Load Research Metering and Meter Data Management

System

SAIEE Load Research Chapter

Tando Figlan 2020/02/18 1

Contents

• Introduction

• Load Research Data Flow

• Remote Data Logging System Components

• The Metering System

• The Data Management System

• Field Operations

• Back Office Operations

• System Operations Summary

• Data Usage

• Data Logger Populations

• Challenges and Lessons Learnt

• Considerations for now and the future

• Ends

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Introduction

• Eskom is in the process of collecting load profile data towards the SANS507 Domestic Load Research project.

• Previously a manual system of collecting data from an old version of data logger was

used and this has since been phased out. • A new L&G ZMD405 energy meter based data logger has been introduced.

• Each logger can monitor up to a maximum of three households and returns 13 load

parameters at 5 minute intervals.

• This system accumulates 300 million date-stamped load readings annually.

• Currently about 990 domestic customers are being monitored nationally at 15 sites.

• To enable the coordination of all data related activities a load data center was established.

• Itron’s MV90 is used as the default data collection application.

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Load Research Data Flow

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Household; (Volt, Amp)

Data Logger; (Hertz, Volt,

Amp, kW, kVA) Download

centre (MV90)

MVODBC - SQL Database

Remote Exceptions, Channel status Reporting, Backups 4

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Remote Data Logging System Components

Operations Desk & Terminal

Ethernet Switch

( Rack-mount )

UPS & Battery Pack

Main Server Housing Virtual Servers

including MV90 Server & MV90 Workstation

Screen, Keyboard &

KVM Switch Combination

( Rack-mount )

3G Router

Redundant Server Housing Virtual Servers

including MV90 Server & MV90 Workstation

Field Logger • Logger details • Load data • Location • Customer details

Back Office /System Master Station • Twin server 19’’ rack

mount • 3,7TB RAID 5 (HDD) • 32GB RAM • Intel 2x CPU (Xeon) • VMWare: Hypervisor 5.5 • MV90 xi V3.0

Communication link • GPRS based • Private APN • Xi-Comm with

client 32 TCP/IP comm ports

Human resources • Field operations • Download center

operations

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The Metering System

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• Meter / logger • Current transformer • Communications

device • Wiring, connectors,

mounting accessories • Antenna

The Data Management System

7

• Hardware – Server, UPS • Application – MV90 • Operating System –

VMWare, SQL Server, Windows 7

• Comms Device- HSDPA Router

Field Operations

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• Site Inspections • Logger Installation • Site documentation • Site Referencing • CNC Liaison • Fault finding and resolution • Feedback

Back Office Operations Meter Configuration

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Logger Configuration File – Registered capture in load profile

Back Office Operations Meter Configuration

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Logger Configuration File – Manual display list

Back Office Operations MV90 Logger Registration

11 MV90 master file configuration

Back Office Operations Remote communications reporting

12 Remote Interrogation in progress

Back Office Operations Remote communications data validation

13

Validation parameter setup and sample validation report

Back Office Operations Channel returns reporting

14 Returned channel data status

Back Office Operations Channel returns reporting

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Returned channel data status

Back Office Operations Remote Communications Performance

Dial Up success rate: 96%

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System Operations Summary

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Data Usage • Data usage per day: 40MB (all

data loggers) • Data contract limit: 10GB

/month • Download time per logger: 3

min/day’s data • File size: 30kb/logger/day • Estimated cost @R0.25/Mb: R10/

day (data only)

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Logger Populations

Site Name Date Installed

Total Loggers (Original)

Total Loggers (Current)

Age (L& G Logger) Yrs

Sample Size (Original)

Wattville Jul-09 26 26 10 63

GaNkoana Jul-09 30 29 10 73

Vlaklaagte Feb-10 30 30 9 81

GaLuka Oct-10 30 29 9 69

Hankey Nov-10 27 27 9 70

Selosesha Oct-11 30 30 8 85

Matsulu Nov-11 30 30 8 62

Butterworth Mar-12 31 30 7 65

Bophelong Mar-13 30 30 6 65

Phomolong Aug-13 30 30 6 83

Dipelaneng May-14 30 31 5 72

Morokweng Aug-14 30 30 5 67

Hopewell Oct-14 30 30 2 68

Jane Furse Mar-17 32 32 2 68

Ezamokuhle Oct’17 35 35 2 81

Total = 15 451 449 Median = 7 991

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Challenges and Lessons Learnt

• It helps to have reliable and cost effective communication medium. In our case GPRS with a private APN has been most effective.

• A master station capable of automatic remote scheduling is most suitable than a manual system.

• Careful attention to contracting such as APN and other services. Unpaid service providers can lead to unavailable data when lines get cut off.

• Corporate rules especially in terms of IT applications and hardware determines what is possible and may sometimes not favor the needs of research.

• Remote connectivity for software support helps to shorten down times and for remote access when humans are out of office.

• Improved communication between technical services at the sites and research is crucial in order to prevent losing logging channels after cut-offs, post maintenance and or pole replacements.

Considerations for now and the future

• There is a growing need for data services from other users within the research landscape. Need to consider how best to configure the system to cater for these needs using existing or upgraded resources.

• The energy supply industry is changing rapidly and the introduction of renewable energy sources like PV is a reality. It may become necessary to source loggers that are suitable to monitor such installations.

• The imminent discontinuation of GPRS as a GSM service demands us to consider how best to meet our communication requirements from using IOT based technologies.

• Prepare for changes in the larger business landscape where support for the existing data acquisition software may be discontinued.

• Explore the use of open source applications in this space in order to manage licensing costs and non-proprietary data formats for data exchange.

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The End

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