Utility Applications
Overview
The Kinects® Solution has many advantages for North American utilities, providing both a more efficient, reliable, and secured means of carrying out existing customer billing and services, and potential valuable new revenue streams to leverage existing infrastructure.
Making Your Operation More Efficient
The Kinects® technology will provide utilities with significant cost savings and system efficiencies by eliminating labour cost and streamlining operations:
- Automatic meter reading (AMR)
- Advanced metering infrastructure (AMI)
- Asset / Line monitoring
- Remote load control
- Remote disconnect / reconnect (RDR)
- Theft / Tamper Detection with Distribution Transformer Monitoring
Seamless Integration into Current Systems
The Kinects® PLC Technology can be integrated seamlessly into current utility systems, with no additional infrastructure investment except for the Kinects® components and devices. And you are protected from the risk of technology obsolescence.
Smart Meters / Automatic Meter Reading 
- 2 Way Communication Module - Power line communication module provides bi-directional communication to the data collector
- Under Glass - The Kinects® PLC module is engineered to fit inside electronic meters
- Hourly Data Read - Provides hourly energy consumption data read or shorter intervals as required
- ANSI Qualified - Fully evaluated and qualified for standard testing (Accuracy, ANSI, Radio Frequency, Mechanical, and Transportation)
- Measurement Canada Certified for Itron Centron C1SX meter platform (Notice of Approval # AE-0920 Rev. 19.)
- Location Flexibility - Data collector / concentrator does not have to be installed in distribution substation
- Multiple Meter Platform - Currently working to qualify on a multiple meter vendor platform, including Itron, General Electric, Landys+Gyr, Sensus, and others
- In-home Applications - Development underway to integrate different communication interface to in-home devices such as display, thermostats, and other load control devices through multiple communication platform such as PLC (X10, Insteon), Wi-fi, Zigbee, and others
Load Control
- Flexible Design - Allows interface and integration with controlled equipment and appliances
- Bi-Directional Capability - One or two way communication
- Addressability - Fully addressable by individual devices and class of devices
Data Display
- Interfacing - Technology under development - expected to interface with meter communication module through various communication technology such as power line, wireless, Zigbee, and others
- Information - Data provided as kWh consumption, voltage, current, etc.
Remote Disconnect/Reconnect
- Device - Integrated in an adapter base or within the meter depending on the vendor's availability
- Remote Activation - On/Off signal is provided by the data collector/controller
Outage detection & management
- System Configuration - Kinects® power line communication AMI system is deployed and configured to provide utilities with the capability to monitor outages and interruption. The system implementation of the smart meters and distribution transformer monitoring device provides utilities with unparalleled capabilities to identify and understand outage situations and locations.
- Management - Utility will be able to improve customer services by providing more rapid response to where and when the power is restored.
Distribution Transformer Metering
Kinects® Solutions Inc. Distribution Transformer Monitoring (DTM) systems provide a reliable and cost effective option for smart grid capability to remotely meter and monitor power throughput, current, and temperature of distribution transformers. This is an ideal solution for revenue protection and theft detection.
Effective Load Analysis
The DT power throughput in kWh is metered using current sensors. The DTM's data can be used to effectively reconcile with the metered load for residential, commercial and industrial users to identify potential sources of non-technical losses. The current measurements can be correlated with temperature data for load analysis. Current data can also be used for load profiling, load balancing and demand management.
Monitor Transformer Temperatures
Elevated internal temperatures significantly reduce the life of distribution transformer insulation. With Kinects® DTM PLC solution, transformer temperatures can now be measured directly, in near real time and transmitted to any location desired via power line communication. This allows early indication of overloading that could result in reduced transformer life and indication of thermal problems within the transformer. With direct knowledge of transformer temperatures, operators can determine if transformers are appropriately loaded, whether loading can be increased or should be reduced and the impact of these decisions on the life of the asset.
Innovative Current Sensing Technology
- Lightweight, low cost
- Accurate and reliable under extreme environmental conditions
- Integrated housing for ease of installation and servicing
- Built in power line communication module for data transfer