Automated Meter Reading is a technology that
allows energy distributors to take meter readings from (residential
or commercial/industrial) a remote location. Currently,
there are a number of different technologies available,
however our most popular communication medium over the past
ten years has been Cannon Power Line Communications (PLC). This
is primarily a result of Cannon PLC's unique ability to
use a single channel for both one-way load control and two-way
metering and automation. This sets the Cannon Technologies
system apart from those systems that just do AMR.
Cannon Power Line Communications (PLC)
Cannon Power Line Communciations (PLC) is
a popular communication medium used by Cannon Technologies.
Cannon PLC has the unique ability to use a single channel
for both one-way load control and two-way metering and automation.
Using injection equipment described at other points in this
glossary (CCU, SCU, Repeater), the carrier signal is injected
onto the distribution bus at the substation.
Capacitor Bank Controller
(CBC)
Capacitor Bank Controllers are flexible,
inexpensive one-way or two-way terminals used for remote
control of distribution
line capacitors
or other distribution automation applications requiring
similar control capabilities. A CBC also provides the capability
to close or trip banks based on locally set voltage conditions
(which may be overridden at any time from the Master Station).
Capacitor
Blocking Unit (CBU)
Capacitor Blocking Units are high impedance
inductors that prevent distribution line carrier signals
from being
cancelled by distribution capacitors.
Carrier Control
Unit (CCU)
Carrier Control Units act as gateways to Cannon
Power Line Communications (PLC) and offer advanced communication
algorithms. A CCU is linked to the Master Station by a dedicated
voice grade communication line and coupled to the distribution
bus through coax cable assemblies to the Primary Coupling
Assemblies (PCA).
dB Volt Meter (DBVM)
dB Volt Meters are for field and laboratory
use to support the Cannon Power Line Communications (PLC)
system. It is used to measure distribution line carrier
signal or noise levels at CCU, Repeater, or terminal/transponder
sites.
Demand Response (DR)
Demand Response is a strategy implemented
by utilities to help reduce peak loads and defer further
costs (installation
of new generation equipment, expensive peak-period energy).
Potential advantages in a deregulated environment include
being able to provide real-time Internet readings in
order to try to shift customer usage patterns, and being
able
to lower overall generation costs.
Distribution Automation (DA)
Cannon Technologies has been a leader in
distribution automation for over a decade offering remote
capacitor bank controls, downline voltage controls, downline
micro-RTUs,
remote
metering and status notification.
DSM/2
DSM/2 is Cannon Technologies' legacy Load
Management System. This DSM/2 system typically includes
a stand-alone Master Station running on an OS/2 computer.
DSM/2 gives users the ability to operate load control, automatic meter reading,
and distribution automation from one computer. The Master Station
communicates via leased phone circuits, radio, or microwave
to Carrier Control Units (CCU's) and/or Remote Terminal Units (RTU's) in
one or more substations. Data points are polled for load, pre-define load control
strategies are automatically initiated based on customer projections, while
Automatic Meter Reading (AMR) and Load Survey (demand interval recording) takes
place concurrently.
Energy Information
Yukon® is designed to collect a wide range
of energy information, ranging from single-phase meter
data,
to Commercial/Industrial
interval data, to digital substation (IED) data, to downline
information from devices like the two-way cap bank controller
and third-party RTUs.
ExpressCom®
ExpressCom®
is a broadcast group load management messaging protocol.
ExpressStat®
ExpressStat®
is a line of programmable demand response thermostats.
H-Field Coupler
H-Field Couplers are antenna used for
strengthening in-bound carrier signals. Named after the
universal symbol for
magnetism (H), the coupler is a valuable tool in situations
where a full
repeater may not
be necessary.
