ZA200605041B - Mains-borne Utilities Management System - Google Patents

Description

: . . ! 2 | . - ~—- - i : Background to the invention

This invention relates to a utilities management system. : : The invention finds ‘particular application in the management of the supply of electricity and it will be described with reference to such an application. It will be oo appreciated, however, that the utilities management system of the invention is not ] restricted to the management of the supply of electricity and it can find application in :

C the management of other utilities; such as water, gas and the like. i

Power Line Communications refers to the transmission of data over conventional alternating current (AC) power lines at low to medium voltages (220V to 38kV oo typically). : : " WQuntaswdbn\dbn shared\Radio Surveiliance\Patents\Wains-barne utites management system\SACOMSACom 004.doc . - . QA Ref: PC.3919.RAD : - .

Summary of the invention

The utilities management system of this invention comprises: : : a plurality ‘of utilities consumption meters installed at a plurality of oo consumption sites to which electricity is supplied by means of a- mains : } electrical supply line; } : the meters each including a power line communications device connected to the mains electrical supply line to its site; ) : :

Co the meters each being adapted to meter the consumption of at least one utility : oo under management at the meter site and to store data pertaining to such : utility consumption; :

E - . the system including at least one utilities consumption data concentrator that a oo includes a compatible power line communications device connected to the : mains electrical supply line to the consumption sites; and . the meters being adapted to communicate with the data concentrators and to . . transmit data pertaining to the consumption of the utility metered by that : meter, by means of the power line communications devices, to one or more predetermined data concentrators. . . oo : The data concentrator is preferably connected to the electrical power supply lines at a point intermediate the utilities consumption sites and the electrical reticulation system transformer common to the utilities consumption sites. :

The utilities management system of this invention is preferably adapted to manage ) : : the supply of electricity, in multiple phases, to a plurality of utilities consumption sites which are adapted to receive single phase electricity supplies, the data concentrator : being adapted to monitor each phase separately. Co E - The invention includes a utilities consumption meter for use in a utilities management : system as described above and a utilities consumption data concentrator for use in - WQuntaswrdbnidbn shavectadic Survellance\Patents Wins bere utitbes management systemiSAComISACom 004.doc p ) : . ) ) QA Ref: PC.3919.RAD . : . )

® oo 1:2006/050% . _ . ) : PRP = ” 7 ~ such a utilities management system. : oo

In addition, the invention includes a method of managing the supply of one or more utilities to a plurality of utilities consumption sites to which electricity is supplied by

EE means of a mains electrical supply line using-the utilities management system as ] described above, the method comprising the steps of: : metering the consumption of at least one utility under management at each ‘ oo meter site; a oo . storing data pertaining to such utility consumption in the meters; and:

B oT ~. transmitting data pertaining to the consumption of the utility metered by the

IE meters, by means of the. power line communications devices, to one or more : predetermined data concentrators. Co : The invention also includes a method of managing the supply of one or more utilities toa plurality of utilities consumption sites to which electricity is supplied by means of a mains electrical supply line, each site including, for each utility under management, oo . a consumption meter that includes a power line communications device connected to the mains electrical supply line, the method comprising the steps of: oo

BE metering the consumption of each utility under management at the meter site; . oC storing data pertaining to such utility consumption in the meter; . the meters being adapted to communicate with at least one utilities consumption data concentrator that includes a compatible power line : : communications device connected to the mains electrical supply line to the : } oo oo ‘consumption sites; and oo ) the method including the specific steps of transmitting the data pertaining to the consumption of the utility metered by each meter, by means of the power oo a. line communications devices, to one or more predetermined data So concentrators. : oo . WQuntaswrdbn\dbn shared\Radio Surveillance\Patents\Wains-barne utiftes management system\SACmSACom 004.doc . - : QA Ref: PC.3919.RAD

So | | Can 0&1 122006/050 : oul don oo

Brief Description of the drawings | -

The invention will be further described with reference to the accompanying drawing -which is a diagrammatic representation of an example of the utilities consumption . management system of the invention. " . Description of embodiments of the invention | : :

The diagram illustrates the utilities consumption management system 10 of the = invention installed in a small part of a mains electrical power supply or reticulation Co a system including a number of utilities consumption sites represented by a number of _ - users such as domestic dwellings or houses 12. Co :

