Substation & SCADA System

Subsation location,grounding and Control using SCADA system

Prakul Sharma
B. Tech Electrical and Electronics Engineering
Lovely Professional University
Phagwara, Punjab
Registration Number: 11204250

Abstract The paper deal with the importance

Introduction-A substation is a part of electrical

of substation grounding and how to select the

generation, transmission and distribution system. It

appropriate location for building a substation. It

transforms the voltage from higher to lower level or

describes the factors on which the location of the

vice versa. For efficient distribution of electricity it

substation is decided such as the water drainage

is required that the substation be placed at the

system, land availability, topography of the land,

proper location. The location depends on various

distance from the load point and several other

other factors such the point of generation of

factors. It also deals with the need for grounding the

electricity and the location where the electricity is to

substation and the measures to be taken for tit.

be consumed.

SCADA system are used to automate various

Grounding of the substation is a necessity to

process from manufacturing to oil refining and

SCADA system stands for Supervisory Control

various others. It provides a method for the operator

and Data Acquisition System. It consists of a

to control all the process and watch the process

software package which is interfaced to the

happening in real time just from the control room. It

hardware using Programmable Logic Controller. It

consist of PLC, RTU and various sensor which are

deals with the control at supervisory levels not the

interfaced together to build the system. It also finds

full control of the system. The system collects data

usage in substation to keep an eye on its working

from machinery which is then used to take logic

and control the substation from the control room. It

decision and the control of the system.

can also detect faults occurring at different places

from the control room and it doesnt require the
technician to personal go there just to find the fault.

SUBSTATION LOCATION-The location of the

Economic Evaluation-ONE OF THE IMPORTANT

substation depends on various factors. The

ASPECT FOR DECIDING THE LOCATION OF THE

location of the substation is decided keeping in

SUBSTATION IS ECONOMIC EVALUATION.

mind the area of consumption of power and the

LOCATION WHERE THE SUBSTATION IS SETUP

area where generation takes place. Neither the

SHOULD BE SUCH THAT COST OF SET UP IS

substation should be located very far from the

MINIMIZED.

area of consumption of power nor in between the

REQUIRES LAND.

residential areas. Locating the substation very far

CHOSEN SHOULD BE OPTIMUM AND SHOULD NOT

from the point of consumption of power will

INCREASE THE COST OF SETTING UP OF THE

increase the losses. If the substation is located in

SUBSTATION.

the area where the power is to be consumed,

MATERIAL HAVE TO BROUGHT AND INSTALLED.

there are chances of mishap. The location of

THE AREA SELECTED SHOULD BE PROPERLY

substation is decided on various factors as

CONNECTED TO THE TRANSPORT NETWORK ELSE

Technical Evaluation-The location of

substation also depend on technical factors such
as topography, its distance from the residential

THE

SETTING UP OF SUBSTATION
THE COST OF THE LAND

TO SET UP A SUBSTATION VARIOUS

IT WOULD LEAD TO INCREASE IN COST.

THE COST

OF THE LAND SHOULD BE AFFORDABLE AND THE

RETURN OF INVESTMENT SHOULD BE OPTIMUM.

areas, etc. The technical factor responsible for

deciding the location of substation are discussed

below.

Land: The land should be chosen in such a

which are prone to waterlogging.

way that it minimizes the need of earth

region. The fertile land shouldnt be wasted

should also be within the economics limits and

of the substation be such that it should not

for this purpose.

Protected areas: The areas listed as protected

or special zones by the government used be

interfere with the natural discussed below.

Vegetation: The land chosen for building the

substation should be in the low productivity

movement and soil disposal. The land selected

should not be very costly.Water: The location

drainage network. It should not in the areas

selected for the purpose.

Topography: The land selected for the
purpose should be flat. The land selected
should not be

prone to flood or water stagnation as it

increases the chances of mishap.

Pollution: Electric substation is a source of

substation

grounding-

In

substation

noise. While charged transformers, reactors

grounding system is essential not only to provide

and EHV lines are sources of continuous

the protection of people working in

hissing noise, operation of different equipment

vicinity

also emit sudden noise. The design should be

against danger of electric shock but to maintain

adopted to tackle the issues by complying to

proper function of electrical system. Reliability

the standards set by the appropriate authority

and security are to be taken in considerations

for reduction of noise pollution and avoid

as well as adherence to statutory obligations.

public resentments.

