A Hybrid Communications Network Approach for Advanced Applications on the Modern Grid

Transcription

1 A Hybrid Communications Network Approach for Advanced Applications on the Modern Grid Mark A. Carella, PE Manager Distribution Control and Integration nationalgrid

2 Private Telecom Network Key Stats Private Network Fiber Route Miles T-1 Circuits Protection.250 Radio Circuits.350 EMS Circuits 500 Voice Circuits 400 Total Circuits.... 1,900 Radio Sites. 81 Comm Rooms 74 Alarm Status Systems 125 Batteries & Chargers 125 NE & Upstate NY Leased Circuits T-1's. 500 EMS GEMS. 243 Radio. 124 Other Total Lines % BW Leased vs Private = 53% (approximate) 2

3 Private Telecom Network More than 1300 route miles of backbone fiber Most backbone fiber is either wholly owned by National Grid or by others with National Grid having Indefeasible Right to Use (IRU) Optical transport is SONET platform with DWDM on backbone Legacy Equipment Alcatel Lucent DMX Platform with some DDM-2000 Approximately 141 optical nodes deployed, mostly at transmission substations and Control Centers GE JMUX in substations for protective relay applications RFL IMUX in substations for protective relay applications Digital cross connect systems Tellabs 532 (1/0) Microwave Sites Approximately 81 radio tower sites Mostly Alcatel MDR and Aviat (Harris) microwave equipment deployed Microwave radios use TDM platform at 155Mbs or 45Mbs 3

4 Electric Substations 4

5 Microwave / Radio Tower Sites 5

6 Transmission Substation Communications Physical Security AMAG card readers and access control system Video cameras Monitoring and Control: Energy Managements System (EMS) - EMS RTU data & Wide Area Network (WAN) Metering Wired and Wireless for Power Control Gas Energy Managements System (GEMS) RTU and Wide Area Network (WAN) Digital Fault Recorders (DFR s) for event analysis System Protection: Bulk power system protection per NPCC Criteria Dispatch Radio Radio communications from Dispatch and Control Centers to field operations mobile radio Telephone Talk lines for NPCC Black Start Procedures E911 6

7 Typical Transmission Substation Backup SCADA Backup Control Center Primary SCADA Control Center SUBSTATION A SONET Ring SUBSTATION B Protective Relay B-A Protective Relay B-A POTS Protective Relay A-B Protective Relay A-B National Grid Fiber SONET Optical Transport All fiber routes separated by 3 feet minimum POTS Protective Relay A-C SUBSTATION C Protective Relay C-A POTS 7

8 Distribution & Sub-Transmission Private RF Network RI VVO Trilliant Private 5.8GHz. Radio System - ~35 devices 4RF Private Licensed 900MHz. Point-to-Multipoint Radio Areas in MECO / NECO regions Upgrades to older GE MAS systems w/ ~60 remote units New IP based 4RF units currently considered where network availability is reasonable to achieve 4RF Private Licensed 700 MHz. Point-to-Multipoint Radio System Nantucket Island GE MDS Private (Unlicensed) 900MHz. Point-to-Multipoint Radio System Western New York, ~ 200 Devices Upstate NY DA Schemes with Private Point-to-Point 900MHz. Radio Systems UtiliNET Radios ~ 35 Devices S&C SpeedNet Radios ~ 30 Devices Worcester Smart Energy Solutions Demonstration ~200 Grid Devices on 3.65GHz. Point-to-Multipoint Private WiMAX Network ~15,000 electric meters on Private 900MHz. mesh network / cellular backhaul 8

9 Distribution & Sub-Transmission Legacy Communications National Grid has also remotely monitored and controlled thousands of reclosers utilizing cellular communications that were provided in a hosted, Software as a Service (SaaS), environment. Annual SaaS cost was ~ $400,000 for communication with 1732 reclosers at 70kb/device/month. Analog updates once a week. Binary updates twice a day statically, with unsolicited report-by-exception. SaaS offerings provided to National Grid: Cellular communications Web portal DNP Server AT&T 2G & 3G network, monitoring and maintenance Visibility to the recloser data, event based actions, group notifications and commissioning aid. SCADA interface. The AT&T 2G service was sunset at the end of To maintain communications beyond 2016, all 1732 recloser locations required a site visit to upgrade the hardware and also upgrade our SaaS environment. 9

