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| SCADA – The Heart Of Distribution Management System (DMS) - On photo:
Fima UAB - Dedicated control systems and SCADA (Supervisory Control and
Data Acquisition) as well as DMS (Distribution Management System) type
of systems are offered for electricity, water and gas supply companies,
as well as telecommunication operators and manufacturing companies. |
SCADA System Elements
At a high level, the elements of a distribution automation system can be divided into three main areas:
- SCADA application and server(s)
- DMS applications and server(s)
- Trouble management applications and server(s)
Distribution SCADA
As was stated in the title, the
Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition (SCADA) system is the heart of
Distribution Management System (DMS) architecture.
A SCADA system
should have all of the infrastructure elements to support the
multifaceted nature of distribution automation and the higher level
applications of a DMS. A Distribution SCADA system’s primary function is
in support of distribution operations telemetry, alarming, event
recording, and remote control of field equipment.
- Historically, SCADA systems have been notorious for their lack of support for the import, and more importantly, the export of power system data values.
A modern SCADA system should support the engineering budgeting and
planning functions by providing access to power system data without
having to have possession of an operational workstation.
The main elements of a SCADA system are:
- Host equipment
- Communication infrastructure (network and serial communications)
- Field devices (in sufficient quantity to support operations and telemetry requirements of a DMS platform)
Host Equipment
The essential elements of a distribution SCADA host are:
- Host servers (redundant servers with backup/failover capability).
- Communication front-end nodes (network based).
- Full graphics user interfaces.
- Relational database server (for archival of historical power system values) and data server/Web server (for access to near real time values and events).
The elements and components of the typical distribution automation system are illustrated in
Figure 1 above.
Host Computer System
SCADA Servers
As SCADA has
proven its value in operation during inclement weather conditions,
service restoration, and daily operations, the dependency on SCADA has
created a requirement for
highly available and high performance systems. Redundant server hardware operating in a “
live” backup/failover mode is required to meet the high availability criteria.
- High-performance servers with abundant physical memory, RAID hard disk systems, and interconnected by 10/100 baseT switched Ethernet are typical of today’s SCADA servers.
Communication Front-End (CFE) Processors
The current state of host to field device communications still depends heavily on serial communications.
This requirement is filled by the CFE. The CFE can come in several forms based on bus architecture (
e.g., VME or PCI) and operating system. Location of the CFE in relation to the SCADA server
can vary based on requirement.
In some configurations the CFE is located on the LAN with the SCADA
server. In other cases, existing communications hubs may dictate that
the CFE reside at the communication hub.
The incorporation of the
WAN into the architecture requires a more robust CFE application to
compensate for less reliable communications (in comparison to LAN).
In general the CFE will include three functional devices:
- A network/CPU board,
- Serial cards, and
- Possibly a time code receiver.
Functionality
should include the ability to download configuration and scan tables.
The CFE should also support the ability to dead band values (
i.e., report only those analog values that have changed by a user-defined amount).
CFE, network, and SCADA servers
should be capable of supporting worst-case conditions (
i.e., all points changing outside of the dead band limits), which typically occur during severe system disturbances.
Full Graphics User Interface
The current trend in the
user interface (UI) is toward a
full graphics (FG) user interface.
While character graphics consoles are still in use by many utilities
today, SCADA vendors are aggressively moving their platforms to a full
graphics UI.
Quite often the SCADA vendors have implemented their
new full graphics user interface on low-cost NT workstations using
third-party applications to emulate the
X11 window system.
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| SCADA - Full graphic display using Video Wall |
Full graphic displays provide the ability to display
power system data along with the electric distribution facilities in a geographical (
or semigeographical) perspective.
The advantage of using a full graphics interface becomes evident (
particularly for distribution utilities) as SCADA is deployed beyond the substation fence where feeder diagrams become critical to distribution operations.
Relational Databases, Data Servers, and Web Servers
The traditional SCADA systems
were poor providers of data to anyone not connected to the SCADA system by an operational console.
This occurred due to the proprietary nature of the performance (
in memory)
database and its design optimization for putting scanned data in and
pushing display values out. Power system quantities such as: bank and
feeder loading (
MW, MWH, MQH, and ampere loading), and bus volts provide valuable information to the distribution planning engineer.
- The availability of event (log) data is important in
postmortem analysis. The use of relational databases, data servers,
and Web servers by the corporate and engineering functions provides
access to power system information and data while isolating the SCADA
server from nonoperations personnel.
Host to Field Communications
Serial communications to field devices can occur over several mediums:
copper wire,
fiber,
radio, and even
satellite. Telephone circuits, fiber, and satellites have a relatively high cost. New radio technologies offer good communications value.
- One such technology is the Multiple Address Radio System (MAS).
The MAS operates in the 900 MHz range and is omnidirectional,
providing radio coverage in an area with radius up to 20–25 miles
depending on terrain. A single MAS master radio can communicate with
many remote sites. Protocol and bandwidth limit the number of remote
terminal units that can be communicated with by a master radio. The
protocol limit is simply the address range supported by the protocol.
Bandwidth limitations
can be offset by the use of efficient protocols, or slowing down the
scan rate to include more remote units. Spread-spectrum and
point-to-point radio (
in combination with MAS) offers an opportunity to address specific communication problems.
