. It is compulsory for the members of NEEAP to take up strategies that will reduce energy consumption by 9 percent for a period of 9 years. UK is therefore aiming at having 25 million homes fitted with smart meters for a period of ten years. It is however estimated that this will cost between 8 to 14 billion dollars. 2.10.3 Smart metering in Denmark Denmark is increasingly adopting the smart meters and its government is almost following its Nordic neighbours in adopting a regulation in 2010. The Nordic region was among the first adopters of smart meters. Denmark has recently increased its target in fitting household appliances standby to a consumption of 10 percent of the total energy consumed. The government of Denmark states that smart meters will enable the consumers to monitor their own consumption and compare with that of others. This will help those who consume excessively to regulate their energy consumption (Glachant, & Lévêque, 2009). 3). The System Specification The two most important sections in manufacture of the smart meters are the software and the hardware. 3.1 Software The soft ware that is used in developing this system is coded in C. this is preferred due to the complexity of this system network as it requires modularization, which can be properly achieved through code C than by doing system assembly. Programming the microcontrollers is done by several PC based high quality software for example that Integrated Development Environment (MPLAB IDE) that belongs to the family of microchip controllers. MPLAB (IDE) is an integrated tool set that is acquired freely and used in developing entrenched applications using the PIC and dsPIC controllers from the Microchip Company. MPLAB IDE runs a 32-bit application on Microsoft Windows. It is not complicated for use and bears a host of free software components that enable fast development of the applications and a highly charged debugging. It also acts as a single, integrated graphic user interface for an extra microchip and third party tools for developing hardware and soft ware. In between the development tools is a snap and to upgrade the free software to hardware debug and programming is done in a flash due to the facts that MPLAB IDE bears similar user interface for all the equipments (Arnold 2006). MPLAB C Compliers can be chosen inside the MPLAB IDE. These are the highly optimized compilers to use with the PIC18 series microcontrollers, the dsPIC digital signal controllers, and the high performance PIC24 MCUs. Other several products can also be used for example those products from third party language tool vendors where majority of them are incorporated into the MPLAB IDE to facilitate transparency to the project managers, debugger and the editor. Working with this software is simple and not very complex. One just requires a set of instructions and topology framework of the microcontroller to create a functioning program (Gupta 2005). 3.2 Hardware The hardware used (obtained from the best dealers) should be able to obviously create the above software. There are two different systems that can be used, but I have to decide on one. These are the single phase hardware kit and the three phase kit. 3.2.1 Single phase kit There are two available single phase kits. One form analogue devise and the other one from microchip. The one form the analogue device is the ADE 7763 which is measures electrical energy with much accuracy. Its IC has an ongoing interface and a pulse output. This kit integrates a two second sequence Σ-Δ ADCs, a temperature detector, a reference circuitry and all the signal that is needed in performing the dynamic and evident power measurements. The chip price is about 5GBP while the board cost is around 100 GBP (Gilster 2007). The other one is the single phase kit from the microchip, MCP3905A, an Energy Meter Evaluation Board (MCP 3905EV). This is evaluation board that enables users to assess various energy meters designs. On its input edge, there are high voltage lines and AC-plug in headers. There are also mounting holes for shunts, screw type connections for wiring and power transformers. The output side bears a large prototype area that is placed together with an optical isolation and a standard PICtailTM header that can be used to experiment with various PIC microcontroller based energy meter designs. The Chip price goes for around 3GBP while the Board Cost goes for 80 GBP (Barnett, O’Cull, & Cox, 2004). 3.2.2 Three Phase kit This also exists in two kits forms, one from the analogue device and the other from microchip. The three phase kit from analogue is the ADE7878 that has sample registers with a wave form that enables access to all ADC outputs. These devices are also able to incorporate measurements for power in short periods both high and low power detections. It also checks measurements for periods of line voltage, and angles between phase currents and voltage. Communication can be done by use of two serial interfaces, SPI and 12C. The 12C can be used together with a dedicated high speed interface, HSDC to allow access to ADC output and real-time power data. The Chip price goes for 5GBP while the board cost around 150 GBP. The hardware kit form micro chip, MCP3909/dsPIC33F is a sophisticated 3-phase Energy Meter Reference Design which a completely functional energy meter with complex features which include harmonic analysis, sag detector, active and reactive power calculator, per phase distortion information and a four quadrant energy measurement. It makes use of the Microchip’s 16-bit MCU dsPIC33FJ64GP206 that takes advantage of the dsPIC33F by doing all the calculations in the DSP engine. The output quantities are then calculated in the frequency domain producing several outputs for different meter designs. The Chip price goes for 3GBP while the Board Cost goes for 100 GBP (Cohn 2007). Other hardware items needed include the voltage detector, current detector and the USB programming. 4. Project Plan and Methodology The process by which the project will carried out form the initial steps of literature review to the final copy to be submitted is outlined below. 