10 New Hybrid Communication Network Architecture Due to end of 2G service, we had to make a choice: Upgrade existing SaaS environment Take it internal for more control and flexibility Our service territory already has: Existing pockets of private RF infrastructure. Remote locations where RF network buildout is not feasible. The concept of a hybrid connectivity model became critical for sustainability. 10

11 New Hybrid Communication Network Architecture Experience gained through our Smart Grid and Volt / VAr Optimization (VVO) pilots also illustrated the need for a flexible communications model. The model must support various types of communications technologies, as application requirements can vary greatly. Modern network architectures for system critical operations require: Low-latency High degree of availability, reliability, serviceability Security Redundancy These systems will vary in degrees of cost and complexity. 11

12 Private IP Network Overview Layer 3 MPLS virtual private network solution facilitates secure connectivity to multiple hub locations, enabling system redundancy, and failover capability. 12

13 High-Level MPLS VRF Topology This network architecture would allow data from field devices to integrate to both primary and secondary back-office systems (e.g., data concentrators, SCADA, management portal, etc.) Cyber security was a primary focus during the entire network design and was embedded from inception to implementation, complete with PEN testing and validation. New virtual routing and forwarding (VRF) solutions were identified to establish desired connectivity to all required facilities. 13

14 High-Level MPLS VRF Topology High Level MPLS VRF Topology National Grid CNI Site #1 Site #2 Site #3 Data Center Existing VRF New VRF for Access from VSTIGs to Site #1 and Site #2 for New York Reclosers Only New VRF for Access from VSTIGs to Site #2 and Site #3 for New England Reclosers Only Existing VRF Primary Path VSTIGS #1 VSTIGS #2 Secondary Path New VRF for New York VzW Access New VRF for New England VzW Access Each VzW VRF will have a Separate IP Address Pool 14

15 Device Connectivity Both legacy and modern control equipment deployed across the service territory, both Serial and Ethernet connectivity was required. Verizon 4G / LTE Cellular based multi-service connected routers were used to replace the legacy cellular based modems. The router s port forwarding functionality, on-board terminal server, and firewall, was leveraged to simultaneously accommodate both serial and Ethernet communications in a single, secure, package. This approach results in a truly plug and play, IP addressable, solution for any device on the network. These new edge routers communicate through the Verizon Cloud (routed via MPLS) to National Grid owned RTUs / data concentrators located at System Control Centers. The PI Data Historian system is being used to archive operational data for analytics. Currently have 700Mhz system integrated into MPLS/PIP network Currently integrating satellite links to the MPLS/ PIP network for additional flexibility. 15

16 Device Connectivity Example 16

17 Device Redundency Example 17

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19 Implementation Challenges Strict risk management policies resulted in extensive time required to implement and test individual network changes. 90+ required network changes Each network change was implemented individually and required a subsequent 48hr window for testing and validation. Limited Staffing level to build and maintain this new network. Training and Documentation New technology (i.e., hardware) required training for all impacted Engineering and Operations personnel. New processes rolled out to all impacted stakeholders. Engineering Protection and Telecom Operations Meter and Test O&M Overhead Operation Extensive reference documentation required for sustainability. 19

20 Functional Network Benefits Remote management of field devices through a secure Corporate portal: Device configuration Device security Remote Record Retrieval 2-way file transfer (remote firmware, settings, etc.) Network and security management embedded in the design of the network architecture allowing for real-time monitoring and proactive action should anomalies be detected or when general maintenance is required (e.g., Syslog, SNMP, etc.) SCADA Near Real-Time Data Remote Record Retrieval FUNCTIONALITY Remote Configuration Remote Device Troubleshooting Advanced Applications Support Data Historian Legacy Telemetry Solution YES NO NO NO NO NO LIMITED New Network Architecture YES YES YES YES YES YES YES 20

21 THANK YOU