Layered AMI architecture for various grid topologies and communication technologies

Abstract

-Advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) system, proposed in this paper, is capable of fulfilling all smart metering functionalities in real-time. The novel Local Metering Concentrator (LMC) layer is introduced as the set of independent embedded system components, allowing distributed architecture implementation. Two main data flows can be defined as command request processing and meter data acquisition. A command request, initiated by some of the top layer applications, is processed and forwarded through the system to the LMC layer, where the request is executed and the status is sent as a reply. The data and event acquisition is performed as an automatic function of the LMC layer. The collected data is forwarded to the system as soon as it is downloaded from the meters. The results of more than oneyear exploitation of the installed pilot system are presented, emphasizing the real-time load profile data acquisition, allowing the distribution system operators (DSO) and the end consumer to be actively involved in energy saving. The introduced architecture enables load profiling, energy diagnostic and easy integration with any meter data management system. Keywords -Advanced metering infrastructure, power line communication, smart grid, smart meters.I. INTRODUCTION HE set of AMI technologies provides connection between DSO and energy consumers, allowing participations of concerned parties in energy monitoring, profiling, management and saving [1][2][3]. The road-map of the smart grid concept emphasizes the need for real-time smart metering functionality within the AMI. Since load control, profiling and energy saving are targeted by smart metering concept, the real-time information transfer will contribute to essential benefits, individual as well as environmental, by providing support for real-time consumer side applications and energy management systemBased on the available experiences, one of the main deficiencies of the traditional Smart Metering Systems is the communication system between the data concentrator and electrical meter, due to a large amount of information data needed to be transferred and time consuming communication protocols. The traditional system is usually based on a proprietary communication mechanism over communication interfaces with a limited performance both in throughput and reliability, e.g. GPRS, narrow-band power line communication (N-PLC), etc. [7]. Due to mentioned technical limits, existing AMI implementation concepts provide only a basic smart metering functionality and metering data collection usually not more often than once per day. The aim of this paper is to overcome the deficiencies of traditional AMI concept by introducing a novel architecture, capable of real-time data transfer, interoperability (support for multi-vendor electrical meters), and open to implementation of various modern communication technologies [8]-[12].In addition to the previously presented architectural overview in [13], this paper gives more details on the structure, operation and interaction ...

Software Architectures for Smart Grid System—A Bibliographical Survey

“…The Meter Data Interface Layer [38] integrates smart meter architecture with Distribution Management Systems (DMS). A novel AMI communication architecture [39] is described with a Local Metering Concentrator layer. Such an architecture ensures command data processing and data acquisition.…”

“…Such an architecture ensures command data processing and data acquisition. Meter Data Interface layers [38][39][40] perform: (i) pushing of AMI meter data to DMS; (ii) polling of DMS meter data from the AMI; and (iii) pushing of DMS control commands to AMI [41,42].…”

“…The utilities can retrieve data collected by the agents and use this information to control the power supply and decide which power sources to use. MAS-based software architecture for micro grids has been experimented in previous studies [35][36][37][38][39][40][41][42][43][44][45][46][47][48][49][51][52][53]. Agent-based software architectures are a potential technique in smart grids, hence plenty of research articles exist in this domain.…”

A Bibliographical Survey on Software Architectures for Smart Grid System

“…Meter Data Interface layers [16], [24] performs i) AMI pushing meter data to DMS ii) DMS polling meter data from the AMI iii) DMS pushing control commands to AMI. Smart grid functionalities [17] such as fault report, power allocation, user information management, security guarantee were implemented as a project.…”