"You can only improve what you can measure.”
As true as that oft-heard maxim might be, it’s important to remember that there are two key elements to the measurement. One is the ability to capture the data being generated by your processes. In the power generation and transmission businesses, there is no shortage of control and data acquisition systems for doing just that. But the other vital element is the ability to distribute and quickly interpret that data for timely action.
(After all,you can’t improve what you can’t act upon).
Portland General Electric (PGE) was faced with such a problem several years ago. While our legacy energy management system was generating the data we needed, the mainframe computer we used to store historical data had become a roadblock to improvement. Few of our employees had the skill to extract data from the system, thus creating inefficiencies and reliance on estimates for decision-making.
In response, PGE has created a Transmission and Distribution (T&D) Information System capable of serving up both real-time and historical information to users throughout the company. While only three years old, the PI System has yielded numerous benefits for PGE and is rapidly growing to meet user demands.
PGE is Oregon’s largest utility, serving more than 740,000 residential, commercial and industrial customers in Portland, Salem and 49 other surrounding communities. The company employs more than 2,700 people. In addition to owning 2,000 megawatts of generating capacity, the company has approximately 26,000 miles of transmission and distribution lines and related infrastructure.
Approximately four years ago, PGE decided to improve its methods for distributing and using the massive amounts of information generated in the operation of its T&D system. While some of the capabilities were available in our ABB EMSYS energy management system (EMS), we recognized the need to establish a separate system that included a comprehensive historian as well as applications that could utilize both real-time and historical data from the EMS and other systems used in our daily operations. We decided to implement a system based on OSI Software’s PI System, a well-established information management infrastructure that turns operations data into a powerful corporate asset and which enables real-time performance management. PI acquires data from automated control systems or other sources and makes it available for interpretation and real-time dissemination through a set of powerful performance-management applications.
Since we established the system, which today has more than 100 users, it has grown from 1,000 tags to more than 16,000 tags, representing virtually every facet of our T&D system. While the PI System draws data from multiple sources in our T&D system, in this paper we will describe the structure, applications and benefits associated with the data obtained from our EMS.
OSIsoft’s PI database server resides on a cluster of PCs located at our headquarters in downtown Portland. PI scans the EMS every 30 seconds for data from approximately 100 PGE substations.
The PI server is the data source for five applications:
Before we could implement any applications on top of the PI System, we first had to establish a database on the PI server. We accomplished this using the PI System Management Tools, which enabled us to create tags and link them to the EMS system. Whereas tags in the EMS can only be 30 characters long, the PI database is much more flexible, allowing longer, more descriptive tags. As a result, we developed a highly structured tag-naming system that facilitates quick identification of company assets.
Since the tag database in the EMS is in constant change, we also developed an automated system using ODBC that enables ongoing synchronization of the EMS and PI tag databases.
The initial applications we established were aimed at assisting PGE distribution field engineers, planning engineers as well as our own SCADA engineers. We later added alarming applications aimed at improving our maintenance activities. Our goal was to provide these users with accurate, detailed, real-time and historical information on the state of our T&D infrastructure and usage so they could quickly act to prevent potential problems, resolve problems that already occurred and accurately plan for future T&D system improvements. Using PI ProcessBook, we spent about a 1 1/2 years designing displays so users would have easy access to precisely the information they need without the clutter and distraction of unwanted and unneeded data. Listed below are some of the applications we created to benefit PGE, our employees, and our customers.
Equipment Loading – Like any utility, PGE strives to maximize equipment utilization factors without causing overload conditions that could shorten the life expectancy of our equipment. Consequently, establishing a system whereby we could be aware of the realtime loading of our equipment was a top priority. We designed a series of one-line diagrams containing all of the critical operating data at each substation, including megawatts, megavars, mva, phase currents, bus voltages, ambient temperatures, etc.
In addition to acquiring and displaying the directly measured values, we also used them to create calculated values which have proven extremely useful. For example, we calculate the percent loading for each transformer and feeder by determining an ambient adjusted rating using an averaged ambient temperature from each of our four geographical regions. Using color-coded status indications on PI AlarmView screens (blue for over 90 percent loading; yellow for over 95 percent loading; red for over 100 percent loading) users are able to quickly discern the level of loading on each transformer or feeder and take the appropriate action if they are approaching an overload situation. Usually, this involves dispatching operators or maintenance personnel to ensure that cooling equipment is working properly on transformers or shifting load to adjacent transformers or feeders to reduce the loading to acceptable levels.
Being able to monitor and react quickly to equipment loading situations has increased our equipment utilization factors without lowering equipment life expectancy, thus resulting in fewer customer outages.
Prior to implementing the T&D Information System, we did not have a way to notify users that the information was inaccurate. However, through the use of calculated tags in the PI System, we are able to determine whether the counter is actually active. If a counter stops, an alarm message appears on the PI display indicating substation data may be inaccurate. As is the case with transformer loading, the ability to “watch the watchdog” through the T&D Information System has enabled us to become aware of equipment and communications problems and respond quickly to fix these problems. It also ensures that engineers and technicians have accurate real-time and historical information regarding system performance.
