One of the most misunderstood terms in the electric industry is "smart grid". Depending on who you talk to, this can mean automating your electric network with smart meters or switches, or possibly monitoring the grid using consolidated OMS and DMS control center software, or even residential HVAC systems being controlled and monitored by the electric company. Actually, for all intensive purposes, the smart grid involved all of these components and much more. Truth be told, the smart grid is still under construction and will continue to evolve into an electrical 'system' that more tightly integrates power generation with the consumer. It seems as if everyone wants a smart grid, but no one know what it is or how to get there. The challenge today is how to reach this modern electrical nirvana, without going down the wrong road and becoming financially unstable.
Most utilities which have smart grid projects underway are focused on deploying AMI/AMR (smart meters) while others are focused on substation automation and distribution automation. Unfortunately, the ROI associated with AMI alone is pretty dismal. Payback is likely not achieved within 8-10 years in most cases. Expanding AMI to work with outage management is a good step in reducing the payback time, but tangible financial results will likely be difficult to see. Substation automation is also a critical necessity for today's utilities transitioning to a smart grid. Investments in electrical substation through modification of existing structures or building new ones with more intelligence have been going on for decades. However, in today's economic climate, the priorities of the smart grid are changing. Today, most utilities are concerned about ‘cost', while still moving forward and adding smart grid technologies to the grid. A simple approach to addressing the cost challenges is to "design smarter". Utilities can achieve immediate and significant savings when designs of new infrastructure are completed faster, more intelligent, and more accurate.
Consider designing a substation using pen and paper. These techniques are still being used today at utilities across the world. While this method of design can yield positive results, it is very time consuming and prone to human errors. Additionally, keeping accurate records of the design and review process is difficult. Is there a better way?
Over the last few decades, substations have been designed in CAD applications. These designs produced an output that was generally more appealing, but they didn't incorporate many design efficiencies. The design time was still very much the same. These electric drawings did have some limitations as well. Keeping track of the latest design and the approval chain negated much of the positive impacts this technology yielded. Generating multiple detailed views required several drawings that were difficult to associate and manage. So, once again, is there a better way?
Enter intelligent substation design. The next chapter in substation design incorporates smart grid devices, substation automation equipment, 3D visualization, consolidated tools for designing the entire facility, and a collaborative environment for design review and auditing. Substation designs can now be generated quicker using a consolidated set of tools that can assist in the design process. Algorithms for lightning protection, wire sag and tension, and grounding grids can also help eliminate design errors. Accurate depictions of smart grid devices can be included in designs and automatically displayed in real-time reports. This method of design can greatly reduce the iterative process of substation designs, a problem common with standard CAD output. Reducing the amount of iterations can result in significant time savings, lowering the total project costs. Depending on how many substation designs are performed, the total savings can amount to millions of dollars annually.
This week Bentley will announce the global launch of Bentley Substation V8i. This product is the latest from Bentley which focuses on the electric market and specifically addresses the challenges associated with designing substations. The features of this product will help reduce expenditures associated with the design and engineering of both low and high voltage substations. As utilities continue to pursue the smart grid, they can achieve significant savings in the design process. While design has not traditionally been associated with smart grid, a smart grid cannot exist without an intelligent design.
To learn more about the launch of Bentley Substation V8i, visit this link.
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