LoRa BRINGS HUGE BENEFITS

Reijo Holopainen toimitus@etn.fi

Advancing IoT technology is rapidly transforming the energy and district heating sector. The profitability of the entire industry improves. While system architects long contemplated integrating super-intelligent IoT systems in the past, it was never feasible financially. Technology was simply too expensive. Today it´s a different game.

Over the past few years, a perfect alignment of technical advances and capability – combined with far lower costs – at last makes these new concepts economically viable.

Wireless sensors are not new, but innovations such as LoRaWAN or NB IoT communication open a new, never-seenbefore equilibrium between price and performance.

Real-time data is the key

Combined with the rapid expansion of digital data platforms, we can give realworld interpretation to these data points. It is no exaggeration to say that we are in the midst of a revolution.

IoT technologies enable companies to continually gather data and have a real- time overview of what is happening on site. If the system generates enough real-time data, soon we can create a Digital Twin. It can be used to refine procedures, rewrite methodology, and accurately analyze efficiency and accountability.

It is easy to understand why many large operators are implementing these measurement systems. Over the past few years, a tremendous technological shift has greatly affected the energy industry.

Measure the heating pipelines

Flow measurement in district heating pipelines has been successful. Now the network where the solutions work cover almost all of Finland. Digita, the country’s largest independent owner of telecommunication masts, owns and operates Finland’s leading national terrestrial television and radio network, but also it controls the nationwide network LoRaWan.

In principle, any time series data or alarms can be stored in the measurement database service. The data most often indicates water volumes, flows or water levels, but also alarms about the situation or condition of the network or the measuring device itself. It is possible to automatically visualize this information on the virtual map as alerts. This way, for example, site visits or maintenance tasks or leak repairs can be more quickly targeted at the right target.

Digital Twin on its way

Currently, it is possible to import results from various data producers, eg Kamstrup, Mipro and Soficta. In Finland, there is a patented technology that reveals incipient leaks in underground pipelines. It is a high technology export product.

The technology works in the LoRaWan network.- Even in one flow study using a LoRa solution, the return will pay off the investment by up to 100,000 euros, said managing director Sami Metsänperä of Soficta Co.

According to Metsänperä, several customers, district heating companies and water utilities, already have a Digital model or even a Digital Twin, in which Soficta's technology works.

Comprehensive process monitoring is here

- We maintain and develop the reliability of supply of our district heating by many different means on an ongoing basis. On this scale, we do a network survey every few years, and with the survey we get a comprehensive overview of the condition of our network and information about possible areas that need repair, says Jani Uitti, manager of network assets from Turku Energia.

Uitti emphasizes that it is now necessary to make clear the difference between a Digital Twin operating in real-time data and a digital model. - We are moving towards a Digital Twin.

Since the creation of automation, there has been the question of which assets to monitor. Until now, the typical strategy was simply monitoring the top 10% of assets –namely, the assets used most and those most critical. Now automation brings comprehensive monitoring.

IoT’s long road to utility

The road of IoT technologies, mobile data to usable technology is long - almost ten years. LoRa technology has always been much more ready than NB IoT in mobile networks. Both technologies have 128-bit data encryption. One technological option is Sigfox, but it doesn´t have a large, ubiquitous network.

Technology director Pasi Pajula uses NB IoT technology to measure the pressure of the sewer network. NB IoT technology has struggled with serious technical problems for years, but now it is reliable and is used to monitor the condition of pipelines and the adequacy of capacity.

Pasi Pajula, technology director at Preventos Informatics Oy in Kuopio, uses NB IoT technology to measure the pressure of the sewer network.

NB IoT has struggled with serious technical problems for years, but now it is reliable and used to monitor the condition of pipelines and the adequacy of capacity.

- The battery life in the IoT transmitter is now about five years, says Pajula.

During the inspection, signs of corrosion were visible in the sensors that had been sending digital pressure measurement data for 2½ years, but the device still works flawlessly. In the well, immediately below the hardware sensors, an eternal stream of dirt flows.

WHAT IF WE COULD CREATE MORE BY WASTING LESS?

By 2050, global energy demand is projected to rise by over 60%. ADI’s expertise in power management has enabled breakthroughs like energy harvesting and robotic miniaturization. Which means we can make progress, while making less waste.

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