applications | Smart meters
Plastics enable smart metering Smart utility meters promise to
improve energy management. Giorgio Bettoli and Peter Jackson discuss the material requirements
Main image: Emerge polycarbonates from Trinseo are delivering the perfor- mance required by smart meter producers
As countries around the world continue to focus on reducing energy consumption and carbon emissions, utility smart meters are gaining ground as the preferred way to manage electricity and gas resources. Using two-way communication technology and on-board computer processing, smart meters are replacing traditional utility meters to provide a digital interface between the facility where the power is generated and the site of energy consumption. Utility smart meters are advanced metering units.
They are used to monitor the consumption of energy at specifi c site locations and to provide real-time data for analysis. This allows utilities to identify patterns in usage, detect power quality problems, and identify potential tampering and energy theft. At the same time, consumers can benefi t from the new found awareness needed to improve effi ciency, reduce cost and contrib- ute to the sustainable use of our resources. The growth in utility smart meters is staggering and
34 INJECTION WORLD | June 2015
it is expected to continue. According to clean technol- ogy market research group Navigant Research, the worldwide installed base of smart meters will reach close to 1.1 billion in 2022. This will continue to be driven mainly by worldwide government regulations, which will require conversion to this technology for the benefi ts it provides. The highest percentage growth in smart meter
application will be seen in North America and Europe. However, many emerging economies are moving directly to this advanced metering technology, bypass- ing earlier versions of utility meters.
Component considerations Utility electricity smart meters are generally made up of three distinct parts: The terminal block, the component through which the circuitry and wiring passes; the housing that covers the unit and protects the inner workings; and the window for reading the numbers or gauges. Each of these components must be manufac- tured to strict standards, both European and nationally, with the terminal block providing the most stringent requirements. Polycarbonate and various polycarbonate blends are
now seen regularly in utility smart meter applications because these materials have the balance of properties to meet demanding and varied requirements. The following discussion looks at the components of utility
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