Global ICT Standardization Forum for India (GISFI)
Title: Generator Monitoring
Company: NEC Corporation
Purpose: Discussion and Approval
Doc number: GE-20110006
Meeting: GISFI#5, Hyderabad, India, 20 Jun – 22 Jun, 2011
1. Abstract
This proposal is a generalized version of GE-20100019 [1], “Telecom Sector Green – Fuel Pilferage and
Adulteration,” as requested at the discussions of GISFI#3.
As Information and Communications Technology (ICT) services are becoming more available to anyone
across the globe, it will also have to reach remote areas where power distribution is not adequate. In
these areas the use of small scale generators are crucial. In order to minimize the environmental effect
from maintenance processes, this proposal gives remote means to monitor these generators. We propose
this document to be accepted for the deliverable 3 of Green Energy activity, “Study on usage of ICT for
Green Energy.”
2. Introduction
The deployment of ICT services throughout India has played a significant role for the visible
participation of rural India to the main-stream socio-economic growth. With saturation of urban
markets, rural India also poses a huge opportunity to any service provider in India. However, providing
services in remote parts of rural areas may require small scale generators due to inadequate energy
supply. They can be any type from diesel, solar, wind, or hybrid generators. Placing these generators in
the field may solve the power problem, but these generators also require maintenance which may
become a burden to both generator owners and the environment. Minimizing the maintenance
procedures would give better effect to the environment and such methods are needed.
This document discusses about why minimization of maintenance is needed, and high level proposals of
such methods.
3. Current Analysis
As rural India adapts to ICT, it will require more power. However, the availability of power is still
inefficient in these areas and additional power generators will be needed. Maintaining these equipment
so that they are rightfully used is one major concern for the generator owners.
For example, in the case of diesel generators, its operators would have to constantly watch out for diesel
theft which is a major concern in India. Adulteration of fuel is also a problem as both ends up with
unneeded usage of additional fuel to compensate for the stolen fuel. This leads to more Green House Gas
(GHG) emissions.
As the number of generators increase in remote areas, maintenance personnel will have to be
transported there for maintenance. However, in many cases problems are not found during check ups
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Global ICT Standardization Forum for India (GISFI)
and the result is “everything is working alright.” In any system, having no problem is the desired result,
but there is a need to check if maintenance cycles are optimized. Although its impacts to nature may be
limited, maintenance beyond necessity is a burden to nature. Methods to optimize maintenance are
needed.
4. High Level Proposal
In order to minimize excess maintenance, we propose automatic monitoring systems for small scale
generators. This solution monitors equipment from various aspects where maintenance personnel would
check the generators with sensors, surveillance cameras, and etc. By sending collected information to
the operating center, an operator would constantly be able to monitor any generator at any time, not
only upon periodic check-ups. With this, people no longer need to go to generators for frequent check-ups
when things are fine, know the issue before they are called to the site, and be able to watch a larger
number of equipment at a higher quality/frequency with less time.
4.1. Generator types and output parameters
As the most suitable energy type differs in each region, the maintenance of multiple types of generators
should be considered. Here we will pick up solar, wind, and diesel generators as examples. The output
parameters of each type of generator can be classified into two groups: parameters dedicated to that
certain type of generator and parameters that are common amongst any type of generator. The table
below gives examples of dedicated and common parameters.
Table 1. Dedicated and Common Parameters
Parameter Examples
Solar specific Exposure
Wind specific Wind velocity, wind direction
Diesel specific Diesel level, diesel purity
Common Generator output, maintenance target
measurements, access records
These parameters are sent to a central database where the operator would check the properness of the
parameters (e.g. does the solar generator have enough output for the given exposure, are the generators
only accessed by authorized personnel only when needed?). After checking the validity, operators will
dispatch people only when refuelling, cleaning, and exchange of parts are necessary.
4.2. Network Architecture
Many of the generators mentioned throughout this proposal will be placed in remote parts of India.
Therefore the monitoring equipment may not have the infrastructure to send the measurements by wire.
Building network infrastructure for that purpose only may be inefficient and technologies that can be
deployed easily should be considered. Utilizing the mobile network would be one efficient way to connect
each generator to the central database. The figure below gives an example of the network architecture.
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Global ICT Standardization Forum for India (GISFI)
Generators
Surveillance
Monitored Info
Monitoring Database
System Cellular
Camera Sensor Network
Generator
Status Check
Dispatch Personnel Operator
Figure 1. Network Architecture
5. Conclusions
In this proposal, we have described maintenance optimization methods for small scale generators. As
rural India consumes more power for economic contribution outputs, they will need more power
generators. Maintaining these new generators must be optimized for both environmental and financial
reasons. The proposed solution gives a guideline for what and how things are collected. Comparing the
generator data with the assumable outputs will enable operators to have optimized maintenance even
with a growing power grid.
6. References
[1] GISFI, GE1-20100019, Telecom Sector Green – Fuel Pilferage and Adulteration, Dec, 2010.
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