AN OPEN, OBJECT-BASED MODEL AS THE BASIS OF AN ARCHITECTURE FOR DISTRIBUTION CONTROL CENTERS

As automation becomes increasingly prevalent in distribution operations, it is also becoming apparent that current design practices (as used in EMS, SCADA systems) are inadequate to support a general solution for the distribution environment. Many of the obstacles in transferring current practice stem directly or indirectly from the sheer size of the distribution plant. This paper presents a software architecture which copes well with both large models and with incremental commissioning strategies. The architecture provides the basis for a successful evolution of a Distribution Management System (DMS) over an indefinite period of time, even in the face of an ambitious long-range automation program.