POWER INDUSTRY Distribution Companies
A small selection of Power Distribution Companies using Abbey Systems SCADA products in their networks.
Greater Chittagong Power Distribution Project
USD5,000,000
Turnkey SCADA System, Bangladesh Power Development Board
34 Substations + Control Centre
In 2009 Abbey Systems won its largest contract to date, for the supply of a turnkey SCADA System for power distribution in the Greater Chittagong area of Bangladesh. The system comprised the supply, shipping & installation of:
USD5,000,000
Turnkey SCADA System, Bangladesh Power Development Board
34 Substations + Control Centre
In 2009 Abbey Systems won its largest contract to date, for the supply of a turnkey SCADA System for power distribution in the Greater Chittagong area of Bangladesh. The system comprised the supply, shipping & installation of:
- A Control Centre at Kulshi substation, complete with a 5mx2m LCD video wall, FEP Media & I/O Servers, four dual screen Operator & Engineering terminals, all database configuration, substation Aspex HMI screen creation including dynamic feeder display.
- 34 substation RTUs, complete with enclosures, dual redundant power supplies, surge protection lightning protection,
Ethernet and radio communications interfaces, 600 Feeder power meters, marshalling terminals and all substation cabling. - Provision of onsite training, spare parts and maintenance services for 2 years.
- Transfer of SCADA engineering capability and technology to Bangladeshi companies.
BPDB Chittagong SCADA, Kulshi Control Room & LCD video wall
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A colourful Dhaka Street scene. Photo: Mr Anibil Iftikhar, Totaltel
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Substation RTU & marshalling cabinet installed & commissioned by FMS & Totaltel
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Video wall with CTG Network 33/11kV overview & Operator terminal set up for FAT
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EASTLAND NETWORK
Turnkey system - includes comms system, SCADA system and project engineering
Hot Standby Master, 50 RTUs Installed - 1999-2000; ongoing
Eastland Network is primarily a rural power distribution company with an urban centre in Gisborne. The rural hinterland has some rugged areas to cover with a limited number of connections and as a result requires a complex but robust communications backbone. Eastland Networks were using a Plessey PSM System which was obsolete and unable to cater for new technology at substations. Abbey Systems provided a system which would allow them to phase out the PSM system while introducing Powerlink.
Abbey Systems provided a turnkey system, including an upgrade and expansion of the communications network, all system engineering and design, supply and installation of the SCADA system. This meant considerable savings in consultants fees. As all components were matched by Abbey Systems there were also cost savings in equipment supply.
The site features 'Generator Positive Load Control', a Hot Standby Backup SCADA Master, Cellular RTUs, 4 Powercat Load Management Injection Control RTUs & IP RTUs at substations and numerous poletop sites, 4 SCADA Gateways for distributed Communications channels. Abbey RTUs also monitor and control operations at Eastland Group's other interests, including the Ports of Gisborne.
Turnkey system - includes comms system, SCADA system and project engineering
Hot Standby Master, 50 RTUs Installed - 1999-2000; ongoing
Eastland Network is primarily a rural power distribution company with an urban centre in Gisborne. The rural hinterland has some rugged areas to cover with a limited number of connections and as a result requires a complex but robust communications backbone. Eastland Networks were using a Plessey PSM System which was obsolete and unable to cater for new technology at substations. Abbey Systems provided a system which would allow them to phase out the PSM system while introducing Powerlink.
Abbey Systems provided a turnkey system, including an upgrade and expansion of the communications network, all system engineering and design, supply and installation of the SCADA system. This meant considerable savings in consultants fees. As all components were matched by Abbey Systems there were also cost savings in equipment supply.
The site features 'Generator Positive Load Control', a Hot Standby Backup SCADA Master, Cellular RTUs, 4 Powercat Load Management Injection Control RTUs & IP RTUs at substations and numerous poletop sites, 4 SCADA Gateways for distributed Communications channels. Abbey RTUs also monitor and control operations at Eastland Group's other interests, including the Ports of Gisborne.
THE LINES COMPANY
Large rural area - 9 injection plants
11 Substation RTUs, 16 Poletop RTUs First installed - 1995
The Lines Company, an amalgamation of Waitomo Energy Services and King Country Energy, merged two separate Abbey Systems SCADA systems into one Master.
Waitomo’s system uses seven Modulink RTUs and King Country Energy’s system uses four Powerlink RTUs. Both systems run Load Management software and are to be amalgamated into a single Powerlink system with hot standby master. The ‘Realflex’ MMI software originally used at Waitomo has been replaced with Powerlink using Aspex HMI screens.
