Description
The smart gas remote meter reading systems collect data in two ways, by the data collector which is fixed and by a portable handheld data collector, through the radio communication module, which provides the following full explanations about both systems
Fixed data collector
Remote meter reading which is installed in the place is by using the collector and sending its information on the internet.
In this method, the gas meters with RF module send the information of the meter to the collector which is installed at a certain distance, and the collector which also has RF module receives this data and sends this information to the network control center on the internet.
The RF module can be wM-Bus or LoRa, and the type of this module must be the same in both meter and collector boards. That is, if we used the LoRa module in the meter, we should also use the LoRa module in the collector.
The difference between these two types of modules is the length of the message sent and the distance of sending information (sending range), in the LoRa type, the sending range is about a few kilometers, but in the wM-Bus type, it is a maximum of 200 meters.
In the control center, the received information is stored after processing. This information includes meter consumption rate, various warnings of meter failure or unauthorized manipulation.
According to the two-way communication that exists between the control center and the meters, the desired command can be sent to the meter and the meter will send the appropriate answer to the control center.
A view of the remote reading system by the collector is shown in the figure below.
A view of the remote reading system by the collector
Features of remote meter reading are:
- Storing all meter information in the database.
- Displaying the errors that occurred inside the meter, including problems with the meter itself, server problems, or unauthorized manipulation.
- Monitoring all meters and the possibility of two-way communication between the meter and the control center.
- Instant access to the consumption rate and subscriber records and to find out about the problems and errors that may have happened to the meter.
- There is no need to be read by meter reader
- The meter reading time is reduced.
The different parts of this method are as follows:
- Gas meter: the ability to send data through the RF system is available in these meters.
- Collector (DC): It is installed at a suitable distance from the meters to be able to communicate with them and send the meter information to the server. Collectors are responsible for collecting information related to the daily, monthly and annual consumption of subscribers’ gas meters related to their service area. An electronic board has been used in its design, which has 3 parts, the RF module which is responsible for establishing radio communication with the gas meter, the microcontroller (MCU) which is responsible for storing and managing input and output of information, the communication module that is responsible for communicating with the network control center through the internet platform. The data collectors are installed at a certain distance from the meters and the box intended for the installation of the collectors has IP65, which is resistant and suitable for outdoor spaces.
- Network Control Center (NCC): The data received from the collector through the internet platform is processed and stored, and on the other hand, the necessary commands to access the meters are sent to the collector.
The designed network control center has the following features:
- Access to daily meter information
- Display alarm system
- Advanced report builder with various filters and features
- Online display of meter status and data collectors in terms of being off and on
- Ability to send commands to meters in order to access specific information of gas meter.
- Guaranteed software security with SSL protocol
- The possibility of preparing output for the Billing system
The different parts of the remote reading system by the collector and explanations about it are shown in the figure below.
In NCC, all information of gas meters and data collectors are processed and stored, which is shown in the figure below.
NCC Software
A portable handheld data collector
For a portable handheld data collector, a handheld is used, which consists of a Windows tablet and an electronic board designed by Gas Souzan company, which is connected to the USB part of the tablet.
The meter reader agent, holding a handheld, moves in the places where the gas meter is installed and receives the information of the meters through an electronic board that has an RF module and is connected to the tablet and is stored in the tablet. In this method, the gas meters can communicate with the handheld at a maximum distance of 200 meters. The image below shows the image of the handheld software and its different parts.
Image of handheld software and its different parts
The different parts of this method are:
- Gas meter: Like the fixed reading method, meters with the ability to send and receive through the RF system have been used.
- Tablet: you can use a normal tablet with Windows operating system.
- Electronic board: It contains an RF system that is connected to the tablet through the USB port.
- Meter reading software: it displays the meter information on the tablet and provides the possibility to store the information.
This software has the following features:
- Defining multiple users and different access levels
- Having a database and storing all the information received from the meter in it
- The possibility of defining a white list and reading based on the same list
- Ability to send data on the server
- Excel output from meter readings
- Reporting system with various filters
The features of this system are:
- Receiving gas meter information through the RF system and at a maximum distance of 200 meters.
- The use of Wireless M-BUS standard.
- To receive data in 868 MHz frequency.
- Display the gas meter serial number which sends information.
- Display the modified consumption rate of the gas meter (in cubic meters).
- Display the unmodified consumption rate of the gas meter (in cubic meter).
- Displaying the signal strength of gas meter which sends information (RSSI).
- Display date and time of data received by handheld
- Display the date and time of the gas meter.
- The ability to store all the data in the handheld
The advantages of this system are:
- Ability to read gas meters installed at a certain distance and display their consumption rate.
- Save gas meter information in the tablet with Text, Excel formats.
- Non-manipulation / stop / control of the gas meter.
- Easy transportation.
In the figure below, the picture of the antenna and RF system installed on a moving car is shown to receive meter information.
Picture of the antenna and RF system installed on the car
In the figure below, the image of the meter reader agent, holding a handheld, is shown at the place where the meter is installed (the address code is installed on the iPhone.
This system receives meter information through the RF system connected to the tablet and performed the control and management operations by the software in the tablet and finally it was stored in the tablet.
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