Being located close to energy end-users, Secondary Distribution Substations (SDS) always exist in large numbers, spreading throughout the territory. In order to fight both the rapid equipment decay and energy losses that affect electrical utilities across the world and improve quality of service, resorting to remote condition monitoring is a key solution, thus providing real-time monitoring, assessment and communication of a number of status conditions in secondary distribution substations, yet at reduced costs.

Eneida’s system provides both alarm and warning messages to staff in charge, corresponding to instant detection of appliance failures, as single events, as much as early warning of probable future malfunctions. Thus, allowing faster and more reliable condition diagnosis of Secondary Distribution Substations and, therefore, accurate and timely responses whenever required.

This solution consists of a fully modular platform that encompasses a number of different, independent and self contained smart devices which, being adequately located throughout a secondary substation, are functionally integrated by a higher level unit over a wireless network. This single controller unit in a substation acts primarily as data collector and processor from a number of sensors representing the status and condition of different devices and telecommunication node of a WAN-IP network (over GPRS). As depicted, besides acting locally as node of a low power, short-range wireless network (WPAN), this integrating unit has a role as gateway to the upper levels in the overall information system, for database maintenance, condition assessment, and alarm issuing.

Functionally, this system addresses the condition monitoring and diagnosis of electric components and, in accordance with the constructive type of secondary distribution substation – whether it is cabin, underground or pole-type, the intrinsic safety evaluation and the prompt detection of impending security and safety risks of the whole of substation premises, as follows:

Switchboard: status information on all existing fuses, and real-time fuse blow-out detection;
Transformer: vibration pattern and/or temperature taken at the top lid, with a non-intrusive sensors, thus detecting both mechanical and thermal deviations from standard normal behavior;
Switchboard: data acquisition of RMS current and voltage flowing at each and every output LV single-phase circuit;
Environmental safety: data acquisition of both temperature and relative humidity in the air, thus leading to abilities of fire detection and ventilation malfunction diagnosis;

Environmental safety: flood detection and water pump malfunction diagnosis, alarms and control;
Intrusion alarm and access control: prompt detection of intrusion through doors and ventilation grilles;
Transformer attempted theft: prompt detection of transformer removal and damage;
Partial discharges: detection and monitoring of partial discharges inside of SDS;
LV line monitoring: data acquisition of RMS current and voltage flowing at LV electrical lines.

Software

The communications structure has been made as simple as possible. Communications are performed through a gateway (EWS G2G4-gpwr, EWS G433M-gpwr or EWS G433M-mpwr) that allows two-way communications between the central server and sensors installed at secondary distribution substations. The communication between gateway and central server is over GPRS (or Modbus when the SDS have a RTU installed that communicates over this protocol) and between sensors and gateway is over 2.4 GHz (Zigbee) or ISM 433Mhz radio.

The SDS monitoring and management software, EWS DT1, receive and manage, remotely, all data acquired by sensors. This software is based in five modules designated equally to the system benefits. The front end of this web application provides a country map with information about geo-referenced SDS and its sensors. It is a complete, fast and cost-effective solution for effectively managing and monitoring its assets. Through a single computer, tablet or smartphone, it allows the users to track its assets and to know its operational status. Plus, the users can automatically receive reports and warnings to staff in charge, corresponding to instant detection of appliance failures, as single events, as much as early warning of probable future malfunctions. Thus, allowing faster and more reliable condition diagnosis of SDS and, therefore, accurate and timely responses whenever required. This web application could be visualized through a computer, smartphone or tablet. This guarantees versatility and mobility to the users.