Automation strategies and solutions

Since privatisation, there has been increased pressure on the UK REC to utilise network assets more effectively and reduce customer supply interruptions and customer minutes lost due to faults. There are many techniques which can be employed to achieve these objectives, such as running the network plant closer to its maximum rating based on load curves, reducing the lengths of feeders and incorporating improved protection and switchgear. However, one of the most cost effective methods now being considered is feeder automation. This involves either manual control of remote switches from the control room and/or the fully automatic isolation of faults and the switching of alternative supplies to the remaining healthy sections of the network. This paper describes automation equipment that makes use of the existing infrastructure to provide reliable remote control and monitoring facilities, in addition to post-fault restoration, load transfer, and load shedding. The paper also describes an analysis tool which allows the network operator to establish where automation should be deployed to achieve maximum benefit