4.1 Scope This explains what the project aims to achieve and also who will benefit from it, and in what manner. The scope must entail objects describing: Objectives of the project and the manufacture goods. Budget summary Objectives of the project and the products Goods required in the project Data on the transmission of gas and electricity, preservation, enquiry and display. Structure of the work breakdown. Equipments required in smart metering. A detailed explanation of the scope will be given in the final report. 4.2. Analysis / system requirement 4.2.1. Requirement analysis The purpose of analysing is to have an insight on various requirements of the project. This will be delivered as the requirement statement. 4.2.1.1 Customer requirement The purpose of this is to describe the expectation of the system by focusing on its objectives, the environment in which it is taking place and the expected constrains. This will also be delivered as a statement of customer requirement. 4.2.1.2 Functional requirement This will be doe to identify the required tasks and the action to be taken in accomplishing the tasks. This will be delivered as a statement of functional requirement. 4.2.1.3 Non-functional requirement This is done to develop a standard that will be used in evaluating the operation of an entire system instead of specific functions. This will be delivered as a statement of non-functional requirement. 4.2.1.4 Performance requirement This explains the level at which some functions must be carried out. It is measured in terms of quality, time, availability and coverage. It is delivered as a statement of performance requirement. 4.2.1.5 Design requirement This defines how the requirements for the process will be executed. It is delivered as a statement for design requirement. 4.2.2 Draft Preliminary software and hardware specifications The basic specifications for both software and hardware will be explained based on the objectives of the project. This will also follow the criteria and the project boundaries that are explained in the scope of the project. This will be delivered as a draft explaining the specifications for the software and hardware. 4.2.3 Development of the Budget This will be to accommodate the cost of labour and materials to be used in the project. This will be delivered as a project budget plan. 4.2.4 Initial system configuration 4.2.4.1 Hardware configuration This involves analysing the design of the hardware to be used and explanation of any other hardware used. This is delivered as hardware configuration report. 4.2.4.2 Software configuration This is an analysis of the elements of the software used and its relations. This is delivered as a program for relational software. 4.2.5 Review of the specifications, configurations and risks This involves making changes on the specifications but paying attention to the value in the budget. 4.2.6 Risk assessment This involves considering threats that may arise and devising ways of resolving them. This may even involve avoiding them in order to reduce their impact. This is delivered as a contingency plan. 4.2.7 Developing delivery plan This is a plan indicating dates in which the system will be delivered. This is delivered as a timeline chart. 4.2.8 Reviewing the contingency and timeline plan This is done by the project manager to assess and approve the contingency plan and the timeline chart. This is delivered as a changed and approved contingency plan and delivery timeline. 4.2.9 Completion of analysis This is the final stage in the system analysis process. This is submitted as the system analysis report. 4.3 Design Stage 4.3.1 Review specifications This a simple review of the stated specifications for the software. This is submitted as a draft for the functional specifications. 4.3.2 Developing the functional specifications This is the process of developing the specifications that have been reviewed in the process above. This is then submitted as a draft of detailed functional specifications. 4.3.3 Reviewing functional specifications This involves making changes to the functional specifications. It is delivered as a modification of the functional specifications. 4.3.4 Prototype development This involves developing a model bearing in mind the functional specifications of the system. It is delivered as a sample model. 4.3.5 Review and feedback This is an evaluation of the functional specifications and the sample model made. This done by the entire involved members of the team. It is then delivered as a changed functional specification and a sample model. 4.3.6 Design and approval This is done to by the project manager by approving the forwarded design. It is then delivered as design approval. 4.3.7 Completion of the design This is the final process in the design. It is done to complete everything that has not been done before. It is then submitted as a design statement. 4.4 System development stage 4.4.1 Reviewing functional specifications This involves making a review on the functional specifications that have been previously forwarded by the system analyst in the previous stage. This is delivered as a draft code paying founded on the functional specifications. 4.4.2 Ordering the components This involves surveying the market for the system components and purchasing them. this is delivered as a report on ordering the components. 4.4.3 Developing the circuit This involves building the system circuit. It is delivered as building the circuit report. 4.4.4 Identification of classes and modules This is done to identify the classes and modules incorporated in the system. It is delivered as classes and modules. 4.4.5 Initial coding of the project This is the first stage in coding. It involves creation of the first code. It is delivered as the project code. 4.4.6 Initial testing and code debugging This involves developing own means of testing and debugging the code. It is delivered as a modified main code. 4.5 Testing 4.5.1 Requirements analysis This is where the system developers test the entire work to determine the testable aspects of the work, and the parameters involved in testing them. This is delivered as testable parameters and aspects. 4.5.2 Unit testing This involves carrying out tests on the circuit to ensure that the circuit is working. The code level is also tested to confirm how specific codes function mainly at the class level. This is delivered as tested and changed codes to ensure functionality. 4.5.2.1 Test planning This involves organizing various activities in a test cycle. It is submitted as a test plan document. 