MCA5tech

System for monitoring and analysis of utilities consumption

MCA5tech is an autonomous device designed for local acquisition, registration and analysis of data from devices located within a single building, installation or switchboard. The system integrates the functions of data collection, archiving and processing, and also enables their visualization and presentation of analysis results.

Purpose

The device enables the acquisition and analysis of detailed data on the consumption of various energy and ensures monitoring of the operating parameters of technical installations.

Implementation advantages

Assessment of the building’s energy consumption and continuous monitoring of the energy system,
Acquiring precise and current data on the energy status of the facility,
Optimization of energy consumption by controlling external installations,
Continuous measurement and analysis of different energy consumption.

What can be the source of data?

Measuring devices, such as electricity, heat, water, gas meters, etc.
Bistate signals, e.g. operating status or failure of technical devices, signals from temperature, sunlight, installation pressure sensors, etc.
Devices enabling communication with the system.

MCA5tech functions

Data Acquisition

MCa5tech uses an Ethernet port, serial interfaces, binary and pulse inputs, and standard communication protocols to acquire data from a wide range of measuring devices and sensors. The measurement structure configuration is based on predefined patterns, ensuring intuitive and efficient system customization.

Archiving

The acquired data is saved on a local medium at specified time intervals. The system enables online database replication to a remote server.

Data Analysis

The recorded data is subjected to mathematical processing, which enables the implementation of advanced detection mechanisms, such as alert generation, anomaly detection, and predictive analysis.

Presentation

Real-time data visualization and analysis of archived measurements is carried out using configurable dashboards, which enable quick assessment of media consumption, trend identification, and anomaly detection. The system also allows for the creation of personalized dashboards, tailored to individual needs.

Data Sharing

For users with a superior system such as BMS, SCADA, etc., MCA5tech can act as a gateway for data integration, enabling the transfer of information between local devices and external systems.

Data Transfer

Source and processed data can be transferred in accordance with one of many communication protocol standards, such as Modbus, OPC, MQTT, REST API, or other data exchange standards.

Media analysis

Data analysis examples

Active Power Guard Function

Incorrectly specifying the ordered power (for electricity or gas) may lead to penalties for exceeding demand. Exceeding the ordered power often occurs as a result of a failure or service downtime, e.g. of a gas boiler or a power outage. Restarting devices may be associated with non-standard energy demand, which leads to exceeding the established power limits. This is prevented by the power guard function in the MCA5tech device, which monitors the energy demand and automatically controls its value, preventing the ordered power from being exceeded.

Determining the actual power demand

MCA5tech automatically determines the actual power demand based on data collected from the billing meter and monitored energy consumption parameters. After a specified monitoring period, the system analyzes the collected data and calculates the power demand based on it, which allows the user to optimize the ordered power. This allows for precise adjustment of settings, which helps avoid exceedances and related additional costs. This function supports effective energy consumption management, enabling optimization of expenses and better adjustment of energy demand to the actual operating conditions of the facility.

Determining the efficiency of a boiler, chilled water unit

The efficiency of energy processing devices, such as boilers or chilled water units, is defined as the ratio of energy supplied to energy released. This efficiency is subject to continuous changes and depends on many factors, including the operating parameters of the device (operating point), the quality of primary energy and the technical efficiency of the device. Monitoring these relationships is key to maintaining high energy efficiency of the installation, enabling its operation to be optimized and energy losses to be minimized.

Determining the number of people using the premises

The amount and profile of water use for living needs depend on the number of people living in the premises. Based on the analysis of data from water meters (hot and cold water), the MCA5tech system is able to estimate the number of people living in a given premises with a high degree of probability based on water consumption patterns. The analysis of this data takes into account the average water consumption per person and the variability of the water consumption profile depending on the time of day and season, which allows for a more accurate determination of the number of residents.

Calculation of the potential for on-site use of energy produced by photovoltaics

As a result of planned legal regulations, the profitability of storing energy in the power grid may be significantly reduced. Therefore, when planning photovoltaic investments, it is crucial to determine the potential for using energy produced by photovoltaic panels on-site. The MCA5tech system performs this calculation based on design indicators and the actual profile of energy demand in the facility. By analyzing this data, the user can optimize the use of energy produced by the photovoltaic installation, minimizing the need to transmit it to the grid and increasing the energy efficiency of the facility.

Data structure