Transmission and distribution
Network management
for smart grids
Innovative operations centers to manage future distribution networks
Tim Taylor, Marina Ohrn
Traditional power networks have been carefully managed at operations centers to ensure adequate power supplies
are maintained despite peaks and troughs in demand. Each section of the grid has an operations center that conducts
and coordinates various functions including system monitoring, control, crew administration and dispatch. It has been
regarded conventionally as “the brain” of the power system, from which operations have been directed.
As distribution systems are gradually evolving into smart distribution systems, the operations centers that control them
are evolving to take on new roles to manage such grids. The separate IT systems operating in these control centers are
becoming more streamlined, communicating seamlessly to provide an integrated monitoring and management system.
More advanced applications and analytical software are providing more sophisticated analyses and automated opera-
tions. The control systems of operations centers are not only helping to make the grid smarter but are also helping to
improve support for decision makers responsible for operations, maintenance and planning. Such integrated operations
centers are helping distribution organizations meet their goals despite ever-increasing challenges.
ABB Review 3/2009 45
Network management for smart grids
Transmission and distribution
C onventional monitoring and con-
trol systems for distribution net-
works have in the past been relatively
Supervisory Control and Data Acquisi-
tion (SCADA) systems have been ex-
tended from the transmission system
Status
Despite the progress that has been
made, there are still fundamental
low-tech. Wall boards displaying the to include monitoring and control of issues that need to be addressed. The
system’s status were commonplace. medium-voltage (MV) feeder breakers. table provides examples and discusses
These boards could be covered with In some cases, SCADA has been fur- the consequences of separate (non-
sticky notes, push-pins, and ad-hoc ther extended out beyond the MV integrated) IT systems, incomplete
changes, which may have been diffi- feeder circuit breaker to equipment real-time system status and the lack of
cult to monitor and inflexible. Paper- such as reclosers, switches and capac- advanced applications in the opera-
based maps of the distribution cir- itor switches. tions of distribution organizations 1 .
cuits, which were often annotated
manually and risked being out of The case for change
date, were used to direct maintenance
Environmental Within the last few years, several ex-
work on the system. Paper-based sustainability and ways ternal drivers have helped accelerate
switch orders were used to plan, exe- of limiting carbon the development and expansion of
cute and track scheduled switching on applications for smart grid technology.
the system. Outage calls were re- emissions have led Drivers for change include society
ceived by operators, with little infor- to increased interest in and government, the business envi-
mation to provide to customers about ronment of distribution organizations
the outages. Paper-based outage tick-
smart grids. and technology.
ets were commonly used for tracking
customer outages. Communications Modern computer-based outage man- In many countries, legislation and reg-
with field-based crews were conduct- agement systems (OMSs) utilizing con- ulatory initiatives have been targeted
ed by radio. These crews had to sup- nectivity models and graphical user towards the modernization of the grid.
ply their location to the operating interfaces have become more com- Environmental sustainability and ways
centers, and the communication of mon. An OMS typically includes func- of limiting carbon emissions have led
switching, the placement of tags and tions such as trouble-call handling, to increased interest in smart grids.
other operations were made verbally. outage analysis and prediction, crew The increasing costs of new power
management, and reliability reporting. generation and transmission, both in
This is not to say that distribution At some distribution companies, an terms of infrastructure and fuel costs,
operations have stood still over time. OMS can be utilized simultaneously are also factors influencing technology
As technology and business needs by hundreds of users. It integrates change. Further drivers for the devel-
have changed so too have many dis- information about customers, system opment and adoption of smart grid
tribution operations centers. Many status, and resources such as crews. technology have been the public’s in-
terest to stabilize climate change
through greater use of renewables and
1 Deficiencies in today’s distribution operations centers for grid management
calls from utilities and governments
for improved distributed generation
Separate IT systems Incomplete real-time Few advanced
system status applications
and demand response. From a busi-
ness perspective, however, distribu-
tion organizations are looking to smart
grids to help them maintain or im-
Examples Non-integrated systems for: Lack of: Lack of applications for:
Customer information Equipment loading Fault location prove reliability, increase asset utiliza-
system information Restoration switching tion, deal with aging infrastructure
Geographic information Status of switches, voltage analysis
system regulator taps, capacitor Volt/var control and help reduce the impact of knowl-
Trouble calls banks Distribution state edge loss as employees reach retire-
Crew management Location of momentary estimation
Switch order management faults on system
ment age.
