Technology Review Breakingdown Thebarriers
Technology ReviewBreaking downthe barriersA3 ALPHA–The next generationin electricity meteringPeter KerstetterImagine being a candy storeowner and children from all overthe world come into your shop,speaking in different languagesand offering to pay in differentcurrencies. The chances arethat you will have difficultymaking sure the children getwhat they want and that you getthe right money. Electric utilitiescan find themselves in a similarsituation when collecting meterreadings. This is because meter suppliers use proprietarycommunications protocols in their reading systems.Protocol standardization is the obvious answer, and utilitiesthe world over have been encouraging it for years. ABB hasnow developed an electronic revenue meter – the A3 ALPHA –which, by supporting new open standards, lets utilities use a commonindustry vocabulary for meter data communications.Deregulation and privatization ofthe world’s energy markets isforcing electric utilities to consider theiroptions in key operational areas. Thepressure is on to minimize inventoriesand prevent obsolescence, streamlinemeter operations and communications,28and reduce data collection costs; at thesame time, the utilities want to be able tomonitor power quality and respondquickly to customers’ changing needs.ABB is helping utilities meet thischallenge with the new A3 ALPHAelectronic revenue meter, which buildson patented and proven ALPHA metertechnology. Since the first units wereintroduced in 1992, more than 2 millionALPHA meters have been shipped toutilities around the world. Besidesincorporating the high-function energymeasurement capabilities of itsABB Review 2/2001
Transmission and Distributionpredecessors, the new A3 ALPHA meteroffers increased data recording, profilingand power quality measurement (seeTable). Just as importantly, it implementsthe new, standardized, ANSI opencommunications protocol for meter datacommunications.The A3 ALPHA meter provides ameter design platform that supports avariety of utility metering requirements.The most basic A3 ALPHA meter can befactory-configured for simple single-ratemeasurement of total kWh andmaximum kW demand. The mostadvanced A3 ALPHA can be configuredas a multi-rate, real/reactive, bidirectionalmeter. Other standard features provideinstrumentation readings of line voltage,current, phase angle and power. EveryA3 ALPHA meter is equipped withcapabilities that can automaticallyvalidate the meter service connections,assuring that the meter is properlyconnected into the power system.A3 ALPHA meters can also be configuredfor power quality monitoring, detectingand recording phase or total systemoutages, low and high voltage eventsand other system anomalies. Thesespecial events can be logged in memoryalong with load profile readings and thenew capability of instrumentation profilereadings.Collecting meter reading data isbecoming increasingly complex, and thenew electronic meters need to take fullaccount of this trend. Even as ABB andothers were introducing electronicmeters for more complex tariffs,collecting electricity metering data wasmoving beyond the simple reading of4 or 5 dials and manual recording of thekilowatt-hours consumed. Now, withcustomers wanting to measure morequantities, meters are more commonlyread electronically. This is done locallyusing an optical probe and a computer,or remotely by an automatic meterreading (AMR) system. The A3 ALPHAmeter supports a variety of remotecommunications options, includinginternal telephone modems that caninitiate an alarm call to utility systems inthe event of unusual events or evenpower outages.Improved communicationsthrough open standardsABB and other suppliers have introduced,over the years, a whole range ofTable: ABB A3 ALPHA meter — main characteristicsPropertyDataNameplate nominal voltage range120 – 480 VOperating voltage range96 – 528 VCurrent0 to Class amperesNominal frequency50 or 60 Hz 5%Temperature range-40 to 85 C inside meter coverHumidity range0 to 100% non–condensingANSI applicable standardsC12.1, C12.10, C12.20, C12.18, C12.19, C12.21Absolute currentContinuous at 120% of meter’s maximum currentTemporary (1s) at 200% of meter’s maximum currentSurge voltage withstandANSI C37.90.1 oscillatory2.5 kV, 2500 strikesIEC 801-44 kV, 2.5 kHz repetitive burstfor 1 minuteAccuracyWith load {0.2 0.001 (Class/I)(1 tan θ)}%Accuracy variationsVoltage coefficient 0.01% change from nominalTemperature coefficient 0.01% per CABB Review 2/200129