Grounding system thus design must be easily

Health Hazard: Electric and magnetic field

strength are of particular concern especially
for Ultra High Voltage (UHV) systems at 765

of earthed facilities

the

and equipments

maintained and future expansion must be taken

into account while designing the dimensions of
earth mat.

kV, 1200 kV or above. Research has shown its

Grounding system typically consists of earth

adverse effect on human health. Thus the

rods, connecting cables from buried earthing grid to

location should be such that it away from the

metallic

residential areas. The substation should not be

connections to earthed system neutrals, and the

built in areas in around residential colonies,

earth surface insulating covering material. Current

hospitals, schools, colleges. The areas selected

flowing into the earthing grid from lightening

should be such that it poses minimum adverse

arrester

effect on human health.

flashover of insulators and line to ground

parts

operation

current from

Load Evaluation-

lines all

of structures and equipments,

impulse or switching surge

fault

the bus or connected transmission

cause potential

differences between

The site should be near the load center keeping in

earthed points in the substation. Without a properly

mind future load growth. The distance of the

designed earthing system, large potential differences

substation from the load point should be optimum to

can exist between different points within the

minimize the losses in distribution. The location

substation itself. Under normal circumstances, it is

selection should be done keeping in mind the other

the current constitutes the main threat to personal.

factors. The site location should also be in line with

the grid system. The location should be such that it
is easy for transporting the power from the
generation point to the substation.

I.

Component of grounding system

Grounding system typically consists of earth

rods, connecting cables from buried earthing grid to
metallic

parts

of structures and equipments,

connections to earthed system neutrals, and the

Resistivity

of

soil

and

surface

layer

earth surface insulating covering material. Current

determines the STEP and TOUCH potentials,

flowing into the earthing grid from lightening

which determine safe values of operation as

arrester

described in reference.

operation

impulse or switching surge

flashover of insulators and line to ground

current from
lines all

fault

the bus or connected transmission

cause potential

differences between

A good grounding system provides a low

resistance

in

order

to

minimize

GPR

(ground potential rise).

earthed points in the substation. Without a properly

designed earthing system, large potential differences
can exist between different points within the
substation itself. Under normal circumstances, it is
the current constitutes the main threat to personal.

Substation grid area

Soil resistivity at site

Maximum grid current

Fault clearing time

Fault clearing time

The faults clearing time is governed by system

stability consideration and depend on protection and
switchgear equipment. Generally a value of 0.5

Data needed for designing of earthing

II.

IV.

seconds is assumed. The size of the conductor is

based on a time of 1 second.
V.

Selection of elctrode material

The material for grounding grid should have

good conductivity, be mechanically rugged and
resist fusing and deterioration of joints. Copper was
very commonly used in the past. It has high
conductivity and is resistant to underground

III.

Factors on which design of earthmat

corrosion. However, a grid of copper forms a

depends

galvanic cell with other buried structure and pipes

Materials used for earth electrodes and

conductors must be chosen carefully taking
into account physical chemical and economic
constraints.

Ground

conductor

must

be

adequate for the fault current.

Conductor sizing depends on fault current

and conductivity as well as mechanical
strength of material used.

and is likely to hasten the corrosion of the

latter. Aluminum is not used because of corrosion
problem.
VI.

scada system

SCADA stands for Supervisory Control and Data

Acquisition System. It consist of a software package
interfaced to hardware using Programmable Logic
Controllers. A SCADA system varies from few

thousand I/O to hundred thousand of I/O. It finds its

usage in extreme areas where it is difficult for

human to work

A supervisory system that gathers process

data and sends commands to process.

A SCADA system is used in many processes such

Remote Terminal Unit: It is used for

connecting the sensors to the process. It also

as

converts the sensor signal to digital data and

send these digital data to supervisory system.

Industrial Process: It includes industries such

as manufacturing, power generation, refining,

and fabrication.

used to interface the supervisory system and

the machinery. It also takes logical decision

Infrastructure process: It includes system

when needed.

water treatment plants, oil and gas pipelines,

and electrical power transmission and large
communication system.

