DISTRIBUTION AUTOMATION

INTRODUCTION OF SCADA:
It is impossible to keep control and supervision on all industrial activities manually. Some automated tool is
required which can control, supervise, collect data, analyses data and generate reports. A unique solution is
introduced to meet all this demand is SCADA system.
SCADA stands for supervisory control and data acquisition. It is an industrial control system where a
computer system monitoring and controlling a process.
Another term is there, Distributed Control System (DCS). Usually there is a confusion between the concept
of these two.
A SCADA system usually refers to a system that coordinates, but does not control processes in real time, but
DCS do that. SCADA systems often have Distributed Control System (DCS) components.
Components of SCADA
1. Human Machine Interface (HMI)
It is an interface which presents process data to a human operator, and through this, the human operator
monitors and controls the process.
2. Supervisory (computer) system
It gathers data on the process and sending commands (or control) to the process.
3. Remote Terminal Units (RTUs)
It connect to sensors in the process, converting sensor signals to digital data and sending digital data to the
supervisory system.
4. Programmable Logic Controller (PLCs)
It is used as field devices because they are more economical, versatile, flexible, and configurable than
special-purpose RTUs.
5. Communication infrastructure
It provides connectivity to the supervisory system to the Remote Terminal Units.
SCADA System Concept
The term SCADA usually refers to centralized systems which monitor and control entire sites, or complexes
of systems spread out over large areas (anything between an industrial plant and a country).
Host control functions are usually restricted to basic overriding or supervisory level intervention. For
example, a PLC may control the flow of cooling water through part of an industrial process, but the
SCADA system may allow operators to change the set points for the flow, and enable alarm conditions, such
as loss of flow and high temperature, to be displayed and recorded.
The feedback control loop passes through the RTU or PLC, while the SCADA system monitors the overall
performance of the loop.
Obviously a SCADA system's initial cost has to be justified. A few typical reasons for implementing a
SCADA system are:
 Improved operation of the plant or process resulting in savings due to optimization of the system
 Increased productivity of the personnel
 Improved safety of the system due to better information and improved control
 Protection of the plant equipment
 Safeguarding the environment from a failure of the system
 Improved energy savings due to optimization of the plant
 Improved and quicker receipt of data so that clients can be invoiced more quickly and accurately.

INTRODUCTION TO AUTOMATION SYSTEM:

Automation is the use of control systems and information technologies to reduce the need for human work in
the production of goods and services. In the scope of industrialization, automation is a step beyond
mechanization. Whereas mechanization provided human operators with machinery to assist them with the
muscular requirements of work, automation greatly decreases the need for human sensory and mental
requirements as well.
Automation Control System
Automation Control System - system that is able to control a process with minimal human assistance or
without manual and have the ability to initiate , adjust, action show or measures the variables in the process
and stop the process in order to obtain the desired output.
The main objective of Automation Control System used in the industry are:
1. to increase productivity
2. to improve quality of the product
3. Control production cost
Types Of Automation In The Industry
Classification of automation
a) Permanent/Fixed Automation -
 This control system is designed to perform a specific task
 Functions of control circuit is fixed and permanent.
 It will be complicated if we want to do other task apart from the existing task.
b) Programmable /Flexible Automation -
 Programmable automation or flexible automation is a complex control system that can perform
several tasks
 Functions of control circuit programmed by the user and can be modified. -
 When the task to be performed by machines changed, changes only need to be done by making
modifications to the machine control program.
There Are Three Types Of The Control System Based On Supply :
a) Pneumatic Control Systems
b) Hydraulic Control System
c) Electrical Control System

a) Pneumatic Control System

Pneumatic control system is a system that uses compressed air to produce power /energy to perform any task
Pneumatic systems found in many industrial systems such as food industry, petrochemical and industrial
involves robotics.
Pneumatic systems requires:
Compressed air supply, Control valve, Connecting tube, Transducer
Pneumatic control system can be controlled manually and automatically.
 Hydraulic Control System
Hydraulic control system is a system that uses fluid to generate power/energy.
The hydraulic system used in the automobile industry such as power systems, braking systems, cranes, car
jack, satellite and others. The fluid used is oil.
The hydraulic system requires: Hydraulic fluid supply, Control Valve, Cylinder. Hydraulic control system
can be controlled manually and automatically

 Electrical Control System

A control system that uses an electric current; either direct current (DC) or current shuttle (AC) as a source
of supply. Electrical Control Systems Generally requires: a) Electricity (DC) or (AC) b) Input elements
(switches, sensors, transducer, valves, electronic components, etc.) c) Output elements (motor, lights, etc.) d)
Extension cable.
DISTRIBUTION AUTOMATION:

Distribution automation is the process by which the collection of data is automated and analyzed, and then
controls executed by Utilities.
Distribution automation (DA) is a family of technologies, including sensors, processors, information and
communication networks, and switches, through which a utility can collect, automate, analyze, and optimize
data to improve the operational efficiency of its distribution power system.
Products encompass the components and systems used to supervise, measure, monitor, and control electrical
loads on distribution systems and at distribution substations, including:
 Asset optimization
 Automated and interconnected equipment
 Demand optimization
 Distribution optimization
 Distribution system monitoring, control and analysis software
 Information and communications technology networks
 Test equipment and systems for product certification and conformity acceptance.
Distribution automation can improve the speed, cost, and accuracy of several key distribution system
processes, including fault detection, feeder switching, and outage management; voltage monitoring and
control; reactive power management; preventative equipment maintenance for critical substation and feeder
line equipment; and grid integration of distributed energy resources.