Prior to implementing the T&D Information System, alarms in the EMS system would trigger a multi-step process. Dispatchers from the operations center would have to call maintenance personnel who then would have to generate a work order and then initiate the repairs or replacements. Since the maintenance personnel now have access to the PI AlarmView screens, they receive the alarming information directly, thus ensuring all maintenance alarms are attended to appropriately and in a timely manner.
We have designed the alarming screens by equipment groups, so that not only are maintenance personnel alerted quickly to problems, they are able to send the appropriate personnel and equipment when responding to the specific problems.
PI AlarmView has proven very successful in applications were we have a personal computer dedicated to displaying the alarms. On the other hand, we discovered AlarmView was not suitable for typical ProcessBook users due to the time required to initialize the alarm groups when the application is first started. Since users did not like waiting for AlarmView to initialize, we developed Visual Basic scripting that allows users to view the alarms in the one-line diagrams rather than through AlarmView.
These are just three of the applications that we have implemented in the T&D Information System; there are numerous others that are allowing us to continuously improve T&D operations and asset management. In addition, the growing number of users within PGE has created a growing appetite for applications that meet their needs. For example, we recently created displays summarizing breaker lockouts for each of our four regions, so that during extreme weather conditions, such as intense windstorms, we will be able to quickly identify feeder breakers that are locked out and begin restoration efforts.
Summary:
The ability to see and measure the status of your systems is only half the battle when it comes to improving real-time performance. Achieving higher quality requires a means to distribute the information to those who need it in a timely manner and having the tools to visualize that data, both in real time and historically, so it becomes actionable. At PGE, our PI-based T&D Information System is proving to be the foundation for continuous improvement.
As true as that oft-heard maxim might be, it’s important to remember that there are two key elements to the measurement. One is the ability to capture the data being generated by your processes. In the power generation and transmission businesses, there is no shortage of control and data acquisition systems for doing just that. But the other vital element is the ability to distribute and quickly interpret that data for timely action.
(After all,you can’t improve what you can’t act upon).
Portland General Electric (PGE) was faced with such a problem several years ago. While our legacy energy management system was generating the data we needed, the mainframe computer we used to store historical data had become a roadblock to improvement. Few of our employees had the skill to extract data from the system, thus creating inefficiencies and reliance on estimates for decision-making.
In response, PGE has created a Transmission and Distribution (T&D) Information System capable of serving up both real-time and historical information to users throughout the company. While only three years old, the PI System has yielded numerous benefits for PGE and is rapidly growing to meet user demands.
PGE is Oregon’s largest utility, serving more than 740,000 residential, commercial and industrial customers in Portland, Salem and 49 other surrounding communities. The company employs more than 2,700 people. In addition to owning 2,000 megawatts of generating capacity, the company has approximately 26,000 miles of transmission and distribution lines and related infrastructure.
Approximately four years ago, PGE decided to improve its methods for distributing and using the massive amounts of information generated in the operation of its T&D system. While some of the capabilities were available in our ABB EMSYS energy management system (EMS), we recognized the need to establish a separate system that included a comprehensive historian as well as applications that could utilize both real-time and historical data from the EMS and other systems used in our daily operations. We decided to implement a system based on OSI Software’s PI System, a well-established information management infrastructure that turns operations data into a powerful corporate asset and which enables real-time performance management. PI acquires data from automated control systems or other sources and makes it available for interpretation and real-time dissemination through a set of powerful performance-management applications.
Since we established the system, which today has more than 100 users, it has grown from 1,000 tags to more than 16,000 tags, representing virtually every facet of our T&D system. While the PI System draws data from multiple sources in our T&D system, in this paper we will describe the structure, applications and benefits associated with the data obtained from our EMS.
OSIsoft’s PI database server resides on a cluster of PCs located at our headquarters in downtown Portland. PI scans the EMS every 30 seconds for data from approximately 100 PGE substations.
The PI server is the data source for five applications:
- PI AlarmView – An application that summarizes PI Alarm server information and displays this data in a hierarchical tree structure to any number of clients, onsite or offsite.
- PI ProcessBook -- A graphics package that allows users to create interactive graphical displays populated with realtime PI data.
- PI DataLink – An application that allows PI to access and deliver data to and from spreadsheets and reporting programs.
- PI System Management Tools — A set of applications to administer the PI System from client PCs.
- PI ODBC – Used to access data from the PI point database to synchronize it with the EMS database.
Before we could implement any applications on top of the PI System, we first had to establish a database on the PI server. We accomplished this using the PI System Management Tools, which enabled us to create tags and link them to the EMS system. Whereas tags in the EMS can only be 30 characters long, the PI database is much more flexible, allowing longer, more descriptive tags. As a result, we developed a highly structured tag-naming system that facilitates quick identification of company assets.
