Energy Data Acquisition
Task:
An energy data acquisition and analysis system shall be implemented to record and file energy and water consumption and – based on these data – to compile consumption reports. The system has to be able to connect meters with different communication interfaces including M-Bus, Modbus, CEA-709, and BACnet. In addition it needs to be able to accept meter pulses (SO). The energy data acquired locally should be provided to a central data server over the Internet. Therefore the data should be either polled by the data center by using Web services or should be sent out by email.
Solution:
This task can be solved by a combination of LOYTEC hardware and software product. A L-INX Automation Server is used for the local data acquisition. The necessary meters will be connected via CEA-709, Modbus or BACnet-interfaces. Additionally M-Bus meters are connected by using the L-MBUS Level Converter and SO meters are handled via binary inputs of L-IOB I/O Modules.
The L-INX Automation Server is processing the meter information and stores the meter values locally in non-volatile memory. From time to time the data is transferred to the overriding L-WEB System, where the L-WEB- 801 Server stores the data in a SQL database. Depending on the firewall configuration the LWEB-801 Server is either fetching the data by using Web services or the L-INX Automation Server sends out the data via email attachments (CSV file).
The meter data stored in the LWEB-801 Server database is used by the LWEB-830 Dream Report software to generate energy consumption reports. Therefore LWEB-830 allows to create custom templates for reports. Energy consumption can be displayed in different forms like charts, tables, graphs, bar diagrams or pie charts and the inclusion of graphical elements helps to design the reports convincing. Mathematical calculations can be used to f. e. compute average values or to determine breaches of limit values. The reports are generated either automatically based on pre-setup schedules or by user demand. The reports are created in pdf format and can be either printed, stored on a file server or sent out by email. In addition the reports can be automatically published on a web server to be accessed by the end user through a web interface.
Benefits:
Permanent acquisition and analysis of energy consumption data are the first important steps towards filing the current operation conditions, identifying where energy is wasted and to launching counter measures.
With LINX Automation Servers and the L-WEB System a powerful energy data acquisition and evaluation system can be installed. Standardized interfaces not only allow the simultaneous connection of energy meters with different interfaces; also the forwarding of data to building management– and ERP-systems is possible, thanks to the support of BACnet, CEA-709, OPC or FTP-access.
The data transfer from local L-INX Automation Servers to an LWEB-801 Server does not require a continuous IP connection. In case of UMTS or DSL internet connectivity using restrictive firewalls the L-INX Automation Servers can email out the meter data and the LWEB-801 Server retrieves the emails from an email server automatically and writes the data into the SQL database.
Features:
• Acquisition of energy consumption data with L-INX Automation Servers
• Configuration with the L-INX Configurator
• Long term data storage with LWEB-801 Server
• Data transmission either via web services or as email attachment (CSV)
• Energy report design and creation with LWEB-830 Dream Report
• Automatic report printing, storage on file server, forwarding via email or filing on a Web server
• User management
Range of application:
Community facilities:
• Kindergardens and schools
• Hospitals
• Public swimming pools
• Retirement and care homes
• Sport halls
• Administration buildings
Business facilities:
• Office buildings
• Shopping centers
• Airports
• Railroad stations
• Production halls
• Warehouses