Getting Smarter with Advanced Metering Infrastructure
Dave HughesAmerican Water
Bentley Be ConferenceMay 19, 2010
AMI for Water Utilities Best Practices for Selection, Acquisition & Implementation
Largest investor-owned water services provider in North America Serves 16.2 million people Operations in 32 states and Canada 7,000 employees308 individual service areas71,500 km (45,000 miles) of distribution mains
American WaterAmerican Water
Utility Only
O&M Only
Both
Presentation OutlinePresentation Outline
AMI Terminology and How AMI Works
AMI and Improving Water System Operations
AMI and Improving Hydraulic Models
AMI Fostering a Fit Between Operations & Models
AMR/AMI TerminologyAMR/AMI Terminology AMR - automated process that collects readings from customers’
meters without directly accessing the meter and can export reads to a remote central location
AMI (Advanced Metering Infrastructure) automated process that collects readings and other data, typically without going to the meter site, often two way communication to facilitate data transfer
Ancillary devices– Actuators - using the AMI communication network to operate
equipment (e.g., customer shut-off valves)
– Sensors – using AMI communication to process information from monitors other than meters (e.g., leak detectors)
Intelligent meters – Reading devices with internal data storage/analysis capabilities to provide information/alerts to supersede or supplement readings
Interval Reads - providing multiple period water usage data at predetermined or remotely configurable time intervals with individual collection transmissions
Meter
Repeater ComLink 1
ComLink 2
Hardware
ApplicationSoftware
CIS Host Controller
First Hop (“LAN”) Backhaul (“WAN”)
Receiver
Encoder
Transponder
MIUDataColl.Unit
OtherSystems
Advanced Metering InfrastructureAdvanced Metering Infrastructure
Other SensorEncoder
TransponderIntelligent
CPU, Memory
Meter DataManagement
System(Database)
Actuator
Mesh Network Mesh Network Architecture and SpeedArchitecture and Speed
MIU DCU
MIU
MIU
MIUMIU
DCU
DCU
DCU
Collector/GatewayMIU
MIU
MIU MIU
MIU
MIU
MIUMIU
MIUMIU
MIU
MIU
“Modified” or “partial” Mesh Network
“Full” Mesh Network
Improving Water System OperationsImproving Water System Operations Meter selection and accuracy
Non Revenue Water Evaluation (DMA)
System Leak Monitoring
System Backflow
Water Quality Monitoring
Fixed Network Radio AMI RequirementsFixed Network Radio AMI Requirements
Two way communication with MIU
Synchronized time
Programmable MIU units
Battery Power!
Smart Mesh Photo courtesyItron
Photo courtesyAclara
Photos courtesySensus
Meter Age/Registration ChangeMeter Age/Registration Change• How long should meters be left in service?• Most meters last a long time, only a few fail• Function of: meter cost, installation cost, cost of water (&
WW), volume passed, inflation rates, discount rate, rate of accuracy decline
(Data courtesy Kansas City Water Services Dept.)
y = -0.2654x + 101.15
0
20
40
60
80
100
0.00 5.00 10.00 15.00 20.00 25.00 30.00Yrs in Service
Accu
racy
Large Meter Replacement Doubled Total Large Meter Replacement Doubled Total RegistrationRegistration
Data courtesy San Diego Water Department0.0
50.0
100.0
150.0
200.0
250.0
300.0
350.0
1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17 19 21 23 25 27 29 31 33 35 37 39 41 43
Pre-Exchange Actual ADC
Post-Exchange ADC
AMI Can Support AMI Can Support Large Meter ManagementLarge Meter Management
Right-sizing analysis
Right-typing analysis Flow profile (depends on time
interval)
-
5,000
10,000
15,000
20,000
25,000
30,000
3/2/2
009
3/3/2
009
3/4/2
009
3/5/2
009
3/6/2
009
3/7/2
009
3/8/2
009
3/9/2
009
3/10/
2009
3/11/
2009
3/12/
2009
3/13/
2009
low f low
high flow
District Metering District Metering Areas of the system receive
water supply from limited, metered mains. When metered use (overnight flow) is unusually high, that DMA is targeted for a leak survey.
– Districts allow leak survey teams Districts allow leak survey teams to focus on problem areas.to focus on problem areas.