Large rural area - 9 injection plants
11 Substation RTUs, 16 Poletop RTUs First installed - 1995
The Lines Company, an amalgamation of Waitomo Energy Services and King Country Energy, merged two separate Abbey Systems SCADA systems into one Master.
Waitomo’s system uses seven Modulink RTUs and King Country Energy’s system uses four Powerlink RTUs. Both systems run Load Management software and are to be amalgamated into a single Powerlink system with hot standby master. The ‘Realflex’ MMI software originally used at Waitomo has been replaced with Powerlink using Aspex HMI screens.
WESTPOWER LTD
Telemetry backbone
17 RTUs First installed - 1994
Westpower upgraded its Modulink system with Powerlink software. It uses a fibre optic link to link the RS485 bus around the substation, so RTUs can be distributed around the site. RTUs use a serial IO module to interface to AEG Modicon PLCs already installed at the remote sites. The modular nature of Modulink hardware useful where IO is to be collected from different locations, as it is only necessary to run a 3-wire cable for the RS485 bus, rather than bring back all the individual indication and control pairs. Another advantage is the simplicity of providing electrical isolation as RS485 fibre optic interconnection is standard.
Telemetry backbone
17 RTUs First installed - 1994
Westpower upgraded its Modulink system with Powerlink software. It uses a fibre optic link to link the RS485 bus around the substation, so RTUs can be distributed around the site. RTUs use a serial IO module to interface to AEG Modicon PLCs already installed at the remote sites. The modular nature of Modulink hardware useful where IO is to be collected from different locations, as it is only necessary to run a 3-wire cable for the RS485 bus, rather than bring back all the individual indication and control pairs. Another advantage is the simplicity of providing electrical isolation as RS485 fibre optic interconnection is standard.
NETWORK WAITAKI
Turnkey contract - full SCADA, comms and engineering
Hot Standby Master, 12 Substation RTUs, 54 Poletop RTUs First installed - 1997
Waitaki Power is a rural distribution authority in New Zealand’s South Island. Abbey Systems was given a “total responsibility” brief to implement a SCADA and load control system. This included design, all SCADA engineering, communications engineering, installation of communications system and SCADA system, commissioning and training.
The system has a dual Master hot standby system connected to the office LAN and 12 Powerlink RTUs, and has expanded to include Topcat RTUs controlling Nulec circuit breakers for feeder automation.
The system was expanded in 2008 to allow for irrigation control for another local company. They share the Waitaki Networks Telemetry Server but have restricted access and use 'Powerlink SMS execute' to remotely change the Duty Operator receiving any Alarms from the system.
Turnkey contract - full SCADA, comms and engineering
Hot Standby Master, 12 Substation RTUs, 54 Poletop RTUs First installed - 1997
Waitaki Power is a rural distribution authority in New Zealand’s South Island. Abbey Systems was given a “total responsibility” brief to implement a SCADA and load control system. This included design, all SCADA engineering, communications engineering, installation of communications system and SCADA system, commissioning and training.
The system has a dual Master hot standby system connected to the office LAN and 12 Powerlink RTUs, and has expanded to include Topcat RTUs controlling Nulec circuit breakers for feeder automation.
The system was expanded in 2008 to allow for irrigation control for another local company. They share the Waitaki Networks Telemetry Server but have restricted access and use 'Powerlink SMS execute' to remotely change the Duty Operator receiving any Alarms from the system.
SCANPOWER LTD
Trunked radio communications
24 Poletop RTUs First installed - 1997
Scanpower is another small rural distributor in the centre of the North Island of New Zealand and chose our SCADA software and RTUs for controlling reclosers and switches on their 4x 11KV feeders. Trunked radio was initially used for the communications network but has since been upgraded to a private radio land mobile radio channel.
Trunked radio communications
24 Poletop RTUs First installed - 1997
Scanpower is another small rural distributor in the centre of the North Island of New Zealand and chose our SCADA software and RTUs for controlling reclosers and switches on their 4x 11KV feeders. Trunked radio was initially used for the communications network but has since been upgraded to a private radio land mobile radio channel.
POWERCO
Open System DNP3 RTUs
~400 DNP3 Abbey Systems RTUs - 2013
In a significant project over the last two to three years, Powerco has migrated all ~400+ of their Abbey Systems RTUs from traditional VHF & UHF radio channels onto a new DNP3 radio communications network across the Western region. This covered Taranaki, Hawera, Wanganui, Manawatu to Wairarapa as well as the significant Provincial Centres in each region.