Since the tag database in the EMS is in constant change, we also developed an automated system using ODBC that enables ongoing synchronization of the EMS and PI tag databases.
The initial applications we established were aimed at assisting PGE distribution field engineers, planning engineers as well as our own SCADA engineers. We later added alarming applications aimed at improving our maintenance activities. Our goal was to provide these users with accurate, detailed, real-time and historical information on the state of our T&D infrastructure and usage so they could quickly act to prevent potential problems, resolve problems that already occurred and accurately plan for future T&D system improvements. Using PI ProcessBook, we spent about a 1 1/2 years designing displays so users would have easy access to precisely the information they need without the clutter and distraction of unwanted and unneeded data. Listed below are some of the applications we created to benefit PGE, our employees, and our customers.
Equipment Loading – Like any utility, PGE strives to maximize equipment utilization factors without causing overload conditions that could shorten the life expectancy of our equipment. Consequently, establishing a system whereby we could be aware of the realtime loading of our equipment was a top priority. We designed a series of one-line diagrams containing all of the critical operating data at each substation, including megawatts, megavars, mva, phase currents, bus voltages, ambient temperatures, etc.
In addition to acquiring and displaying the directly measured values, we also used them to create calculated values which have proven extremely useful. For example, we calculate the percent loading for each transformer and feeder by determining an ambient adjusted rating using an averaged ambient temperature from each of our four geographical regions. Using color-coded status indications on PI AlarmView screens (blue for over 90 percent loading; yellow for over 95 percent loading; red for over 100 percent loading) users are able to quickly discern the level of loading on each transformer or feeder and take the appropriate action if they are approaching an overload situation. Usually, this involves dispatching operators or maintenance personnel to ensure that cooling equipment is working properly on transformers or shifting load to adjacent transformers or feeders to reduce the loading to acceptable levels.
Being able to monitor and react quickly to equipment loading situations has increased our equipment utilization factors without lowering equipment life expectancy, thus resulting in fewer customer outages.
- Watching the Watchdog – PGE has implemented a “watchdog” in each of its substations to constantly monitor the status of communications between PLCs, relays and meters. They also monitor the status of voltage on distributed I/O, PLC batteries and other variables critical to substation communications. These watchdogs, which essentially are software counters, are intended to alert users that the substation data might be inaccurate due to an equipment or communications failure.
- More responsive maintenance – In recent months, we have begun scaling up the T&D Information System for use by PGE maintenance personnel. The result has been the ability to reduce the time involved in creating work orders, scheduling crews, and ensuring maintenance personnel are aware of matters that require their attention in a timely manner.
Prior to implementing the T&D Information System, we did not have a way to notify users that the information was inaccurate. However, through the use of calculated tags in the PI System, we are able to determine whether the counter is actually active. If a counter stops, an alarm message appears on the PI display indicating substation data may be inaccurate. As is the case with transformer loading, the ability to “watch the watchdog” through the T&D Information System has enabled us to become aware of equipment and communications problems and respond quickly to fix these problems. It also ensures that engineers and technicians have accurate real-time and historical information regarding system performance.
Prior to implementing the T&D Information System, alarms in the EMS system would trigger a multi-step process. Dispatchers from the operations center would have to call maintenance personnel who then would have to generate a work order and then initiate the repairs or replacements. Since the maintenance personnel now have access to the PI AlarmView screens, they receive the alarming information directly, thus ensuring all maintenance alarms are attended to appropriately and in a timely manner.
We have designed the alarming screens by equipment groups, so that not only are maintenance personnel alerted quickly to problems, they are able to send the appropriate personnel and equipment when responding to the specific problems.
PI AlarmView has proven very successful in applications were we have a personal computer dedicated to displaying the alarms. On the other hand, we discovered AlarmView was not suitable for typical ProcessBook users due to the time required to initialize the alarm groups when the application is first started. Since users did not like waiting for AlarmView to initialize, we developed Visual Basic scripting that allows users to view the alarms in the one-line diagrams rather than through AlarmView.
These are just three of the applications that we have implemented in the T&D Information System; there are numerous others that are allowing us to continuously improve T&D operations and asset management. In addition, the growing number of users within PGE has created a growing appetite for applications that meet their needs. For example, we recently created displays summarizing breaker lockouts for each of our four regions, so that during extreme weather conditions, such as intense windstorms, we will be able to quickly identify feeder breakers that are locked out and begin restoration efforts.
Summary:
The ability to see and measure the status of your systems is only half the battle when it comes to improving real-time performance. Achieving higher quality requires a means to distribute the information to those who need it in a timely manner and having the tools to visualize that data, both in real time and historically, so it becomes actionable. At PGE, our PI-based T&D Information System is proving to be the foundation for continuous improvement.