Technology Review30standards for developing meteringsystems: ANSI C12.18 (1996): ProtocolSpecification for ANSI Type 2 OpticalPort: A communication protocol fortransport data structures as defined inC12.19 using an infrared optical port. ANSI C12.19 (1997): Utility IndustryEnd Device Tables: The standard thatdefines the data structure for use inmetering products. ANSI C12.21 (1998): ProtocolSpecification for Telephone ModemCommunication: A communicationstandard designed to transport datastructures as defined in C12.19 viatelephone modems.By supporting the new ANSIstandards, the A3 ALPHA meter givescustomers far more flexibility than ispossible with other electricity meters inits class. Meters supporting the standardpromise simpler interfaces, fasterimplementation of new features, andlower operational costs.standardization allows for quicker designand implementation of AMR systems andwill provide more overall meteringsystem options in the marketplace.The A3 ALPHA meter fully supportsANSI C12.18, C12.19, and C12.21. As theelectricity industry continues to adoptthese standards, more systems andcommunications options will becomeavailable, and the users of the A3 ALPHAmeter will benefit from a morecompetitive tool for data collection andanalysis systems.Advanced four–quadrantmeteringFour-quadrant metering 1 allowsmeasurement of real, reactive, andapparent energy in both the deliveredand received directions. A3 ALPHAmeters with reactive metering orapparent metering capabilities canmeasure two quantities, one average1 Advanced four–quadrant meteringcommunications help customersreduce costsThe A3 ALPHA was designed specificallyto accommodate all of these newstandards and offers a more completeimplementation of the ANSI standardsthan any other meter currently available.Using open standards for meter datacommunications, utilities will be able toreduce their operating costs by removingthe obstacles created by proprietarycommunications protocols. Thisallows measurement of real, reactive, andapparent energy in both the delivered andreceived directions.kVAr deliveredQ2Q1Q3Q4kVA deliveredkW deliveredANSI and A3 ALPHAkVA receivedkW receivedelectronic electricity meters with differentcommunications protocols. This hasmeant that electric utilities have had tosupport different communicationsprotocols for the collection of datafrom these meters. And as supplierslaunched ever-newer electronic meters,the variety of system requirements kepton growing. The result was thatdeveloping and using computer-basedmeter reading devices and softwarebecame more difficult and complex.Utilities therefore began to encouragestandardization of systems, seeking morecommonality in the hardware andsoftware required to collect meter data.What was wanted were ways to reducethe initial and ongoing costs of theirmetering systems.While some limited protocolstandardization developed in Europethrough the work of the IEC standardsgroups, it covered collection of only themost basic data. The IEC efforts did notyet address the growing variety of themore complex data that utilities required.At the same time, in North America, itwas being recognized that standardizingcommunication processes for the morethan 3000 US utilities was complex andwould take longer than had beenthought.Beginning in 1996, the AmericanNational Standards Institute (ANSI),Automatic Meter Reading Association(AMRA), and Measurement Canada,joined forces to publish standards formeter data storage and communicationsprotocols. [1] This collaboration resultedin the establishment of three significantkVAr receivedABB Review 2/2001
2 Alpha Keys software allows easy reconfiguration of the A3 ALPHA, for example tochange it from a simple kW-hour meter into a sophisticated, multi-functional meter.LosscompensationAdvanced4-quadrant meteringInstrumentation profileReactive powerPQMPulse profileTOUDemandpower factor and two coincident values.When enabled with advanced fourquadrant metering, these meters offer sixmeasured quantities, two average powerfactors and four coincident values.Alpha Keys for flexible meterconfigurationUsing software called Alpha Keys 2 ,the A3 ALPHA meter can easily bereconfigured to convert a simple,kilowatt-hour meter into a sophisticatedmeter reporting: Time of use (TOU) kVA kVAr Load profiling Power quality Instrumentation profiling Transformer and line losscompensation Advanced four–quadrant meteringA meter with this feature saves valuabletime and resources as it does not have toABB Review 2/2001be removed from service or sent to thefactory for reconfiguration. The AlphaKeys provide a hedge against potentialhardware costs should rates or customerservice requirements change. Alpha Keyscan also be used to drive a utility’s meterinventory to very low levels withoutreducing its ability to respond to newcustomer needs.The meter engine – driving amore efficient operationThe power supply used for the A3 ALPHAaccepts a wide range of voltages – from96 to 528 VAC – allowing a single meterto be used for multiple applications. Its12-V output is fed to a linear regulator toobtain the logic level voltage needed bythe meter.Power is measured by two integratedcircuits: the meter engine and themicrocontroller 3 . These serve as thecontrol center for all the meteringcomponents.The meter engine receives currentthrough a precision–wound currentsensor. This reduces the currentproportionally, so that the meter enginecan measure it accurately withoutbecoming overloaded. A digital signalprocessor converts the analog currentinputs into digital pulses.Voltage is measured with the help ofscaled inputs from resistive dividers.These dividers maintain the logic voltageat the level necessary to ensure theengine’s