Distribution automation

Distribution Network availability

Automatic transfer System
Application note Technical information

Introduction
Industries need continuous power supply to keep their processes
running. Utilities objective is to ensure highest possible supply
availability to the consumer. The aim for both, industries and
utility, is a reliable grid with enhanced power quality.

Redundancy on one hand increases the availability of the

grid on the other hand it increases the amount of manual Transfer system
operations. The manual control of redundant systems is complex
and therefor subject to human errors and time consuming.
Automation transfer simplifies operation and protects against
blackouts. It is the first step to a self- healing grid.

Hitachi Energy RTU-based automatic transfer system (ATS)

solution combines predefined algorithm and communication
features. The main characteristic is simple engineering
and flexible adaptation to the primary process of different
applications areas and customer requirements. Utility

Automatic transfer systems are used in

Main MV substation
following application areas <60kV:
• Small Industries
• Utilities
• Datacenters Sec.MV substation
• Transportation
• Commercial and public buildings

The ATS function based on RTU hardware is designed

for time delayed transfer used for loads such as: MV/LV
transformer
• Lighting (Emergency lights)
• Motors (Hazard ventilation, cooling systems)
• Communication systems
• Alarm handling & monitoring (fire monitoring, control fire pumps)
ATS
It ensures continuous power supply in combination with LV substation
Generator
battery system or generator. ATS fits perfectly to realize an
automatic change over for non-permanent occupied areas. ATS application example for industrial power supply systems
Applications Transfer Sequence
Below an example for line-line- variant without back switching and
An automatic transfer system (ATS) is particularly suited to avoid line priority 1->2. The min performance time without CB operation
long interruptions in power supply at medium and low voltage grid. time is around 3sec.
S1 S2 S1 S2
S1 S2 S1 S2 S1 S2
MV/LV MV/LV MV/LV MV/LV S1 S2
Main MV switchboard MV/LV MV/LV MV/LV MV/LV
CT CT CT CT
CT CT
• Both
CT
lines are
CT
normally present
3 VT VT VT
(OK status) VT
VT VT VT VT
Q1 Q2
Q1• Main line S1
G
Q1 Q2 Q2 Q1 Q2
1 2 Q1 Q2 Q1
• EmergencyQ2Line S2 Load
MV/LV MV/LV MV/LV
Load
Load Load
MV/LV Load Load
MV/LV MV/LV MV/LV S1 S2
MV/LV
S1 S2
MV/LV S1 S2 G
S1 S2
S1 S2 G
S1 S2
1 MV/LV MV/LV MV/LV
MV/LV MV/LV
G
MV/LV MV/LV
MV/LV • Main line S1MV/LV
voltage drop
MV/LV CT CT Q1 Q2
MV/LV CT CT
2 CT CT VT • Under
CT voltage
CT detection
VT Q1 Q2
Open ring configuration Dual cable VT VT
VT VT
VT (Un<80%) VT Load
ATS Q1 Q2
Q1• Start of ATS
Q2 sequence Load
Q1 Q2
Q1 Q2

Load
Load
Load
Load
S1 S2 S1 S2
S1 S2 S1 S2
S1 S2 S1 S2
MV/LV MV/LV MV/LV MV/LV S1 S2 S1 S2
The ATS supports three main application types:MV/LV MV/LV MV/LV MV/LV
CT CT CT CT
VT CT CT VT VT CT CT VT
1 One type is typical used in case of dual power feed e.g., in • Q1 open command
VT VT VT VT Q1 Q2 Q1 Q2
a dual cable or ring structured grid. In such application
Q1
one
Q2 Q1 Q2 • Busbar is de-energized
Q1 Q2 Q1 Q2
of the incoming feeders will be the main energy Q1
source, while
Q2 Q1 Q2
Q3
Load
the second incoming line will be the reserve source in a kind Load
NPL Q3
Load Load
of standby mode. S1
NPL
S2
Load Load
2 Alternative the ATS application supports also backup generator S1 S2 S1 S2
as an emergency source instead using a second incoming S1 S2
S1 S2 G
feeder. S1 S2
S1 S2 G
S1 S2 MV/LV MV/LV
3 The third application is mainly located in primary
MV/LV substation.MV/LV Q1 Q2
MV/LV MV/LV • S2 still ready
Two independent and active power sources are connected
MV/LV
CT CT
MV/LV CT CT Q1 Q2 Q1 Q2
to the bus separated by bus-tie breaker. VT VT CT CT VT Q1 • Q2 close command
Q2 Load
CT CT VT
VT VT • Transfer
Load completed Load
1 The transfer will be between the affected source
VT and the VT
Q1 Q2 Load
bus-tie breaker in case of a fault. Q1 Q2
Q1 Q2
Q1 Q2
Load
ATS functionality Load
Load
Load
Priority of feeding source
The ATS- algorithm transfers the load from the main source to an The ATS functionality allows to select which of the incoming feeder
alternative energy source. The automatic changeover is triggered will be the main source (priority).
by a failure at the active main source. When the main source comes The priority configuration result in predefined transfer direction from
back on line, the loads will be reconnected to the main source. source 1 to source 2 or source 2 to source 1, as defined by user.
This could be configured automatic or by operator control.
A fault in the main source initiates the transfer to the reserve
Failure on the active source will be detected by undervoltage incoming feeder. If priority mode is set to main source, and the
detection. In combination with a direction overcurrent or earth main source comes back to a health condition, an automatic
fault detection it is possible to locate up- or downstream failure. switch back starts a reverse transfer to the main source.

