The Benefits and Protective Elements of Substation Automation

Automation of a substation involves specialized hardware and software, allowing the substation to be controlled from near or far, depending on the acute needs of the utility. Substation automation can help to clear errors, redundancies, and inefficiencies, making for a more productive system.

Benefits of Substation Automation

Substation automation can be a significant factor in preventing electrical outages. Streamlining the substation operations saves time for utility and power distribution staff, and it also saves costs with a reduced need for onsite service calls.

Of course, end consumers also reap the benefits of substation automation, as fewer interruptions of power translate to improved health, safety, security, and business outcomes within each community.

Protective Elements of Substation Automation

A host of intelligent devices help to streamline the automation process. These components are fundamental to operations:

• IEDs (Intelligent Electronic Devices) operate on multiple levels - collecting and recording essential data, as well as communicating that information to the operator.
• SCADAs (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition Systems) deploy remote terminal units or programmable logic controllers to manage and monitor operations.
• HMIs (Human Machine Interfaces) supply visualization data to substation operators - enormously helpful at both the configuration and maintenance stages.

All of these automation elements work hand-in-hand together to send local data to operators, allowing for quick adjustments as needed. Additionally, utilities can use the collected information from these devices in a "big data" capacity, analyzing information about the health of the systems at large.

Prevent Damage to Costly Elements

At Critter Guard, we understand the sensitive function of substations in communities worldwide. Our Line Guard, Pole Guard, and BirdBloc products work to protect modern substations and their expensive, essential automation equipment by preventing animals such as squirrels, birds, and other wildlife from accessing substations and other important electrical equipment. To learn more about how our products can help keep substations functioning properly and power in your area uninterrupted, contact us today!