Intelligent power sub-stations monitoring through computerized imaging

The development of an on-line distributed monitoring system for power sub-stations was presented in the last APSCOM Conference in 1995. The on-line distributed information system is used for monitoring the conditions of HV transmission system equipment in sub-stations, such as status of each circuit breaker (CB) together with important operational parameters which are not available via existing SCADA. Each group of CBs is monitored by a standalone microcontroller which is interconnected with all other microcontrollers inside the sub-station using a local area network with a baud rate of 9,600. Recently, a sub-station for the new Hong Kong international airport was constructed, thus revealing the shortfalls of the existing system because the sub-station there had been too remote from the maintenance people and more important, it is treated as a critical substation supplying power to the airport. The engineers in charge of transmission need to know not only the real-time status of equipment but also the security and fire safety of the sub-station. The idea of using remote vision for sub-station monitoring is employed. Furthermore, personnel in other organizations, such as Airport Authority, Fire Services Department and other departments within China Light & Power Company Ltd. (CLP) need to gain access to the information. Therefore, the system is extended onto the super information highway, Internet for global access.