For the 10 years prior Powerco had run a merged Abbey Systems SCADA System using Powerlink Telemetry Server with Telemetry Mimic as the Operator GUI. The merged system came about as a result of a project undertaken in 2003 amalgamating the five systems Powerco owned into a single system with a centralised Ethernet based SCADA Master and Hot Standby Backup. Four of these systems were Abbey SCADA systems, the fifth was a Realflex SCADA Master using Plessey Dataterm RTUs. The merged system ran over a SCADA Wide Area Network, connecting together the existing 5 communications hubs where the radio communications networks of the original Power Companies terminated. As part of the project, Abbey Systems also upgraded the Load Management System that handles high-demand load periods for 20 Points Of Supply and up to 300 load channels. Factory acceptance testing took place in February 2002, followed by a staged rollout, with the final system commissioned in November 2002.
Powerco have also standardised on the EPL, as the Load Management RTU, across both Western & Eastern regions. EPL is based on the Abbey Systems Powercat RTU hardware platform and is a standalone Load Management System which Powerco drives from their SCADA Master. It uses GPS synchronised IRIG-B signalling to sync injection commands at site so preventing spillover.
Open System DNP3 RTUs
~400 DNP3 Abbey Systems RTUs - 2013
In a significant project over the last two to three years, Powerco has migrated all ~400+ of their Abbey Systems RTUs from traditional VHF & UHF radio channels onto a new DNP3 radio communications network across the Western region. This covered Taranaki, Hawera, Wanganui, Manawatu to Wairarapa as well as the significant Provincial Centres in each region.
For the 10 years prior Powerco had run a merged Abbey Systems SCADA System using Powerlink Telemetry Server with Telemetry Mimic as the Operator GUI. The merged system came about as a result of a project undertaken in 2003 amalgamating the five systems Powerco owned into a single system with a centralised Ethernet based SCADA Master and Hot Standby Backup. Four of these systems were Abbey SCADA systems, the fifth was a Realflex SCADA Master using Plessey Dataterm RTUs. The merged system ran over a SCADA Wide Area Network, connecting together the existing 5 communications hubs where the radio communications networks of the original Power Companies terminated. As part of the project, Abbey Systems also upgraded the Load Management System that handles high-demand load periods for 20 Points Of Supply and up to 300 load channels. Factory acceptance testing took place in February 2002, followed by a staged rollout, with the final system commissioned in November 2002.
Powerco have also standardised on the EPL, as the Load Management RTU, across both Western & Eastern regions. EPL is based on the Abbey Systems Powercat RTU hardware platform and is a standalone Load Management System which Powerco drives from their SCADA Master. It uses GPS synchronised IRIG-B signalling to sync injection commands at site so preventing spillover.
POWERCO GAS
Cellular RTU solution
68 RTUs
2009 ongoing
Powerco awarded Abbey Systems a significant contract in 2009 for the supply of a SCADA system monitoring 70 key gas distribution sites in their network across the Lower North Island, New Zealand. These sites regulate the supply pressures and flows into the Gas reticulation network. The project uses GSM cellular communications back to a virtualised SCADA Master as the sites are widespread across thousands of kilometres. The system timestamps and stores pressures and flow data onsite and automatically Alarms to cellphones when pressures are outside upper and lower limits for each site. Engineers and Operators use Abbey Systems Securelink to access their data, allowing multiple users access to the system at the same time.
Cellular RTU solution
68 RTUs
2009 ongoing
Powerco awarded Abbey Systems a significant contract in 2009 for the supply of a SCADA system monitoring 70 key gas distribution sites in their network across the Lower North Island, New Zealand. These sites regulate the supply pressures and flows into the Gas reticulation network. The project uses GSM cellular communications back to a virtualised SCADA Master as the sites are widespread across thousands of kilometres. The system timestamps and stores pressures and flow data onsite and automatically Alarms to cellphones when pressures are outside upper and lower limits for each site. Engineers and Operators use Abbey Systems Securelink to access their data, allowing multiple users access to the system at the same time.
TOP ENERGY LTD
Power plant control, feeder automation
3 Substation RTUs, 30 Poletop RTUs First installed - 1997
expanded with ~125 poletop RTUs and 5 SCADA Gateways
Top Energy is a distribution authority using Powerlink RTUs to interface to its newest and most complex equipment. This includes Schneider ABS actuators, Cooper reclosers using DNP3 protocol and an Ormat geothermal plant control system using Modbus. Top Energy has pioneered the use of optical fibre connection to serial devices in switch-yards. This technique provides excellent electrical isolation combined with high bandwidth. They use the Fox optical fibre splitter which gives four fibre paths out of one RS232 Port.
