3.
7 Substation Automation Systems
B.7
3.71Short definition of Substation
Automation Systems
The definiton of Substation Automation Systens (SA)
can be done stepwise.
The most straightforward definition is that a Sub
station Automation System perfons al the local tasks
described in section 3.6.1, ie. provding
" local and remote access to the power system
" local manual and automatic functions
" Communications links and interfaces to the switch
gear, within the substation automation system
and to the netwok management system
These functions may be perfomed more or less
combined in a lot of dedicated ntelligent Electro
nic Devices (ED) for control, monitoring, protection,
autormatics, communication, etc The functions of sub
station automation are described in chapter 6, the
substation automation structure in chapter 7.
3.72 The History of Rernote Terminal Units
Historicaly, the oniy interface between the switch
gear and the network management system was a
Remote Terrninal Urit (RTU) ineach substation. The
RTU was a central unit containing a lot of inputs and
outputs, nearly no local functions but the communi
cation interface to the rernote network controlcenter.
RTUS and NCC both together formed the Supervisory
Control And Data Acquisition systern (SCADA). A
SCADA system is primaily used to monitor, control
and manage the power system rerotely by human
intervention to deliver electrical energy as per delivery
Contracts. It provides real time status information
(both analogue and digital) as wellas historical infor
mation to the operator and supports his decision
making for effective supervisory control. In addition,
the action of protection ike start and trip is induded
as simple yes/no information.
3.73 From RTU to SA
autornation systems
In contrast to RTUs, Substation abOve in a
perforn all the local tasks rnentionedThe functions
structure.
more or less decentral1zed required
indude al the autormation actions that are
of
it is to iso
tomanage the specific substation, whether
collect condition
late and earth a feeder bay, or to
indudes the collection
monitoring data. Therefore, it
that are related
and storage of a vast anount of data surrounding
to substation based equipment and the distur
power system itself (e.g fauit location details,
bance recording etc). The structure of Substation
Autornation is described in hapter 7, its architecture
in chapter 8.
The communication function of the RTUis also need
ed in the SA, but is changed to a communication
interface. In most cases, this function is implemented
in a gateway IED. Depending on the communication
protocols used this gateway has to convert the pro
tocols in both directions also (protocol converter). The
information collected and stored in distibuted devic
es (EDs) of the SA will be communicated to the
SCADA master via this gateway. Note that also pro
tection devices are seen as part of the Substation
Automation integrated by the common communica
tion systerm. Protection functions may be also imple
mented together with control functions in one single
IED.
Depending on the functionality and availability request
ed in the substation, its geographic extension and
commercial boundaries, RTUS wil remain a conve
nient solution for a lot of substations. Reverse, RTUS
may be defined as most simple substation automa
tion systems also. Some compariscon is given chapter 8.
The trends and outlooks for the future developments
are addressed in chapter 18.