– District metering promotes step District metering promotes step testing to find leaks. testing to find leaks.
– District metering quantifies leak District metering quantifies leak for water audit analysis.for water audit analysis.
AMI Can Help Track and Identify AMI Can Help Track and Identify Non-Revenue WaterNon-Revenue Water
Controllable NRW constant level suggests source is leakage
Metered Usage
NRW
Supply to system
Variable NRW level suggests source is meter error or theft
Metered Usage
NRWSupply to system
Sensors Expand AMI ApplicabilitySensors Expand AMI Applicability
Distribution system leak detection Conservation Backflow detection Automatic shutoff Pressure sensors
Using AMI for Continuous Using AMI for Continuous Acoustic Monitoring (CAM)Acoustic Monitoring (CAM) Acoustic monitoring interfaces to AMI
systems to provide routine leak detection– FCS Permalog attaches to valve nut in street,
transmits separately from meters– Gutermann Zone Scan units attach to valve
nut, transmitter housed in valve box. Developing remote correlation capability.
– Itron MLOG units attach to service line Find small leaks sooner, when they are
easier to repair and can be scheduled Reduce crews or improve service level
MLOG Acoustic Monitor MLOG Acoustic Monitor
Installed near a water meter. Easily strapped to service pipe or
meter Maintenance-free, now able to
survive meter pit environment. Battery Life – Radio MLOG 8 years
and Fixed Network 15 years. Fixed Network AMR sends data to
host on website daily. Mobile Units, a separate controller unit acquires up to 11 days of history.
Permalog Acoustic MonitorPermalog Acoustic Monitor Installed on operating nut of water valves.
Magnetic bottom secures unit Newer model more robust for valve box
environment Battery Life 5–10 years Unit sends leak or no leak condition
through to network, Datamatic will send data
For Mobile Units, a separate controller unit acquires data
StarZoneScan Acoustic MonitorStarZoneScan Acoustic Monitor Installed on operating nut of
water valves. Magnetic bottom secures unit
Connects directly to AMR Transmitter in valve box
Battery Life – 10 years
Fixed Network AMR sends condition through network
Zone Scans to be used to correlate leaks.
Fixed Network & CAM Fixed Network & CAM
Schematic courtesy of Hexagram
Water Meter
American Water Computer
Water Meter
Water Meter
MLOG
CAMSOFTWARE
Billing Meter reads
Meter Reads, Meter Status
Acoustic (leak) Data
Billing, and recent Meter reads
Selected Reports
Selected Meter reads
Meter Transmitter Units
Data Collector Units
Acoustic (leak) Data
The Meter/AMR/AMI/Acoustic The Meter/AMR/AMI/Acoustic Monitoring Relationship MazeMonitoring Relationship Maze
Meters Network AMI Acoustic Monitors
Itron MLOG
Permalog
Gutermann
Echologics
Itron
Datamatic
Aclara
Neptune
Sensus
Elster
Badger
Mueller Systems
Metron Farnier
KP Electronics
Itron 2nd generation
Metrotech
Neptune
Sensus
Elster
Badger
Actaris
Mueller Systems
Using Acoustic Monitors
Deploy units about every block. Leaks are detected usually up to 400 feet (some systems 1000 feet). Leak sound does dissipate over distance especially where pipe materials changes from metal to plastic and back.
User detection skills improve with experience. In time, history and knowledge of background noise sources helps discern between leak and other noise.
Pinpointing leaks normally accomplished by one technician and leak noise correlator in between 30-90 minutes.
Correlators can be compromised by daytime noise. Mixed results from overnight correlation units.
How Continuous Acoustic How Continuous Acoustic Monitoring Works Monitoring Works Monitor “listens” and identifies the minimum
sound in intervals in early morning hours.
The single nightly data point broken down into frequencies associated with leak noise and shows the leak noise frequencies .
The monitor reports on highest differential between lowest noise displayed and highest overnight sound.
The software interprets changes and magnitude of sounds to rate the location as a possible source of a leak.
Continuous Leak Survey Data
There is a typical brief initial noise peak as leaking pipe smoothes and moves soil away from pipe
The software displays a history showing the noise level at each day.
