Distribution Automation
Technical Background & Current Trends
Dan Murray
Siemens Energy, Inc.
Smart Grid Conference
Rosen Shingle Creek Resort, Orlando, Florida
October 20-21 2011
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Smart Grid Research Consortium – October 20-21, 2011
Topics
 Overview of several Distribution Automation Applications
 Technical Considerations when implementing DA Applications
 Architectures
 Sensors
 Communications / Cyber security
 Control Technologies
 Other Considerations when implementing DA Applications
 Current System Configuration (that is to say, your starting point)
 Policies and Standards
 Human Resources / Skill Sets
 ROI / Budget
 DA Implementation Strategies
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Smart Grid Research Consortium – October 20-21, 2011
Distribution Automation Trends
Example: CenterPoint Smart Grid Strategy
Page
Grid Research
Consortium
– October
2011 Grid of the Future – Don Cortez
Source:
[1] 3Leveraging AMI and BPL Smart
Technologies
at CenterPoint:
Energy
to Build20-21,
the Intelligent
Select DA Applications
 Fault Detection Isolation and Service Restoration (FLIR or FLISR)
reduces the impact of outages.
 Volt/VAR Control provides greater network efficiency through improved
monitoring and regulation of power on distribution lines.
 Conservation Voltage Reduction (CVR) reduces load during peak
periods.
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Smart Grid Research Consortium – October 20-21, 2011
Fault Location Isolation and Service Restoration (FLIR or FLISR)
General Description
Fault Location, Isolation, and Service Restoration
 Detects occurrence of a fault on a distribution feeder.
 Determines the location of the fault between 2 switches or reclosers.
 Isolates the faulted section between nearest switch and/or recloser.
 Restores service to “healthy” portions of the feeder while maintaining
safe loading limits on the second source.
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Smart Grid Research Consortium – October 20-21, 2011
Fault Detection Isolation and Service Restoration (FLISR)
Typical Operation Today without FLISR
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Smart Grid Research Consortium – October 20-21, 2011
Fault Detection Isolation and Service Restoration (FLISR)
Improved Performance using FLISR
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Smart Grid Research Consortium – October 20-21, 2011
Fault Detection Isolation and Service Restoration (FLISR)
Benefits
Revenue per
Distribution Mile
 IOU
$62,665
 Muni
$86,302
 Coop
$10,565
Source: 2006 RUS/EIA data
Source: [2] “Equipment for Feeder Automation - Recent Trends in Feeder Automation Seminar”
PagePES
8 Miami Chapter Miami,Smart
Grid
Research
– October
20-21,
IEEE
Florida
June
2, 2005,Consortium
John McDonald,
KEMA,
Inc. 2011
Volt/VAR Control
General Description
Volt/VAR Control provides greater network efficiency through improved
monitoring and regulation of power on distribution lines.
 Regulation performed through coordinated use of cap banks and
voltage regulators.
 If DMS is used, then On Line Power Flow (OLPF) may help
determine what control actions to take.
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Smart Grid Research Consortium – October 20-21, 2011
Conservation Voltage Reduction
General Description
Conservation Voltage Reduction
 Flattens the voltage profile across the feeder.
 Allows monitoring of lowest voltage point to ensure it is above
minimum acceptable voltage level.
 Determines the necessary control actions to accomplish CVR.
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Smart Grid Research Consortium – October 20-21, 2011
System Architecture
NIST Smart Grid Conceptual Model – Detailed View
Source:
Security
Plan, NRECA
CRN Smart
Grid Regional
Demonstration, Grant DE-OE-0000222
Page[3]11Interoperability and Cyber
Smart
Grid Research
Consortium
– October
20-21, 2011
Centralized vs. Decentralized Architecture
Overview
Centralized vs. Decentralized refers to where the switching logic
resides.
Centralized at
Control Center
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Centralized
at the Substation
Smart Grid Research Consortium – October 20-21, 2011
Decentralized
Peer-to-peer
Centralized vs. Decentralized Architecture
Comparison
Consideration
Centralized
Decentralized
Cost
 DMS: Higher starting cost
 Lower starting cost
Complexity
 Greater time to implement
 Less time to implement
Skills
 DMS requires more
advanced skills for
implementation
 Most substation
engineering skills portable
to DA applications
Suggested Use
 Good starting position
with existing SCADA
 Many feeders to be
automated
 Many DA functions to be
implemented
 Often used is SCADA can
not be upgraded
 Suitable for limited
deployment (based on
cost) or when “patching”
system
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Smart Grid Research Consortium – October 20-21, 2011
Fault Detection Isolation and Service Restoration (FLISR)
Components when using Peer-to-Peer Logic Approach
Decentralized Feeder Automation





Municipals and Cooperatives
Better Performance
Standardization
Simplicity
Lower Cost
Short Cycle business
 Standardize on products
 Available skills and expertise
 Cost-Driven
 Small Annual Budgets (Short
Cycle)
Concept
+
Switches
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+
+
IED Family
Software
+
Wireless
Smart Grid Research Consortium – October 20-21, 2011
Substation HMI (Option)
Fault Detection Isolation and Service Restoration (FLISR)
System Integration when using Peer-to-Peer Logic
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
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Automated Primary Switches/Reclosers
Smart Controller
High Speed Communication
Communication Protocol (DNP / IEC 61850)
Software Configuration Tools
Smart Fault Detection Capability
Smart Switching Logic
Smart Grid Research Consortium – October 20-21, 2011
Fault Location Isolation and Service Restoration (FLIR or FLISR)
Benefits from Peer-to-Peer Approach
Problem: Keeping the lights on!