At the present time MAS radio is preferred to packet radio (
another new radio technology);
MAS radio communications tend to be more deterministic providing for
smaller timeout values on communication noresponses and controls.
Field Devices
Distribution Automation (DA) field devices
are multi-featured installations meeting a broad range of control,
operations, planning, and system performance issues for the utility
personnel.
Each device provides specific functionality, supports
system operations, includes fault detection, captures planning data and
records power quality information. These devices are found in the
distribution substation and at selected locations along the distribution
line. The multi-featured capability of the DA device increases its
ability to be integrated into the electric distribution system.
- The functionality and operations capabilities complement each other with regard to the control and operation of the electric distribution system.
The fault detection feature is the “eyes and ears” for the operating
personnel. The fault detection capability becomes increasingly more
useful with the penetration of DA devices on the distribution line.
The
real-time data collected by the SCADA system is provided to the
planning engineers for inclusion in the radial distribution line
studies. As the distribution system continues to grow, the utility makes
annual investments to improve the electric distribution system to
maintain adequate facilities to meet the increasing load requirements.
The use of the
real-time data
permits the planning engineers to optimize the annual capital
expenditures required to meet the growing needs of the electric
distribution system.
The power quality information includes capturing harmonic content to the 15th harmonic and recording
Percent Total Harmonic Distortion (%THD). This information is used to monitor the performance of the distribution electric system.
Modern RTU
Today’s
modern RTU is modular in construction with advanced capabilities to support functions that heretofore were not included in the RTU design.
The
modular design
supports installation configurations ranging from the small point count
required for the distribution line pole-mounted units to the very large
point count required for large bulk-power substations and power plant
switchyard installations.
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| Modern RTU Scada |
The modern RTU modules include
analog units with 9 points,
control units with 4 control pair points,
status units with 16 points, and
communication units with power supply.
The
RTU installation requirements are met by accumulating the necessary
number of modern RTU modules to support the analog, control, status, and
communication requirements for the site to be automated. Packaging of
the minimum point count RTUs is available for the distribution line
requirement.
- The substation automation requirement has the
option of installing the traditional RTU in one cabinet with connections
to the substation devices or distributing the RTU modules at the
devices within the substation with fiberoptic communications between the
modules.
The distributed RTU modules are connected to a data concentrating
unit which in turn communicates with the host SCADA computer system.
The modern RTU accepts
direct AC inputs
from a variety of measurement devices including line-post sensors,
current transformers, potential transformers, station service
transformers, and transducers. Direct AC inputs with the processing
capability in the modern RTU supports fault current detection and
harmonic content measurements. The modern RTU has the capability to
report the magnitude, direction, and duration of fault current with time
tagging of the fault event to 1-millisecond resolution. Monitoring and
reporting of harmonic content in the distribution electric circuit are
capabilities that are included in the modern RTU.
The
digital signal processing capability of the modern RTU
supports the necessary calculations to report %THD for each voltage and
current measurement at the automated distribution line or substation
site.
The modern RTU includes logic capability to support the creation of algorithms to meet specific operating needs.
- Automatic transfer schemes have been built
using automated switches and modern RTUs with the logic capability. This
capability provides another option to the distribution line engineer
when developing the method of service and addressing critical load
concerns.
The logic capability in the modern RTU has been used to create the
algorithm to control distribution line switched capacitors for operation
on a per phase basis. The capacitors are switched on at zero voltage
crossing and switched off at zero current crossing.
The algorithm
can be designed to switch the capacitors for various system parameters,
such as voltage, reactive load, time, etc. The remote control capability
of the modern RTU then allows the system operator to take control of
the capacitors to meet system reactive load needs.
The modern RTU
has become a dynamic device with increased capabilities. The new logic
and input capabilities are being exploited to expand the uses and
applications of the modern RTU.
PLCs and IEDs
Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) and Intelligent Electronic Device (IED) are components of the distribution automation system, which meet specific operating and data gathering requirements.
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| PLC SCADA Panel |
While there is some overlap in capability with the modern RTU, the
authors are familiar with the use of PLCs for automatic isolation of the
faulted power transformer in a two-bank substation and
automatic transfer of load to the unfaulted power transformer to
maintain an increased degree of reliability.
The PLC communicates with the modern RTU in the substation to facilitate the remote operation of the substation facility.
- The typical PLC can support serial communications to a SCADA server. The
modern RTU has the capability to communicate via an RS-232 interface
with the PLC.
IEDs include
electronic meters, electronic relays, and controls on specific
substation equipment, such as breakers, regulators, LTC on power
transformers, etc.
The IEDs also have the capability to support
serial communications to a SCADA server. However, the authors’ experience indicates that the IEDs are typically reporting to the modern RTU via an
RS-232 interface or via status output contact points.
As its
communicating capability improves and achieves equal status with the
functionality capability, the IED has the potential to become an equal
player in the automation communication environment.
However, in
the opinion of the authors, the limited processing capability for
supporting the communication requirement, in addition to its functional
requirements (
i.e., relays, meters, etc.), hampers the widespread use of the IEDs in the distribution automation system.
Resource: Power System Operation and Control - George L. Clark and Simon W. Bowen