Each utilities consumption site is represented by a utilities supply point that is oo metered by means of a utilities consumption meter 14, including, in this example, an electricity consumption meter 14.1, a water consumption meter 14.2 and a gas . : consumption meter 14.3. . oo :

The meters 14 include a meter interface unit 16 that is connected to the electricity : mains supply line 18 by means of which mains electricity is supplied to the houses 12, : :

Whilst the diagram illustrates the meters 14 incorporated into the houses 12, the : ‘system 10 of this invention lends itself to use with split metering systems. In such . systems, the. utilities consumption meters 14 (or at least the electricity meters 14.1 - forming part thereof) are located remotely of each house 12 that constitutes a utilities .

Co ‘consumption site, typically in a central location serving a number of houses 12. The meters monitor the consumption of the utility at each house 12." A display panel or : the like is then located in each house 12 that simply indicates consumption, credit : : ’ remaining or both — a so-called fuel gauge display. Metering and control functions, such as switching on and off of the utilities supply to each house 12 are preferably carried out and housed in the central location where the split meters 14 are located.

Co The. meter interface unit 16 may be incorporated into each meter 14 by integration ~ therein, as supplied. Alternatively, the meter interface unit 16 may be constituted by - \Quntaswdbnidba sharecRadio Surveitance\PatentsWains-barne utites management sySism\SACOMISACom 004 doc ’ . . _ QA Ref: PC.3919.RAD - . i ) ! k

: a separate meter interface unit 16 built into or located adjacent each meter 14 and - simply interconnected with the meter 14. This makes it possible to use the system of ’ the invention with new and existing utilities management systems and to integrate the system 10 into multi-tariff systems for instance.

Utilities consumption meters 14 typically produce a pulsed output corresponding to } utilities consumption measured by the meter 14 and the meter interface unit 16 includes meter pulse acquisition circuitry to acquire or read the pulsed output of the meter 14. In addition, the meter interface unit 16 includes programmable logic functions to support all the typical functions of a utilities consumption meter, such as data reading and storage, time- and tariff related operation of the meter functions and : management of an automated meter reading system.

The meter interface unit 16 may conveniently be provided with data storage capacity in nonvolatile RAM to ensure that there is no memory loss in the event of the cessation of power to the meter interface unit 16. } A power line communication (PLC) coupling circuit or PLC modem is incorporated into the meter interface unit 16, by means of which the meter interface unit 16, after connection of the PLC coupling circuit to the electricity mains supply line 18, is ) enabled for bidirectional communication using the electricity mains supply line 18.

The meter interface unit 16 is also provided with means to switch off the managed oo utilities by means of a relay or other switching device connected into the meter 14 monitored by the meter interface unit 16. : The meter interface unit 16 may conveniently be constituted by a multi-channel meter . interface unit 24 that accepts data from a number of meter interface units 16 or directly from a plurality of meters 14, either located at a plurality of houses 12 or : other structures or at a single house or other structure. The inclusion of a muti- channel meter interface unit 24 makes it easy to adapt the system 10 for use in commercial or industrial premises. )

Both the meter interface unit 16 and the multi-channel meter interface unit 24 may be ’ configured to serve as signal repeaters by means of which PLC signals received from : WQuntasvwrdbn\dbn shared\Radio Surveillance\Patents\Mains-barne utilties management system SAComSACom 004.doc - QA Ref: PC.3819.RAD ) . } : } ° more remote interface units 16, 24 may be repeated and amplified. : .

The management system 10 illustrated in the diagram is installed on an electricity reticulation system that includes a number of electricity distribution transformers , each serving as the point of distribution of mains electrical power to a plurality of : users, such as the houses 12. Only one such transformer 20 is shown. . oo ~The management system 10 of the invention includes a utilities consumption data : : concentration unit 22 attached to or closely associated with the electricity distribution transformer 20. co REE _ : ~The data concentration unit 22 includes a PLC coupling circuit or PLC modem by N . . means of which the data concentration unit 22, after connection of the PLC coupling ~~ circuit to the electricity mains supply line 18, is enabled for bidirectional : . . : ‘communication with the meter interface units 16, 24 using the electricity mains supply line 18, :