Find the Leak that Never SurfacesFind the Leak that Never Surfaces
This leak was destined to flow to the nearby river or into the storm sewer above without coming to the surface for years. Found by acoustic monitoring
Initial Results 2005 487 MLOG leak detecting sensors
were installed in Connellsville in Spring 2005.
From June to December 2005 46 leaks were reported in Connellsville (18 in 2003, 12 in 2004).
24 of the 46 leaks were identified by acoustic monitors and repaired in advance of surfacing. Another 10 were MLOG identified before surfacing but appeared before repair made. The remaining 12 surfaced and were repaired.
With the reduction of blowoff flow and leaks, flow is consistently down about 255,000-285,000 gpd in 2006.
NRW Volume Connellsville, 2006
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
1/1/2006 4/1/2006 7/1/2006 10/1/2006
annu
al fl
ow (g
pm) o
f det
ecte
d le
aks
NRW volume 12 month average
Piloting Results Connellsville 2005-2008Piloting Results Connellsville 2005-2008 200 leaks occurred during period of which
154 detectable. Undetectable leaks largely due to sudden breaks.
Of the 154 leaks, 64 (42%) were detected and repaired before surfacing and 31 (20%) were detected acoustically but surfaced before repairs were made.
The major cause for not detecting overnight leaks (38%) is believed to be the use of plastic and repair clamps for ferrous pipe main repairs that lessen leak noise transmission.
Evaluating the Benefits/Costs of Evaluating the Benefits/Costs of AMI-Based CAMAMI-Based CAM
Significant leakage and non-revenue water?– Minimal payback if there are few leaks to find
What kind of leakage?– Acoustic monitoring best at finding hidden leakage
How much are leaks costing?– Beneficial if your water is expensive and/or scarce.
Staff/crews available to pinpoint, repair promptly?MOBILE AMR/MLOG Reduction
0.0%
5.0%
10.0%
15.0%
20.0%
25.0%
0.0%
3.0%
6.0%
9.0%
12.0%
15.0%
18.0%
21.0%
24.0%
27.0%
30.0%
33.0%
36.0%
39.0%
42.0%
45.0%
48.0%
NRW change from MOBILE AMR
NRW change from FIXED NETWORK AMR
INCREMENTALINCREMENTAL Benefit/Cost of AMI Benefit/Cost of AMI Acoustic Leak DetectionAcoustic Leak Detection
Direct Benefits Direct CostsImproved reduction in water lossesReduction in leak detection staffing and equipment
Sensors, installationAdditional leak detection crewsOngoing sensor repair, replacementComputer, software
Indirect Benefits Indirect Costs
Improved reduction in risk/cost of major failuresUnit repairs less costlyExtended life of mainsBetter perception of system reliabilityBetter understanding of replacement needs
Additional cost of digging up mainsAdditional cost of main and service repairs
X
Backflow AlertsBackflow Alerts Water running backwards is a sign
of poor operation, emergency or improper customer activity
Intelligent meters are capturing backflow alarms internally
The WaterRF project demonstrated the feasibility of direct alarms to alert operators of system problems
“Backflow alerts” also provided indication of meter issue.
Sample dataSample data
Field Test Results – PA systemField Test Results – PA system Installed 60 backflow meters
out of 5000 meters – locations strategically selected
Found 13 instances of backflow in one year from six locations
– 24 instances, 11 locations in 2 years
– Some patterns from main breaks
– Several locations suggest pump surge issues and warrant further investigation
Other Monitoring applicationsOther Monitoring applications
Continuous Water Pressure Monitoring
– Useful method to calibrate hydraulic model or spot system anomalies
– Unexpected low pressure during high flow periods suggests unexpected demand (theft?) or poor hydraulic conditions (low C factors or closed valves)
– Unexpected low pressure during all flow conditions suggests leakage.
– Could place on hydrants and equip with alarms to spot authorized and unauthorized hydrant use
Other Monitoring applicationsOther Monitoring applications Water Temperature Monitoring
– Changes in temperature (associated with surface water supplies in temperate climates) may be a trigger for water main failures
– Abnormal changes in temperature may indicate higher flow into an area or water quality issue.
