Overview

ConnectPort X2e for Smart Energy

The Digi ConnectPort X2e for Smart Energy is a gateway on a Smart Energy network that provides secure access to a ZigBee Smart Energy network over the internet. The gateway is set up to take advantage of connection management services offered by Device Cloud, and to intelligently handle SE events in order to reduce the need for communication and micro management by utility applications.

There are three Smart Energy certified software applications for the gateway on the ZigBee network:

Name Smart Energy Device Type Node Type
ESI Coordinator Energy Service Interface (ESI) Coordinator / Trust Center
ESI Router Energy Service Interface (ESI) Router
IPD Router In-Premise Display (IPD) Router

All of the configurations use the same core Python SE_Framework codebase and share much of the same functionality. The difference between the node types are as follows:

  • Coordinator - Forms the Smart Energy network and acts as the trust center. All devices joining the network must be authenticated with the trust center.
  • Router - Joins the Smart Energy network through the trust center.

The Smart Energy device type determines whether Smart Energy clusters supported by the gateway are servers or clients. The ESI is defined by Smart Energy to support the server side clusters. These clusters create and cancel Smart Energy events; for example, publishing the price of commodities like electricity on the network. The Energy Service Interface supports the following clusters:

  • Time server - Synchronizes real time clock for all of the devices on the ZigBee network.
  • Demand Response/Load Control (DRLC) server - Manages DRLC events which can change temperature set points on thermostats, water heaters, and spas or turn off devices in the home to prevent brownouts during high peak energy situations.
  • Price server - Manages pricing events that set the price of different commodities using a start time and duration in one minute intervals. For example, increasing the price of electricity during peak hours in the evening and decreasing price during low demand times at night. Pricing can be set in real time to respond to demand or ahead of time to allow customers to plan energy usage.
  • Messaging server - Sends messages to a customer through ZigBee network. Messages can require confirmation from the customer.
  • Metering client - Reads the metering usage data from meters on the network.

The client side clusters receive the events and act on them; for example, a thermostat may receive a published price event for electricity and change the heating setpoint to save money. The gateway makes these events available on the internet for other devices to act on or for reporting purposes. The In-Premise Display Smart Energy device type supports the following clusters:

  • Time client - Synchronizes real time clock with the time server on the ZigBee network.
  • Demand Response / Load Control (DRLC) client - Receives DRLC events from the server and reports them through Device Cloud. The gateway handles canceled and overlapping events and provides updates when the currently active list of events changes.
  • Price client - Receives price events for all available commodities from the price servers. The gateway also tracks when the prices of commodities change and provides updates through Device Cloud.
  • Messaging client - Receives messages from the server and reports them through Device Cloud. The gateway allows users to confirm messages, handles canceled messages, and provides updates when the currently active message changes.
  • Metering client - Reads the metering usage data from meters on the network.

You can convert your ConnectPort X2e for Smart Energy between these certified applications. See ConnectPort X2e for Smart Energy Conversions for more details.

ZigBee Smart Energy

Description

The ZigBee Smart Energy Profile defines a wireless home area network (HAN) to manage energy in residential areas. These networks are local to the home and connect through a gateway back to the Utility head-end application. The current devices defined for Smart Energy are:

  • Meter - Reports consumption of energy, water, gas, etc.
  • Energy Service Interface (ESI) - Gateway from the Utility head-end to the HAN. Formerly refered to as Energy Service Portal (ESP).
  • In-Premise Display (IPD) - Displays consumption and pricing information for the consumer. Also refered to as In-Home Display (IHD).
  • Programmable Communicating Thermostat (PCT) - Smart thermostat.
  • Load Control Device - Can limit or turn off power to devices during high load times.
  • Range Extender - Fills in gaps in wireless HAN.

Advantages

Advantages of a ZigBee Smart Energy network:

  • Automated meter reading - Remotely report meter usage for Electric, Gas, Water, etc. in real time.
  • Reduce peak power usage - Accomplished through mandatory energy reduction events and financial motivation using pricing.
  • Empower customers - Give customers access to real time meter usage data and pricing. Also creates a network connection to devices like thermostats in the home which may be used to remotely control set points and setbacks.

Python Smart Energy Framework

The Python Smart Energy Framework (SE Framework) discussed in this manual is a generic implementation of Smart Energy application and device level functionality written in Python. The SE Framework provides various public APIs that can be accessed through the Device Cloud to interact with and control other devices on the Smart Energy network.

The SE Framework is also capable of simulating a Smart Energy network to present legacy devices as Smart Energy devices. Higher level interfaces that already understand Smart Energy, such as Digi X-Grid can then consume data from simulated devices without the need for special configuration.

Online Documentation

Go to the ConnectPort X2e for Smart Energy Documentation page or click on the link to download the following online documents for detailed information on accessing and using the ConnectPort X2e for Smart Energy.

ZigBee Documentation

The referenced specifications are provided by the ZigBee Alliance and can be downloaded from the ZigBee Alliance Website.