efficient operation and tominimize the phase shifts, which occurover a wide dynamic range. The meterengine communicates continuously withthe microcontroller in order to processpulses into metered quantities (eg, watts,VA, and VAr).The microcontroller performs manydifferent functions needed for meteringcommunications and efficient operation,for example: Processing of raw meter data from themeter engine Storage of processed data (also calledbilling data) Communication with the meterengine and non-volatile memory Provision of communications overoptical and remote ports Operation of the display (LCD) Control of installed option boardsThe microcontroller is also responsiblefor shutting down the meter safely in theevent of a power failure. To prevent anyloss of revenue due to power failure, thebilling data are stored in a non-volatilememory. When power is restored, themeter returns to its operational state31
Technology Review3 Block diagram of the A3 ALPHA meterPhase AVoltage12-V powersupply5-V linearpower supply24 hours a day. In response to customerinput, the meter is designed to:Non-volatilesupplyBattery2.5-V precisionreferenceLCDPhase BVoltageResistivedividerPhase CVoltageResistivedividerPhase ACurrentCurrentsensorPhase BCurrentCurrentsensorPhase CCurrentCurrentsensorGeneral technical memoryOptionconnectorWatchcrystalµ-controller Continuously monitor over 10different power quality conditions Record 32 channels ofinstrumentation data Display over 50 differentinstrumentation quantities Perform site diagnostics and verifyservice Generate real-time alarms whenviolations occurSystem service testsOpticalportRemoteports 1&2Two tests – the service voltage test andthe system current test – are all that areneeded to verify the service type, phaserotation and validity of the phase voltageand phase current.Service voltage testimmediately prior to the failure beforeresuming normal operation.Advanced meter tools minimizeuncertaintiesThe A3 ALPHA meter can perform aseries of tests to verify and analyze theelectrical service and check for powerquality. System service tests validate theelectrical service the A3 ALPHA ismetering and provide a near instantaneous analysis of the conditionsat the meter’s location. Power qualitymonitors constantly review the circuitparameters.Power quality monitoringDeregulation is forcing electric utilities toface the prospect of their best customers32leaving for ‘a better deal’. Many utilitiesare therefore drawing up new servicecontracts to entice their key industrialclients to sign up for long-termpartnerships. Advanced powermonitoring plays an important part incontracts of this kind.The A3 ALPHA meter, combined withABB software, can help identify powerdistortion problems and their source. Byfully deploying power quality monitoring(PQM), utilities can proactively enhancecustomer service. The A3 ALPHA meterlooks for exceptions to user-definedthresholds for items such as voltage,current, total harmonic distortion, andtotal demand distortion. Through avariety of tests, the new meter canmeasure and collect power quality dataThis test checks the voltage and servicetype to determine if voltage transformersare wrongly wired or line fuses aremissing. When the meter determines theservice voltage to be correct, it stores thisinformation as a basis for additionalpower quality tests.System current testThis test checks the current to determineif current transformers or installationsockets are wrongly wired, or ifload–side fuses are missing.System instrumentationSystem instrumentation measurementscan provide a near instantaneousanalysis of the electrical service.Examples of these measurements areABB Review 2/2001
per-phase voltage, per-phase kW, andper-phase total harmonic distortion ofvoltage or current. These measurementsare not used for billing; instrumentationquantities are instantaneous whereasbilling is measured or averaged overtime. (Billing quantities measure all thephases. Instrumentation quantities canmeasure each phase individually.)Built-in security reduces systemsupport costsThe A3 ALPHA meter also incorporateshigh-level security functions to preventtampering. Three passwords preventunauthorized access to the meter data.One password grants ’read only’ accessto the meter data and preventsprogramming changes. A secondpassword allows the tasks necessary forbilling data collection, such as adjustingthe date and time, performing demandresets, and clearing any warnings orerrors. A third password allows fullprogramming, eg for changing meterconstants or PQM test parameters.All A3 ALPHA meter configurationsprovide an audit trail for detectingpotential incidents of tampering. Suchincidents can be reported as: Programming changes The ID number of the user makingthe programming change Power outages The number of manually initiateddemand resets Reverse energy flow The number of failed passwordattemptsABB Review 2/2001Logs and data setsIn addition to the anti–tampering tools,the A3 ALPHA meter records logs anddata sets for different activities. They canbe used to determine the quality ofservice or to investigate possibletampering