In 2005 the system was expanded installing ~80 new Topcat RTUs across the network for Feederline Automation. These were connected to Switches and Reclosers and used the existing VHF radio network. These stripped-out RTUs comprised a CPU board and VHF radio with I/O arriving via a serial connection. In conjunction Abbey Systems built the SCADA Gateway to allow an IP connected backbone to be installed around the repeater sites.
Power plant control, feeder automation
3 Substation RTUs, 30 Poletop RTUs First installed - 1997
expanded with ~125 poletop RTUs and 5 SCADA Gateways
Top Energy is a distribution authority using Powerlink RTUs to interface to its newest and most complex equipment. This includes Schneider ABS actuators, Cooper reclosers using DNP3 protocol and an Ormat geothermal plant control system using Modbus. Top Energy has pioneered the use of optical fibre connection to serial devices in switch-yards. This technique provides excellent electrical isolation combined with high bandwidth. They use the Fox optical fibre splitter which gives four fibre paths out of one RS232 Port.
In 2005 the system was expanded installing ~80 new Topcat RTUs across the network for Feederline Automation. These were connected to Switches and Reclosers and used the existing VHF radio network. These stripped-out RTUs comprised a CPU board and VHF radio with I/O arriving via a serial connection. In conjunction Abbey Systems built the SCADA Gateway to allow an IP connected backbone to be installed around the repeater sites.
VECTOR LTD, AUCKLAND
Load monitoring, feeder automation
24 RTUs, 19 Poletop RTUs First installed - 1986
In 1986 Auckland Electric Power Board installed a MicroAlert system for load monitoring. The system represented the first generation of MicroAlert II products and has only recently been upgraded. The upgrade was restricted to Master PC, software and Eprom upgrades for the RTUs and demonstrates the very long design life of our equipment.
Vector has since expanded the system to include feeder automation, and has Microlink RTUs to monitor faults and control ABS and recloser equipment located along one of the most fault-prone feeders. Because of the area’s difficult terrain the equipment’s store and forward capability is used to get full communications coverage.
In 2014 Vector is installing 10 Abbey Powercat Injection Control RTUs in the Northern part of their network. These RTUs connect via DNP3/IP with Vector's Siemens SCADA Master and control both Decabit and K22 Injection plants.
Load monitoring, feeder automation
24 RTUs, 19 Poletop RTUs First installed - 1986
In 1986 Auckland Electric Power Board installed a MicroAlert system for load monitoring. The system represented the first generation of MicroAlert II products and has only recently been upgraded. The upgrade was restricted to Master PC, software and Eprom upgrades for the RTUs and demonstrates the very long design life of our equipment.
Vector has since expanded the system to include feeder automation, and has Microlink RTUs to monitor faults and control ABS and recloser equipment located along one of the most fault-prone feeders. Because of the area’s difficult terrain the equipment’s store and forward capability is used to get full communications coverage.
In 2014 Vector is installing 10 Abbey Powercat Injection Control RTUs in the Northern part of their network. These RTUs connect via DNP3/IP with Vector's Siemens SCADA Master and control both Decabit and K22 Injection plants.
UNISON NETWORKS
Telemetry Subsystem
~40 Poletop RTUs, 4 Substation RTUs, First installed - 2001
Unison is an urban/rural Lines Company headquartered in Hastings and serving the Hawkes Bay area. They have standardised Topcat RTUs for feeder line monitoring and control, and use an Abbey Systems Master as a Telemetry OPC Server into their Telvent ADMS and previously Realflex SCADA system. The Realflex System communicates directly with their existing (and aging) Dataterm RTUs and to the 4 Powerlink RTUs via the Abbey Telemetry Server. The Abbey Systems Telemetry Server allows parameter downloads and program changes to the RTUs from the control room in Hastings.
Telemetry Subsystem
~40 Poletop RTUs, 4 Substation RTUs, First installed - 2001
Unison is an urban/rural Lines Company headquartered in Hastings and serving the Hawkes Bay area. They have standardised Topcat RTUs for feeder line monitoring and control, and use an Abbey Systems Master as a Telemetry OPC Server into their Telvent ADMS and previously Realflex SCADA system. The Realflex System communicates directly with their existing (and aging) Dataterm RTUs and to the 4 Powerlink RTUs via the Abbey Telemetry Server. The Abbey Systems Telemetry Server allows parameter downloads and program changes to the RTUs from the control room in Hastings.
CENTRALINES LTD
Complete system for a small rural Power lines company
~30 RTUs First installed - 1995
Centralines is a small rural distributor in the North Island of New Zealand, using an Abbey Systems Powerlink system for feeder automation and substation control. The Centralines SCADA system is managed by Unison's Control Room 40km away using Powerlink OPC Server.
