Power System Architecture and Protection

Introduction to Power System Automation

Dr. Vai Vannak
Dept. of Electrical and Energy Engineering
Institute of Technology of Cambodia
[Link]@[Link]

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Content
• Introduction to Power System Automation
• SCADA, IEDs, RTUs, PLCs and communications
• Automation System for Power Generating Stations
• Automation System for Substations
• Automation System for Power Distribution Systems
• Automation System for Hybrid Renewable Energy
Systems

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Introduction
• Power system refers to interconnection of generating stations,
transformers, lines, and loads.
• Power System Automation refers to using Instrumentation and
Control (I&C) devices to perform automatic decision making and
control of the power system.
• Automation Tasks
• Data acquisition
• Supervision
• Control
• Automation
• I&C System and IEDs

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Data Acquisition
• Data acquisition refers to acquiring or collection data
• This data is collected in the form of measured analog
current or voltage values or the open or closed status
of contact points
• Acquired data can be
• Used locally within the device collecting it
• Sent to another device in a substation
• Sent from the substation to one or several databases for use
by operators, engineers, planners, and administration

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Supervision
• Computer process and personal supervise, or
monitor, the conditions and status of the power
system using the acquired data
• Operators and engineers monitor the information
remotely on computer displays and graphical wall
displays or locally at the device on front-panel
displays and laptop computers

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Control
• Control refers to sending command messages to a
device to operate the I&C and power system
devices
• Traditional supervisory control and data acquisition
(SCADA) systems relay on operators to supervise
the system and initiate commands from an
operator console on the master computer
• Field personnel can also control device using front-
panel push buttons or a laptop computer

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Automation
• System automation is the act of automatically
controlling the power system via automated
process within computers and intelligent I&C
devices
• The process relay on data acquisition, supervision,
and control all working together in a coordinated
automatic fashion
• The commands are generated automatically and
then transmitted in the same fashion as operator
initiated commands

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I&C and IEDs
• I&C devices built using microprocessors are commonly referred to as intelligent electronic
devices (IEDs).
• Microprocessors are single chip computers that allow the devices into which they are built to
process data, accept commands, and communicate information like a computer
• Automatic processes can be run in the IEDs, and communications are handled through a serial
port like the communications ports on a computer. IEDs are found in the substation and on the
pole-top

Instrument Transformer Transducers

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Remote Terminal Unit-RTU
• A remote terminal device, RTU is an IED that can be installed in a
remote location, and acts as a termination point for field contacts.
• The RTU can transfer collected data to other devices and receive data
and control commands from other devices through a serial port
• User programmable RTUs are referred to as “Smart RTUs”

Remote Terminal Unit-RTU

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Communications Port Switch
• A communication switch is a device that switches
between several serial ports when it is told to do
so.

Communications Port Switch

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Meter and Digital Fault recorders
• A meter is an IED that is used to create accurate measurements of
power system current, voltage, and power values
• Metering values such as demand and peak are saved within the meter
to create historical information about the activity of the power system
• A digital fault recorder (DFR) is an IED that records information about
power system disturbance

Meter Digital fault recorder

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Recloser Controller
• Recloser controller remotely control the operation of automated
reclosers and switches
• The devices monitor and store power system conditions and determine
when to perform control actions
• The devices also accept commands from a remote operator or process

Example of Recloser Control

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Human Machine Interface (HMI)
• The front display and push buttons or a personal
computer act as interfaces to system data and
control for personnel in the substation

Human Machine Interface (HMI)

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Programmable Logic Controller
(PLC)
• A programmable logic controller (PLC) is an IED that can be programmed
to perform logical control
• The PLC can transfer collected data to other devices and receive data
and control commands from other devices through a serial port

Programmable Logic Controller

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PLC Languages: IEC 61131

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Protective Relay
• A protective relay is an IED designed to sense power system
disturbances and automatically perform control actions on the I&C
system and the power system to protect personnel and equipment
• Transducers are not necessary since the relay accepts signals directly
from the instrument transformers
• Protective relay create metering information, collect system status
information, and store historical records of power system operation

Programmable Logic Controller

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Protocol Gateway
• IEDs communicate over serial connections by
speaking a particular language or protocol
• A protocol gateway converts communications from
one protocol to another
• This task is often performed by software on a
personal computer

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SCADA System
• SCADA is the short abbreviation of Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition.
• As the name suggests SCADA mainly does three operations:
• Supervise real-time data in the form of graphical presentation
• Control industrial processes locally or through remote locations
• Acquire real-time data as well as logs data

SCADA System
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SCADA for Power Generating
Stations
• The control functions of SCADA system
in power generation include:
• Continuous monitoring of speed and
frequency
• Observation of the dynamic status of CB,
switches, and protection relays
• Planning of generation operations
• Control of active and reactive powers
• Wind/steam/gas turbine protection
• Monitoring of fuel system and station
auxiliary services
• Voltage and frequency-based load
scheduling
• Processing of historical data for
parameters related to generation
• Observation of weather stations in case
of wind and solar plants.
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SCADA for Power Distribution
Systems
• The control functions of SCADA system
in power distribution systems include:
• Improving power quality by improving
power factor and harmonics contents
• Limiting peak load demand
• Real-time monitoring and controlling of
power network
• Trending and alarming to enable fixing
outage problems
• Historical data and archiving
• Quick response to customer service
calls
• Motor control and integrating with
SCADA
• Power control algorithms
• Load shedding and load restoration.

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SCADA in Solar PV Plants
• This SCADA software should provide flexibility in controlling and monitoring
the various PV plant components and measurements, including maximum
power point trackers, inverters, substations, CB, and meters.
• For monitoring purposes, the system records any event and generates
alarms so that the engineering staff can order switching action or change
the process of plant operation.

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SCADA in Hybrid Power Systems
• The monitoring of PV cells and FCs is done
in PLC and is interfaced to SCADA/EMS so
that the operator can observe the
parameters easily and control the
parameters according to the changes in
system requirements.
• The data of HPS is collected through PLC
and connected to the control room
through a communication protocol. The
detailed connection of RES, such a HPS
• The PLC is interfaced to the energy
management control unit to get control
actions according to the respective
microgrid loads and environmental
conditions.
• The entire system is connected to SCADA
for supervision and control.

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 Contact information: Institute of Technology of Cambodia
Research and Innovation Center
Energy Technology and Management Unit
Department of Electrical and Energy Engineering
Power Systems Research Laboratory, 201-H

Mobile : +855 (0) 12 617 364

Email :[Link]@[Link]

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