Hydro-Québec Distribution Automation Project
Scope
1 Redundant Front-End Processor (6 planned)
50 SMP 4 Gateways
In service: 2002, 2004
2002-2004, Deploy front-end communications
processor
2002, Deploy SMP 4 gateways
Client
Hydro-Québec
http://www.hydroquebec.com/
www.cooperpowereas.com
Protocols
IEC 60870-5-101
DNP3
SEL
Hydro-Québec proprietary protocols
PG&E 2179 – planned
Devices
SEL 351
S&C M-Series Switch Operators
Serck PDS Compact eNet
Schneider Talus RTU – planned
Cooper F4C – planned
The Solution
The Challenge
Created in 1944 by the Québec government, its only
shareholder, Hydro-Québec supplies electricity to nearly
4 million customers across the province of Québec.
The company also does business with dozens of power
companies in northeastern North America, and
participates in energy-related infrastructure projects on
several continents.
With assets of over $66 billion, annual sales of
$12.7 billion and a work force of 19,297 people,
Hydro-Québec ranks among the leaders of the North
American energy industry.
In 2001, Hydro-Québec launched a project to install an
automation system for its distribution network. HydroQuébec already had six distribution control centers to
cover its network. However, only main distribution
feeders and some 25Kv switches were automated. The
project goal was to integrate more than 4000 overhead
switches in the automation system.
The switch control systems include a variety of IEDs
(Electronic Intelligent Devices), RTUs, and protection
relays, from various providers.
The challenge was to connect a large number of
devices, from various manufacturers, using various
protocols and communications technologies.
Based on its longstanding business relationship, HydroQuébec turned to Cooper Power Systems to find a way
to integrate the field devices in the automation system.
In order to provide a quick start to the project, Cooper
Power Systems began by installing Substation
Modernization Platform™ (SMP) Gateways as front-end
communication processors for selected devices. The
standard SMP Gateway provides all the functionalities
required to integrate IEDs into a control system. It
supports a variety of protocols and can perform control
functions and data acquisition.
To meet the project requirements in a cost effective
manner, Cooper Power Systems then developed a
PC-based front-end communications processor (FEP)
based on (SMP) protocol and communications
technologies.
Cooper Power Systems’ FEP manages
communications with all field devices, performs data
acquisition and provides information to the distribution
control center. It is designed to connect to more than
2000 devices (IEDs) and support 300,000 analog and
binary data points. It is based on Microsoft Windows®
2003 Server and is organized in a cluster configuration
to allow fail-safe transparent redundancy.
The FEP interrogates the field devices using IEC 608705-101 and DNP3 protocols, using any of the following
communications links:
•
•
•
•
TCP/IP Network
Serial links
Telephone or cellular modems
Wireless modems (planned)
Depending on the communication link, the FEP can
provide continuous or on-demand access to the
devices.
Cooper Power Systems used standard SMP 4
Gateways to integrate devices that required protocol
translation or modem communication capabilities.
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Saint-Jean-Chrysostome, Quebec
Canada G6Z 2C5
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B1100-09026 • April 2009 • New Issue