SCADA Hardware
The first project related to the remote monitoring of electric power transformer stations in the Belgrade’s municipal company “Elektrodistribucija Beograd – EDB”, started almost a half century ago, in the year 1963. The outcome of the conducted research was a state-of-the-art remote terminal unit: Atlas RTU, the ancestor of all future research and developments of remote and local process control systems in electric power industry. Soon afterward, Atlas became a local brand name for this kind of equipment that even spread beyond the country boundaries.
In the period of 1970-1990, Atlas research team grew significantly, capable of delivering the most complex systems for remote and local supervision and control of electric power networks, as well as data acquisition and processing in hydroelectric facilities.
Three technologically different generations of Atlas equipment were designed, manufactured and delivered – all based on the accumulated knowledge, experience, and the state-of-the-art technologies. The delivered Atlas equipment included all types of RTU (Remote Terminal Units), SOE (Sequence of Events) devices for chronological data recording and presentation, and other specialized systems for low volume transmission of selected process data.
Since 1991, the focus continues to be on further research, upgrades and development of new products – therefore, the Atlas family continued to grow and was extended with new microprocessor-based products with full implementation of LSI technologies. Several generations of Atlas equipment were designed: Atlas MTU (80C196KB), ATLAS AT-32 (INTEL 386), and Atlas Max-PLC (INTEL Pentium). At the same time, the core products: Atlas Max and ARES (used in measuring power exchange in transformer stations between electric power transmission and distribution networks) were certified.
Implementation of the Real-Time Linux platform in the firmware controlled Atlas devices (also known as “embedded real-time systems”), contributed to the development of the newest generation of RTU and PLC equipment:
- Atlas Max-RTL® – Multifunction process computer designed for supervision and control in electric power systems and process industry based on the Real Time Linux (RTL) platform – an improved version of the very successful predecessor Atlas Max®.
- Atlas – Oscilopertubograf – the device for direct measurement and registration of fast changing data in electric power facilities.
- Atlas–XP – The single-rack multifunction process computer for supervision and control in electric power systems and process industries.
- Piko Atlas – The miniature modular RTU.
SCADA Software
Programmable SCADA systems provide remote and local supervision and control of large and geographically distributed facilities, like: electric power transmission and distribution networks, water supply pipelines, or gas supply utilities. Nowadays, SCADA program support packages developed in the Institute present the core control resource in a number of thermoelectric and hydroelectric power plants, and other industrial facilities.
An early release of the VIEW 6000 SCADA program package used for remote supervision, control, statistics, data and events analysis and archiving, was upgraded with new control functions, making the new reliable DCS software package POWER VIEW 6000, suitable for digital control in thermoelectric and hydroelectric power plants.
By using new object-oriented programming technologies, relational databases, and vector graphics, another enhanced program package for remote supervision and control, named VIEW2 was developed. The implemented Linux OS platform brought advantages of the open-source technologies, which appeared to be so beneficial in process automation. The inherent system scalability has made it suitable for use in any process environment: from electric power transformer stations of any voltage level, via local SCADA systems, up to complex control centers in hierarchical electric power networks.
Currently, for example, the Electric Power Transmission System in Serbia includes 8 VIEW2-equipped Control Centers, with more than 70 subordinated transformer stations and other facilities.
The latest program release, named VIEW4, presents the most upgraded and updated version of VIEW software, which incorporates the accumulated knowledge and experience from all previous releases, with a major focus on:
- Real-time databases
- Man/machine interface
- System support of redundant configurations
- EMS/DMS applications interfaces
- Upscale interface towards other technical information system.
Major features of the VIEW SCADA software are:
Flexibility – based on the leading industrial standards.
Scalability – software support to a variety of hardware configurations ranging from a single PC up to a cluster network of workstations and servers.
Connectivity – the incorporated components and architecture provide multiple paths for the VIEW system integration into a corporation environment.
Reliability – the redundant system configurations allow no-break in operation. All acquired process data remain available upon an automatic or manual switchover to a stand-by unit.
Geographically distributed systems –based on inherent possibilities for inter-connection of control centers on different hierarchical layers.
System customization – specific customer requirements could be achieved by introducing additional, or modifying the basic system functions.