Complete system for a small rural Power lines company
~30 RTUs First installed - 1995
Centralines is a small rural distributor in the North Island of New Zealand, using an Abbey Systems Powerlink system for feeder automation and substation control. The Centralines SCADA system is managed by Unison's Control Room 40km away using Powerlink OPC Server.
WEL ENERGY GROUP
DNP3/IP & DNP3 serial communications protocols (previously Conitel 2020)
~100 Poletop & Substation RTUs
WEL is a larger urban/semi-rural power lines company based in Hamilton in the Waikato Region. They are using both Abbey Powercat RTUs at substations and Topcat RTUs for feeder automation. WEL's SCADA Master has been upgraded and now supports DNP3 and DNP3/IP, so the Topcat RTUs have also been upgraded with Trio Data Radios for the DNP3 comms network, where previously they used Conitel 2020. The substations all use Powercat RTUs and DNP3/IP for communications.
DNP3/IP & DNP3 serial communications protocols (previously Conitel 2020)
~100 Poletop & Substation RTUs
WEL is a larger urban/semi-rural power lines company based in Hamilton in the Waikato Region. They are using both Abbey Powercat RTUs at substations and Topcat RTUs for feeder automation. WEL's SCADA Master has been upgraded and now supports DNP3 and DNP3/IP, so the Topcat RTUs have also been upgraded with Trio Data Radios for the DNP3 comms network, where previously they used Conitel 2020. The substations all use Powercat RTUs and DNP3/IP for communications.
OTAGONet
Turnkey system - includes comms system, SCADA system and project engineering
28 RTUs
OtagoNet is located in Balclutha and is the archetypical rural power distribution company, with vast areas to cover with a limited number of connections and as a result, a large number of small substations.
OtagoNet opted for Abbey Systems to provide a complete turnkey system which included upgrading and expanding their communications network, providing all of the system engineering, and design, supply and installation of the SCADA system. This meant considerable savings in consultants fees. As all components were matched by Abbey Systems there were also cost savings in equipment supply.
Turnkey system - includes comms system, SCADA system and project engineering
28 RTUs
OtagoNet is located in Balclutha and is the archetypical rural power distribution company, with vast areas to cover with a limited number of connections and as a result, a large number of small substations.
OtagoNet opted for Abbey Systems to provide a complete turnkey system which included upgrading and expanding their communications network, providing all of the system engineering, and design, supply and installation of the SCADA system. This meant considerable savings in consultants fees. As all components were matched by Abbey Systems there were also cost savings in equipment supply.
BULLER NETWORK
Load Management System (initial)
SCADA Master, Load Management System and Powerlink Injection Controller RTU Installed 2001
6 Powercat RTUs, 25 Poletop RTUs
Buller Networks is a small rural network with one rural centre and an elongated supply area through difficult terrain. Initially, Buller needed to urgently replace an existing failed Load Management System prior to winter, as well as establish the foundation for future network system SCADA control. The Powerlink Master (including LMS) and one injection controller / GXP metering RTU, were installed in record time (2 weeks from order), and use a direct UHF radio communications link between sites. This system has been expanded since the initial project and now includes IP connected Powercat RTUs at Robertson Street Substation and Powercat and Topcat RTUs as far north as Karamea at the northern end of the Heaphy Track. The radio network uses VHF providing good coverage over difficult terrain with a minimum number of repeaters necessary. Topcat RTUs provide serial interfaces open to any device supporting a DNP3, Modbus, DF-1 or Cooper protocols for reclosers, voltage regulators, ABs's etc.
Load Management System (initial)
SCADA Master, Load Management System and Powerlink Injection Controller RTU Installed 2001
6 Powercat RTUs, 25 Poletop RTUs
Buller Networks is a small rural network with one rural centre and an elongated supply area through difficult terrain. Initially, Buller needed to urgently replace an existing failed Load Management System prior to winter, as well as establish the foundation for future network system SCADA control. The Powerlink Master (including LMS) and one injection controller / GXP metering RTU, were installed in record time (2 weeks from order), and use a direct UHF radio communications link between sites. This system has been expanded since the initial project and now includes IP connected Powercat RTUs at Robertson Street Substation and Powercat and Topcat RTUs as far north as Karamea at the northern end of the Heaphy Track. The radio network uses VHF providing good coverage over difficult terrain with a minimum number of repeaters necessary. Topcat RTUs provide serial interfaces open to any device supporting a DNP3, Modbus, DF-1 or Cooper protocols for reclosers, voltage regulators, ABs's etc.
