Substation Automation Device Virtualization Merging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current Substation Automation systems require multiple distinct devices for various functionalities, leading to increased hardware costs, engineering complexity, and maintenance needs, which can be simplified by consolidating these functionalities into a single device using virtualization techniques.
Innovation Solution
A single SA device with multiple Processing Units on a single circuit board hosts distinct execution environments via virtualization, supporting multiple instances of Operating Systems to merge SCADA, gateway, engineering, and firewall functionalities, while sharing hardware resources without mutual influence, and optionally hosting protection and control functions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple distinct devices are used for various SA functionalities (SCADA, gateway, engineering, firewall), then system reliability and functional independence are maintained, but hardware costs, device complexity, and maintenance needs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple distinct SA devices (SCADA, gateway, engineering, firewall) into a single integrated device. This merging reduces hardware costs and device complexity while maintaining functional independence through virtualization technology that creates isolated execution environments for each function.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated SA device is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously - serving as SCADA system, gateway, engineering workstation, and firewall all in one device. This multi-functionality approach reduces the total number of devices needed while maintaining the reliability benefits of having dedicated functions.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple distinct devices are used for various SA functionalities, then functional independence is maintained, but hardware costs and maintenance needs increase
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple SA functions are merged into a single physical device, reducing hardware costs and simplifying manufacturing. The virtualization layer ensures that each function remains independently configurable and maintainable, preserving adaptability while achieving cost effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
A single universal SA device is created that can perform multiple functions (SCADA, gateway, engineering, firewall). This multi-functional device reduces hardware costs and maintenance needs while maintaining the functional independence required for reliable substation operation.
3Reliability
If multiple distinct devices are used for various SA functionalities, then system reliability is maintained, but the number of devices and maintenance burdens increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple SA devices into one integrated device, reducing the quantity of physical devices from four or more to a single unit. This consolidation maintains system reliability through virtualization-based functional isolation while significantly reducing maintenance burdens associated with managing multiple separate devices.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention proposes to provide separate SA system-level functionalities or tasks, which are conventionally performed by a multitude of distinct station-level devices, by a single SA device comprising a plurality of Processing Units (PU). The latter are either distinct Central Processing Units (CPUs) mounted on the same processor board, or distinct processing cores of a single multi-core CPU sharing the same Random Access Memory (RAM). By means of virtualization techniques supporting multiple instances of Operating Systems (OS) on the plurality of PUs, distinct and mutually isolated execution environments are created. Each of these execution environments hosts a single functionality out of a Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition (SCADA) functionality, a gateway functionality, an engineering workplace functionality and a firewall functionality.