 Reduce outage size and duration.
 Locate faults faster with less driving time.
 Reduce crew size to isolate and restore.
 Reduce windshield time, particularly with
long distribution lines.
Compelling Solution: Allows utilities to “do more with less”
 Fast transfer scheme for critical load (e.g., hospital or industrial acct.)
 Perform isolation and restoration faster than standard recloser and
sectionalizer technology, and sometimes at a lower CAPEX cost.
 Increase billing revenue through fewer and smaller outages.
 Improve customer service – Resolve outages before customer calls.
 Provide the ability to service a larger territory with fewer linemen.
 Make use of adaptive settings for storm conditions to reduce SCADA
operator work load.
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Smart Grid Research Consortium – October 20-21, 2011
Fault Detection Isolation and Service Restoration (FLISR)
Peer-to-Peer Example: A&N Electric Coop
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Smart Grid Research Consortium – October 20-21, 2011
Communication Protocols
Comparison
Protocol
Pro
Con
DNP 3.0
DNP over TCP/IP
 90% utilities using it
 Relatively easy to use
 Training classes available
 No object model
 No peer-to-peer
 Limited security
IEC 61850
 More utilities using it
 Contains object model
 Native peer-to-peer
 Future enhancements to
the standard to support
DG and comm to SCADA
 More complex than DNP
 Interoperability issues
remain but improving
 Engineering tools are
average but improving
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Smart Grid Research Consortium – October 20-21, 2011
Telecommunication Options
Commercial Carriers
Source: [4] “Smart GridNet” Architecture for Utilities. Alcatel-Lucent Strategic White Paper.
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Smart Grid Research Consortium – October 20-21, 2011
Telecommunication Options
Direction of Wireless Technologies
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Smart Grid Research Consortium – October 20-21, 2011
Communication Technology Deployment
Comparison
Deployment
Utilities owns network
Carrier owns network
 Full control over life cycle
 Full bandwidth following
storm event
 Little to no control
 Higher CAPEX cost
 Radio: One-time expense
of $1,000+ per node
 Generally lower CAPEX
cost
 On-going maintenance
cost
Complexity
 Radio: sight survey
 Requires expertise
 Outsource expertise
Security
 Usually the most secure
 Requires expertise
 Can be reasonably
secured
 Outsource expertise
Control
Cost
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Smart Grid Research Consortium – October 20-21, 2011
DA Implementation Strategies
Project
Management
Engineering
Production
 Requirements planning
 Evaluating your system starting
System Test
Support
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position
 Cost / Benefits Analysis
 Perform pilots and limited deployment
 Implementation resources available
 NRECA website (architecture
framework and cyber security)
 NIST
Smart Grid Research Consortium – October 20-21, 2011
Questions?
Dan Murray
Marketing Manager
Mobile: (408) 687-9134
dan.murray@siemens.com
Thank you!
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Smart Grid Research Consortium – October 20-21, 2011
References
 [1] Leveraging AMI and BPL Technologies at CenterPoint: Energy to
Build the Intelligent Grid of the Future – Don Cortez
 [2] “Equipment for Feeder Automation - Recent Trends in Feeder
Automation Seminar” IEEE PES Miami Chapter Miami, Florida June 2,
2005, John McDonald, KEMA, Inc.
http://www.ece.fiu.edu/docs/Seminar/John%20MacDonald/Equipment%20for%20Feeder%20Automation.pdf
 [3] Interoperability and Cyber Security Plan, NRECA CRN Smart Grid
Regional Demonstration, Grant DE-OE-0000222
http://www.nreca.coop/press/NewsReleases/Documents/InteroperabilityCyberSecurityPlan.pdf
 [4] “’Smart GridNet’ Architecture for Utilities,” Strategic White Paper,
Alcatel-Lucent, 2007.
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Smart Grid Research Consortium – October 20-21, 2011