1.

Introduction
Power system is a network consists of generation, transmission and distribution system. It
uses resources and converts it into electrical form of energy.
Automation is doing jobs without the help of skill and labour of man. It uses the automatic
methods in labs, homes, factories, research centres. It assists in doing tasks beyond man’s
capabilities. Automation goes back earlier than transmission and Distribution.
Electric Utilities constantly face the problems of providing power at competitive prices. Due
to accidents, lightning and natural incidents power failures occur resulting in interruption of
power supply. Therefore, power systems should be monitored and controlled effectively to
take timely actions and ensure uninterrupted supply of power. So, it makes necessary for
the power system to be automated.

2. Power System Automation

Power system automation is the act of automatically controlling the power system via
instrumentation and control devices. Substation automation refers to using data from
Intelligent electronics devices (IED), control and automation capabilities within the
substation, and control commands from remote users to control power system devices.
In earlier times plant processes were manually supervised. This, needed the
operator/supervisor to be at the plant all the time which was not possible. Automation has
solved this problem and can be mechanical, economical, computerized or a combination.
Automation at the substation involves use of SCADA and data communication. Substation
Automation requires the use of SCADA, data communication to control, monitor and protect
the functions and equipment’s. It plays an important role in the global economy by
eliminating the need for manpower and reducing costs involved.

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 3. Automation Tasks
• Data acquisition
• Supervision
• Electrical protection
• Control
• Measurement
• Monitoring
• Data communication
1) Data Acquisition: Data acquisition refers to acquiring, or collecting, data. This data is
collected in the form of measured analog current or voltage values or the open or closed
status of contact points. Acquired data can be used locally within the device collecting it,
sent to another device in a substation, or sent from the substation to one or several
databases for use by operators, engineers, planners, and administration.
2) Supervision: Computer processes and personnel supervise, or monitor, the conditions and
status of the power system using this acquired data. Operators and engineers monitor the
information remotely on computer displays and graphical wall displays or locally, at the
device, on front-panel displays and laptop computers.
3) Electrical Protection: It is the most important function of automation to protect the devices
and supervisors and to prevent damage in case of fault.
4) Control: Control involves local and remote control. Local control is the steps that the
controller can take such as synchronizing check and switching sequences. There is little risk
of human error involved. Remote control, controls the substation via SCADA master.
Advantage offered is of faster operation. The operator has an overall view of the system
enabling speedier decision making. Production losses are also reduced.
5) Measurement: Measurement involves electrical measurements such as power factor,
current, voltage and harmonics. Analog measurements and disturbance recordings for fault
analysis. This information about the station is obtained from the control room or central
database. This prevents the operator/engineer from going to the station to obtain
information thus assisting in worker safety and work is reduced. The information obtained
can help in network studies, preventing faults and disturbances which cause large number of
losses.
6) Monitoring: Sequence of events, status and condition monitoring. This can help in locating
the fault and take preventive measures.
7) Data Communication: Without data communication, power system automation cannot
function. This can help to locate the fault and take preventive measures.

The devices used are:

1. Instrument transformer: Instrument transformers are used to sense power system current and
voltage values. They are physically connected to power system apparatus and convert the actual

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power system signals, which include high voltage and current magnitudes, down to lower signal
levels. Types are: CT and PT.

2. Transducer: Transducer is device which sense the changes in power system parameter like
voltage, load current, reactive power, real power and status of circuit breaker, isolator and when
converted in suitable form, which is useful for further process.
Types
1. Analog
2. Digital

3. Relay: A protective relay is an IED designed to sense power system disturbances and
automatically perform control actions on the I&C system and the power system to protect personnel
and equipment. Relays create metering information, collect system status information, and store
historical records of power system operation.

4. RTU (Remote Terminal Unit): RTU is a microprocessor- controlled electronic device that
interfaces transducer & MTU by transmitting telemetry data to a master system, and by
using messages from the master supervisory system to control connected objects. Another
term that may be used for RTU is remote tele- control unit.
Types of RTU
i. Single Board RTU
ii. Modular RTU

5. Meter: A meter is an IED that is used to create accurate measurements of power system current,
voltage, and power values. Metering values such as demand and peak are saved within the meter to
create historical information about the activity of the power system.

6. Digital fault recorder: It is an intelligent electronic device (IED) that samples binary data
during power system transients, using communications to retrieve fault, disturbance and
sequence of event records, captured by protection relays.

7. PLC (Programmable Logic Controller): A PLC is a digital computer used for automation of
typically industrial electromechanical processes, such as control of machinery on factory
assembly lines, amusement rides, or light fixtures. PLCs are used in many industries and
machines.
For protection, control and metering Logical operations are made by using switches.
PLC performs the logical operations and displays the operation on computer screen.

8. HMI (Human Machine Interface): Human Machine Interface commonly known as HMI are
deployed for control and visualization interface between a human and a process, machine,
application and appliance. Increasingly, HMIs are becoming an integral part of Factory Automation.

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 4. Power System Automation Architecture
There are three levels which are connected to each other through communication medium.
Level 1: This level contains the field equipment and Switch gear, CTs, PTS, etc. Monitoring
and measurement of system parameters are carried out at this layer.
Level 2: This level contains the protection and control equipment. Protective relays, RTUS
and IEDs constitute this layer. The collected information for layer 1 is processed here.
Level 3: This level contains the Operator Display and Engineering Workstation for executing
the programs. This level is also called as the Energy Management Systems (EMS) Level or
Layer, where network analysis programs are run for operating the system.
Power system automation is concerned mostly with levels 1 and 2. The RTUs and IEDs on
receiving information determine the tasks to be carried out for automation. The usual tasks
in automation are:
1) Switching (on or off) of Equipment like Capacitors, Reactors.
2) Network Switching (on or off) or Reconfiguration of Transmission or distribution
lines.
3) Changing settings on equipment (Transformer on-load tap changing).

