Automation Trends and Benefits in the Utilities

The utility industry is expanding its operational capacity to solve challenges by implementing smart grid technology and mitigating power outages through automation.

FREMONT, CA: Electric utilities are increasingly focusing on how automation and artificial intelligence can enhance operations within the electric grid, particularly concerning the complicated distribution system as it evolves and modernizes with technology. Utility workers could use artificial intelligence to cull through data from equipment sensors and identify patterns or trends that may indicate maintenance needs. An automated system would set up devices that trigger themselves when certain criteria are met, such as recloses and switches.

Due to the human intervention and design involved, the systems are subject to flaws in their development.

Utility engineering companies are increasingly integrating automation. The following trends highlight automated capabilities in the utility industry.

Transitioning to automation: A larger transition to smart grid technologies encouraged the electric department's transition to automation. Engineers working on the smart grid upgrade identified aging feeder breakers that needed to be replaced and optimized by integrating automation. An automated recloser was installed on a ring bus of feeders that formed an area around one of the city's commercial districts. Since implementing the automatic system, engineers have found that automation helps improve recovery time. Automation also helps with switching, which now requires fewer field personnel. As outages are rare, the benefits of automation stem from easier access to system data daily.

Distribution automation system: Utility companies are looking to incorporate distribution automation schemes in their systems. The distribution automation system uses a real-time automation controller and automated reclosers that engineers connect through a high-speed fiber optic system. Several utility companies collaborate to develop equipment and system specifications and to program to integrate automation properly.

Several manufacturing centers throughout these companies' territory were affected by power outages caused by fault conditions before implementing automation schemes. If a fault occurs within the manufacturing complex, the system can immediately isolate just the affected section of the complex while retaining the power to the remainder of the complex. The other centers and the system will experience minimal power disruption due to automated setups.

Engineers coordinate timed overcurrent elements with downstream recloser controllers through distribution relays. Trip logic for distribution relays includes phase-time and ground-time overcurrents, instantaneous overcurrent relay elements, and automation controller trip commands. Engineers determine the appropriate relay response by evaluating several programmed equations based on the tagging relay and the reclosing shot bit status.