Information modeling of power substations by using the unified modeling language

Efficient and high-quality design of the substation automation systems has always been a real challenge. The problem of identification and location of information in the system and the description of information processing activities is a significant design problem. Information modeling is aimed at resolving it. An efficient approach to information modeling can significantly improve substation automation system development process. In this paper we propose the usage of the Unified Modeling Language (UML) as a main modeling language for expressing substation information models. UML was specified by Rational Software Corporation in 1997. Today, UML is adopted by the Object Management Group as an object-oriented modeling language with formally defined syntax and semantics. As expected, UML could be widely accepted in various industries (software, telecommunications, medicine, electro-industry, aero-industry etc.). The modeling approach is explained on one typical small-range 35 kV/10 kV distribution substation. Modeling steps: system usage specification, system structure specification, and behavior and constraints specification are described together with explanation of usage of some UML diagrams and modeling concepts.