The Development of Innovative Advanced Metering Infrastructure – Ubiquitous Metering System –

24th November, 2010

Jun Fujiwara , Tokyo Gas Co., Ltd.

Masahiro Yasui , Osaka Gas Co., Ltd.

Hiroshi Ishida , Toho Gas Co., Ltd.

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Today’s 　 Topics

History of Japanese Domestic Gas Meters Stages of Improvement Innovation of Measurement technology

Situation of Existing AMR (Automatic Meter reading) in Japan System Outline Surrounding Issues

Next Generation Gas Smart Metering System Over View of Ubiquitous Metering System Features of Technology 2

History of Domestic Gas Meter in Japan

?

Measurement function

Safety functionsYear 1983~

Communication functionsYear 1987~

Year 1961 Year 1965 Year 1976

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Hardware Evolution

DiaphragmGas Meter

UltrasonicGas Meter

FeaturingElectronized measuring partsModularized componentsUpgraded communication capabilityMaintaining energy saving circuitHigh durability and small-sized

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Measurement Principle

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cos2 TT

LU

cos1

UC

LT

cos2

UC

LT

Flow Speed U θ

Ultrasonic sensor（ Upstream ）

Ultrasonic sensor（ Downstream)

T1T2

Sound speed is canceled

Current AMR System in Japan

Micom Meterwith

Wireless Transceiver

Telephone

Modem withWireless Transceiver

Telephone Line

Surrounding Issues Diversity of phone line

infrastructure Driven by market

penetration of cell phone Imminent requirement

“Anywhere” & “Anytime” communication tool

Center

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429MHz

General Configuration of the Ubiquitous Metering System

Innovative AMI composed of the following three:Ubiquitous Meter (Next-generation ultrasonic gas meters with U-

Bus )WAN deviceU-Bus Air (Adhoc Mesh Network) 　　　　　

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多段中継無線

Base Station

Fire Alarm

Gas Leak DetectorControl Box

CO Detector

U-Bus(New Communication I/F)

WAN DeviceU-Bus Air Device

Ubiquitous Meter(New Ultrasonic Gas

Meter)

U-Bus Air (Adhoc Mesh Network)

WAN(Wide Area Network)

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Ultrasonic Meters replace conventional diaphragm meters (about 1/3 the size).

Extra CPU power enables advanced communication interface to be included.

U-Bus (Next-generation communication I/F)→More extensive networking capability is achieved by packet communication and faster transmission speed, greatly improving the frequency of communication. →The built-in gateway function expands the variety of service contents and enables downstream alarm devices, etc. to be controlled. →Cost-efficiency is maximized by mass production, supported by the sharing of standard specifications between city gas meters and LPG meters.

A2

A1

U1 U2 ＋ －

Current NCU Alarm

A2

A1

U1 U2 ＋ －

U-Bus

NCU WAN Device

U-Bus Air Device

Ubiquitous Meter (Next-Generation Ultrasonic Gas Meters)

Wide Area Access to Meters and Sensors< Wide Area Ubiquitous Network (WAUN) proposed by NTT >

Cost effective network infrastructure for pervasively distributed movable wireless terminals (sensors and/or actuators)

Wide-area network with several km radius cell Super low energy devices

WAUN will be applied to new type of network and service that goes beyond conventional mobile phone networks.

IP NetworkIP NetworkHealth CareHome Security

Meter Reading

Vending Machine Maintenance

Home Automation

Environmental Monitoring

Traffic Management

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U-Bus Air Devices (Adhoc Mesh Network Devices)

New communication scheme in the 950MHz band characterized by the use of super-low power consumption and the support of adhoc and multi-hop communication among gas meters

U-Bus Air devices

Automatic recognition of newly added terminals

(1) Simplified installation Reduced installation cost⇒(2) Higher transmission reliability Reduced maintenance cost⇒(3) Applicable to diverse sites (including auto-locked condominiums) Automatic routing

HHT※Using HHT GW instead of WAN Device

WAN device

Field Test of U-Bus Air DevicesU-Bus Air devices (trial model) are installed in meter compartments of an apartment block for testing communication reliability. The test is now being implemented (to be completed by the end of this fiscal year).

Test site building (10 stories, each story with 10 households)

U-Bus Air device (Trial model)

Meter compartment

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U-Bus Air Devices Field Test Result (Data Collected up to Dec/1/2009)

1hop

10 9 8 7 6 2hops

3hops

23 18 15 14 11 4hops

28 26 25 24 5

35 33 32 31 30

41 39 38 37 36

46 45 44 43 42

52 50 49 48 47

57 56 55 54 53

69 67 64 59 58

74 72 70

Room 10Room 9Room 8Room 7Room 6Room 5Room 4Room 3Room 2Room 1

10F

9F

8F

7F

2F

1F

6F

5F

4F

3F

Plot

Clear

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IEEE802.15.4g

Ubiquitous Metering

Forum Secretariat

NPO Japan Utility

Telemetering Association

Japan Gas Association

The High Pressure Gas

Safety Institute of

Japan

FY 2011FY 2010FY 2009FY 2008

Standardization of Smart Utility Networks (SUN)

Preparing proposal on the integrated communication protocol

Participation of city gas utilities, water service agencies and other related organizations

Submission of Proposal

Proposal on PHY&MAC layers for U-Bus Air

Communication protocol for city

gas metering

Communication protocol for LPG

metering

Progress on Common Use of Specifications and International Standards

Preparation of proposal on the communication protocol for city gas and LPG metering

Transfer of tasks(model number control, etc.)

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Ubiquitous Meter

U-Bus Air Device

Development Schedule

Wide Area Ubiquitous Network

２００８Ｑ１

２００８Ｑ２

２００８Ｑ３

２００８Ｑ４

２００９Ｑ１

２００９Ｑ２

２００９Ｑ３

２００９Ｑ４

２０１０Ｑ１

２０１０Ｑ２

２０１０Ｑ３

２０１０Ｑ４

Tests in the special district

Sample for FTproduction

Field test

Pilot Test

Field test

Experimentalproduction

Sample for PTproduction

Sample for PT production

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FY 2008 FY 2009 FY 2010

Thank you very much for your attention

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