Developing of scalable scada in view of acquiring multi protocol smart grid devices

Abstract

Distribution Automation (DA) can be identified as a method of improving system efficiency &reliability. It enables distribution utilities to monitor and control their distribution assets from a central location called “Distribution Control Center” However the distribution licensees operate in Sri Lanka, reluctant to adopt DA in to their system mainly due to higher capital investment &heavy dependency on foreign technical expertise in this field. With a careful study, it can be identified that there are considerable number of DA compatible distribution components were reside in their respective networks without proper utilization of features which support DA. These devices were brought in to their networks without considering DA.Therefore implementing a DA solution by utilizing these devices,should only be done after conducting a careful study. Device communication plays a pivotal role in DA. Successful DA implementation heavily relies on device communication. As these devices were added in to networks in adhoc manner, they tend to support many different communication protocols and create multiprotocol environment which complicates DA implementation further. Larger portion of the distribution network of Sri Lanka comprising of over head network and linking geographically dispersed distribution equipment to a central control center, where Supervisory Control & Data Acquisition (SCADA) system resides is a cumber some and expensive task. This dissertation discusses on developing a scalable SCADA in view of acquiring multi protocol smart grid devices to support distribution licensees operate in Sri Lanka to develop an in house DA solution with local expertise & with minimum capital cost. Further it discuss of adopting a cost effective communication media to maintain minimum operational cost for the DA solution. Western province north (WPN) of Distribution division-2 of Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) considered for the study & outcome of the study has been utilized to develop a Distribution control center in WPN.