DELTA UTILITY SERVICES DUNEDIN
Rural Power scheme
Master / Telemetry Server, 4 Powerlink RTUs Installed 2000
Delta wished to expand its SCADA system to cover the rural network that was formerly Central Otago Power. The incumbent supplier was unable to provide a solution that would work over the difficult terrain and poor quality communications links, so Powerlink was chosen. The system comprises a Master in Alexandra, four RTUs dispersed over a wide geographical area and a growing number of small Topcat RTUs for small substations and poletop use. The Master at Alexandra can operate as a standalone and act as a telemetry server to the Foxboro Master in Dunedin. The initial project involved using a trunked radio network for communications between the sites but this has since been upgraded to a Delta-owned radio network covering the area.
Rural Power scheme
Master / Telemetry Server, 4 Powerlink RTUs Installed 2000
Delta wished to expand its SCADA system to cover the rural network that was formerly Central Otago Power. The incumbent supplier was unable to provide a solution that would work over the difficult terrain and poor quality communications links, so Powerlink was chosen. The system comprises a Master in Alexandra, four RTUs dispersed over a wide geographical area and a growing number of small Topcat RTUs for small substations and poletop use. The Master at Alexandra can operate as a standalone and act as a telemetry server to the Foxboro Master in Dunedin. The initial project involved using a trunked radio network for communications between the sites but this has since been upgraded to a Delta-owned radio network covering the area.
ORION GROUP LTD
C2025 and DNP3 Injection Control RTUs
Orion has purchased 32 Injection Control RTUs through Landis + Gyr (previously Enermet NZ Ltd). They communicate directly with the Orion Foxboro Rev 5 Master. An interesting feature of this system is its ability to synchronise injection signals - system wide - to within 20 microsecond accuracy; GPS timing is used to achieve this. This feature enables Orion to eliminate pilot wires for carrying the injection waveform between plants.
Another useful feature of GPS synchronisation of the injection waveform is that phase delays can be set to compensate for network features such as transformers, capacitor banks etc.
C2025 and DNP3 Injection Control RTUs
Orion has purchased 32 Injection Control RTUs through Landis + Gyr (previously Enermet NZ Ltd). They communicate directly with the Orion Foxboro Rev 5 Master. An interesting feature of this system is its ability to synchronise injection signals - system wide - to within 20 microsecond accuracy; GPS timing is used to achieve this. This feature enables Orion to eliminate pilot wires for carrying the injection waveform between plants.
Another useful feature of GPS synchronisation of the injection waveform is that phase delays can be set to compensate for network features such as transformers, capacitor banks etc.
DEVONPORT DOCKYARD ENERGY MONITORING
SCADA & Energy billing system
11 RTUs First installed - 1990
The Royal New Zealand Navy uses Powerlink software and Modulink RTUs to monitor and control energy distribution at the Devonport Naval Dockyard. Full metering information from all Dockyard users, including ships in dock, are relayed to the Calliope Wharf control room, as are alarm statuses from the eight substations that form the base distribution network.
SCADA & Energy billing system
11 RTUs First installed - 1990
The Royal New Zealand Navy uses Powerlink software and Modulink RTUs to monitor and control energy distribution at the Devonport Naval Dockyard. Full metering information from all Dockyard users, including ships in dock, are relayed to the Calliope Wharf control room, as are alarm statuses from the eight substations that form the base distribution network.
NETWORK TASMAN
Conitel 2020 and DNP3 RTUs
2 Injection Control RTUs, 4 Substation RTUs
Network Tasman used Powerlink RTUs to replace the aging Leeds and Northrup RTUs in their substations. The RTUs communicate directly with their iPower Master using DNP3 protocol. Abbey Systems provides full technical support to this site including liaising with BJS NZ Ltd for master station, RTU and IED configuration, plus site commissioning.
Conitel 2020 and DNP3 RTUs
2 Injection Control RTUs, 4 Substation RTUs
Network Tasman used Powerlink RTUs to replace the aging Leeds and Northrup RTUs in their substations. The RTUs communicate directly with their iPower Master using DNP3 protocol. Abbey Systems provides full technical support to this site including liaising with BJS NZ Ltd for master station, RTU and IED configuration, plus site commissioning.
ELECTRA
DNP3 Injection Control RTU Under supply
Electra has purchased a Powerlink Injection control RTU from Enermet which connects to its MITS Master Unit. Enermet has developed a comprehensive set of load management programs using Powerlink’s MPL programming language, which Electra intends to use as a means of managing their load via ripple control.
