Dear List,

I wander if the communication methods used in Distribution control centers (mother station with RTUs) is done the same way as in EMS. i.e.
Is Power Line Carrier (PLC)method sufficient, does the communcation channels cover the whole number of substation where we are now talking about 2000 or 3000 substations; Or we have to adopt other methodes like microwave and fiber optics?

Khalil Tarhini

 

Dear All,

Utilities will use what is available in the future: Intranets, channels may vary with the time. There seems to be no single method for carrying data from A to B. Power line is one option, ...

More crucial seem to be the upper layers in the communication.

> ... communication methods used in Distribution control centers (mother station with RTUs) ...>

We have published an up to date comparison on SCADA communication solutions covering IEC 60870-5-101 (1-4), DNP3, ICCP (TASE.2) with IEC 61850:

"http://www.nettedautomation.com/news/n_51.html":http://www.nettedautomation.com/news/n_51.html

2002 is the year where many people get prepared to implement, integrate, and use the IEC61850/UCA approach. Grant Gilchrist from Harris Energy Services (Calgary) stated recently at the Distributech 2002 in Miami: "UCA and IEC 61850 have the potential to revolutionize the utility industry. ... one must be prepared."

See my presentations during the DistribuTECH 2002:

"http://www.nettedautomation.com/news/n_54.html":http://www.nettedautomation.com/news/n_54.html

Best Regards,::

Karlheinz Schwarz
[email protected]