Facility process: It includes facilities such as

Programmable Logic Controller: PLC are

Connection infrastructure which connects

whole of the system from the RTU to the
supervisory computers.

building, airports, ships, space stations, etc.

VIII.System

It consist of a computer terminal which are

connected to the machinery using PLC. The PLC is
interfaced to the machinery using various I/O ports.
The PLC is then connected to the computer terminal
running the SCADA software. Using the software it
is possible to control the machinery in real time.
A SCADA system consist of the following
subsystem

systems which monitor and control entire sites, or

complexes of systems spread out over large areas
(anything between an industrial plant and a country).
Most control actions are performed automatically by
Remote

Terminal

Units

("RTUs")

or

by

Programmable Logic Controllers ("PLCs"). Host

control functions are usually restricted to basic

VII. SCADA subsytem

The term SCADA usually refers to centralized

overriding or supervisory level intervention.Ex: A

PLC may control the flow of cooling water through

Human Machine Interface: HMI is the

part of an industrial process, but the SCADA system

apparatus that presents the process date to the

may allow operators to change the set points for the

human operator, through this the operator

flow, and enable alarm conditions, such as loss of

monitors and controls the process.

flow and high temperature, to be displayed and

recorded. The feedback control loop passes through

the RTU or PLC, while the SCADA system

pump is running and how much fluid it is pumping

monitors the overall performance of the loop.

through the pipe at the moment. The operator can

Data Acquisition begins at the RTU or PLC level

then switch the pump off. The HMI software will

and includes meter readings and equipment status

show the flow rate of the fluid in the pipe decrease

reports that are communicated to SCADA as

in real time. Mimic diagrams may consist of line

required. Data is then compiled and formatted in

graphics and schematic symbols to represent process

such a way that a control room operator using the

elements, or may consist of digital photographs of

HMI can make supervisory decisions to adjust or

the process equipment overlain with animated

override normal RTU (PLC) controls. Data may also

symbols. The HMI package for the SCADA system

be fed to a Historian, often built on a commodity

typically includes a drawing program that the

Database Management System, to allow trending

operators or system maintenance personnel use to

and other analytical auditing.

change the way these points are represented in the

interface.

IX.

Human Machine Interface

A Human Machine Interface or HMI is the

X.

apparatus which presents process data to a human

operator, and through which the human operator
controls the process.

SCADA

systems

Tags
typically

implement

distributed database, commonly referred to as a tag

An HMI is usually linked to the SCADA system's

database, which contains data elements called tags

Database and software programs, to provide

or points. A point represents a single input or output

trending,

value monitored or controlled by the system. Points

information

diagnostic
such

as

data,

and

management

scheduled

maintenance

can be either "hard" or "soft". A hard point

procedures, logistic information, detailed schematics

represents an actual input or output within the

for a particular sensor or machine, and expert-

system, while a soft point results from logic and

system troubleshooting guides.

math operations applied to other points (Most

The HMI system usually presents the information

to the operating personnel graphically, in the form of
a mimic diagram. This means that the operator can
see a schematic representation of the plant being
controlled. For example, a picture of a pump
connected to a pipe can show the operator that the

implementations

conceptually

remove

the

distinction by making every property a "soft" point

expression, which may, in the simplest case, equal a
single hard point.) Points are normally stored as
value time stamp pairs: a value, and the Time-Stamp
when it was recorded or calculated. A series of value
time stamp pairs gives the history of that point. It's

also common to store additional metadata with tags,

Operational

Philosophy:

For

some

such as the path to a field device or PLC register,

installations, the costs that would result from

design time comments, and alarm information

the control system failing are extremely high.

XI.

