Distribution Automation

I. Background of Distribution Network Automation

With the accelerated construction of new-type power systems and the popularization of distribution network automation in recent years, industries have an increasingly urgent demand for remote data transmission and centralized control of equipment. Meanwhile, in power systems, the expansion of power grid scale and the advancement of intelligent distribution network transformation have led to a sharp surge in node devices such as switch stations and ring main units. The traditional manual inspection and decentralized management models suffer from problems including delayed data collection, high operation and maintenance costs, and "information islands" caused by inconsistent equipment protocols, which can no longer meet the operation and maintenance requirements of modern power systems. Against this background, DTU/FTU have emerged as the core hub connecting underlying equipment and upper-level control systems, specifically addressing the pain points of traditional data transmission. Endowed with advantages such as an independent platform, multi-protocol compatibility, and high reliability, they are widely applied in various fields, realizing two-way conversion between serial port data and IP data, ensuring stable transmission through redundant communication, and providing core support for the intelligent transformation, refined management and control of various industries, as well as facilitating the standardized deployment of distribution terminals and the guarantee of energy security.

II. The Transformation of Distribution Network Automation

As core equipment for distribution network automation, DTU/FTU plays a pivotal role in connecting scattered devices and activating data flow. Their core value lies in "connecting distributed devices to the network and making dormant data flow". The deployment of DTU/FTU has fundamentally transformed the operation mode of the power distribution and industrial fields, achieving a qualitative leap from "manual isolation" to "intelligent interconnection".

Four Fundamental Transformations：

I.Data has changed from "day-level" to "second-level", supporting precise decision-making.

II. The response time has been shortened from "hour-level" to "second-level".

III. The operation and maintenance labor cost has been reduced by more than 50%, saving millions of yuan in travel expenses and labor costs annually.

IV. Break down data barriers and realize integrated monitoring of the entire system.

III. Project Cases

1、Old Community Renovation

Application Scenario:

(1) The equipment in old communities has been in operation for more than ten years and only supports serial communication.

Core Pain Points:

(1) The old equipment cannot be connected to the power distribution system and does not support the newly configured relay protection protocol.

(2) The space in the station is narrow, making wiring difficult.

Renovation Plan:

(1) Equipment Replacement: Replace with new DTU automation equipment that supports both serial and network communication, and is compatible with both old and new relay protection devices.

(2) Edge Computing: The DTU processes data locally to filter out invalid information and reduce data transmission pressure.

(3) Data Upload: Connect the on-site equipment to the regional power dispatching network to realize remote monitoring and management.

Implementation Effects:

(1) Operation and Maintenance Efficiency: Achieve fully automated unattended operation and maintenance, with the fault detection and handling rate increased by 100%.

(2) Cost Management: Reduce on-site inspection costs and improve management efficiency through remote monitoring.

2、Suburban Ring Main Unit/Feeder Terminal

Application Scenario:

(1) 10kV power distribution ring main units in suburban areas, with scattered locations and harsh operating environments.

Core Pain Points:

(1) Outdated equipment without remote communication capability; faults can only be detected through on-site inspection.

(2) Frequent typhoons and rainy seasons in the area, leading to high risks and costs for on-site inspection and maintenance.

(3) Slow fault response and long average power outage time for users.

Renovation Plan:

Deploy distribution terminals (DTU) and feeder terminals (FTU), integrate them into the ring main unit communication network architecture, and connect to the main station system through 4G/5G private network to achieve:

(1) Real-time status monitoring: Monitor switch on/off status, three-phase current and voltage in real time.

(2) Remote switching control: The main station can issue closing/opening commands remotely without on-site personnel.

(3) Active fault early warning: Automatically trigger alarm messages or data pushes when abnormal data (such as sudden voltage drop) occurs.

Implementation Effects:

(1) Fault location time: Reduced from an average of 2 hours to within 1 minute.

(2) Power restoration efficiency: Fault isolation and power supply restoration for non-faulty areas are shortened from "day-level" to "minute-level".

(3) Operation and maintenance manpower: Reduce on-site inspection frequency by 80% and save labor costs significantly.

(4) User value: The average annual power outage time for regional users is reduced by 6 hours, and the power supply reliability is improved to 99.99%.