Comes as a fruit of modernization, the smart grid of Ho Chi Minh city allows safe, proactive, and flexible monitoring and control, but at the same time requires a high level of coordination between actors. At the heart of this coordination are the operations centers of the members of Ho Chi Minh Power Corporation (EVNHCMC). For the Load Dispatch Center, two Remote Control Centers run in parallel to monitor and control the grid, which provides redundancy in emergencies like software and hardware failures, power loss, or sabotage. For the High Voltage Power Grid Company, the Operation Control Center (OCC) monitors the 110kV grid, complete with modern servers and surveillance cameras. The advanced technologies integrated into these operation centers allow the deployment of various IT components for operation and control. These include OMS (Outage Management System), SCADA, DAS/DMS systems, CRM/CRM-APP (app to communicate with customers and manage field electricians), Livestream (safety watch feature), GIS (Geographic Information System), MDIS (Meter Data Integration System for telemetry and distribution substation outage warning), PMIS (Power Management Information System). However, the facilities at operations stations of EVNHCMC’s 15 subsidy Power Companies were still limited and in need of modernization:
- Raised floor degraded or not installed.
- Aged and insufficient lighting equipment.
- Outdated, low-capacity air conditioning system (under 2HP), without redundancy for alternating operation function.
- No security cameras and Access Control system.
- Inadequate IT equipment (no large-sized monitoring screen, slow computers...)
Figure 1: Operations station at Duyen Hai Power Company before renovation
Thus, the digitalization of EVNHCMC requires a uniform renovation of operations stations at local Power Companies. In 2017, the Corporation piloted an upgrade of the existing operations stations for Sai Gon Power Company and used the experiences to develop the Corporation’s criteria for modern operations stations. Generally, a modern operations station should be equipped with essential technological facilities for automation, and utilize IT programs/software to effectively monitor and control grid operations with 3-4 standing operators/shift (Supervisor, Assistant Supervisor, and control operators).
Figure 2: Illustration of a modern operations station
Figure 3: Modern operations station at Sai Gon Power Company
With the joint effort of engineers and officers from the VNPT Information Technology Company, EVNHCMC, HCMC Load Dispatch Center, and the Power Companies, the design, planning, procurement, installation, and configuration of the new operations stations have been completed. Specifically,
- Minimum floor area of 33m2 (6m x 5.5m)
- Full set of tables and chairs, display screen bases, document holders, and professional support equipment.
- 02 alternating air conditioners (in redundancy mode) running 24/7.
- Emergency light: celling or wall-attached, providing sufficient working light in outages through backup power or batteries.
- Access Control solution to monitor entry and exit at the station entrance for security.
- 08 monitors of at least 27 inches in 2x4 formations (02 rows, 04 per row); 04 workstations running the 07 main operation and control programs/software (OMS, SCADA/miniSCADA, CRM/CRM-APP, Livestream, GIS, MDIS, PMIS).
- Optical Projection Screen and laser projector ready when required (for displaying multiple programs at once, or complete maps/diagrams of local grid section, etc.). This new technology is deployed as the solution for ultra large-sized presentations, providing clear images even with excess ambient light.
- 02 extra surveillance cameras for security at the entrance and operation desk overview.
- Communication system: The station is adequately equipped with handheld transceivers, landline phones, mobile phones, and 01 computer to record and store data from communication devices.
- Power sources: 01 main source, 01 backup source with low-voltage ATS for switching when required, 01 UPS capable of supplying critical system for at least 15 minutes.
After over one year of implementation, all stations are completed and online, meeting rigorous grid monitoring and control standards. The completion of modern operations stations is a significant achievement, contributing to the modernization towards the smart grid of EVNHCMC and the development of Ho Chi Minh City as a whole.