IoT-enabled Advanced Metering Infrastructure and Transformer Health Monitoring & Data Analytics by LTTS

Advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) measures energy, water or gas consumption and provides this information to users, suppliers and utility companies. Smart meters, communication network between customers and utilities, data acquisition and analysis systems are key components that make up an AMI.  L&T Technology Services has forayed into this space with solutions on power grid including AMI, remote health monitoring of infrastructure, cloud solutions for better access to data, data analytics, and multiple level security for access to this data.  

LTTS has identified several business needs and the outcomes that are driving users to invest in smart technologies:

• Efficient transmission of electricity
• Quicker restoration of electricity after power disturbances
• Reduced operations and management costs for utilities, and ultimately lower power costs for consumers
• Reduced peak demand, which will also help lower electricity rates
• Increased integration of large-scale renewable energy systems
• Better integration of customer-owner power generation systems, including renewable energy systems
• Enhanced security of data – for consumers and utility providers alike
• Customer Control – the right information and tools to make intelligent energy choices and track consumption usage in real-time.

 LTTS’s Solution:

With expertise in turnkey industrial design, digital engineering, and hybrid energy solutions, LTTS is helping renewable energy players maximize efficiency, operate smartly, and enhance reliability of energy supply to the grid. The comprehensive and end-to -end solutions developed by the company encompass the following:

• Mesh network engineering: LTTS has implemented one of the first commercial mesh network for grids. In addition to connectivity engineering, which includes exploring optimal antenna range for data transmission, they conducted extensive field testing of the mesh grid. The field testing has been carried out with 20 smart meters and 4 collection devices called hypersprouts.
• Smart meter engineering: They developed smart card to make meters smart. A smart meter also doubles up as an internet hub to provide connectivity to homes.
• Data transmission and collection: End-to end development of hypersprout collection devices to collect data from individual meters and transmit it to the cloud. In addition, they engineered the connectivity from meters to the hypersprout and further from the hypersprout to the cloud.
• Remote management of grid machinery and transformer unit:  This comprises of custom-built sensors, sensor electronics, firmware, data transmission to the cloud, web and mobile applications.
• Multiple level security: LTTS offers three-layer security access to the mesh solution for enhanced safety. The network has a separate login access for consumers and utility providers. 
• Analytics algorithms developed for assessing power forecast, expected life of transformer, expected failure of transformer, peak load and generation forecast with respect to time of the day and area, fault detection and resolution time for power failures/ shutdowns.

 Business Benefits:

• Automated processes: Automation of several manual processes such as meter reading and power suspension due to non-payment of bills leads to massive cost and time savings.
• Line losses due to inefficient power transmission, which is as high as 30- 50 percent in developing economies, can be identified and eradicated.
• Operational savings: Cloud automation helps in huge operational savings in the following areas:
  • Low metering/billing/collection efficiency
  • Electricity theft and tampering of meters
  • Low accountability of employees
  • Energy accounting and auditing not needed
• Uninterrupted supply: Unwanted power cut due to unexpected transformer failure is avoided due to predictive health analytics. Grid providers are also able to extend the product life of their transformers with the help of proactive and corrective actions.
• Load balancing: Insights on power consumption and consumer behavior can enable grid owners to execute proper load balancing and time-of-use rate plans for seamless energy distribution & management.

Keywords: Advanced Metering Infrastructure, Asset Management, Mesh Networks, Power Grid, Smart Meters, The Cloud, L&T Technology Services, ARC Advisory Group