News

A Brief Introduction of Smart Meters and Installation Modes

Smart meter provides strong assistance to the realization for smart power grid. Smart meter can monitor the current operating status in real time and can track and detect the whole process of the electricity consumption which can optimize electricity utilization scheme, improve the service efficiency of the electricity energy. Through the monitor of the smart meter, it can standardize the electricity consumption mode of the power consumer to realize the electricity save. In the next period, the development direction of the smart meter is the following: both consider the traceability of raw data and non-metering functions of electricity meters and keep them independent; developing to double core, multi-core, data sharing and security at the same time; communication and network technology innovation.

Through smart meter, we can realize the expense settlement and information management accurately and timely. Through add measurement point in consumer side, we will get more accurate load and transmission losses. Through integrate many measurement data, we can realize the forecast to the unknown status and the check up on the measurement data accuracy which can help us to prevent power quality problems. Through the price of electricity to control the user’s load and make distributed generation, price control generally including TOU electricity price, real time price and urgent peak price which can respectively meet the normal electricity utilization demand, short time electricity utilization demand and peak time electricity utilization demand. Through feed back to the customers with their electricity consumption information from the smart meter, we can encourage users to reduce their energy consumption or switch energy use mode.

The measurement function of smart meters helps us to realize the preventive maintenance of distribution network components, electricity meters and user equipment, and the measurement data can also help the grid and users to analyze the fault of network components and network loss.

The smart meter can realize the overall connection and disconnection of the load, and can also control some users, to realize power control with the dispatching department. At the same time, the user can also realize the remote control of the specific load through the controllable switch.

Smart meter can detect the opening of meter box, change of wiring, update of meter software and other events, to detect the electricity theft in time.

Today we will introduce the installation mode of the smart meters.

There are two types of installation: centralized installation and decentralized installation. The two installation modes differ in application scenarios, installation costs, meter reading scheme and others. Here is a brief introduction to the specific differences between the two types of smart meter installation.

1.    Different meter reading scheme apply to different installation modes

There are wireless and wired reading scheme for smart meters.

Wireless meter reading does not need to rely on collector or concentrator or third-party equipment. The built-in NB-IoT /4G communication module or LoRa communication module of the meter can be directly connected with the system to realize remote meter reading.

Wired meter reading is through the smart meter built-in RS-485 interface, with transmission line to connect the meter and concentrator/collector to realize the meter data transmission to the system.

Therefore, the wireless meter reading scheme, which transmits data through the signal base station, is suitable for decentralized installation of smart meters. And the need for transmission line RS-485 wired meter reading scheme, suitable for centralized installation.

2.     Installation costs of the two modes.

The cost of centralized installation from smart meters, concentrators or collectors, and transmission lines.

The cost of decentralized installation is mainly from smart meters.

Firstly, the cost of smart meters, the centralized installation of RS-485 meters reading scheme, smart meters do not need to configurated with communication module, the price is relatively low. Decentralized installation requires smart meters with built-in communication modules, which are relatively expensive.

Secondly: centralized installation requires the collector or concentrator, a concentrator can read the data of many electricity meters, on average the price is cheaper.

Finally, the centralized installation of electricity meters reduces the need for transmission lines and saves installation costs.

3.    The two installation modes apply to different scenarios

In apartment, commercial building, shopping malls, and student dormitories, there need one smart meter for each household, so many smart meters need to be installed. To facilitate the installation and management of staff, centralized installation is generally selected.

And such as rural residential users, rental houses, factories, such building have long distance with each other generally adopt decentralized installation.

There is no absolute advantage or disadvantage between the two, only appropriate or not, users can choose the appropriate installation method according to their actual needs and cost budget.


Post time: Aug-25-2021