New solutions for the automation of large industrial distribution networks

Deregulation of the electrical sector is changing the landscape of the distribution systems: large industries do not only rely on the utility grid but produce electricity for their own and even sell the remaining energy to the grid. One example is the petro-chemical refinery, where it may prove to be more economical to transport energy rather than fuel. This new situation leads to the introduction of specific automation compared to the traditional approach. Combining this with constraints for higher functional integration and use of modern communication technology brings a new generation of automation systems. The architecture, features and benefits of the system performing these functions are described in this paper