Background 

Traditional power distribution network is composed of the master station, the low-voltage transformer close to residential areas and the feeder network that goes to each household. Complex structures can affect the quality of power supply. Given the large numbers of distribution networks and connected terminals across the grid nationwide, a low level of intelligence and automation makes it difficult to serve the needs of new energy management such as distributed PV, electric vehicles, etc. In an era where everything is connected, it is imperative that IoT technologies be applied in the construction, operation, maintenance and management of the power distribution network.

The Internet of low-voltage power distribution is a new type of network integrating traditional industry and information technology in the IoT era. It is a complete set of software-defined distributed intelligent collaborative power distribution network featuring plug & play terminals, extensively connected devices, comprehensive sensing of operation status, flexibly and quickly iterated applications, and efficient use of resources. Those features can greatly facilitate decision-making in diagnosis of power line faults, load prediction and active repair.

Solution

InHand Networks delivers a solution for intelligent low-voltage power distribution featuring its IG502 IoT edge gateway.  

On one side of the solution there are multiple switches in the power distribution room, including frame breakers, molded case circuit breakers (MCCBs), and micro circuit breakers (MCBs). Each gateway is connected to a score of devices. Sensors are built within those breakers that collect data of voltage, current and power and automatically switch on/off. About 1000 variables are constantly generated from those breakers. With the DeviceSupervisor™ Agent, data undergo local pre-processing in multiple means (bit manipulation, computing, etc.), which reduces the data flowing to the cloud and relieves the cloud from heavy computing load.

The IG502  then uploads the filtered data to the customer’s platform, where data are stored, displayed and analyzed, and power utilization and alarms can be monitored. Anomalies can thus be detected in time in case of emergencies, and preventive maintenance be conducted. The monitoring platform also performs analysis of power utilization, bringing to customers greater value.

Why InGateway502?

● Built-in DeviceSupervisor™ Agent, support for multiple industrial protocols, eases data acquisition configuration

● Powerful edge computing capabilities, intelligent data processing on the IoT edge

● Secure and reliable 4G Internet access, dual SIM failover

● Auto-recovery from faults, auto redial when disconnected, ensuring high availability

● Python programmable, easy-to-use secondary development platform

● Support for standard MQTT protocol, compatible with multiple IoT platforms such as MS Azure, AWS, etc.