USER SOLUTIONS
Meter Logging, Reporting, and Alarming Application:
Author:
Technology Integration.
Industry:
Electrical Power Transmission
Main GPS
Antenna
Check GPS
Antenna
Main Meter 1
Main Meter 2
Application:
Developing a meter logging, reporting, and alarming
system, independent of the AMR system, to log data from
meters with a known “Pulse Matching” output.
Products Used:
Compact RIO, LabVIEW, Real-Time and FPGA Modules.
Introduction:
National Electric Power Company (NEPCO) objective was
to elevate the data integrity and credibility of their metering
system by installing a backup system to their existing
metering system. The metering systems are installed at the
reception and transmission points from their suppliers and
customers; this backup system was an addition to their
AMR system and should operated independently.
AI
AX
RI
RX
System Requirements:
To have a Main System and a Check System installed in
one cabinet.
Main Datalogger
Each cabinet is to be installed at a specific location
(Station/Substation). A total of 16 cabinets are to be
installed + 4 Spare Part Units.
Check Datalogger
Main System Consists of:
ƒ Main Meters
ƒ Main Datalogger which consisted of:
- cRIO Real-time Embedded Controller, 128 MB
Disc on Chip Storage, 64 MB DRAM
- 8-slot, 1 M Gate Reconfigurable Chassis for cRIO
- GPS Module for synchronizing the controller time
with the satellites
- 4-Channel Digital Output module for alarming
- 8-Channel Digital Input Module for pulse
counting, Qty. 6
- 110VDC Power Supply
- USB flash and memory device
Check System Consists of:
ƒ Check Meters
ƒ Check Datalogger which have the exact same
configuration as the Main Datalogger
Check Meter 1
Check Meter 2
Cabinet
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USER SOLUTIONS
The Datalogging System Description:
The datalogger contains a real time embedded controller
that features an industrial 400 MHz real-time processor for
deterministic and reliable real-time applications. It contains
64 MB of DRAM memory and 128 MB of nonvolatile
storage. The embedded controller is designed for extreme
ruggedness, reliability, and low power consumption with
dual 9 to 35 VDC supply inputs that deliver isolated power
to the cRIO chassis/modules and a -40 to 70 °C operating
temperature range.
Communication is done through a 10/100 Mb/s Ethernet
port. And for additional storage capability, the controller has
a full-speed USB host port to which you can connect
external USB-based storage media (flash drives and hard
drives).
Each datalogger is connected to two meters and from these
meters the following signals are acquired through the
Digital Input Modules:
ƒ Active Import (AI) Pulse Output
ƒ Active Export (AX) Pulse Output
ƒ Reactive Import (RI) Pulse Output
ƒ Reactive Export (RX) Pulse Output
Pulses are logged every one minute and the results from
each channel are then translated into demand
(KW.hr/MW.hr or KVAR.hr/MVAR.hr). The demand is
calculated based on the period configuration of the user
(30min, 15min, or 5min for testing purposes).
Using the GPS module on the data logger, time integrity to
the system is provided. The GPS module corrects any
shifts on the datalogger‘s clock every one day.
The system accounts for Day Time Saving. The user can
configure the summer or winter time start dates.
Physical alarms are connected to the Digital output module;
3 physical alarms are configured as follows:
ƒ GPS Antenna Disconnection
ƒ True Rise Alarm
ƒ Full Memory on the Datalogger
Software developed for this purpose is the TILS Meter
Logging System. TILS interfaces to the Compact RIO family
of controllers/loggers in combination with meters with a
known Pulse Output “Matching Factor”.
Each configured cRIO holds enough data to enable any
computer with TILS software to interface and download
meter data and readings for any period of time. This means
that any operator will be able to download data and
generate reports without having the configuration scheme
of the specific logging system.
The whole system has an option of being networkable,
monitored and controlled from a central location.
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