27-06-2013, 04:55 PM
PREPAID ENERGY METER WITH TARIFF INDICATOR
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Abstract
A scheme of Electricity billing system called PREPAID ENERGY METER WITH TARIFF INDICATOR can facilitate in improved cash flow management in energy utilities and can reduces problem associated with billing consumer living in isolated area and reduces deployment of manpower for taking meter readings. Every consumer can buy a memory card (is nothing but an EEPROM IC) with a password stored inside it using a MC program. The memory card is available at various ranges (i.e. Rs 50, Rs 100, Rs 200 etc).In our project we have given the name for memory card as smart card. When the consumer insert a smart card into the card reader which is connected in prepaid energy meter with tariff indicator kit. The card reader will read the stored information and delete the information from the EEPROM IC (smart card) using the MC Program. So that the smart card cannot be reused by others. Suppose if a consumer buys a card for Rs.50/- so on. He / She can insert this amount through the card reader so that prepaid energy meter with tariff indicator kit will be activated. According to the power consumption the amount will be reduced. When the amount is over, the relays will automatically shutdown the whole system. In our project we also have a provision to give an alarm sound to consumer before the whole amount is reduced.
INTRODUCTION
Literature Survey:
Over 40 countries have implemented prepaid meters in their markets. In United Kingdom the system, has been in use for well over 70 years with about 3.5 million consumers. The prepaid program in South Africa was started in 1992, since then they have installed over 6 million meters. Other African counties such as Sudan, Madagascar are following the South African success. The concept has found ground in Argentina and New Zealand with few thousands of installations. The Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd (SESB), Malaysia, has awarded a contract to a local manufacturer to supply 1,080 prepaid meters. Countries such as Thailand, Bangladesh, Singapore, and Iran have been showing increased interest in adopting prepaid system. In India, the State of West Bengal has decided to introduce the smart card operated prepaid energy meters in remote islands of Sunder bans. In Mumbai, pre-paid power is provided by the Brihan Mumbai Electricity Supply and Transport (BEST) Undertaking. Tata Power plans to introduce pre-paid electricity in Delhi. Tata Steel is likely to install prepaid electricity meters at its employee township in Jamshedpur.
Study and Analysis:
Over the last few years, Prepaid Energy Meter has been proposed as an innovative solution aimed at facilitating affordability and reducing the cost of utilities. This mechanism, essentially, requires the users to pay for the electricity before its consumption. In this way, consumers hold credit and then use the electricity until the credit is exhausted. If the available credit is exhausted then the supply of electricity is cut off by a relay. But their use is still controversial. On the one hand, those that support the diffusion of prepaid meters claim that they benefit both consumers and utilities because they help users to consume more efficiently and to improve the management of their budget, while allowing firms to reduce financial costs, as well as the costs of operation and bad debts. On the other hand, those that are against prepaid meters argue that their adoption is expensive for firms and risky for low income consumers, as the insecurity and volatility of their income may force them to make little use of the service, or ultimately, bring about involuntary self-disconnection. Prepaid meters are usually installed by electricity supplier, if it feels that the customer cannot keep up payments on their energy bill.
PROPOSAL
Proposed work:
At first an energy meter is to be made. The output of the energy meter works as the input to the next circuit for prepaid services. The prepaid circuit consist of a Microcontroller and a memory reading circuit. The memory reading circuit is for putting in the credit. The microcontroller will act as the brain of the circuit. It will constantly check the credit and accordingly provide the power
Proposed Methodology:
At first we will get a PCB layout f the whole circuit and the layout will be etched on to the PCB. We will be using the Proteus software to create the layout. Once the PCB is etched we will mount the components checking regularly for the errors. Once all components are mounted correctly we will test the circuit.
Microcontroller AT89S52:
The AT89S52 is a low-power, high-performance CMOS 8-bit microcontroller with 8K bytes of in-system programmable Flash memory. The device is manufactured using Atmel’s high-density non-volatile memory technology and is compatible with the industry- standard 80C51 instruction set and pin out.
Vital role of Micro controller-AT89S52:
1) It will acts a master to communicate with memory
2) Whenever command is sent to reset the memory,controller resets the memory.
3) Controller takes the pulses from the energy meter and increments the Unit which depends upon the calculations and stores in memory.
4) Microcontroller also switches off the energy meter whenever the command is sent from the server. This happens when the owner has not paid the bill.
CONCLUSIONS
Prepayment systems have been proposed as an innovative solution to the problem of affordability in utilities services. In spite of being a popular system in European and African countries, the use of such mechanisms remains controversial. Among the main arguments in favour of its dissemination are the advantages concerning lower costs of arrears, running costs and finance charges for the service provider and the better allocation of resources it implies for users. The arguments against prepaid meters are based on the higher cost of the technology and the possibility of self-disconnection of low-income users. The monopolistic power distribution market in Asia is gradually transforming into a competitive marketplace.