Load Control
Load Control is the
process whereby utility
companies
decide
to regulate the supply (load) of electricity based on real-time
data received during peak usage periods. This is done in
order to conserve electricity and
ensure that
customer demand does not exceed available supply. If a utility
is interested in controlling the load generated by air conditioners
and/or water heaters
in a residential
setting, they would simply attach a Load Control Recevier,
and then determine when they wanted to control the load. At
the determined time, they would shed enough load to keep their
demand below their peak,
but not
enough to have the control impact the customer (i.e. turn off an
air conditioner for
15 minutes on the hour during a peak period).
Load Control Receiver
(LCR)
Load Control Receivers are used to either
directly control loads or to indirectly control
devices via a low voltage circuit such as an air conditioner
thermostat or contactor. Typical
applications include residential water heaters, central air
conditioners, heat pumps, single or dual heating systems,
water wells, irrigation pumps,
and swimming pool pumps & heaters.
Meter Control Transponder (MCT)
Meter Control Transponders designed to provide
cost-effective remote meter reading (AMR) from customer
or line locations using two-way Cannon PLC. Using Cannon
PLC, the utility power lines provide reliable communications
from the distribution substation through the distribution
transformer to the MCT's (or other metering points).
Power Line Communications (PLC)
See Cannon Power Line Communications (PLC).
Primary Coupling Assembly (PCA)
Primary Coupling Assemblies are used in Cannon
PLC systems to couple CCUs and Repeaters to the distribution
line and to provide isolation for the communications equipment.
Either single or 3-phase coupling may be used, depending
on the desired application. Line-to-ground coupling is most
typical, but line-to-line coupling arrangements are available
for special applications.
Primary Coupling
Capacitor
(PCC)
Primary Coupling Capacitors
are distribution
capacitors
that allow an SCU to couple the carrier signal onto a
distribution feeder or bus.
Ripple
Ripple is a load management
message protocol that has been used for several decades.
Ripple control
signals are injected onto the distribution bus
at the substation.
Remote Terminal Unit (RTU)
Remote Terminal
Units provide analog,
status,
and control input and output information to the control
center for the purposes of having remote terminal control.
Repeater (RPT)
Repeaters provide a cost effective method
of extending Cannon PLC coverage by collecting and resending
the carrier signal in a controlled manner. Key features
include its ability to eliminate primary injection points
in remote substations (reducing system installed costs)
and its ability to strengthen incoming signals from lower
power devices or distant transponders.
Repeater Coupler Interface (RCI)
Repeater
Coupler Interfaces are designed
to an interface for a Repeater to a 120 VAC secondary
circuit for signal reception and injection. The secondary
coupler 120
VAC connection provides
a coupling path
for the carrier signal and is also used to power the Repeater.
Substation Automation
Facilitates
predictive maintenance, improves asset utilization, and
provides easy access to real-time substation information
for planners and substation operations personnel.
Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition
(SCADA)
Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition systems
allow for more precise control of your substations, as well
as features like outage reporting and power quality monitoring.
Cannon Technologies already has in place bi-directional
digital SCADA integrations including Valmet, Harris, ILEX,
Landis & Gyr.
Single-Phase Coupler (SPC)
The Single Phase Coupler provides a low cost
single-phase interface for Cannon Power Line Communications
(PLC). The unit can be used with repeaters to boost Cannon
PLC signals, for local signal injection, or for local meter
reading.
Signal Coupling Unit (SCU)
Signal
Coupling Units are a part of the Primary Coupling Assembly
(PCA), and
receive
the CCU carrier signal
output using coax cable.
The SCU provides impedance matching and couples the signal
onto the distribution feeder or bus through standard size
distribution capacitors, referred to
as Primary Coupling Capacitors (PCC). Distribution carrier
coupling
is available up to 35
kV (20kV line-to-ground).
Substation Advisor®
The Substation Advisor® System is a tool for integrating a diverse list of present
and future substation devices through a single communications
gateway, providing access for multiple separate SCADA
or EMS master stations.
The system also
provides a cost-effective set of monitoring applications
that utilize the steady flow
of localized data for predictive maintenance, distribution
feeder analysis, and power quality.
