The important features of SCADA are the following :
1. Alarm Handling
2. Trend Curves Patterns
3. Data Access and Retrieval
4. Computer Networking and Processing
Alarms Handling
Alarm handling consists essentially of time stamped alarms to 1 millisecond precision. Single network acknowledgment and control of alarms with Sharing and Displaying of Alarms to all clients in chronological order.
It performs Dynamic allocation of alarm pages and keeps track of deviation and rate of change monitoring for analog alarms. It has the option of Historical alarm and event logging. It is capable of performing On-line alarm disable and threshold modification with the option of preparing Event-triggered alarms and Alarm-triggered reports
Trends
Trend curves and patterns consists of Trend zooming and display of data. It performs Export and Archiving of historical trend data with Event based trends for Short and long term trend display. It has the option of On-line change of time-base and retrieval of archived historical trend data.
Real Time access and archiving and database Management.
Real time access and data retrieval consists of Direct, real-time access to data by any network user as well as Third-party access to real-time data. It has Network compatibility for read, write and exec to all I/O device points. Support for Direct SQL commands or high level reporting
Computer Networking and processing
Computer Networking and processing aspect of supports all compatible networks and protocols. It has Centralized alarm, trend and report processing – data available from anywhere in the network and Dual networks for full LAN redundancy. Open architecture design with Real-time multitasking are important features with Client/server fully supported with Distributed project updates and Concurrent support of multiple display nodes.
Benefits of SCADA System
- Increased life of the equipment being used by through immediate knowledge of system performance.
- Reduced labor costs required for troubleshooting or service.
- Increased compliance with regulatory agencies through automated report generating.
- No requirement of large capital investment.
- Many automation companies are using the SCADA to provide access to real-time data display, alarming, trending, and reporting from remote equipment.
- It gives the flexibility to choose equipment and systems based on performance rather than compatibility with installed base.
SCADA are used to collect, monitor, maintenance and control industrial processes, Building management systems, water systems, and also other processes.
Advantages of SCADA
- Monitor from a remote location 24/7
- Reduce costs – normally associated with man-power
- Having a reliable automated system working 24/7
- Logging of data
- If well designed, a user friendly interface
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- Visualize whole process of factory or machine which makes easy for operators.
- Log Data Events
- Log Alarms
- Visualize and Log Trends of analog/Digitals signals.
- Communications with third party software
- Click-click/Touch operations of start/stop of machines.
- Easy to see /change variables of machines/process.
SCADA is an industrial software it is user-friendly front-end to a control system, that easily communicate with PLCs .
SCADA software’s are very useful to monitor and analysis of historical as well as new data. It allow remote monitoring and controlling of various plant operations in real time basis.
SCADA systems are generally used in automation industries along with PLCs.
Major functions of SCADA system are:
- Supervision or monitoring
- Controlling.
- Data acquisition
- Communication with PLC.
- Data presentation.
Some Examples of SCADA softwares used in various companies
- Wonderware (InTouch),
- Allen Bradely (RS View)
- Citect (CitectSCADA 5.42)
Some Examples of companies using SCADA System are;
- Food and beverage
- Manufacturing
- Transportation
- Telecom
- Water and waste water
- Oil and gas etc.
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Some basics functions of SCADA are as follows :
• Data acquisition
• Supervisory control
• Tagging
• Alarms
• Logging (Recording):
• Load shading
• Trending
DATA ACQUISITION
• The basic information of the power system collected is called the Data Acquisition. The data is collected by means of CTs, PTs and transducers. It provides the telemetry measurement and status indication to the operator
• Scanning rate: 1 sample/2 seconds
• As new Values come in from the RTUs/IEDs old values are overwritten. Measurements and Status Indications Collected are stored in a Real Time Database.
• Data acquisition is the function of the SCADA which is required to perform the following functions:
•It is used to read the power system data from 100-250 RTU into the control center.
•It detects and handle the error conditions of RTU and communication link as well as.
•It can be used to check the limits such as high/low operating limit, thermal limits, and safe handling limits.
•It can be used to convert the analog data into the binary data.
•It stores only the error free data in the data b/c erroneous data causes the failure of program.
•It can interface with the data base manager, which generated the data address where data can be stored in data base.
•It completes all above tasks in less than 2 seconds
SUPERVISORY CONTROL:
• It enables the operator to remotely control the devices. For example open and close of the circuit breaker.
Tagging:
• It prevents the device from unauthorized operation. Means it authorizes the device to perform the specific operation
Alarms:
• It informs the operator about the unnecessary events and undesired conditions.
Logging (Recording):
• It logs all the operating entry, all alarms and other information. In other words it keeps the record of all the events.
Load shading:
• It provides both the automatic and manual control tripping of load during the emergency.
Trending:
• It plots the measurement on the selected time scale.
• The SCADA system enables the operator to attain the complete knowledge of the system in a single room by means of display.
• Almost all the SCADA systems are computer based (Digital computer). This computer is located in the master unit. The master unit is the heart of the SCADA system, it comprises many of the i/p and o/p equipment’s to receive and send the control message from and to the RTU.