Figure: Power System Automation Architecture

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 5. Implementation of Power System Automation using SCADA
The Computerized power network data acquisition and monitoring for Power System
Automation have been implemented using part of software and hardware.
The hardware involves different type of digital, communication equipment with a
Computing system.
The software involves the data collection and monitoring software with the AMP (Automatic
Meter Placement).
SCADA – It refers to Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition.
SCADA refers to a system that collects data from various sensors at a factory, plant or in
other remote locations and then sends this to a central computer which then manages and
controls the data at supervisory level.
Traditional supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) system relay on operators to
supervise the system and initiate commands from an operator console on the master
computer. Field personnel can also control devices using front panel push buttons or a
laptop computer.
SCADA is used for the constructive working, using a SCADA system for control ensures a
common framework not only for the development of the specific applications but also for
operating the detectors. Operators experience the same” look and feel” whatever part of
the experiment they control. However, this aspect also depends to a significant extent on
proper engineering.

Main functions of SCADA:

 Data acquisition
 Networked Data Communication
 Data Presentation
 Control

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 6. Operation of Power System Automation

 A substation is controlled and monitored in real time by a PLC and by certain

specialized devices such as circuit breakers and power monitors.
 Data from the PLC and the devices is then transmitted to a PC- based SCADA node
located at the substation.
 One or more PCs are located at various centralized control and monitoring points.
 The links between the substation’s PCs and the central station PCs are generally
Ethernet- based and are implemented via the internet, an intranet and/or some
version of cloud computing.
 SCADA systems typically allow commands to be issued from central control and
monitoring points to substations, these commands can enable full remote control.

7. Threats and Counter Measures

Threats: RTU, SCADA master, IED suffer from interruption of services and eavesdropping which
are same problems faced by a normal computer.
Communication links again suffer from same problems faced by a computer such an interception
of password and data. Information can be intercepted by unauthorized people. Similarly, SCADA
software suffers from attacks like intercepting, interruption and modification. The data must be
encrypted to protect it from competition.

Counter Measures: The following measures are undertaken to eliminate threats.

 Equipment location- Since the equipment is located in remote locations they must be mounted
or housed.
 Remote access- Password protection, encryption must be done for access to IED, RTU and
relays.
 Human element- No unauthorized person must access the system without authentication or
smart card access

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 8. Advantages

• Better quality of service and reduction in labour required

• Reduced operating costs
• Flexible payment options and less outage minutes
• Improved access to information for customers and to take decisions
• Portable and less maintenance cost
• Limit the frequency of accidents

9. Disadvantages

• Lack of train personal

• Initial cost is high
• Troubled alarms

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 10. Applications

 Telemetry: - It measures the amount of energy which is consumed. Data which is

gathered daily from the bays is sent to the energy provider’s server. The data is
coded and sent through GPS, GSM making ut available at remote locations.
 Tele protection: - Digital connection between two or three different facilities is
ensured so that certain protection facilities can be carried out which are dependent
on data from more than one substation.
 Equipment Supervision: - This performs equipment maintenance functions such as
direct voltage batteries and transformers. Performance improvement and wear and
tear is prevented by change of settings.

Other applications are:

 Smart grid: A smart grid is a modernized electrical grid that uses analogue or
digital information and communications technology to gather and act on
information, such as information about the behaviours of suppliers and
consumers, in an automated fashion to improve the efficiency, reliability,
economics, and sustainability of the production and distribution of electricity.
Electronic power conditioning and control of the production and distribution
of electricity are important aspects of the smart grid.
 Smart meter: A smart meter is usually an electronic device that records
consumption of electric energy in intervals of an hour or less and
communicates that information at least daily back to the utility for
monitoring and billing.
 Automatic generation control: It is a system for adjusting the power output of
multiple generators at different power plants, in response to changes in the
load.

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 11. Conclusion

In future the control systems will supervise the systems, rather than controlling it. The system will
incorporate the latest technologies and use multiple communication channels. The operator
interface will become the human computer interface allowing collaboration between interested
parties enabling them to participate in optimization and operation of plant. This development is
already going forward.
Automation systems are now network enabled and becoming communication channels and real
time information is provided to those which give input to the decision-making process. Wireless
stations can get information about field devices and allow technicians to make configuration
analysis.
Due to technological advancement, we can see that, computers will be at the power plant but the
operator will be somewhere else. Data will be available through portals to the outside world with
the aim to optimize process and operation costs are reduced. Thus, using this technology and
hardware reliability of future automation systems will be improved.

So, automation has lot more advantages as it increases efficiency and increase
standardization.

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 12. References

• James Northcote – Green and Robert G. Vision, “Control and Automation of

Electrical Power Distribution Systems”.
• Alstom Grid, “Network Protection and Automation Guide”, Edition May 2011.
• “Automation Solution Guide, Schneider Electric Industrial Automation”, 1st edition,
volume 6, IDC Engineering Pocket Guide.
• International Journal of Advanced Research in Electrical, Electronics and
Instrumentation Engineering- Vol. 4, Issue 9, September 2015.

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