Early warning could avoid or mitigate impact of such attacks
Water Quality Monitoring and Water Quality Monitoring and Drinking Water SecurityDrinking Water Security
Monitoring as a precaution to threats – Intentional:
• Physical - (i.e. arson, cyber-attack, sabotage, terrorism, vandalism)
• Psychological - (i.e. hoaxes, incitement of panic, misinformation)
– Unintentional:
• Intrinsic system failure- Computer and system component failures
• Cascading effect failures- Source water contamination from chemical spills, power loss
Deploying Water Quality MonitorsDeploying Water Quality Monitors
What parameters to monitor
Types of monitors
- Contaminant detection, communications & reliability
On-line data management (alarms)
Selecting sites for sensor deployment
Cost estimates for sensor deployment
Multi-parameter Water Quality Monitors – Multi-parameter Water Quality Monitors – Probe SystemsProbe Systems
Sensor ReliabilitySensor Reliability
0102030405060708090
100
Temp(212,846)
SC(212,778)
Chlorine(110,135)
pH(212,846)
ORP(150,468)
DO(132,308)
Turbidity(132,308)
Sensor (number of measurements)
Per
cent
Adj
ustm
ent Uncorrected
Corrected (5%-25%)Deleted (>25%)
Making Sense of SensorsMaking Sense of Sensors
Determining anomalies (alarms) from WQ data: Need to identify baseline water quality information &
understand sensitivity
Have sound sensor QC to determine performance issues
Ascertain impact of environmental or operational parameters on baseline
Define degree of deviations from baseline that would constitute an alarm
Sensor Location
Cost of Units forces optimization
Contaminant concentration Injection site Duration (or rate) of injection Exposure
All non-zero demand nodes assumed to be equally vulnerable to introduction of the biological or chemical contaminants. Time delay from detection to implementation of a mitigation response assumed to be zero.
Practical Locations Optimal Locations
Actuators: Remote Shutoff ValvesActuators: Remote Shutoff Valves
Can be operated by fixed network and mobile AMI
Open, closed and “trickle” position
Self-exercising Issues with installation,
regulations, cost.
Shutoff Valve Economics
High cost to install throughout a system
– Units are expensive– Risk of vandalism – Cost to adjust plumbing– Control units have cost– Where is the payback
Potentially useful for property transfers, vacation properties, collections, multiple feed customers.
TRANSCEIVER
WATER METER WATER VALVE
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WATER METER WATER VALVE
WATER METER WATER VALVE
WATER METER WATER VALVE
TRANSCEIVER
WATER METER WATER VALVE
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WATER METER WATER VALVE
WATER METER WATER VALVE
WATER METER WATER VALVE
TRANSCEIVER
WATER METER WATER VALVEWATER METER WATER VALVE
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WATER METER WATER VALVEWATER METER WATER VALVE
WATER METER WATER VALVEWATER METER WATER VALVE
WATER METER WATER VALVEWATER METER WATER VALVE
AMI Can Improve Hydraulic ModelsAMI Can Improve Hydraulic Models Demand analysis
Pressure Monitoring
AMI Fostering the Merger of Model & Ops AMI Fostering the Merger of Model & Ops System Anamolies
Hydraulic Models and DemandHydraulic Models and Demand
Customer accounts can be assigned by code to nodes in model and hourly interval data can be derived by AMI and incorporated
– Average day
– Peak day
– Variations for temperature/season
Use in a neighborhood can be assigned for projecting growth
Pressure Monitoring Pressure Monitoring
System pressures can be gathered from field monitors to find anomalies.
– Low pressure regardless of demand suggests continuous flow (leakage)
– Low pressure that follows high demand suggests closed valves, lower C valves in pipes
– Sudden drops in pressures at some sites (like hydrants may help identify illegal water use
Ultimate ModelingUltimate Modeling
Pressure and use can follow predictable patterns depending on day of week, temperature and recent precipitation.
Imagine dialing into model these parameters and obtaining predicted levels of pressure and flow and comparing to field data.
Sudden deviations from model can be used to track leaks, maintenance activities (flushing) and other unusual events.
Impacts of new mains, pump changes can be evaluated and model recalibrated.
AMR/AMI Technology Risk ManagementAMR/AMI Technology Risk Management Technical obsolescence
Lack of standards
Lack of interoperability
Application and third party software
Battery life
Excessive failure rates; system failures, product recalls
Radio frequency incursion
Programming errors
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