The ATS initiate the change-over to the reserve or emergency If no priority is configured, the automatic switch back mode
source in case of an upstream failure. The transfer system is is deactivated. The ATS swaps automatically the definition of
blocked if a directional overcurrent or earth fault is detected main and reserve source regarding the position of the circuit
downstream. Downstream failure could happen on the busbar breakers Q1 and Q2. So, the main source become the reserve
or at the connected load. source and vice versa after each transfer sequence.

The Grid operation topology includes protection and re-configuration Auto/manual and local/remote mode
of the network. The ATS takes over the part of recovering the The selection of those modes can be done via a selection switch on
power supply. a local control panel or via a local graphical user interface (WebHMI).
 Automatic mode means that the ATS, will perform the Supported - Variants
reconfiguration automatically if the trigger occurs. No manual
interaction is required to switch between the sources. This also
Line-Line
concern the automatic switch back if not separately blocked.
Q1 Circuit breaker S1
S1 S2 S1 S2
Manual operation mode in combination with remote condition, S1 S2 Q2
S1 S2 Circuit S1
breaker S2 S2
considers that ATS MV/LV
can be operated remotely
MV/LV from
MV/LVthe SCADA. MV/LV Q3 N.a.
CT CT CT CT Switch back Enable/disable
In local control mode
VTthe ATS is blocked
VT for safety
VT reasons. VT
Set line priority Yes
Q1 Q2 Q1 Q2 Q1 Q2
Resetting alarms is still possible.
S1 S2 S1 S2
Load- shedding Enable/disable
Q1 Q2 Q1 Q2 S1 S2 S1 S2 S1 S2
MV/LV MV/LV MV/LV MV/LV Q3
Load See separate
Q3 variant
Opt.NPL
generator (S2)
Load shedding to protectCT loads and CT grid CT Load CT Line-Generator
NPL
Load
In case of islanding VT
and supplied by anVT emergencyVT VT S1
Auto- reclose Q3 S2 N.a.
generator, the load shedding functionality protects the Q1S1 S2Q2 Q1 Q2 Q1 Q2

grid and its loads e.g., Q1

motors in case Q2 Q1
of under frequency
S1 S2
Q2
G Q3
S1 S2 Line-Generator
Load Q3
or unbalanced failure. It will be initiated by: MV/LV MV/LV
NPL
MV/LV Load MV/LV Load Q1 Q2 NPL
• No voltage or under voltage Q1
S1 S2
Circuit breaker S1
CT CT Q1 Q2
CT CT
• Overvoltage VT VT S1 S2 Q2 Load Circuit breaker S2
VT VT
• Unbalanced mode S1 S2 Load Q3 N.a.
S1 S2 G
Q1 Q2
• Invalid frequency Q1 Q2 Switch back Enable/disable
MV/LV MV/LV Q1 Q2
MV/LV MV/LV
Set line priority No
CT Load CT Q1 Q2
CT
Loadthe ATS could be used to: CT
Based on direct fault detection VT VT Load- shedding
Load Enable/disable
VT VT
• switch off loads to avoid frequency drop and ensure power Load Opt. generator (S2) N.a.
balance or Q1 Q2
Auto- reclose Q3 N.a.
Q1 Q2
• switch off sensitive loads which could be damaged in the
event of abnormal power supplies. Load
Load
3CB_NPL
Management of non-priority loads (NPL) Q1 Circuit breaker S1
S1 S2
The ATS support a grid structure,
S1 which divides
S2 its load
S1 in S2 S1 S2 Q2 Circuit breaker S2
LV priority or non-priority
MV/LV load to realize load-shedding. Compare
MV/LV
Q3 NPL-Breaker
to the load
CT sheddingCT initiated by direct unbalance detection, the
Switch back Enable/disable
T management
VT of non-priority
VT loads realizes the load-shedding by
Q1 loads connected Q2 to theQ1busbar. Q2 Q1 Q2 Set line priority No
physically arrangement of the
Q1 Q2
Q3 Load- shedding N.a.
Load Q3
Using this kind of physical arrangement, the Q3 is NPL
normally Opt. generator (S2) Yes
Load NPL
closed. The transfer from S1 to S2 throw off the non-priority
S1 S2 Auto- reclose Q3 Enable/disable
S1 S2
Physical structure to manage non priority loads (NPL):
S1 S2
S1
S2 S1 S2 S1
S2 S1 S2 S2 G
S1 S2
3CB_NPL_BUS_TIE
MV/LV MV/LV Q1 Q2
LV
Q1 Circuit breaker S1
S1 CTS2 CT S1
Q1 S2 Q2
S1 Load S2 S1 S2 S1
Q2 S2 Circuit breaker S2
VT VT
T MV/LV MV/LV MV/LV MV/LV
1 Q2 Q1 Q2 Q1 Q2 Q1 Q2 Load
Q1 Q2 Q2 Q3 NPL- Bus- separator
CT
Q1 CT Q2 CT CT
Q3 Q3 Switch back Enable/disable
VT Load VT VT Q3 Q3 VT
NPL NPL
NPL NPL Q1 Q2 Q1 Q2 Q1 Set line priority Q2 No
Load
Q1 S1 Q2 S1
S2 Q1 S2 Q2
loads
S1 (NPL)
S2 by opening Q3 inS1case the S2
reserve incoming Q3
Load- shedding N.a.
S1
S2 S2 S1 Load S2 S1 S2 Q3
S1 S2
MV/LV feeder S2 has less power
MV/LV capacity than theMV/LV
MV/LV main incoming NPL Opt. generator (S2) Yes
Load Load NPL
G feeder
CT
GS1. The reverse switch back procedure reconnects
CT CT CT S1 S2 Auto- reclose Q3 Enable/disable