4.5.2.2 Test development This is done by the testers where they agree on the methods to be used in testing and the procedures to be involved. This is delivered as test procedure document. 4.5.2.3 Test execution and reporting This involves the testers implementing the software and hardware to be used based on the set plans and the tests. This is delivered as verification report to the system developers and is used in making a decision on whether the tested software is for use. 4.5.2.4 Test result analysis This is review of the results obtained in testing to find out whether the identified defects can be rectified, fixed or disposed. This is delivered as defected codes and circuit report. 4.5.2.5 Code alteration This is altering the codes based on the irregularities that have been identified. This is delivered as codes modified and recorded report. 4.5.2.6 Defect retesting This is conducting another test on the electronic circuit to ensure that it works properly. It also involves ensuring that the bug has been removed. This is delivered as retest results. 4.6 Documentation 4.6.1 Project planning This involves various activities that include evaluating what theories say and the background information collected concerning the system, checking on the available technical alternatives, and an assessment that will be used in devising a technical approach. It also involves giving details of the plan designed for the project that involves a finished structure for work breakdown, explanation on the tasks and assessment of those tasks thought to be difficult. This is delivered as an interim report 1. 4.6.2 Interim presentation This involves putting forward the idea for the project and also planning on the academic viewers who will present their questions concerning the project and be answered. This is delivered as ten minutes presentation. 4.6.3 Return on investment (second assignment) This is done to evaluate the financial viability. It is delivered as return on investment report. 4.6.4 Developing the help specification and user manual This involves developing a tool guide to the specifications and also for guiding on the usage of the system. This is delivered as a manual containing the specifications guide and the usage procedures. 4.6.5 Developing training materials for the final user This involves designing the materials that will be used in conducting various training with the computer, in the labs and also in classroom setting. This is delivered as a set of training materials. 4.6.6 Final project report This involves presenting the whole document following the format given by the college supervisors. This is delivered as the final project report. 4.6.7 Final project presentation This is the process of defending one’s project in the panel of the supervisors and examiners. It also involves answering questions that may be raised by the supervisors and the examiners. This is delivered as presentation of the final project. 5. Expected training Training is required on areas such as: Familiarizing with the AVR Audio software Familiarizing with various tools and equipments found in the laboratory Understanding how the programming is done Proper training on the codes that have been used and the apparatus that I need to put in the project 6. Contingency Plans A. Incase the hardware materials that have been requested by the university for example the chips and evaluation board are delivered late due to delay in the purchasing. Action: In the meantime I can be doing the programming and coding, and testing their functioning to save time before I receive the other components. B. If illness or other happenings derail my work during the implementation step for around two weeks. Action: since the Gantt chart is designed with an allowance of extra days, the work can be pushed forward. C. If some data and information gets lost as a result of hardware failure or theft. Action: A restore operation should be performed that will get back the lost data. This can also be obtained form the external data storage or back up. 7. Work done to date So far, I have completed reviewed the literature and have done the preliminary actions. Below is a summary of the work done so far: Statement of the projected score (see project aims and objectives). Adequate research about the applications of smart metering and the technology involved. I have researched on the components to use in the project, both from the analogue and the micro chip. I have listed the benefits of smart metering, the barriers to the technology and the risks involved. I have analyzed smart metering in various European countries. I have stated the initial components of the project including the hardware and soft ware. I have state the strategy for the implementation process. I have stated the specifications for the end product in terms of the hardware and software. I have stated the threats that may be encountered in the project. Bibliography Jamasb, T., nuttall, W., & Pollitt, M., 2006, Future electricity technologies and systems, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. Nuttall, W., Gobson, D., & Oftendal, E., 2010, Energy and Innovation: Structural Change and Policy Implications, Purdue University Press, Michigan. Cronin, M., 2010, Smart Products, Smarter Services: Strategies for Embedded Control, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. McGowan, F., & Thomas, S., 2002, Electricity in Europe: inside the utilities, Financial Times Business Information, London. Lafferty, W., & Ruud, A., 2008, Promoting sustainable electricity in Europe: challenging the path dependence of dominant energy systems, Edward Elgar Publishing, Cheltenham. Glachant, J., & Lévêque, F., 2009, Electricity reform in Europe: towards a single energy market Edward Elgar Publishing, Cheltenham Gupta, V., 2005, Comdex Hardware and Networking Course Kit, Dreamtech Press, New Delhi. Barnett, R., O’Cull, L., & Cox, S., 2004, Embedded C programming and the microchip PIC, Volume 1, Cengage Learning, Oklahoma. Cohn, J., 2007, Analog device-level layout automation, Springer, New York. Arnold, K., 2006, Embedded controller hardware design, Newnes Publishers, South Carolina. Gilster, F., 2007, Pc Hardware: A Beginner’s Guide, McGraw-Hill Education, New York. Jiménez, M., 2006, Smart electricity networks based on large integration of renewable sources and distributed generation, Kassel university press GmbH, Kassel. Read More