AMI Status of distributed
SCADA resources
Mobile workforce Customer demand/load In many countries,
management
Work management legislation and regulatory
Consequences Inefficient work processes Inefficient equipment Longer outage durations initiatives have been
Redundant and/or utilization Inefficient use of crew
inaccurate data Difficult to enable custom- hours targeted toward the
Longer outage durations ers to connect distributed No chance to reduce
Possible noncompliance energy resources to grid customer demand through modernization of the
of work processes with No understanding of voltage control at peak
possible safety issues automated operations times grid.
on feeder Higher system losses
Increased customer
complaints for voltage Technology has also been a great
out of range
driver in smart grid development.
Communication technology has
46 ABB Review 3/2009
Network management for smart grids
Transmission and distribution
strongly developed in the last decade. functionality now includes the transfer The benefits of integrating SCADA
Today distribution companies have of status/analog points from SCADA to with DMS include:
the choice between many different the DMS; the sending of supervisory Improved operations by close inte-
solutions. The communication can be control and manual override com- gration of DMS applications with
based on a dedicated network owned mands from the DMS to the SCADA distribution SCADA
by the distribution organization (eg, system; an integrated user interface Increased operator efficiency with
SCADA radio networks), or on third- running on the same PC operator con- one system, eliminating the need to
party infrastructure (eg, global system sole between the two systems; and go to multiple systems with poten-
for mobile communications, or GSM, integrated single sign-on for users. tially different data
provider networks). Depending on
various factors, like required availabil-
ity and bandwidth, the distribution
2 Systems integration for distribution-grid operations centers
organization can select the appropri-
ate technology. Whatever the choice,
Geographic Customer Work
it is certain that additional two-way Transmission
information information management
SCADA/EMS
system system system
communication in distribution net-
works will increase. MV and LV Status,
network analogs,
Cust-Xfmr Customer Planned Referrals
attributes, tags,
updates data and outages
landbase,
There are increasing numbers of dis- cust-Xfmr
information alarms
tribution equipment with sensing, data
processing, control, and communica- Network Manager SCADA
tions on the feeder. Automation sys- Network Manager DMS
tems are becoming more common, Data acquisition Call taking Load flow analysis
Device and sequence control Outage management Fault location
with smart devices and appliances Event and alarm management Crew management Switching analysis
within a home network. The deploy- Network and device tagging Reporting Overload reduction
Data warehousing Switch orders Simulation mode
ment of this technology will depend
upon the development and unification
Outage Trouble Outage Device Switching Outage Order, Vehicle
of interoperability standards. The notifications, calls status status and sequences orders status, location
restoration Meter measure- and control and referrals
development of such standards is notifications pings ments actions updates
ubiquitous in the United States and
Advanced metering Interactive Substation/feeder Mobile Automatic
Europe. voice automation and workforce vehicle
infrastructure and
meter data response gateways management location
management
Automation systems
are becoming more
common, with smart 3 Functionality and benefits of advance applications
devices and appliances
within a home network. DMS application
Unbalanced load
Functionality
Determination of the line currents and node
Benefits
Improved system awareness
flow analysis voltages per phase for the entire distribution Higher asset utilization
system, either online or offline in simulation Improved contingency planning
mode
Systems integration
ABB is a leader in the development of Load allocation and Intelligent allocation of telemetered or histori- Improved load flow and state estimation
state estimation cal measurements over the network to calcu- calculations
smart grids around the world, and has late estimated power flows, voltages, and Improved notification of overloaded equip-
invested time and resources to create limit violations based on real-time conditions ment and voltage violations
the operations center systems that will Fault location Identification of possible fault locations on Improved crew efficiencies in managing
control smart grids. Three important system outages
Reduced customer average interruption
