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Fig.1 Overview of smart grid communication
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Distributed renewable power
through the use of control systems microgrid, energy storage and smart
technologies needs efficiently manage decentralized electricity production. One of the important features of smart grid
technology that makes it smart is the integration of bi-directional flow of
information along with electricity, which can be used to provide effective and
controlled power generation and consumption. The components of distributed
generating that need control and monitoring are smart meters, inverters,
batteries, DC coupled subsystem, ets., All of distributed components have
different communication protocols from manufacturers and have different type
supply AC/DC, DC/DC, DC/AC. One of challenge for NAN combines these
components into a single communications network. The second task is to ensure easy, fast deployment
and reliable operation with minimal cost for at least 20 years. Solutions provider
for smart energy network offers different type of communication like 433MHz,
868MHz, Zigbee, PLC, WiFi, ets. Each of communication technologies
for NAN has advantages and disadvantages to a greater or lesser extent. The advantages and disadvantages of
communication technology can compensate for the technological and organizational.
Company Embee Ltd found midway among the many
technologies that meets the simplicity, reliability and low cost.
Embee mesh network is reliable, low cost, large scale NAN
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Fig.3 Embee NAN 1000 nodes per coordinator
at the exhibition in Amsterdam (2012)
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Embee Company is manufacturer of large
scale Zigbee wireless mesh network
for AMI, Self-healing Grids, Microgrids, Demand Response, Distribution
Management Systems solutions.
Embee NAN as Product is reliable, with
transparent network layer, ready to use communication for Smart Grid, Microgrid
solutions. The Embee NAN allows
you to combine in single wireless radio network: smart
meters, inverters, batteries, a variety of energy storage devices that have an
interface RS485 or another. Embee NAN as Product had tested and
debugged during 2 years. (see Fig.3). The
program of testing NAN included about 150 points. Today Embee NAN ensures 100%
communication in the mesh network between devices. Оften it can be seen that
the communication technology 433MHz, 868MHz, 928MHz use a star topology, with
increased output power and extend beyond unlicensed band. Embee NAN uses Ember
(Silab) Zigbee stack with 200 hops
and every minute route change. These
two advantages Embee NAN override the lack of weak radio propagation inherent in
that range 2,4-2.48 GHz. We debugged addressing probabilistic algorithm, which
allowed us to get away from the problem of poor propagation “point-to-point” in
Embee mesh network layer.
Embee NAN easy implement, fast deploy, no maintenance
The component network and point of
entrance in Embee mesh network is Embee modem with UART, 12 ports I/O, full
transparent API mode for any protocols of different devices (smart meters,
inverters, batteries, ets.). Data
aggregator unit (Data concentrator) with Ethernet/3G communication to WAN,
switches between protocols of devices one network.
Average time of
data reading one electricity meter in the network 50-200 pieces is about 3-7
sec.; 300-600 pieces is about 10-15 sec;
1000+ is about 20 sec. per smart meter. The coordinator
of network sends very fast broadcast “one-to-all” (about 2-3 seconds).
The distance between distributed devices
in network 200-800 meters in urban territory and 20-30 meters in home. Output power of module is 2 or 100 mW.
The user can select any address format with devices in a Embee radio
network. It can be either a numeric or string format. The user selects
addressing format in step integration Embee radio module to the network device. Embee network easy deploy.
For example in AMR/AMI
solution:
- Install smart meters to
customer.
– install
Data concentrator in any place of mesh
network.
– Install secure parameters of mesh network from WAN.
– Install communication link with Data
Concentrator through Ethernet/3G.
– network ready to use.
«Embee mesh network has largest pilot 3860 pcs
smart meters per one Data concentrator in suburban city. From 2010, Embee has 120 000 pcs installed
smart meters in AMR solutions».
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Radio propagation is not a problem for Embee NAN.
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Fig. 4 The smart meters is in the metal
cases along the street without external antennas. Distance between metal boxes
is
40-50 meters.
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