The productivity and profitability of the industries are closely related to the proper use of electrical energy. In this sense, it is important to know what electrical substation control and monitoring systems are and what elements should be considered in their design.
An electrical substation is the set of electrical elements and devices that allow the transformation, control, measurement and distribution of electrical energy for its use. Its functions and purpose are key in the energy management of a company.
Now, the control and monitoring system is the combination of devices used to measure and represent, either locally or remotely, the electrical parameters in the substation.
One of its applications, for example, is to quantify the electrical consumption of a facility. On the other hand, and of great importance for industrial safety, is its ability to carry out electrical disconnection or protection functions, which may be necessary in irregular situations such as overload or short circuit, but also in the event of equipment or infrastructure maintenance needs.
It should be noted that these functions can be programmed or activated automatically in the presence of certain conditions.
Benefits of using control and monitoring systems for electrical substations
The benefits of control and monitoring of resources for industrial production will affect practically all areas of a company or organization.
Having control and monitoring systems for electrical substations allows knowing the parameters that determine the good or poor quality of electrical energy received in the facilities of factories or companies and taking the pertinent measures for its improvement and correction.
In addition to this, it makes it possible to keep a record of consumption. By quantifying data and transforming it into information, decisions can be made to optimize electricity consumption.
This leads, on the one hand, to direct monetary savings due to the reduction of unnecessary or inefficient electricity consumption; and on the other, it allows emphasizing issues such as minimizing the carbon footprint, with which companies can aim for greater environmental and social responsibility.
Such a concept, in addition to being ethically required today, can also represent added value in the eyes of consumers.
How is a control and monitoring system for electrical substations designed?
Among the fundamental elements that must be taken into account when designing a control and monitoring system for electrical substations are:
- installation type
- The use for which it is intended
- The capacity and means available for communication between control and measurement equipment.
- The types of electrical parameters to be measured and controlled.
Each of these aspects must be analyzed in a systemic way, since the decisions that are made in this regard will affect different areas of the organizational gear.
On the other hand, they must be considered from the projection stage of a new installation, when there is a possibility of taking into account and addressing the aforementioned variables (type, use, capacity and means).
Increasingly Promising Possibilities
One piece of information that is worth noting is that, currently, many of the electrical power equipment and devices, such as substations, can be prepared to be remotely monitored and controlled, that is, from a distance, without the need to be in the place.
This type of technological advance represents a great advantage when it comes to knowing, at all times, the operating conditions of the equipment.
A specific case is demand control systems, where a meter is placed at the substation connection, which is remotely monitored with the specific purpose of taking non-essential loads out of operation on certain days or at specific times in order to reduce energy consumption and have savings.
This type of possibility is very useful when we refer to the optimization of industrial processes, since the control of consumption translates into the reduction of expenses and, consequently, in greater profits for companies.
Additionally, the state of the art of technological applications at the service of monitoring and control of electrical substations allows the recording of information and events so that consumption and performance histories can be accessed, as well as the values that are being produced over time. Real.
At this point it is worth highlighting the importance of this information in predictive and corrective maintenance issues. Thus, for example, a one-off increase in consumption may be an indicator of the need to make revisions to some piece of equipment.
In this way, this type of monitoring allows a proactive behavior in saving not only energy, but through the care and maintenance of industrial assets.
Throughout this article we have highlighted the importance of optimal energy management (energy management) for the performance of any industry, reviewed the concept of electrical substation and the importance of implementing monitoring and control systems in this type of facility. Electric flow.
However, control and monitoring systems for electrical substations are just one of the many areas that make up the complex world of production, distribution and use of energy for production.
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