areas of systems integration are distri- duration index (CAIDI) and system average
bution management system (DMS) in- interruption duration index (SAIDI)
tegration with SCADA, advance meter- Restoration Evaluation of isolation and restoration switch- Improved operator efficiencies during
ing infrastructure (AMI) integration switching analysis ing schemes outages
Increased reliability
with the DMS, and the integration of
Distribution Monitoring and control of line capacitors, Reduced customer demand at system
data from substation gateways. Volt/Var control voltage regulators, and load tap changers peaks
(LTCs) to reduce peak load and system loss- Lower system losses
es Improved voltage profiles
ABB has long been a leader in inte-
grating SCADA at the distribution level Line unloading Computation and analysis of load transfer op- Reduced thermal-mode failures
tions, including overload reduction Longer equipment life due to reduced
with DMS applications. With the smart overloads
grid driving more distribution compa- Higher asset utilization
nies to install additional SCADA on Remote switching Automatic feeder reconfiguration considering Reduced CAIDI and SAIDI
the distribution system, ABB continues and restoration network operating conditions Lower system losses
to improve its integration. Available
ABB Review 3/2009 47
Network management for smart grids
Transmission and distribution
Integrated security analysis for sub- on their systems. This provides in- management. Advanced applications
station and circuit operations to creased access to data in intelligent use the network model along with the
check for tags in one area affecting electronic devices (IEDs) that are in- monitoring of the network operating
operations in the other stalled in substations and distribution conditions to provide recommenda-
Streamlined login and authority systems, many of which have commu- tions for optimal network operation.
management within one system nications capabilities. These include As shown in the table, advanced ap-
Consolidated system support for more intelligent recloser controls, plications can provide solutions to
DMS, OMS and distribution SCADA switch controls, and voltage regulator many challenges that distribution
controls. Integration of these systems organizations are facing today 3 .
Installation of AMI systems is rapidly with the DMS provides the benefit of
increasing, and ABB is developing decentralized local control at the sub- In many cases, distribution organiza-
ways that distribution organizations station/feeder level, while providing tions choose to leave the operator in
can leverage AMI data for operational system optimization through the DMS the decision loop so that the operator
purposes. Interfaces between AMI/ at the system level. The integration can oversee the system; however, as
MDM (meter data management) and of SCADA and DMS with other sys- smart grids evolve, the desire to mini-
SCADA/DMS have been developed for tems provides an integrated opera- mize human intervention will favor a
meter status queries, outage notifica- tions center for managing the smart closed-loop or automated approach.
tions and restoration notifications. grid 2 . In the future, the degree to which the
Benefits include reduced customer system is automated will be a busi-
outage durations and more efficient ness decision for each distribution
use of field resources. The use of other
ABB has long been a organization.
AMI data in DMS applications, such leader in integrating
as interval demand data and voltage SCADA at the distribution The operations center
violations, is being explored. This The architecture of a fully integrated
would provide additional benefits, level with DMS distribution operations center is
such as improved knowledge of system applications. shown in 4 . DMS applications are uti-
loading and better voltage profiles lized for the optimal management of
throughout the system. Advanced network applications the distribution systems with respect
With its Network ManagerTM platform, to equipment loading, efficiency, volt-
In addition, many organizations are ABB is leading the distribution indus- age control, work management, out-
increasing the amount of substation try in the development of advanced age management, and reliability. The
automation and substation gateways applications for distribution system DMS applications utilize the distribu-
tion database and electrical network
connectivity model. The network
4 The architecture of a fully integrated distribution operations center
model is initially created using a one-
time data load from a geographic in-
Network Manager formation system (GIS), and is period-
ically updated from the GIS using an
Geographical user interface
incremental update process.
