ISSUE 014 | APRIL 2015
Improving service quality through network automation Across the world utilities are facing growing challenges to secure a stable, reliable and high performance distribution network to meet their customer’s future needs. Companies are under pressure to meet ever more stringent performance measures and have to balance this against increasing levels of demand for electricity. ANALYSIS
Enabling the Smart Grids of the future Managing this balance is a tough job, and Smart Grids are increasingly being seen as the way forward, providing the flexibility to release capacity and integrate renewable energy sources thereby allowing utilities to deliver a sustainable energy system. The introduction of network automation techniques helps companies achieve the necessary improvements in performance by providing real-time data on the status of networks so that operators have a clear picture at all times. This can be achieved through the installation of modular remote terminal units (RTUs), such as Lucy Electric’s latest generation Gemini 3, which can be installed on switching points and configured to transmit fault passage indicator (FPI) information to the network operator’s control centre. The improved network intelligence allows companies to introduce remote monitoring and switching points on their distribution feeders, and allows for the effective isolation of the network so that, should a fault occur, power can be restored to as many customers, as quickly as possible, reducing the duration of the system downtime. It also allows companies to effectively plan proactive maintenance and management of the network, reducing the risk of faults occurring in the first place. Lucy Electric has a range of ‘automation ready’ RMUs, which have all the necessary wiring looms for control of ring switches pre-installed. These provide a first stage investment in automation for companies looking for fast and effective upgrade paths. Alternatively the newly launched Aegis Plus, our next generation Smart Grid ready RMUs, incorporate a pre-integrated RTU and automatic transfer scheme (ATS). As experience in designing and implementing network automation projects grows, using traditional centralised control system architectures, and greater intelligence at plant levels adds to the knowledge and experience within the industry, approaches to control system design are developing.
0/ "OX s *EBEL !LI s $UBAI s 5NITED !RAB %MIRATES T: +97 148 129 999 F: +97 148 129 900 E: salesme@lucyelectric.com
TRANSPORT
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CITIES Aegis Plus
Gemini 3
Find out more about our Aegis Plus range and our next generation Gemini 3 RTUs at the Lucy Electric stand GSP-7, at WETEX, 21 – 23 April 2015.
CONSTRUCTION
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You can also hear one of our automation experts explain the challenges and benefits of automation system design at a seminar held on [time/date].
New approaches include area-based control systems, whereby the distribution network is divided into smaller regions with a co-ordinated control. This provides an advanced form of network management bringing the automated decision making and control closer to the plant, but still maintaining the benefits of a wider system view. With a huge depth of experience in designing and implementing automation projects the team at Lucy Electric work closely with our customers to ensure that their specific challenges and needs are met. The team can provide support from end-to-end project design to specifying product and providing post-installation training and support. Our full range of modular automation solutions includes retrofit and automation-ready equipment to deliver these projects in the most efficient and cost effective way possible.
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