DNP3 Injection Control RTU Under supply
Electra has purchased a Powerlink Injection control RTU from Enermet which connects to its MITS Master Unit. Enermet has developed a comprehensive set of load management programs using Powerlink’s MPL programming language, which Electra intends to use as a means of managing their load via ripple control.
ALPINE ENERGY
Local Injection Control Load Leveling
Alpine Energy uses a combination of Abbey Systems DNP3/IP Powercat RTUs and Abbeys Conitel Powerlink RTUs at their substations as RTUs and to also control their Ripple Injection Plants and Load Management System. A feature of the Alpine RTUs is that each has a suite of programs loaded that allows the local Decabit & Rhythmatic injection plants to act independently of the iFix Master and shed or restore load to a predetermined target, if it is ever needed in an emergency. The Abbey Systems RTUs replace the obsoleted Leeds and Northrup RTUs previously used.
Local Injection Control Load Leveling
Alpine Energy uses a combination of Abbey Systems DNP3/IP Powercat RTUs and Abbeys Conitel Powerlink RTUs at their substations as RTUs and to also control their Ripple Injection Plants and Load Management System. A feature of the Alpine RTUs is that each has a suite of programs loaded that allows the local Decabit & Rhythmatic injection plants to act independently of the iFix Master and shed or restore load to a predetermined target, if it is ever needed in an emergency. The Abbey Systems RTUs replace the obsoleted Leeds and Northrup RTUs previously used.
NELSON ELECTRICITY
In 2004 NEL chose to replace their aging Datran system with an Abbey Systems SCADA Master and Injection Control RTU. As the Abbey Master could communicate with the existing radio based Datran RTUs installed at the Distribution substations, this lessened the initial Capital cost of the project. Over time the Datran RTUs were swapped out with Topcat and Powercat RTUs which were able to communicate over the same radio channel.
In late 2013 a fourth 33kV feed from Stoke Substation was installed and a new indoor enclosed substation constructed at Haven Rd with switchgear, transformers and protection relays installed to supply Nelson City. Abbey Systems installed a new IP SCADA Gateway, replacing the old serial interface, new IP Powercat RTUs acting as serial concentrators and an IP Powercat Injection plant RTU with updated I/O back to the existing Abbey Systems SCADA Master. New Aspex SLD screens for Haven Rd and Stoke completed the upgrade which was finally commissioned early in 2014.
In 2004 NEL chose to replace their aging Datran system with an Abbey Systems SCADA Master and Injection Control RTU. As the Abbey Master could communicate with the existing radio based Datran RTUs installed at the Distribution substations, this lessened the initial Capital cost of the project. Over time the Datran RTUs were swapped out with Topcat and Powercat RTUs which were able to communicate over the same radio channel.
In late 2013 a fourth 33kV feed from Stoke Substation was installed and a new indoor enclosed substation constructed at Haven Rd with switchgear, transformers and protection relays installed to supply Nelson City. Abbey Systems installed a new IP SCADA Gateway, replacing the old serial interface, new IP Powercat RTUs acting as serial concentrators and an IP Powercat Injection plant RTU with updated I/O back to the existing Abbey Systems SCADA Master. New Aspex SLD screens for Haven Rd and Stoke completed the upgrade which was finally commissioned early in 2014.
GENERATION COMPANIES
MANGAHAO POWER STATION
5 RTUs First installed - 1990
Previously owned and operated by ECNZ, Mangahao has been taken over by King Country Energy. A MicroAlert III system with Telemetry Mimic (TM) Graphics provides the station operator with lake level control and indications. In this application the operator has a PC dedicated to graphics, and an Abbey Systems ROM based master system.
5 RTUs First installed - 1990
Previously owned and operated by ECNZ, Mangahao has been taken over by King Country Energy. A MicroAlert III system with Telemetry Mimic (TM) Graphics provides the station operator with lake level control and indications. In this application the operator has a PC dedicated to graphics, and an Abbey Systems ROM based master system.
CONTACT ENERGY, CLYDE DAM
Earth movement monitoring
11 RTUs First installed - 1991
Contact Energy uses Powerlink software and Modulink RTUs, interfaced to GeoTech dataloggers, to monitor potential landslip areas in the Cromwell Gorge. Up to 72 analog measurements per site are relayed via the Modulink system and transferred into a Novell network for downstream processing. Modulink monitors system alarms, with Sun workstations using the UNIX operating system implementing the algorithms used to indicate potential landslip problems.
