The RTU, PILOT and Spread Spectrum Radio reduce Outage Time for the Electric Distribution System

摘要

Distribution Automation continues to provide opportunities for the Distribution engineer to improve the operation of the Electric Distribution System. The Distribution engineer is continuingly being called upon to find ways to reduce outage time on the Distribution feeder. The Remote Terminal Unit (RTU) with PILOT logic using spread spectrum radio communications has matured into an integral component of the automated Distribution feeder. The RTU support for multiple communication protocols increases its' adaptability to utility SCADA-specific deployments. The development of the switched capacitor bank controller and the addition of fault detection along the Distribution feeder are PILOT logic applications in the RTU. PILOT logic facilitates the development of algorithms, which reside in the RTU, to automatically isolate faulted sections of the Distribution feeder and restore service to the un-faulted sections. The flexibility of PILOT logic allows the Distribution engineer to incorporate new devices on the Distribution feeder in existing feeder automation PILOT logic schemes. The new PILOT logic schemes contribute directly to the reduction of outage time on the Distribution feeder and, thus, the PILOT logic schemes are becoming an indispensable tool for use by the Distribution engineer to achieve reduced outage time in the new 21st Century of Distribution Automation. This paper will briefly update the deployment of Distribution Automation at Alabama Power Company, describe the development of PILOT logic algorithms feeder automation schemes, review the deployment of outage reduction algorithms using PILOT logic and conclude with a summary of the experience from the deployment of the PILOT logic algorithms. PILOT logic schemes have reduced outage time, improved customer service and directly addressed customer satisfaction.