Perfecting the hardware and software solutions in the area of supervision, control and automation, is a basic method of process optimization, and by this of increasing the electric power plants and other industries plants efficiency. ECONTROLplus System was created exactly to fulfill these modern challenges.

The newest solutions for data transmission, archiving and processing, also for control and security have been implemented in the system.
Software platform of the system ECONTROLplus is the zenon package by COPA-DATA company from Austria. It is modern, multicomponent, with sophisticated security algorithms in the scope of cyber security. Hardware base of ECONTROLplus system is new modular controller ET-DCS, created and produced by Energotest, providing homogenous layer of user interface and engineering environment, allowing the integration of existing systems and Energotest’s devices.

Applications

ECONTROLplus is the system designed to fulfill high demands requested from the systems in Energy and industrial process control. System is perfectly well performing in the area of monitoring, control and analysis of interferences of electro-energy and industrial objects such as:

  • power outputs of generator,
  • HV, MV and LV switchgears,
  • HV and MV substations,
  • analog and discrete processes,
  • remote sites (maintenance free operation),
  • tele-mechanics and ICT,
  • wide area electric power networks.

System architecture

ECONTROLplus System has modular design with open architecture, what allows easy configuration and expansion of a system with extra components and adaptation to most complex conditions and needs of a Customer, for both existing and newly built sites. System allows both communication with older and modern devices (of various suppliers) equipped with communication ports (serial, Ethernet, etc.) with different communication protocols (Modbus, IEC61850, IEC60870-5-103/104, DNP3, OPC and many others, including non-standard by own drivers) or directly by inputs/outputs digital or analog.

Applied system architecture depends on the objects characteristics, required reliability level and type of equipment installed on the object, its physical placement and connections with other systems.

Four basic layers of the systems could be determined:

ET-Operator/Supervisor - Visualization layer

Modern, ergonomic and user friendly interface is key for system. Energotest company, cooperating with COPA-DATA, implemented   zenon family products, including zenon Energy Edition designed a modern and user friendly operator interface. We have chosen zenon system, because it ensures complex security against unwanted data loss and unauthorized access, fulfilling cyber security rules.

ET-Operator/Supervisor allows the operator full access to a process information conforming with all security rules and access control. By its functionality user can freely move around whole automation process using many supporting functions (WorldView, Automatic Line Coloring, topology and process locks) and tools:

  • ET-Analog (interference analysis)
  • ET-Alarms and ET-History (alarms and events analysis)
  • ET-Trend (trend data base analysis)
  • ET-Manager (handling the interference recorders)

ET-Server - Data acquisition, processing and archiving layer

System server (servers) of ECONTROLplus, partially based on zenon software, are responsible for process data acquisition, archiving and sharing them with ET-Operator, WWW server or other connected systems. Data sourced from the controlled object are stored in databases with time stamps provided by source devices (input modules, site devices, etc.). This allows, together with time synchronization executed by a system ECONTROLplus, reliable and precise analysis of events independently of their origin. Redundancy of servers and disks which store the data is available, what allows security of acquired data. Moreover the system allows integration with industrial databases (SQL, Oracle, …).

Communication layer

In this layer two way of communication could be determined. First is the main data bus based on industrial redundant Ethernet. It secures fast and reliable communication with all system components, which have possibility to use this standard (ET-Operator stations, ET-Server servers, controllers ET-DCS, third parties’ controllers and systems, EKM converters and third party converters). Second way is communication by serial buses between controllers ET-DCS or EKM converters and field equipment. Selection of hardware, communication protocols and transmission medias is carried individually according to customer needs. To serve particular equipment we worked out dedicated drivers of ECONTROLplus system. System utilizes protocols TCP/IP/UDP, DNP3, mBUS, Modbus, IEC61850, IEC60870-5-103/104, OPC DA/A&E/UA, C37-118 executed in transmission standards Ethernet, RS232, RS485, CAN, etc.

Object layer

Data acquisition and control, depending on customer’s equipment and requirements is carried by:

  • controllers ET-DCS manufactured by Energotest,
  • instrumentation and control devices allowing remote reading and writing data (transducers, recorders, analyzers, counters, bay controllers, PLCs)

System advantages

  • Versatility – solutions applied in ECONTROLplus allow its application in various industrial and power processes
  • Multi-station operation – possibility to work parallel on many local and remote stations at the same time
  • Reliability – possibility to reserve mutually the system components
  • Integration – one management, supervision and control system, integrating information from many sources (depended systems, control devices, instruments, etc.)
  • Modular design – free expansion of functionality according to needs of customer
  • Scalability – from small one-station to wide area multi-station systems
  • Mobility – system supports and allows operation on mobile devices (smartphones, tablets)
  • Security – Authentication (only logged users have access to the application); Powerful encryption of communication in the system network; Support for IPv6; Redundancy allowing data archiving without losses; Support certificates for Windows systems (8.1, 7 etc.)

Strategic partnership

Since 2013 Energotest is a member of partner program of COPA-DATA - Community Partner Program, which allows us utilization of worldwide experience, which is in possession of our Partner’s engineers. We have also influence on development of next versions of product. It allows to provide our customers with world class level solutions.

COPA-DATA (Austria) is technology leader of HMI/SCADA software, active on the market for 30 years, and since last 20 very active in power generation industry. Company is researching the newest solutions, realizing in its products assumptions of Industry 4.0 by offering products allowing acquire and manage large amount of data.

Over 100 000 installations worldwide caused that COPA-DATA company is recognized and recommended brand, present in 50 countries (in Poland as well). Company mission is development of ergonomic software for optimization of manufacturing processes in many branches, including power generation and distribution. Product, which made COPA-DATA being recognized by engineers of power industry is zenon Energy Edition, awarded many times in ENERGETAB fair in Bielsko-Biała.

More information is available at: www.copadata.pl