Data collected and communicated from each meter interface unit 16 and multi- _— oo ". channel meter interface unit 24 is fed to the data concentration unit 22. : : ~The data concentration unit 22 includes programmable logic functions to support all Co the typical functions of a utilities consumption meter, such as data reading and “storage, time-related operation of the meter functions and management of an B automated meter reading system. The data concentration unit 22 is provided. with . disk-based data storage capacity and is adapted for installation in conventional : : oo electrical sub-stations. It is preferably adapted to operate on a three phase power supply to ensure that the system operates reliably even if two of the three phases are CT : ] cut off. : : : : a _ "In addition the data concentration unit 22 programmable logic is adapted to monitor : and report on voltage levels in all three supply phases; to monitor and report on : - ~ blackouts and brownouts, including the-time and duration thereof; to perform self :

I diagnosis and to monitor the operation and. working conditions of the meter interface . ) units 16 and multi-channel meter interface units 24 connected thereto. : : \Quniaswdbridbn shared\Radio Surveiliance\PatentsWiains-barne sites management sysemSAComSACam 004. doc . . ] QA Ref. PC.3919.RAD : } . . :

Lo ® ‘The data concentration unit 22 programmable logic is programmed to record and store the data received from each meter interface unit 16 and multi-channel meter interface unit 24 to which it is connected. The data so stored is then periodically . : oo relayed, by means of a communications facility to a central management facility 26. : . From this point onward (between data concentration unit 22 and central management facility 26) communication is no longer by means of power line communications.

Instead the data is communicated using. more conventional communications, such as a PSTN facility 28, cell phone communications (GSM, GPRS) or internet-based . communications (indicated collectively at 30) )

In one implementation of the management system 10 (using electricity as the utility), ] the data concentration unit 22 reads the monitored consumption data pertaining to each house 12, as monitored by the electricity consumption meter 14.1 in each house 12. This is done at predetermined intervals or continuously, depending on the . meters 14.1. : ; Using conventional prepayment facilities, the power supply to the house 12 is enabled or disabled depending on avaifable credit remaining to that house 12. If, for reasons of non-payment for instance, the electricity supply to a house 12 is to be discontinued, the power supply to that house 12 can be disconnected either within - the remote split meter or within the meter at the house 12, depending.on the meter : “configuration in use. In each case, the system 10 relies on PLC using the PLC modem forming part of the meter interface unit 16 interfaced with the data . concentration unit 22 on the one hand and the electricity consumption meter 14.1 on the other. :

Using appropriate programmable logic devices and programs, multi-tariff capabilities } can be accommodated within the management system 10. : : ~The data concentration unit 22 is adapted, in addition to monitor consumption data supplied by the houses 12 and total electrical power supplied by the distribution : transformer 20. The data concentration unit 22 is provided with data comparison : facilities to compare the data pertaining to total power supplied (as supplied by the distribution transformer 20) to total power consumed (as supplied by the consumption oo \Qunswrabriagn Shared\Radio Surveiliance\PatentsWiains-barne utiftes management system\SACom\SACom 004.doc }

9. oo oo meters 14 in the houses 12. Any consumption figure reading that differs from the oo supply figure reading will indicate an alarm condition, since this implies an imbalance Co : : in supply and consumption from the same transformer 20. An imbalance such as this can only arise from malfunction or, in the event that the supply figure exceeds the oo consumption figure, to under-reporting of consumption by the houses 12. Any such - under-reporting points almost invariably to an attempt, at one of the houses 12, to h defraud the electricity supply system by bypassing the utilities consumption meter 14 . : in that house 12. : - By analysing such discrepancies on the basis of data reported on each of the separate phases of the electricity supply, any under-reporting can be pinpointed to a “house 12 or group of houses 12 supplied by that particular phase.

This will facilitate . Co ’ fault finding and provide greater accuracy in locating the site or sites of any fraud.

E ’ Wuntasiraricen Sharedado Surveifiance\Patents\Wains-barne utities eregementmISAComSACan 04cec | | oo ) .

