Advanced AMR Utilizing a Radio Mesh Network In Rural Electric Cooperatives Matthew Ryan Advanced AMR

Outline What is AMR? What is AMR? Benefits of AMR Benefits of AMR Traditional AMR methods Traditional AMR methods Rural Electrical Cooperatives Rural Electrical Cooperatives Readings before AMR Readings before AMR Mesh Networking Mesh Networking 8841/ /8856 Why Advanced? Why Advanced?

What is AMR? Automated Meter Reading Automated Meter Reading Retrieving the usage information stored inside a meter, such as your electrical meter at home, and transmitting it to billing software without human intervention.

Outline What is AMR? What is AMR? Benefits of AMR Benefits of AMR Traditional AMR methods Traditional AMR methods Rural Electrical Cooperatives Rural Electrical Cooperatives Readings before AMR Readings before AMR Mesh Networking Mesh Networking 8841/ /8856 Why Advanced? Why Advanced?

Benefits of AMR Automated Meter Reading Automated Meter Reading –Reduce personnel and vehicle costs. –Saves time and improves efficiency. –Improves reading accuracy. –Reduces costs to customer.

Outline What is AMR? What is AMR? Benefits of AMR Benefits of AMR Traditional AMR methods Traditional AMR methods Rural Electrical Cooperatives Rural Electrical Cooperatives Readings before AMR Readings before AMR Mesh Networking Mesh Networking 8841/ /8856 Why Advanced? Why Advanced?

Traditional AMR Methods Infrared Radiation (IR) Drive By Infrared Radiation (IR) Drive By Power Line Carrier (PLC) Power Line Carrier (PLC) Telephone Line Telephone Line Cellular Cellular

Outline What is AMR? What is AMR? Benefits of AMR Benefits of AMR Traditional AMR methods Traditional AMR methods Rural Electrical Cooperatives Rural Electrical Cooperatives Readings before AMR Readings before AMR Mesh Networking Mesh Networking 8841/ /8856 Why Advanced? Why Advanced?

Rural Electrical Cooperatives What is a rural electrical cooperative anyway? What is a rural electrical cooperative anyway? –Local power companies who provide service in rural areas, that are owned by its customers. –Service areas often include vast amounts of sparsely populated farm land. A “small” coop can service 900 square miles. –High load farm equipment, such as corn dryers and irrigation pumps.

Why do rural areas benefit from AMR? Customers are few and far between. Customers are few and far between. Readings can be difficult to obtain. A meter could be in the middle of a corn field. Readings can be difficult to obtain. A meter could be in the middle of a corn field. Customers benefit more, due to their high electrical usage. Customers benefit more, due to their high electrical usage.

Outline What is AMR? What is AMR? Benefits of AMR Benefits of AMR Traditional AMR methods Traditional AMR methods Rural Electrical Cooperatives Rural Electrical Cooperatives Readings before AMR Readings before AMR Mesh Networking Mesh Networking 8841/ /8856 Why Advanced? Why Advanced?

Typical Rural Reading

Typical Rural Reading (Cont.)

Outline What is AMR? What is AMR? Benefits of AMR Benefits of AMR Traditional AMR methods Traditional AMR methods Rural Electrical Cooperatives Rural Electrical Cooperatives Readings before AMR Readings before AMR Mesh Networking Mesh Networking 8841/ /8856 Why Advanced? Why Advanced?

The Solution: Mesh Networking

Mesh Networking Mesh networking enables small individual nodes to talk any other node in a system. Mesh networking enables small individual nodes to talk any other node in a system. If there is a problem with a particular node, other nodes can “hop” around that node to get to their destination. If there is a problem with a particular node, other nodes can “hop” around that node to get to their destination. No “infrastructure” needed. Just add nodes as you need them. No “infrastructure” needed. Just add nodes as you need them.

Outline What is AMR? What is AMR? Benefits of AMR Benefits of AMR Traditional AMR methods Traditional AMR methods Rural Electrical Cooperatives Rural Electrical Cooperatives Readings before AMR Readings before AMR Mesh Networking Mesh Networking 8841/ /8856 Why Advanced? Why Advanced?

How it works An “8841” is installed on the meter. An “8841” is installed on the meter. –An 8841 as an embedded computer that can talk with the microchip embedded in the electrical meter. –An 8841 also has a long range radio attached to it. –8841’s can talk to each other via the radio.

8841

8841 Installations

Beyond the 8841 IPLINK (8856) IPLINK (8856) –An embedded computer that has a radio, as well as an Ethernet connection. –Takes data received from the radio, and transmits over the Ethernet connection to a server.

8856

Mesh Implementation All 8841’s try to send data to an 8856, based upon a “link layer” All 8841’s try to send data to an 8856, based upon a “link layer” If an 8841 cannot hear an 8856, it looks for another 8841 who can. If an 8841 cannot hear an 8856, it looks for another 8841 who can. An 8841 will store several units in a routing table, and choose the best path to reach an An 8841 will store several units in a routing table, and choose the best path to reach an 8856.

Beyond the sends data to a server via Ethernet sends data to a server via Ethernet. Server takes data, puts it into a database. Server takes data, puts it into a database. Utility, or a utility's customer logs into a website to see their usage. Utility, or a utility's customer logs into a website to see their usage. Customer’s can even turn on/off devices attached to their Customer’s can even turn on/off devices attached to their 8841.

Customer Usage Example

Outline What is AMR? What is AMR? Benefits of AMR Benefits of AMR Traditional AMR methods Traditional AMR methods Rural Electrical Cooperatives Rural Electrical Cooperatives Readings before AMR Readings before AMR Mesh Networking Mesh Networking 8841/ /8856 Why Advanced? Why Advanced?

Why Advanced? Outage detection Outage detection 15 Minute demand readings 15 Minute demand readings “Break the seal” capability “Break the seal” capability Remote turn off/on Remote turn off/on Power quality Power quality

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Questions? Matthew Ryan