Energy / Distribution Automation: Secure Connection to the Grid of Independent Power Producers

Introduction

Around the world, the advent of intelligent electric networks or "Smart Grid" is on every Electric Utility’s agenda, with loads of new technological challenges that must be taken care of without delays.

Among them, the connection of Independent Power Producers raises issues whose effects on the distribution and transmission networks must be taken into account economically and safely to ensure network reliability for both Independent Power Producers and Electric Utilities. At the heart of the problem is the secure exchange of information between private facilities and large networks.

The RightWON Acquisition and Control Unit for Independent Power Producers, developed by VIZIMAX in collaboration with Hydro-Quebec, is an excellent example of innovative solutions contributing to the conversion of non-collaborative traditional electric networks into the "Smart Grid".

The Challenges

Hydro-Quebec was thinking of using intelligent units to control interconnections with

Independent Power Producers, but these units had the following limitations:

Data communication limited to Modbus without any possibility of conversion and evolution

to other protocols;

Lack of automation and no enhanced communication;

Lack of scalability with the increasing number of sites to manage;

Incompatibility with upcoming standards, probable future obsolescence in the medium term.

The Solution

To overcome these shortcomings, Hydro-Quebec has mandated the VIZIMAX team to collaborate with the Hydro-Quebec Distribution Automation team in order to design, build and implement on Hydro-Quebec’s network customized Acquisition and Control Units, capable of solving the technical and managerial requirements of Hydro-Quebec, while taking into account the requirements of Independent Power Producers.

‘’VIZIMAX is looking forward to assist its partners in building specific applications like the RightWON Acquisition and Control Unit that can be integrated into their own product line for their specific clients!’’ Jean-Guy Lacombe, President and CEO VIZIMAX Inc., Canada

Energy / Distribution Automation: Secure Connection to the Grid of Independent Power Producers

The new modular RightWON Control and Acquisition units from VIZIMAX allow Hydro-Quebec to

achieve, in accordance to its requirements, the following results:

Automated activation or termination, remotely controllable, of Independent Power

Producers’ sites;

Lock/unlock remotely the circuit breaker at the

production site based on network conditions

and security requirements;

Energy value acquisition of each generated

phases within each Independent Power

Producer’s site;

Automatic generation of reports and

statements of measured values for Hydro-

Quebec’s central operation center;

Real-time transmission of signal and alarm

communications to Hydro-Quebec’s central

operation center;

Local events journal generated on all status

changes and parameters affecting network

outages.

The Benefits for Hydro-Québec Distribution

In addition to these key features, the

new modular RightWON Control and

Acquisition Units make it possible for

Hydro-Quebec to benefit from new

opportunities that ensure reduced

intervention time and cost at remote

sites, scalability and optimization of all

deployed hardware and software.

‘’The RightWON Acquisition and Control Unit made it possible to integrate the Independent Power Producers’ production sites to Hydro-Québec Distribution network complying at the same time to all our standards while staying affordable. None of the Independent Power Producers’ sensors and controls at their production sites requires to be modified to comply with our DNP3 communication protocol.’’ Marc Lacroix, Automation Director Hydro-Québec Distribution

Energy / Distribution Automation: Secure Connection to the Grid of Independent Power Producers

The new and improved management features of all deployed RightWON Control and Acquisition

Units now include:

Remote software updates deployed on equipped Independent Power Producers’ site;

Compatibility with many communication protocols such as DNP3 (and the possibility to

convert at any time to IEC 61850, IEC 60870, and Modbus);

Protocol conversion allowing existing old units equipped with the Modbus protocol to

connect to DNP3;

Remote upgrades with new software features or options;

Possibility to add on site I/O plug-ins to the RightWON Control and Acquisition Units to

support additional future sensors and controls;

Robust units now resist to extreme temperatures (-40° F to +165° F);

A wide range of telecommunication plug-ins with the following standards: PSTN modems,

CDMA, GSM, 3G, serial ports, Ethernet, Fiber Optics and various radio interfaces.

The Benefits for Independent Power Producers

Beyond the Hydro-Quebec requirements, the RightWON Control and Acquisition Units also take

care of Independent Power Producers’ specific expectations, such as:

The management of diverse equipment (including PLCs, controllers, various metering devices,

etc.) already installed on site, thus limiting unnecessary replacements;

The local and remote view of the circuit breaker’s state (on / off) within each site owned by

Independent Power Producers;

The local and remote view of the locked / unlocked switch within each site owned by

Independent Power Producers;

Extensive interfacing capabilities for data acquisition, event generation, data

acknowledgment and controls of additional parameters such as voltage sensors, circuit

breaker controls, etc.;

Hardware and software reconfiguration flexibility hardware and software of the RightWON

Control and Acquisition Units;

Energy / Distribution Automation: Secure Connection to the Grid of Independent Power Producers

The possibility of making available to the Independent Power Producers additional

maintenance functions including:

o The remote and local view of relevant status on key assets;

o The remote and local view of measured values of key parameters, and

o The remote and local view on event logs such as key assets status changes and

alarm signals about exceeding thresholds (among others).

Conclusion

The completion of the RightWON Control and Acquisition Units is made possible through the joint efforts of engineers from the Automation group within Hydro-Quebec Distribution, and VIZIMAX and Phoenix Contact application engineers.

The RightWON Control and Acquisition Units from VIZIMAX are based on many Phoenix Contact technical solutions.

The RightWON is a secure, modular, rugged automation platform that connects C/Bs, sensors, control and monitoring devices within remote infrastructure in the Energy fields, Water management and Telecommunications.

Given Hydro-Quebec’s high level of specifications and expectations, the first modular RightWON Control and Acquisition Units were initially designed and customized by VIZIMAX and its partners.

For future needs, VIZIMAX intends to deliver its Acquisition and Control Units to other Electric Utilities through its partners, either:

Medium and High Voltage Power Equipment

Manufacturers, or

System Integrators, or

Engineering Consultant Firms.