In our platform, there are multiple ways to work with the parameters. In this article, you will learn about Derived parameters.
The contents of this article will be:
Introduction
In the energy management platform, you can visualise parameters with values created from other inserted parameters. This is useful when the datasource does not send data to the platform with the parameter identifiers that might be useful for its analysis. This can happen, for example, with Gas Metering, where you could be monitoring pulses, but you would prefer to analyse gas energy [kWh] or volume [m3].
Since this can be done in different ways, in the following section we will be differentiating them with examples.
Nomenclature
As we said before, there are different ways to create parameters from the existing ones in the platform, these include:
-
Ratios: You can use this if you want to visualise consumption data normalised by a value.
Example: You measure lighting electric consumption divided by a fixed number of lamps (kWh/lamp). -
Groups: If you want to do a simple calculation between more than one parameter in the same location, this is your best option.
Example: You measure electric consumption from the first floor and electric consumption from the second floor, and you want to see the total consumption. -
Virtual Devices app: If instead of a simple calculation, you wish to use different parameters and operations, or use devices from different locations, you want to use this.
Example: You measure electric consumption and gas energy from different buildings, and you want to sum them (and also divide them by some number or do some other calculation with another parameter). -
Derived parameters: With this option, you can create a parameter from another parameter inside the same device. In this article, we will focus on this option.
Example: You measure and send pulses (502) to the platform, and you want to transform them into Gas energy in kWh (420). -
Custom parameters: Additionally, there's a feature that can be used in all these options. The custom parameters let you create a new parameter from scratch (so it's not from the default parameters list). These parameters can also be inserted.
Example: You measure produced units (131) and you want to see the produced kg, knowing that each unit is X kg.
How do the derived parameters work?
Here are the steps to create a derived parameter using a bypass and conversion factors:
- Log in to your account. You must have access as an admin or superadmin.
- Go to "Settings" and click on the "Datasources" section.
- Select a datasource and click on the "Devices" tab.
- Edit the device where you want to create the derived parameter.
- From any device, you can derive as many different parameters as you want. For example, from a Gas Massflow (m3), you can get Gas normalised massflow (Nm3) and Gas Energy (kWh).
- Once you're on the screen, scroll to the section [Optional] Derived parameters and click on Add.
- A form will pop up. Select a "Base Parameter", a conversion formula (if needed), and the "Resultant parameter".
- Example: Derived parameter - If you need to do some operations during the bypass, use the following configuration (with your own correct factors):
- Example: Derived parameter - If you need to do some operations during the bypass, use the following configuration (with your own correct factors):
- Then save, and wait for one hour.*
- When new data arrives for the base parameter, you will find that the derived parameter appears as pending.
- Accept the parameter. Then, go to the Devices tab in the Datasource, click on Parameters and accept the ones you want to visualise in the platform.
*Note: If a derived parameter is created in a device and data is sent less than one hour after creation, the derived parameters will not be generated. To ensure the correct generation, we recommend waiting one hour before inserting new data. In case of continuous sending of data, the parameter will be generated from the data sent within one hour after creation without any problem.
To keep in mind
There are a few things that you should take into account when working with derived parameters, these can help you identify reasons to solve your doubts:
The derived parameters cannot be calculated backwards: Once a derived parameter is created, the first value you'll have from this parameter, will be the next inserted value. You can't calculate the derived parameters for the values you have already inserted.
- This also applies if the conversion formula is changed. The change will only be visible for new incoming data, but not data already inserted.
- If you want to visualise earlier values, you should re-insert the data for the base parameter by manually uploading the data through an Excel file.
- Another option is using the Virtual Devices App, which allows you to calculate backwards the derived parameter. However, take into account that the parameters created through this App are billable.
The new parameter cannot be the same as the original: Remember that a device cannot have two parameters of the same type.
- It can't be used to change units from Active energy kWh (402) to Active Energy Wh (402).