Earth movement monitoring
11 RTUs First installed - 1991
Contact Energy uses Powerlink software and Modulink RTUs, interfaced to GeoTech dataloggers, to monitor potential landslip areas in the Cromwell Gorge. Up to 72 analog measurements per site are relayed via the Modulink system and transferred into a Novell network for downstream processing. Modulink monitors system alarms, with Sun workstations using the UNIX operating system implementing the algorithms used to indicate potential landslip problems.
CHATHAMS ISLAND POWER
3 RTUs First installed - 2009
The Chatham Islands are a group of 10 islands 800km off the coast of New Zealand in the Pacific Ocean. Power on the island is supplied by diesel generator sets. Recently the network was upgraded with the addition of four CBs and an Abbey Systems Aspex SCADA system for control and monitoring. The SCADA Architecture and screens have been set up for future expansion to include wind power and micro hydro generation.
UNITED STATES
SPANISH FORK CITY
Metropolitan system - water & power
6 Substation RTUs, 6 Poletop RTUs Installed - 1999 to 2000
Spanish Fork have installed six Powerlink RTUs and six Topcats RTUs for the automation and control of their power network. The RTUs are linked by optical fibre; they are connected to a number of differing IEDs as well as a large amount of discrete I/O at each substation. Spanish Fork City also uses the Water system Master as a Backup Master for the Power SCADA system and vice versa.
OZARKS POWER AUTHORITY
Feeder automation over trunked radio
Poletop RTUs Under supply
The Ozarks Power Authority, located in Fayetteville, Arkansas, serves a rural hinterland in the western Ozark Mountains - this is Dukes of Hazzard country. Because of the mountainous terrain, communications is a problem and Ozarks needed a system which could operate reliably over a trunking radio system to get the desired coverage. Abbey Systems was able to supply just what was wanted and we anticipate expansion that includes substations and neighbouring power authorities.
AUSTRALIA & PACIFIC
COUNTRY ENERGY
C2025 Injection Control RTUs
Country Energy has purchased a Powerlink Injection control RTU from Enermet which connects to its Master Unit. Enermet have developed a comprehensive set of load management programs using Powerlink’s MPL programming language which Country Energy intends to use as a means of managing load via ripple control.
ERGON ENERGY
C2025 Injection control RTUs
Ergon has purchased a Powerlink Injection control RTU from Enermet which connects to its Master Unit. Enermet have developed a comprehensive set of load management programs using Powerlink’s MPL programming language which Ergon intends to use as a means of managing load via ripple control.
CHINA
YUZHOU POWER STATION
Hydro-Electric Power Station Management
Hot Standby Master, 1 Power Station RTU Installed 2002
China has very large Power Stations which require distributed RTU architecture. Powerlink RTUs were used with optical fibre connecting the various subsystems of modules distributed over a very large plant. It uses Chinese protocols such as CDYT and DLT 634 to communicate with the Master unit.
JINZHOU TRANSMISSION SUBSTATION
Substation Management
Hot Standby Master, 1 Substation RTU Installed 2002
This system is a very large RTU with a hot standby system which will switch RTU CPU modules and communications circuits in case of RTU CPU failure. The system has the capability to communicate to two different master units with two different I/O tables.
YINGKOU TRANSMISSION SUBSTATION
Substation Management
Hot Standby Master, 1 Substation RTU Installed 2002
This is the largest RTU ever supplied by Abbey Systems comprising 45 modules. It has a hot standby system which will switch RTU CPU modules and communications circuits in case of RTU CPU failure. It also has 30 AC analog input modules which enable it to read current, voltage etc directly from the CT without the need for a transducer. This system has the capability to communicate to two different master units with two different I/O tables.
OTHER APPLICATIONS - BROADCASTING AND GAS
RADIO NEW ZEALAND TRANSMITTER NETWORK CONTROL
Radio New Zealand chose Abbey Systems Modulink equipment for control of its national transmitter network because of the high level of technical expertise available from Abbey Systems, and the reliable performance of the equipment in areas with high RF radiation. Modulink components are all fully enclosed in aluminium, and as no backplane is used, RFI is negligible.
WELLINGTON CABLE CAR
The Wellington cable cars are connected to the control system by a Microlink point to multipoint system. Information such as position, door status, speed and control settings are sent to the control system. The communications is via a leaky feeder laid alongside the cables.
FLETCHER CHALLENGE FORESTS
Fletcher Challenge Forests own and log vast tracts of pine forests in the Central North Island of New Zealand with an extensive radio network to oversee logging operations. Modulink hardware and Powerlink software are used to monitor the conditions of radio sites - signal strength, transmitter condition, security, power, solar batteries, smoke detectors etc.
