User Manual

VRT DIRECT GAS-METER TRANSPONDER OVERVIEW CHAPTER 3
Page 4 EnergyAxis Gas Module ― User Guide
Elster Integrated Solutions • Draft A Nov. 2007
EnergyAxis AMI System Overview
Elster Integrated Solutions EnergyAxis system portfolio of products
permits the remote recording of tamper conditions and the linking of
meter latitude and longitude data using the Global Positioning
System (GPS).
In every meter reading transmission, gas modules send total
consumption data as well as interval consumption data for each of
the last 24 hours. The data are stored in the EnergyAxis collector as
well as the module’s nonvolatile memory, protecting the data
against loss. All the data are available for on-request reading.
EnergyAxis Gas modules communicated with an unlicensed
frequency hopping spread spectrum RF technology compliant with
FCC Rules, Part 15 and Industry Canada RSS-210 in a rage of 902
MHz to 928 MHz.
How the EnergyAxis System Works
Installing EnergyAxis electricity meters builds the infrastructure that
allows gas AMI metering to be added at an incremental cost.
Therefore, expanding the EnergyAxis network to cover gas metering
requires the installation of the EnergyAxis Gas module to the gas
meter.
The information acquisition, storage and handling process includes
several basic elements:
Meter interface. Using a mechanical-to-digital interface, the
EnergyAxis Gas Module senses the output of a utility meter,
translates this into electronic form and stores it in the transponder’s
memory.
Tamper sense and flagging. When the EnergyAxis Gas Module is
installed and programmed, a baseline orientation for its internal
tamper sense is set. Any deviation from that baseline setting will
trigger a tamper indication.
Transponder data acquisition. The EnergyAxis Gas Module is
programmed with a unique serial number at the time of
manufacture. Upon installation on a meter, the current (or baseline)
meter index reading is also programmed into the transponder’s
memory. As the meter measures consumption and the index is
advanced, the index reading stored in the transponder’s memory is
automatically updated. The transponder also records changes to the
tamper detection sensor.
Pressure-compensation factor. For EnergyAxis Gas Modules a
pressure-compensation factor can also be programmed into the
transponder memory ensuring the transponder readings match the
pressure-compensated mechanical index reading.