Extend smart network to MV/LV substations
The Netcon 100 is a smart device for the monitoring of medium- and low-voltage networks along with the remote control of medium-voltage switching devices. Standard protocols and interfaces make its connection to other systems straightforward. The Netcon 100 is compact yet modular in structure, so that it is easily and economically integrated into the substation and expanded with the needs.
Improved MV network availability and management
The availability requirements for power networks are constantly increasing. Most outages in the low-voltage (LV) network are caused by faults on the medium-voltage (MV) side and their average duration can thus be significantly reduced through improved MV fault detection and the remote control of MV switching equipment.
Sophisticated fault detection
In addition to enabling network operators to maneuvre disconnectors, load switches and circuit breakers, the Netcon 100 offers MV fault detection based on four overcurrent stages and five earth fault stages per feeder. In addition to normal earth fault detection also intermittent/transient earth fault detection is supported. All of these are included in feeder-specific setting groups that can be remotely swapped when the switching state of the network, for example, changes.
Integrated Feeder Protection
The Netcon 100 can also offer a separately licensed, integrated feeder protection functionality for overcurrent and earth faults that trips the circuit breaker on a feeder when triggered by the relevant fault stages. It can thus replace the separate protection relays traditionally deployed at secondary substations.
Up to nine feeders can be protected by a single Netcon 100. Thoroughly tested, the protection includes an optional auto-reclosing functionality with three shots. It is included in the remotely swappable setting groups.
Better load management
Real-time measurements provided by the Netcon 100 also mean that the network switching state and therefore transformer loads can be better managed by the DMS and/or the SCADA system. This is especially useful in exceptional situations such as during maintenance or faults. The load data and development trends also enable you to avoid over-cautious and premature renewal investments made just “to be on the safe side”.
Extensive quality measurement
Constant measurement of electricity quality and data available from the fault and disturbance recordings help utility companies forecast and reduce service-level disturbances in the network. Complaints from customers are reduced and customer satisfaction improves.
Accurate time synchronisation
Effective detection of faults presupposes the precise time stamping of events. The Netcon 100 can obtain time synchronisation e.g. from an NTP (Network Time Protocol) server or from the SCADA system via the communication protocol.
Intelligent alarms
Through Netcontrol’s advanced sum alarm logic, the data supplied by individual alarm signals can be refined into comprehensive alarm information.
Modularity affords flexibility
Hardware
While compactly packaged, the Netcon 100 is a modular system and easily adaptable to the purpose. It is available in various assemblies, pre-installed in a cabinet, according to the size of the secondary substation or disconnector station and the desired functionality. The configuration is through a user‑friendly web interface with the help of ready-made templates.
The Netcon 100 rack has 4 or 6 card slots. The setup always includes a GW102 main processor card and a PSU152 power supply card. The other slots are for measurement and control cards, depending on the application. You can easily add card modules to an existing rack. When the first rack is full, you can add a second rack. Such expansion may involve new functionalities and/or more IO capacity.
Software
A new Netcon 100 software version and/or an expanded licence may bring about completely new applications. These include feeder protection provided that the Netcon 100 already has the required cards and sensors or that these are added.
A REST-compliant application programming interface (API) supporting multiple programming languages allows users to write their own apps for the Netcon 100. These may retrieve data from the Netcon 100, monitor changes in it, send commands to it and check logs.
Versatile & cyber secure communication
The Netcon 100 has comprehensive data communication features, built to be cyber secure from end to end. It is linked to the SCADA network either serially or by IP connection. The latter may be through a 4G/3G/GPRS modem or a 10/100 Ethernet connection. Connections to possible intelligent electronic devices (IEDs) within the substation are serial. For both SCADA (slave) and IED (master) communication, the Netcon 100 supports the key communication protocols of today.
The IP communication is based on the Netcon Secure IP architecture, which enables the utility network administrator to tightly control everything that happens within the network. A built-in firewall passes only carefully selected traffic, such as remote-use and administrative connections. Control room connections are protected through encryption within VPN tunnels.
Central and local management
The Netcon 100 offers three user interfaces for configuration and management. The two local HMI panel options and the local/remote web browser interface provide access to a single Netcon 100 unit, including the manoeuvring of switching devices, whereas the Netcon Application Manager program enables the central management of a large number of Netcon 100 units. Using the latter, you can manage the software versions and configurations, and to see the hardware setups, of Netcon 100 substations remotely. This reduces the overall cost of the system through savings in time and resources.