Claims (14)

: a : Claims

1. A utilities management system comprising: : a plurality of utilities consumption meters installed at a plurality of : utilities consumption sites to which electricity is supplied by means of a mains electrical supply line; : the meters each including a power line communications device - connected to the mains electrical supply line to its site; the meters each being adapted to meter the consumption of at least one utility under management at the meter site and to store data pertaining to such utility consumption; : : the system including at least one utilities consumption data concentrator that includes a compatible power line communications : device connected to the mains electrical supply line to the oo : . consumption sites; and } : : the meters being adapted to communicate with the data concentrators oo ~ and to transmit data pertaining to the consumption of the utility : metered by that meter, by means of the power line communications : devices, to one or more predetermined data concentrators. : : :

2. A utilities management system according to claim 1in which at least one of the meters is constituted by an off site meter.

3. A utilities management system according to claim 2 in which at least one of : the off site meters is connected to display means installed at or in the site : metered by that meter. . J:\Radio SurveilancelPatents\Mains-borne utilties management system\SACom\SACom 004.doc } ; ’ ’ oo - QA Ref: PC.3919.RAD . } .

4. A utilities management system according to any one of the preceding claims in which the data concentrator is connected to the electrical power supply - CL lines at a point intermediate the utilities consumption sites and the electrical . reticulation system transformer common to the utilities consumption sites.

: 5. A utilities management system according to any one of the preceding claims _in which at least one of the utilities consumption meters is adapted to control at least one of the utilities under management. :

6. A tilities management system according to any one of the preceding claims . that is adapted to manage the supply of electricity, in multiple phases, to a : : plurality of utilities consumption sites which are adapted to receive single phase electricity supplies, the data concentrator being adapted to monitor Co each phase separately. :

7. A utilities consumption meter for use in a utilities ‘management system Co - ‘according to any one of the preceding claims. -

: 8. A utilities consumption data concentrator for use in a utilities management ) system according to any one of claims 1 to 6. 0 }

i 9. A method. of managing the supply of one or more utilities to a plurality of : } utilities consumption sites to which electricity is supplied by means of a mains electrical supply line using the utilities management system of any one of claims 1 to 6, the method comprising the steps of. metering the consumption of at least one utility. under management at | I : : each meter site; oo Ce : oo storing data-pertaining to such utility consumption in the meters; and transmitting data pertaining to the consumption of the utility metered . : oo by the meters, by means of the power line communications devices, to So one or more predetermined data concentrators. : ’ WQuniaswdbn\dbn shared\Radio Surveiliance\Patents\WMains-barne ites management system\SACom\SACom 004.doc” . } . Co . QA Ref. PC.3810.RAD . .

10. A method of managing the supply of one or more utilities to a plurality of : utilities consumption sites to which electricity is supplied by means of a - mains electrical supply line, each site including, for each utility under - management, a consumption meter that includes a power line : communications device connected to the mains electrical supply line, the method comprising the steps of: S oo ‘metering the consumption of each utility under management at the : : meter site; ) - : oo storing data pertaining to such utility consumption in the meter; - . the meters being adapted to communicate with at least one utilities ) consumption data concentrator that includes a compatible power line . : communications device connected to the mains electrical supply line : to thie consumption sites; and : - So the method including the specific stéps of transmitting the data : : pertaining to the consumption of the utility metered by each meter, by a means of the power line communications devices, to one or more : predetermined data concentrators. :

11. A utilities management system substantially as described in this : specification with reference. to the accompanying drawings.

i. 12. A utilities consumption meter substantially as described in this specification . .with reference to the accompanying drawings. } To

13. A utilities consumption data concentrator substantially as-described in ‘this : specification with reference to the accompanying drawings. _ \Quntasurdbnidon shared\Radio Surveance Vann Wains-borne utilities management systemiSAComSACom 004.doc ’ } Rk . QA Ref: PC.3919.RAD Rk

: E 13 :

14. A method of managing the supply of one or more utilities to a plurality of utilities consumption sites substantially as described in this specification with ~ reference to the accompanying drawings. Dated 19 June 2006 : Qunta Attarne va & Trade Mark Attorneys Applicant's Pgtent Attorneys Radio Surveillance\Patents\Mains-bornie utilties management system\SACom\SACom 004.doc QA Ref: PC.3919.RAD ) .