Possibly even lives could be lost. Hardware

RTU

for some SCADA systems is ruggedized to

The RTU connects to physical equipment.

withstand temperature, vibration, and voltage

Typically, an RTU converts the electrical signals

extremes, but in most critical installations

from the equipment to digital values such as the

reliability is enhanced by having redundant

open/closed status from a Switch or a valve, or

hardware and communications channels, up to

measurements such as pressure, flow, voltage or

the point of having multiple fully equipped

current. By converting and sending these electrical

control centers. A failing part can be quickly

signals out to equipment the RTU can control

identified and its functionality automatically

equipment, such as opening or closing a switch or a

taken over by backup hardware. A failed part

valve or setting the speed of a pump.

can often be replaced without interrupting the

process. The reliability of such systems can be

Characteristic of RTUs are:

Supervisory Station: The term "Supervisory

Station" refers to the servers and software
responsible for communicating with the field
equipment (RTUs, PLCs, etc.), and then to the
HMI software running on workstations in the
control room, or elsewhere. In smaller
SCADA systems, the master station may be
composed of a single PC. In larger SCADA
systems, the master station may include
multiple

servers,

distributed

software

applications, and disaster recovery sites. To

increase the integrity of the system the
multiple servers will often be configured in a
dual-redundant

or

hot-standby

formation

providing continuous control and monitoring

in the event of a server failure.

calculated statistically and is stated as the

mean time to failure, which is a variant of
mean time between failures. The calculated
mean time to failure of such high reliability
systems can be on the order of centuries.
XII. Security

Issues

The move from proprietary technologies to

more standardized and open solutions together
with the increased number of connections
between SCADA systems and office networks
and the Internet has made them more
vulnerable

to attacks

- see references.

Consequently, the security of SCADA-based

systems has come into question as they are
increasingly seen as extremely vulnerable to
cyber warfare/cyber terrorism attacks.

The lack of concern about security and

The major factor on which location of the substation

authentication in the design, deployment and

depends is the load point. The substation should not

operation of existing SCADA networks.

be very near to the residential areas or point of

The belief that SCADA systems have the

benefit of security through obscurity through
the

use

of

specialized

protocols

and

proprietary interfaces.

The belief that SCADA networks are secure

because they are physically secured.

consumption of power as it causes pollution, is

dangerous, also due to economic factors. It should
also not be very far away from the load point as it
increases losses.
The substation grounding is very essential
keeping in mind the protection of the substation,
workers in the substation and the areas near the

The belief that SCADA networks are secure

substation. Proper grounding of the substation

because they are disconnected from the

should be done and all protective measure should be

Internet.

taken.

SCADA systems are used to control and monitor

SCADA is a system used to automate the system.

physical processes, examples of which are

SCADA includes the hardware and the software, the

transmission of electricity, transportation of gas

machinery is connected through the PLC to the

and oil in pipelines, water distribution, traffic

supervisory terminal which runs the SCADA

lights, and other systems used as the basis of

software. The operator sitting on the supervisory

modern society. The security of these SCADA

terminal can control all the machinery from making

systems is important because compromise or

changes in the SCADA system software. A SCADA

destruction of these systems would impact

system is used in various areas and in extreme

multiple areas of society far removed from the

climates. It can provide and take a large number of

original compromise. For example, a blackout

inputs and outputs. It finds its usage in various

caused by a compromised electrical SCADA

industries such as manufacturing, power, oil and

system would cause financial losses to all the

many more.

customers that received electricity from that

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

source

I would like to thank Ms. Kulraj Kaur (Asst. Prof,

XIII.Conclusion

The location of substation depends on various

factors such as land, water, topography, and cost.

Lovely Professional University) for providing me an

opportunity to write a paper also for her constant
support and guidance.

I express my gratitude towards the faculty staff of

Substation, ISSN : 2319-1058 Special Issue -

the university who helped me in bringing this paper

to its present form. The valuable guidance and

ICAECE-2013, Page 61
[3]

O.P. Rahi,Abhas Kumar Singh,Shashi

Kant

interest taken by them has been a motivator and

Gupta,Shilpa

source of inspiration for me to carry out the

System for a Substation, International Journal of

necessary proceedings for the paper to be completed

Advanced Computer Research (ISSN (print):

successfully.

2249-7277

ISSN

(online):

2277-7970)

Volume-2 Number-4 Issue-6 December-2012

I also wish to my friends and family for their

constant support and encouragement during the

Goyal, Design of Earthing

[4]

Santosh B.Belekar Abhijit A. Desai, PLC

SCADA based Distribution Monitoring &

preparation of the paper.

Control, Multidisciplinary Journal of Research

in Engineering and Technology Volume 1, Issue
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