with the meter.Event log: All A3 ALPHAconfigurations can record the date andtime of meter events, such as powerfailures, demand resets, test modeactivities and time changes.History log: All A3 ALPHAconfigurations record changes to meterprogramming. The history log recordsthe date and time, the ANSI C12.19 tableor procedure ID, and the ID of the userwho edited the table or performed theprocedure.Self-reads: All A3 ALPHA meterssupport self-reads. A self-read recordsand stores current billing data. Self-readscan be triggered by a scheduled calendarevent or every demand reset. The datacan be retrieved later for analysis orbilling.Load profiling: A3 ALPHA meters withload profiling capability can record up to8 channels of information. Load profilinghas its own, independent interval length,which can be configured separately fromthe demand interval length.Instrumentation profiling: A3 ALPHAmeters with instrumentation profilinghave two sets of instrumentationrecorders. Each set can record up to16 channels of information about theconditions at the meter’s place ofinstallation. Instrumentation profiling istypically used for analysis and not forbilling purposes. Each set has its own,independent interval length, configuredseparately from the demand intervallength or the load profiling intervallength.PQM log: A3 ALPHA meters withpower quality monitoring capabilitieshave a log that records PQM test failures.The PQM log records the time of thePQM test failure and reports the identityof the failed test. After the condition thatcaused the PQM test failure hasdisappeared, the meter records the timethe test is passed and reports its identity.Voltage sag log: Meters with PQMcapability also feature a voltage sag log.This log records the date, time andphases of any detected voltage sags. Themeter recognizes sags lasting as little as2 line cycles on any phase.Options for maximizing meteringflexibilityOption boardsExtra functions can be added to theA3 ALPHA meter by means of optionboards 4 . These are mounted on themain circuit board of the meter using a20-pin connector.The A3 ALPHA meter currentlysupports five communication options: Relay outputs Internal telephone modem RS232 serial interface RS485 serial interface 20-mA current loopABB Electricity Metering is evaluatingnew communication options and is33
Technology Review4 Extra functions can be added to the A3 ALPHA meter by mounting optionboards on its main circuit board.1A3 ALPHA meter2Internal telephone modem3Extended memoryprogrammable. Users can select adifferent control source for eachindividual relay. Possible sources are:420-mA current loop (6 output relays) 5RS232 (4 output relays)Energy pulse for any basic meteredquantity End of demand interval signal Load control signal Specific TOU rate active signal Error or warning signal PQM test failure signal Alarm condition signalDesigned with an eye to thefutureworking with companies outside ABB tomake even more options available. Sincethe A3 ALPHA meter supports the ANSIprotocol and communication standards,it will be easier for new softwareapplications and communication optionsto be interfaced with the A3 ALPHAmeter.Programmable relaysAn A3 ALPHA meter equipped with anoption board to which relays have beenfitted to generate echo pulses or provideother control signals, can also controlexternal devices. For example, if a meterrelay signals the start of a high-tariffperiod or violation of the maximumdemand threshold, an external devicecan be made to turn off equipment untilthe condition returns to normal. Orwhen specific PQ conditions areessential to a consumer, a relay can beprogrammed to signal a PQM test failureto indicate conditions that affect, forexample, a machine’s operation.The meter supports up to six differentrelays, depending on the set of optionboards installed. All the relays are fullyAccurate revenue and power qualitymetering with the A3 ALPHA givesutilities new options and allows them toprovide better service for customerswhile minimizing hardware investmentsand costly obsolescence. The A3 ALPHAmeter represents the next generation inmetering. With its many advancedfeatures, it is designed to help utilitiesnot only today but also well into thefuture.AuthorPeter KerstetterABB Automation Inc208 South Rogers LaneRaleigh, NC 27610,USApeter.a.kerstetter@us.abb.comReference[1] T. York: Exploring ANSI Standards in Meter Communications. PowerValue September/October 2000, 16-17.34ABB Review 2/2001
ANSI applicable standards C12.1, C12.10, C12.20, C12.18, C12.19, C12.21 Absolute current Continuous at 120% of meter’s maximum current Temporary (1s) at 200% of meter’s maximum current Surge voltage withstand ANSI
1 EOC Review Unit EOC Review Unit Table of Contents LEFT RIGHT Table of Contents 1 REVIEW Intro 2 REVIEW Intro 3 REVIEW Success Starters 4 REVIEW Success Starters 5 REVIEW Success Starters 6 REVIEW Outline 7 REVIEW Outline 8 REVIEW Outline 9 Step 3: Vocab 10 Step 4: Branch Breakdown 11 Step 6 Choice 12 Step 5: Checks and Balances 13 Step 8: Vocab 14 Step 7: Constitution 15
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