This article is about Advanced Metering Infrastructure Functional Requirements and Home Area Network HAN with In-Home Display, Micro-Generation Module For AMI.
Advanced Metering Infrastructure Functional Requirements
The System Architecture Section (§4) allows for one of two deployment solutions to be implemented:
Solution A: All Applications and Communications Layers (depicted in Figure 5) are implemented.
Solution B: All Applications and Communications Layers (depicted in Figure 5) are implemented, except for the Data Concentration Application Layer and the NAN Communications Layer.
The Smart Meters (End-Customer Application Layer) communicate directly to the Network Operation Center (NOC) via a Wide Area Network (WAN).
These two solutions are referred to in the text that follows throughout, where the Solution chosen (A or B) impacts upon the applicability of the Requirement specified.
Each set of requirements listed in this section relates to one of the components identified within the foregoing Functional Specification (§3, §4 and §5). Now here we will discuss some Functional Requirements of Advanced Metering Infrastructure.
1. AMI Smart Appliance
This is a type of End-Customer Device (see Figure 5). The inclusion of any End-Customer Device within the AMI is optional and is dependent on connectivity with an associated Home Area Network (HAN) being available to ensure full integration with the rest of the system.
1.1 Basic Technical Specifications
1.1.1 Voltage Level Specification
All Smart Appliances shall be specified for single-phase operation (taken from a 4-wire, wye-connected panel board) under the System Frequency and Voltage Design Basis set out in SAES-P-100, specifically Table 1.
1.1.2 Installation
Smart Appliances shall be able to automatically register to the HAN and installation shall be “plug-and-play” in nature.
1.1.3 Monitoring
Smart Appliances shall be able to provide the following real time consumption data to the In-Home Display (IHD) and Master End-Customer Meter (MECM):
● Current Consumption (A)
● Real Power Consumption (W)
1.1.4 Set-Point Instructions
Controllable Smart Appliances shall exhibit the following set-point functionality7:
● Temperature set-point control (Thermostats Only)
● Coarse On/Off capability
1.2 Interface with Home Area Network (HAN)
1.2.1 Connectivity
Smart Appliances shall be equipped with one of the following, allowing it to receive instructions from the IHD(In-Home Display) interface
1.2.2 Acceptable Protocols
Smart Appliances shall support one or more of the following protocols: ZigBee, OpenADR, M-Bus, Wireless M-Bus, WiFi, Z-Wave.
1.2.3 Transport Layer
The following transport layers are deemed acceptable for HAN communications:
● WLAN
2. AMI In-Home Display (IHD)
This is a type of End-Customer Device (see Figure 5). The inclusion of any End-Customer Device within the AMI is optional and is dependent on connectivity with an associated HAN being available to ensure full integration with the rest of the system.
2.1 Basic Technical Specifications
2.1.1 Voltage Level Specification
See §6.1.1.1, replacing all instances of “Smart Appliance” with “IHD”.
2.1.2 Time-of-Use (ToU) Pricing Function
● Domestic customers can configure their Smart Meter via a connected IHD to perform selective operation of Smart Appliances (via the HAN) under a preferred tariff regime.
● User shall be able to store at least 8 configurations allowing them to exploit different ToU tariffs (this functionality may exist within either the IHD or the Smart Meter).
● User shall be able to configure settings up to one year in advance using a calendar function (this functionality may exist within either the IHD or the Smart Meter).
● The functionality specified here may be shared across the IHD and MECM, or be present within both devices.
2.1.3 Smart Appliance Scheduling Function
The IHD shall facilitate the following:
● Manual entry of schedules (up to one year in advance of real-time) for each of the Smart Appliances present within the associated HAN. This shall include the ability to recycle past schedules for future days, weeks, months, and years.
● Recurring and one-off schedules of operation for Smart Appliances.
● A price indication to the End-Customer of the cost of running a particular schedule (post-entry).
● Ability to assert the onset of a pre-programmed schedule onto an associated Smart Appliance.
● Overrides of pre-programmed schedules by the following parties:
o End-Customer (directly via manual override)
o End-Customer (via On/Off direct assertion at the Smart Appliance level)
o Utility (remotely through the MECM, via the Domestic Communications Gateway). Such an override supersedes all other interactions with Smart Appliances.
2.2 Customer Interface and Display
It is expected that the Display functionality shall be shared between a technical, operational data view (displayed at the MECM device) and a customer-facing data view (pricing, consumption history, etc.) at a local In-Home Display (IHD) module.
Each feature listed below refers to the IHD only, although some features may also be present through the MECM (see §6.5.5).
