Practical guide to smart substation automation in electric energy distributions

The substation automation system (SAS), as its name implies, is distinguished by its capacity to substitute automated functions for manual operator tasks. Automated operations play a crucial role in guaranteeing the safe and reliable operation of electric power transmission and distribution. Its functions include, but are not limited to, monitoring, data collection, protection, control, and remote communication.

• Voltage transformation control (Load Tap Changer Control)
• Equipment protection for buses, lines, feeders, transformers, generators, and other equipment.
• Implementing automated interlocks and switchgear switching mechanisms.
• Transmitting monitoring data to the control center.
• Resolving power system faults either locally or remotely.
• Establishing communication with other substations (intra - substation) and regional control centers.

Consequently, the cabling and wire connections among these devices and equipment become complex, necessitating substantial effort and extended time for maintenance, repair, expansion, or modification operations. Efforts have been made to reduce the amount of cabling and wiring by implementing serial communication networks at different levels of the substation hierarchy. These initiatives have led to proprietary solutions developed by substation equipment providers.

Major corporations, including non - profit groups such as the Utility Communication Architecture (UCA) which is composed of substation equipment suppliers and utility users, are actively working on improving substation communications. They are doing so by participating in the development of international standards to enhance functional compatibility and proposing architectures that offer higher network bandwidth.The goal is to improve the reliability of communication both within substations and between different substations.

The substation automation hierarchical architecture in SAS is categorized based on technological implementations. The substation automation system comprises three levels: the station level, the bay level, and the process level (as illustrated in Figure 2). These levels can be harnessed to achieve diverse functionality. In terms of technical specifications, the dimensions of a substation automation system (SAS) in extra high voltage transmission substations will be larger compared to those in high voltage distribution substations.

In modern substations, the bay level is a common feature, though during the early days of SAS, the concept of the bay level was not recognized.

Typically, sensors measure extremely large current and voltage magnitudes. Current and voltage transformers (CTs/VTs) are employed to convert substantial amounts of current and voltage into standardized values, which are then fed into relay inputs. The scaled values usually correspond to 5A (1A in Europe) for current and 120 Volts for voltage.In essence, protective relays or modern intelligent electronic devices implement the protective logic.

Figure 2 - The structure of a Substation Automation System depicting station, bay, and process levels

These devices detect and measure electrical current and voltage levels to calculate certain values that are monitored by the protective logic, such as the electrical current on the two different sides of an Extra High Voltage (EHV)/High Voltage (HV) transformer. When a parameter exceeds a specified value (pickup setting), the protective logic will act according to a predefined sequence of steps or a programmed control algorithm.Typically, when an issue arises, a trip signal is sent to the corresponding circuit breaker to isolate a line or bus.