VT the
Q1 non-priorityVT
loads
Q1 Q2 byVTclosingQ2
circuit breaker
VT Q3. S1 S2
1 Q2 Q2 S1 S2 Q1 Q2 Q1 Q2 Q1 Q2
G 3CB
Q1S1 Q2
LoadS2 LoadQ1 Q2
Generator control Q3
MV/LV MV/LV Q3
MV/LV Grid emergency generator used to support the grid in case Load
Load MV/LV of power Q1
NPL
Q2 Q1 Circuit breaker S1
Load CT Load CT Q1 Q2 NPL
supply
CT in self-sustaining
CT isolated operation or parallel operation S1 Load S2
Q2 Circuit breaker S2
VT VT
VT meeting increased power needs.
VT
S1 Load S2 Q3 Tie breaker

Q1 Q2
Q1
S1
Q2
S2
Switch back N.a.
S1 S2 G
ATS sends the signal to the generator to start and stop during Set line priority Yes
MV/LV MV/LV Q1 Q2
MV/LV the transfer sequence.
MV/LV The generator
Load is supervised by measuring
Load Load- shedding Enable/disable
CT CT Q1 Q2
of power
CT flow,
CT frequency and integrated detection function.
Opt. generator
VT VT Load
VT VT No
(S2)
Load
Customized generator control,
Q1 such as aQ2cold start, allows a forced Auto- reclose Q3 N.a.
Q1 Q2
switching and control of the generator bypassing the ATS.
Load
Load
RTU- Hardware Detection function:
• Under- and overvoltage (27,59)
The ATS function is based on RTU DIN-Rail portfolio.
Predefined hardware package in combination with ATS-Library • Directional overcurrent and earth fault (67,67N)
and its description allows a simple implementation with one • Negative sequence overcurrent (46)
engineering tool. Configuration example and functionality is • Phase sequence voltage (47)
shortly described below: • Invalid frequency (81U, 81O)
• Optional overcurrent detection 50/50N, 51/51N
Distribution Management System (DMS)

Monotoring
Ordering information
ATS
RTU500
Configuration example
500CVD90 500CVD90

RTU530
Measurement and
detection function
Change-over command

Main supply Reserve supply

CT CT S1 S2

VT VT

Q1 M Q2 M

CT CT

Loads
500CVD90 VT VT 500CVD90

Q1 Q2

RTU500
• Controller for ATS- algorithm
• Connectivity to SCADA systems Loads

BID/BOD-Module
Total
Input/ Output interface to the process such as: Product Ident no Comment
No.
• Switch/ Breaker/ load break switch status and
control of Q1, Q2 and Q3 Controller, 8 BI 24-60V,
1 530CID01 R0001 1KGT049400R0001
4 BO
• Local keys (e.g. local/ remote)
1 500SDA License ATS 1KGT036601R0001 Library license
• Generator monitoring and control
1 Basic license 250DP 1KGT201798R001 Rel.13 Basic License
• Load shedding command 500CVD90 R0021 or 1KGT039100R0021 1A CT interface
2
500CVD90 R0025 1KGT039100R0025 5A CT interface

500CVD90 2
530BID01 R0001 or 1KGT049800R0001 16 BI 24…60V
530BID01 R0002 1KGT049800R0002 16 BI 110…125V
Measuring and fault detection unit
Input channel: 8 BO single pole, max.
3 530BOD01 R1002 1KGT049900R0001
switching voltage 150V DC
• 3 phase Voltage measuring
• 3 phase current measuring
• Separate measuring of residual current and voltage

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