2.2.1 Display Specification
The IHD shall have the following:
● Liquid Crystal Display (LCD)
● Local Push Button Interface
● Convenient User Guide
2.2.2 User Information
The following data should be apparent to the user:
● Previously entered schedule information for Smart Appliances
● Current ToU tariff band
● Current Price/kWh
● Average kWh consumption projected within the home over the next hour (and associated price paid over the same period)
● Battery Status
● Local 24-hour time display (synchronized with AMI’s centralized GPS timestamp)
● Date
● Voltage Quality indications
● Instantaneous measurements
o Power (W, VAr, VA)
● Cumulative measurements
o Energy (Wh, VArh)
● Historical measurements
o Peak Demand (last 24-hours, Monthly, Annually) plus time of occurrence
o Peak Micro-generation (last 24-hours, Monthly, Annually) plus time of occurrence (if distributed energy is enabled)
2.3 Interface with Home Area Network (HAN)
2.3.1 Connectivity
IHDs shall be equipped with the following, allowing it to receive instructions from the MECM, via the Domestic Communications Gateway:
● Wireless interface, RS-485 interface and at least 2× RJ45 ports.
2.3.2 Acceptable Protocols (between the MECM and IHD)
IHDs shall support one or more of the following protocols: ZigBee, OpenADR, M-Bus, Wireless M-Bus, WiFi, Z-Wave and Modbus.
2.3.3 Transport Layer
The following transport layers are deemed acceptable for HAN communications:
● WLAN, Ethernet over Copper
3. Micro-Generation Module For AMI
This is a type of End-Customer Device (see Figure 5). Examples include PV inverters, PV micro-inverters, Energy Storage Systems and micro-CHP units. The inclusion of any End-Customer Device within the AMI is optional and is dependent on connectivity with an associated HAN being available to ensure full integration with the rest of the system.
In time these requirements may be expanded upon if and when ECRA define strict guidelines for the integration of Distributed Generation.
3.1 Basic Technical Specifications
3.1.1 Voltage Level Specification
See §6.1.1.1, replacing all instances of “Smart Appliance” with “Micro-Generation Module”. This may or may not be achieved via supplementary transformer modules.
3.1.2 Set-Point Instructions
Micro-Generation Modules shall be controllable via the following set-point instructions:
● Coarse On/Off Capability
● Real Power Set-Point (Optional)
● Power Factor/Reactive Power Set-Point (Optional)
3.1.3 Monitoring
Micro-Generation Modules shall be able to provide the following real time consumption data to the MECM:
● Current Consumption (A)
● Real Power Production (W)
● Reactive Power Production/Consumption (VAr)
3.2 Interface with Home Area Network (HAN)
See §6.2.3, replacing all instances of “IHD” with “Micro-Generation Module”.
4. Domestic Communications Gateway AMI
This device forms part of the singular interface between the HAN Communications Layer and the End-Customer Application Layer. It is therefore classified as being part of the End-Customer Application Layer. This component is only required if a HAN is implemented within the End-Customer premises.
4.1 Basic Technical Specifications
4.1.1 Gateway shall facilitate communications between the MECM and End-Customer Devices connecting within the wider HAN.
● One Gateway device shall be implemented per HAN, as per §4.2.1.
The Gateway shall be able to:
● Co-ordinate communications between the MECM and at least 5 local wireless transceivers (via any of the protocols specified in §6.1.2.2).
● Co-ordinate communication between sub-meter(s) and the MECM.
● Handle all protocol conversions.
● Re-establish wireless communications with transceivers in less than 60 seconds.
4.1.2 Gateway shall facilitate load monitoring of Smart Appliances within the HAN.
● The contribution of each Smart Appliance to the total load within the home shall be observable at the End-Customer and DCU Application Layers of the System.
4.1.3 Gateway shall facilitate Micro-Generation integration at the home.
● §6.4.1.1 and §6.4.1.2 shall apply to connection of Micro-Generation Modules.
● Remote Connection/Disconnection of Micro-Generation Modules by the Utility shall be made possible (e.g., for purposes of ancillary services and frequency/voltage control).
4.2 Interface with Home Area Network (HAN)
4.2.1 Connectivity
Domestic Communications Gateways shall be equipped with all of the following, allowing it to direct data to/from Smart Meters or End-Customer Devices:
● Wireless interface, RS-485 interface and at least 2× RJ45 ports.
● Ability to support point-to-point and point-to-multipoint communications.
4.2.2 Acceptable Protocols (between the MECM and End-Customer Devices)
Gateway should support the following as required:
● Any of the protocols listed in §6.1.2.2.
● Any additional protocols listed in §6.2.3.2 in the case that §6.3 applies.
4.2.3 Transport Layer
The following transport layers are deemed acceptable for HAN communications:
● WLAN, Ethernet over Copper
Meter Data Management System & IEC 61968-9
We have discussed about Advanced Metering Infrastructure Functional Requirements and Home Area Network HAN with In-Home Display, Micro-Generation Module For AMI.