DMS Applications
Balanced and unbalanced Restoration switching Trouble call management
load flow analysis Outage mangement
A key part of the integrated distribu-
State estimation Volt/var control Operations mangement tion control system is the integration
Fault location Remote/automatic Crew mangement
Switch order management switching and restoration Operator logs of the different IT systems used in the
Overload reduction Referral mangement operation of distribution systems. This
switching Outage notifications
Outage reporting includes the SCADA system as a key
element of data collection and system
Distribution database and network model control. The trend is for distribution
DMS Adaptors
companies to expand SCADA systems
past the distribution substation and
GIS
CIS SCADA onto the feeders, providing improved
AMI/MDM
Substation/feeder situational awareness and control of
gateways the distribution system. Interfaces to
Mobile worforce
management Infrastructure other systems include AMI and MDM
Interactive voice
response Process Historian systems, and substation/feeder gate-
Graphical data External adaptors
Work management communication and data ways and data concentrators. The ar-
engineering data exchange
system front end warehouse
chitecture of how data is transmitted
between field devices and the inte-
grated operations center will vary
among distribution organizations.
External applications and systems
There may even be several approach-
es within a single utility. Whatever the
48 ABB Review 3/2009
Network management for smart grids
Transmission and distribution
5 An integrated distribution operations center overseeing the distribution grid
ABB Network Manager
AMI/MDM GIS
Operations SCADA and DMS
Outage management MWM CIS
center
Advanced applications
WMS IVR
SCADA/EMS
integration
Communication Field crews
Fault location
automatic switching
Unbalanced and restoration
load flow
Plug-in hybrid
electric vehicles
Feeder
protection Line Switch
Backfed
Substation Voltage recloser
tie switch AMI integration and
computer/gateway regulator
Distributed demand response
Volt/Var control Capacitor generation and Residental
control energy storage meter
Substation Feeder Customer
approach, such data transmission is control actions, further increasing the control, outage response, planned
critical for increased operational complexity of distribution systems’ work, optimal equipment loading,
awareness. operation. improved control over distributed
generation, energy storage and de-
Future operations center Even in the presence of increasing mand response resources. The inte-
The integrated operations center will amounts of decentralized intelligence grated distribution operations center
be a key to the smart distribution grid. and control, the integrated operations will help distribution companies in
ABB continues to increase the func- center will be a centralized way of their mission to meet the goals of
tionality of operations centers to meet overseeing and coordinating the entire customers, owners, employees and
distribution organizations’ technical system. It will not be practical or even society.
and business requirements. A vision desirable to transmit all data and in-
of the smart distribution grid utilizing formation to centralized systems in
an integrated distribution operations the integrated control system. Instead,
center is shown in 5 . to ensure the optimal operation of the
system, the systems in the integrated
In a general sense, the operation of distribution operations center will
distribution systems will become more only collect and act upon the particu-
complex. Additional amounts of dis- lar data and information that is passed Tim Taylor
tributed generation and energy stor- to it. ABB Power Systems
age will impact the magnitudes and Raleigh, NC, United States
directions of power flows on the sys- Meeting the challenge [Link]@[Link]
tem and may vary over time. Demand Smart distribution grids will require
response, either controlled by the innovative operations centers for ef- Marina Ohrn
electricity provider or the consumer, fective system management. ABB has ABB Power Systems
will also impact power flows and been continuously working to define Zürich, Switzerland
voltage profiles. In addition, there is and develop integrated operations [Link]@[Link]
already an increasing trend to place centers for smart distribution grids,
additional intelligence in devices on including advanced integration of ex-
the distribution system, such as intelli- isting systems and the development of
Reference
gent electronic devices (IEDs), substa- new applications. Smart grid opera- [1] Sen, A., Ohrn, M. Convergence in the control
tion computers and gateways, sensors, tions will provide a comprehensive room: Integrating transmission, distribution and
and advanced meters. Some of these view of the distribution system, in- outage management systems. ABB Review
devices will result in additional local cluding system status and monitoring, 4/2005, 30–32.
ABB Review 3/2009 49
