Telecontrol systems for substations

This article is an update of the text written by Jean-Marie PARANT and Guy LEPAGNOL and published in this treatise in 1989. Part of the text has been retained.

Electricity is transported from production centers to consumption centers via a complex network. This interconnects all production centers and enables exchanges with other countries. Thanks to this network, we can constantly adjust production to consumption, technically and economically optimize the use of our generating facilities, and guarantee a satisfactory flow of energy. This operation, essential for the supplier of electrical energy, is known as the management of a generation-transmission system.

The principles of operating such a system are the subject of a specific article entitled "Operating a production-transport system". In it, the author presents the entire function and the tools used. He highlights the need for control centers to have information on the state of the network at all times, and the means to act on it. This need is met by the use of remote control systems. These systems operate mainly on substations, complex installations that interconnect lines and transform voltage levels.

In this article, we will outline the role and organization of a substation telecontrol system, focusing on the means used to guarantee its operational reliability, and on the essential role played by data transmission. We will illustrate our remarks with information on the telecontrol system used by Électricité de France (EDF). We'll conclude with a few thoughts on future technologies.