04-06-2013, 11:11 AM
A Solution to Remote Detection of Illegal Electricity Usage via Power Line Communications
A Solution to Remote.DOC (Size: 162 KB / Downloads: 42)
Abstract:
Power line communication (PLC) presents an interesting and economical solution for Automatic Meter Reading (AMR). If an AMR system via PLC is set in a power delivery system, a detection system for illegal electricity usage may be easily added in the existing PLC network. In the detection system, the second digitally energy meter chip is used and the value of energy is stored. The recorded energy is compared with the value at the main kilo Watt-hour meter. In the case of the difference between two recorded energy data, an error signal is generated and transmitted via PLC network.
. Introduction
India, the largest democracy with an estimated population of about 1.04 billion, is on a road to rapid growth in economy. Energy, particularly electricity, is a key input for accelerating economic growth.
The theft of electricity is a criminal offence and power utilities are losing billions of rupees in this account. If an Automatic Meter Reading system via Power line Communication is set in a power delivery system, a detection system for illegal electricity usage is possible.
Power line communications (PLC) has many new service possibilities on the data transferring via power lines without use of extra cables. Automatic Meter Reading (AMR) is a very important application in these possibilities due to every user connected each other via modems, using power lines. AMR is a technique to facilitate remote readings of energy consumption.
Automatic Meter Reading (AMR):
The AMR system starts at the meter. Some means of translating readings from rotating meter dials, or cyclometer style meter dials, into digital form is necessary in order to send digital metering data from the customer site to a central point. In most cases, the meter that is used in an AMR system is the same ordinary meter used for manual reading but the difference with conventional energy meter is the addition of some device to generate pulses relating to the amount of consumption monitored, or generates an electronic, digital code that translates to the actual reading on the meter dials. One such technique using optical sensor is shown in Figure 1.
Detection and Control System
The proposed control system [1] for the detection of illegal electricity usage is shown in Fig.3. PLC signaling is only valid over the low voltage VAC power lines. The system should be applied to every low-voltage distribution network. The system given in Fig. 3 belongs only one distribution transformer network and should be repeated for every distribution network. Although the proposed system can be used uniquely, it is better to use it with automatic meter reading system. If the AMR system will be used in any network, the host PLC unit and a PLC modem for every subscriber should be contained in this system. In Fig. 3, the host PLC unit and other PLC modems are named PLC1A, PLCNA and are used for AMR. These units provide communication with each other and send the recorded data in kilowatt-hour meters to the PLC unit. In order to detect illegal usage of electrical energy, a PLC modem and an energy meter chip for every subscriber are added to an existing AMR system. As given in Fig. 3, PLC1B, PLCNB and energy meter chips belong to the detector.
Overview of the proposed Detector System
The proposed detector system is the equipment and procedure for controlling more remote stations from a master control station. It includes PLC modems, energy meters, control logics, and the system software. The PLC modems are host and target modems for two-way communications to and from the host station and the remotely controlled targets. The energy meters include metering chips and some circuit elements; the control and logic units compare and generate the error signal in the illegal usage. The system software has two parts: assembler program for the micro controller and the operating software for the management of the overall system. Operating software may be downloaded from a PC and should be placed in the main center of the system.
Conclusion
This type of illegal usage of electricity mainly takes place in rural areas in our country and causes a major loss to the electricity sector. So, the proposed detector system to determine illegal electricity usage via power line communications is examined in the laboratory conditions. Results proved that if AMR and detector system are used together illegal usage of electricity might be detected. Once this proposed detection systems are tried in real power lines, the distribution losses in India can be reduced effectively.