Research on Data Collection and Monitoring Voltage Quality Using Ad-hoc LoRa and Siemens PLC through Modbus TCP/IP Communication

Abstract

Ensuring the accurate transmission of measurement data from data collection points to monitoring devices is a crucial research issue in the field of intelligent measurement. Stability and continuity of data transmission processes are of paramount importance in these applications. This paper investigates and develops a voltage monitoring system for the power grid at sites with separate electrical systems, utilizing LoRa wireless communication technology. The objective of this study is to assess the feasibility of the system in urban environments using devices that are characterized by being simple, compact, and easy to install, operate, and maintain. The voltage at each point is measured and then transmitted from the Nodes to the Base using an Ad-hoc LoRa network architecture. This architecture enables self-establishment and maintenance of network connections without relying on fixed network infrastructure. Intermediate Nodes can be added to ensure stability and scalability of the network at a low cost. Collected data is displayed on the WinCC Unified interface of Siemens. Using a PLC as a monitoring device with the Modbus TCP/IP allows optimizing the system's compatibility when deployed in facilities that always have PLC equipment available. The system operates with high accuracy and stability, meeting the requirements of reliability and response time for the monitoring and data collection system. This study has demonstrated that Ad-hoc LoRa can be an alternative solution to the current telecommunication network communication system.