PRACTICAL IMPACTS OF MODERN SUBSTATION AUTOMATION FOR POWER UTILITIES

摘要

Modern Substation Automation (SA) is the integrated implementation of the substation protection system, control system and monitoring system in a substation based on numerical technology applying hardware platforms and software library of functions as multifunctional devices. Modern SA covers protection, control, monitoring and data collection, aspects. Apart from traditional functionality, modern substation automation systems can provide a lot of new functions in order to make the best use of the high voltage networks, to get better quality of the energy delivery and to facilitate control and management of the whole network with the state of art numerical technology. The authors present the fundamental requirements for a modern SA, which distinguish the modern substation automation from a conventional solution and illustrate the cost/performance effectiveness. Moreover, the practical impacts for using modern SA for power utilities are carefully described, such as effective energy management, better service quality, system wide monitoring, faster fault detection, etc. Proposals about the refurbishment of existing substations become more and more important. The authors explain why utilities have to establish a strategy how to proceed taking into account the goals of the company and the status of the different substations. Finally this paper indicates the future trends in the technology (higher degree of integration, standardized communication) and in the management of the electrical networks (liberalization and need for better information).