Power Line Carrier Communication

Also called wired wireless, the Power Line carrier Communication (PLCC) has evolved a long way from its
earliest use in metering at remote locations to its present day applications in home automation, high speed
internet access, smart grid etc. In the early 20th century the power companies used telephones as the
medium of communication for exchange of voice messages for operational support, maintenance, control etc
and as a method of connectivity at remote locations. The telephone lines ran parallel to the power lines. This
had so many disadvantages:
 The use of telephone circuits over large distances and at difficult terrains like mountains was very
expensive.
 Noise interference due to currents flowing in parallel power lines over the telephone circuits.
 Frequent shut down of telephone cables during harsh weather conditions like snows in winter, storms etc
made them less reliable.
Power Line Carrier Communication
The figure 1 shows a basic PLCC network used in power substations. The Power line carrier
Communication (PLCC) uses the existing power infrastructure for the transmission of data from sending to
receiving end. It works in full duplex mode. PLCC system consists of three parts:
 The terminal assemblies include the receivers transmitters and protective relays.
 The coupling equipment is the combination of line tuner, coupling capacitor and the wave or line trap.
 The 50/60 Hz power transmission line serves as path for relaying data in the PLCC bandwidth.
Coupling Capacitor
It forms the physical coupling link between transmission line and the terminal assemblies for the
relaying of carrier signals. Its function is to provide high impedance to power frequency and low impedance
to carrier signal frequencies. They are usually made up of paper or liquid dielectric system for high voltage
application. The ratings of coupling capacitors range from 0.004-0.01µF at 34 kV to 0.0023-0.005µF at
765kV.
Drain Coil
The purpose of drain coil is to provide high impedance for carrier frequency and low impedance for
power frequency.
Line Tuner
It is connected in series with the coupling capacitor to form a resonant circuit or carrier signal
frequency high pass or band pass filter. Its function is to match the impedance of the PLC terminal with the
power line in order to impress the carrier frequency over the power line. In addition it also provides isolation
from power frequency and transient overvoltage protection.
Line Trap or Wave Trap
It is a parallel L-C tank filter or band-stop filter connected in series with the transmission line. It
presents high impedance to carrier signal frequencies and very low impedance to the power frequency. It
consists of:
 Main coil: An inductor that is connected directly to the high voltage power line carries power
frequency.
 Tuning device: It may be a capacitor or a combination of capacitor, inductor and resistor, connected
across the main coil in order to tune the line trap to the desired blocking frequency.
 Protective device: It is usually a gap type surge arrester used to protect the line trap from damage
due to transient over-voltages.
The line trap or wave trap prevents unwanted loss of carrier signal power and also prevents carrier signal
transmission to adjacent power lines. Line traps or wave traps are available for narrow-band and wide-band
carrier frequency blocking applications.

Power Line Channel Characteristics

 Characteristic Impedance
The characteristics impedance of transmission line is given by : Z0 = (L/C)1/2
Where, L is the inductance per unit length in Henry(H).
C is the capacitance per unit length in Farad(F).
It varies in the range of 300-800 Ω for power line communication.
 Attenuation
It is measured in decibels(db). Attenuation losses can be due to the impedance mismatching, resistive
losses, coupling losses and various other losses that occur in the line trap, line tuner, power line etc.
 Noise
The signal-to-noise ratio(SNR) must be high at the receiving end, otherwise the carrier frequency
shows erratic patterns at the receiving end. The noise level limit the attenuation that PLCC channels
can tolerate.
 Bandwidth
The wider bandwidth means faster the channel, but it also leads to the accentuation of noise. For
relaying purpose, AM channel bandwidth is around 1000Hz to 1500Hz and for FSK bandwidth it is
500Hz to 600Hz (source: IEEE).
Applications of PLCC in Power Systems:
 Protective Relaying : For the purpose of carrier aided protection, PLCC channels use modulation
schemes namely the Amplitude modulation(AM) for blocking schemes and Frequency Shift
keying(FSK) for unblocking, permissive and direct-trip schemes.
 Telemetry
It is used to monitor electrical quantities like voltage, current, power etc. at remote locations. The
analog data is converted in binary which is used to shift the FSK frequency HIGH and LOW and
then transmitted over narrow band SSB channel.

 Telephony
Voice messages are sent over SSB narrow band mode with bandwidth ~3khz.

Limitations of PLCC:
 Power line communication is limited by the existing electrical infrastructure where it is being
employed and thus affects powerline channel parameters such as power attenuation, noise, impedance
and bandwidth.
 It requires high SNR ratio.
 The power line network is usually not matched and varies with time at different loadings. This leads to
attenuation of carrier power. This is the main disadvantage.
 The carrier frequency suffers reflection losses at various points in its path from transmitter, coaxial
cable, line tuner unit, coupling capacitor, power line to transmitter.
 Power-line communication is not secure.

