Structural Synthesis of System of Remote Interrogation of Metering Devices

The relevance of the article is determined by the development of measuring instrument production, the expansion of their nomenclature and modernization, as well as the control automation of distributed systems collecting telemetry information in the electric power industry. The objects of the commercial power consumption metering system are all consumer substations. In conditions of sparsely populated remote areas information on electricity consumption measurements from each substation is transmitted through a cellular network, and the signal coverage area in the substation location is not stable for all cellular operators. Metering devices of various types are installed at the substations which can operate in different modes when connected through modems to communication channels. The article describes the methodology for determining the effective structure of a data transmission system for remote inquiry meters using a generalized criterion. The optimization mathematical model, allowing to evaluate both the effectiveness of individual structural elements and the structure as a whole, is constructed, methods for its implementation are proposed. The method of choosing the cellular channel type and the tariff plan is given. The results of the statistical analysis of using cellular channels for different data transmission technology and devices of various types in substation metering systems are presented. The use-case of the proposed methodology for estimating the efficiency of the data transmission structure for two remote substations is given. The materials of the article can be used in managing systems for transmitting power consumption data.