EL PASO ELECTRIC ARROYO SUBSTATION

Project Description -

El Paso Electric (EPE) has recently commissioned a new substation control system. The substation automation project successfully installed a 308 MVA phase angle regulating transformer, 345kV breakers, and supervisory control system interfaces. SELAH GROUP personnel were responsible for system integration of a PLC-based substation automation system, which included a C2020 RTU protocol converter, electronic metering, Schweitzer SEL 2020 relay communications interface unit, PC-based touch screen substation control and alarm system, and PC-based remote engineering station. In cooperation with EPE engineers, developed the megawatt import/export control algorithms, backup protection and controls, and emergency bypass switching controls for the $4M phase shifting transformer using the PLC. Both field and remote engineering stations use ProcessVision (as supplied by Comdale Technologies, Toronto), a QNX-based graphical control software system to present substation operational data (including historical reports and critical parameter trending) and relay diagnostic information (relay health and trip status displays, sequence of events reports, and relay fault event logs). Refer to Figure 1 for EPE Arroyo PST Substation Automation system diagram.

Benefits/Value Added -

SELAH GROUP personnel expedited the design and system integration of critical portions of the control system such that the phase shifting transformer (PST) substation could be energized on time despite an abbreviated schedule. During this turbulent period, on-the-job PLC training (more like in-the-line-of-fire training) was also provided to EPE personnel to facilitate the reliable and cost-effective maintenance of the new substation control system. The new PST and PLC-based control system enables real time control of megawatt imports from neighboring utilities, which is saving EPE over $100,000 per month in avoided generation capitalization costs and transmission system losses. The remote engineering station allows EPE’s Protection Department to monitor and make configurations changes to relays, PLCs, and substation graphical control screens from one centralized location without mobilizing essential personnel and without impact to SCADA dispatch operations. These new information access capabilities have resulted in significant productivity improvements for EPE Substation and Protection department personnel. As a result, these data access functions have become standard design requirements for all current and future EPE substation and generation upgrade projects.

SELAH GROUP Lead Engineer: Todd Renak

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