RADIO COMMUNICATION:

Radio Communication. telecommunication by means of radio waves. Radio communication requires the
use of both transmitting and receiving equipment. The transmitting equipment, which includes
a radio transmitter and a transmitting antenna, is installed at the point from which messages are transmitted.

Fiber optics (optical fiber):

 Fiber optics, or optical fiber, refers to the medium and the technology associated with the
transmission of information as light pulses along a glass or plastic strand or fiber. Fiber optics is used
long-distance and high-performance data networking.
 Fiber optics are also commonly used in telecommunication services such as internet, television and
telephones. As an example, companies such as Verizon and Google use fiber optics in their
Verizon FIOS and Google Fiber services, providing gigabit internet speeds to users.
 Fiber optic cables are used since they hold a number of advantages over copper cables, such as
higher bandwidth and transmit speeds
 A fiber optic cable can contain a varying number of these glass fibers -- from a few up to a couple
hundred. Surrounding the glass fiber core is another glass layer called cladding. A layer known as a
buffer tube protects the cladding, and a jacket layer acts as the final protective layer for the
individual strand.

Working of Optical Fiber:

 Fiber optics transmit data in the form of light particles or photons that pulse through a fiber optic
cable. The glass fiber core and the cladding each have a different refractive index that bends
incoming light at a certain angle.
 When light signals are sent through the fiber optic cable, they reflect off the core and cladding in a
series of zig-zag bounces, adhering to a process called total internal reflection.
  The light signals do not travel at the speed of light because of the denser glass layers, instead
traveling about 30% slower than the speed of light. To renew, or boost, the signal throughout its
journey, fiber optics transmission sometimes requires repeaters at distant intervals to regenerate
the optical signal by converting it to an electrical signal, processing that electrical signal and
retransmitting the optical signal.
 Fiber optic cables are moving toward supporting up to 10-Gbps signals. Typically, as the bandwidth
capacity of a fiber optic cable increases, the more expensive it becomes.

Types of fiber optic cables

Multimode fiber and single-mode fiber are the two primary types of fiber optic cable. Single-mode fiber is
used for longer distances due to the smaller diameter of the glass fiber core, which lessens the possibility
for attenuation -- the reduction in signal strength. The smaller opening isolates the light into a single beam,
which offers a more direct route and allows the signal to travel a longer distance. Single-mode fiber also has
a considerably higher bandwidth than multimode fiber. The light source used for single-mode fiber is
typically a laser. Single-mode fiber is usually more expensive since it requires precise calculations to
produce the laser light in a smaller opening.

Multimode fiber is used for shorter distances because the larger core opening allows light signals to bounce
and reflect more along the way. The larger diameter permits multiple light pulses to be sent through the
cable at one time, which results in more data transmission. This also means that there is more possibility for
signal loss, reduction or interference, however. Multimode fiber optics typically use an LED to create the
light pulse.

While copper wire cables were the traditional choice for telecommunication, networking and cable
connections for years, fiber optics has become a common alternative. Most telephone company long-
distance lines are now made of fiber optic cables. Optical fiber carries more information than conventional
copper wire, due to its higher bandwidth and faster speeds. Because glass does not conduct electricity, fiber
optics is not subject to electromagnetic interference, and signal losses are minimized

Advantages and disadvantages

Fiber optic cables are used mainly for their advantages over copper cables. Advantages include:

 Support of higher bandwidth capacities.

 Light can travel further without needing as much of a signal boost.
 They are less susceptible to interference, such as electromagnetic interference.
 They can be submerged in water- fiber optics are used in more at-risk environments like undersea
cables.
 Fiber optic cables are also stronger, thinner and lighter than copper wire cables
 They do not need to be maintained or replaced as frequently.

However, it is important to note that fiber optics do have disadvantages users should know before handling
them. These disadvantages include:

 Copper wire is often cheaper than fiber optics.

 Glass fiber also requires more protection within an outer cable than copper.
 Installing new cabling is labor-intensive.
 Fiber optic cables are often more fragile. For example, the fibers can be broken or a signal can be lost if
the cable is bent or curved around a radius of a few centimeters.

Fiber optics uses

Computer networking is a common fiber optics use case due to optical fiber's ability to transmit data and
provide high bandwidth. Similarly, fiber optics is frequently used in broadcasting and electronics to provide
better connections and performance. Internet and cable television are two of the more commonly found
usages of fiber optics. Fiber optics can be installed to support long-distance connections between computer
networks in different locations.

Military and space industries also make use of optical fiber as a means of communication and signal
transfer, in addition to its ability to provide temperature sensing. Fiber optic cables can be beneficial due to
their lighter weight and smaller size.

Fiber optics is frequently used in a variety of medical instruments to provide precise illumination. It also
increasingly enables biomedical sensors that aid in minimally invasive medical procedures. Because optical
fiber is not subject to electromagnetic interference, it is ideal for various tests like MRI scans. Other medical
applications for fiber optics include X-ray imaging, endoscopy, light therapy and surgical microscopy.