用資產管理系統(tǒng)推動智能電網(wǎng)的投資

Electrify Smart Grid Investment with Asset Management
用資產管理系統(tǒng)促進智能電網(wǎng)的投資

Keywords
Smart Grid, Asset Management, Predictive Maintenance, Power Equipment, Substation Automation, Transmission Distribution, Transformers, Restoration, Cable Faults, Circuit Breakers, Regulators

關鍵字
智能電網(wǎng)，資產管理，預見性維護，電力設備，變電站自動化，輸配電，變壓器，恢復，電纜故障，斷路器，調節(jié)器

Overview
Everyone agrees that the Smart Grid can enable consumers to conserve and reduce energy costs. However, this also goes against the incentives (earnings per share) of every independent energy supplier. Conceivably, utilities can lose additional revenue with every smart meter installed. Without a compelling business case for electric power transmission and distribution (TD) companies,
the smart electric grid will not be sustainable. The benefits of predictive asset management, which can reduce outages, restoration time, and maintenance costs for distributed assets, provide compelling value that can help mitigate the high cost of smart grid automation and spur adoption of the Obama Smart Grid initiative.

概述
每個人都同意智能電網(wǎng)可以讓消費者減少能源消耗，但對于以提高每股盈利為目的的能源供應商來說，他們反對這項計劃。因為非常顯然，每安裝一臺智能電表，能源企業(yè)就會損失一些收入。如果不能給電力電網(wǎng)企業(yè)一個有說服力的商業(yè)利益，智能電網(wǎng)計劃是難以持久的。預見性資產管理系統(tǒng)可以幫助電力電網(wǎng)企業(yè)降低儲運損耗，縮短恢復周期，以及降低分散資產的維護成本。這就為這些企業(yè)提供了一項非?，F(xiàn)實的商業(yè)利益，幫助他們降低實行電網(wǎng)自動化的成本，從而更加容易接受奧巴馬智能電網(wǎng)計劃。

Electric Power TD Needs to Get Involved
Despite huge automation investments in the power generation industry, TD has yet to deploy substation automation in a significant way. The little automation deployed typically uses proprietary SCADA systems. These systems may talk with ISOs, but can't easily talk with each other, inhibiting communication between different TD companies and creating islands of automation. Without integrated open automation systems and the associated infrastructure, TD cannot enjoy access to information to improve productivity and reduce cost. The TD industry needs to collaborate with automation and equipment suppliers and understand how to benefit from automation and infrastructure investments to meet future demand.

應該將電力輸配電系統(tǒng)包括在內
盡管發(fā)電行業(yè)有巨大的自動化投資，但輸配電還沒有為變電站部署較完善的自動化系統(tǒng)。這些非?；镜淖詣踊到y(tǒng)都采用專用的SCADA系統(tǒng)，它們可以采用ISO規(guī)范通信，但比較難以實現(xiàn)相互間的通信，抑制了不同的輸配電公司之間的系統(tǒng)通信，從而成為不同的自動化孤島。如果不能采用開放式的自動化系統(tǒng)和彼此關聯(lián)的基礎設施，輸配電系統(tǒng)就不能獲取信息以提高生產率和降低成本。在輸配電產業(yè)需要與自動化和設備供應商合作，了解如何從自動化系統(tǒng)和基礎設施的投資中受益，并滿足未來的需求。

For more than two decades, there has been too little in the way of TD investment, resulting in a decaying infrastructure driven to its limits; an infrastructure that is prone to fail at the slightest hint of increasing peak electrical demands. This, combined with an inexperienced workforce, unreliable power equipment, environmental impact, increasing information needs, and the recent availability of government funds for smart grid development, means that TD companies should be investing now. However, response has been mixed.

二十多年來，對輸配電的投資實在是太少了，導致陳舊的基礎設施運轉到了極限。電力高峰時段的輕微變化就容易導致電力基礎設施的崩潰。。此外，缺乏經驗的工作人員、可靠性不高的電力設備、環(huán)境影響、越來越多的信息需求，以及最近政府推出用于智能電網(wǎng)發(fā)展的專項資金，都表明應該對輸配電企業(yè)投資了，然而，業(yè)內對此反響不一。

The Smart Grid by itself does not necessarily provide long-term financial benefits for power TD companies. On the other hand, commercial and industrial customers that are willing to take the time to learn how to exploit the technology can benefit by reducing electric consumption and lowering their monthly bills. However, more incentives are clearly needed to drive electric power TD investment.

智能電網(wǎng)的本身并不一定能為輸配電企業(yè)提供長期的財務收益，商業(yè)和工業(yè)用戶很愿意花時間學習如何利用這項技術減少電力消耗，從而減少每月賬單。顯然需要更多的激勵來推動輸配電設施的投資。

Hidden Value of Asset Management Provide Incentives
Electric power TD utilities companies should evaluate smart grid investments in conjunction with TD automation and control and asset management. Combining these elements in a single initiative makes the smart grid a more compelling investment opportunity for TD utilities.

資產管理的隱藏價值帶來激勵
電力輸配公用事業(yè)公司應評估智能電網(wǎng)投資，連同輸配電自動化控制和資產管理。將這些因素結合到一個單一的計劃使智能電網(wǎng)成為輸配電企業(yè)的一個更令人信服的投資機會。
Predictive asset management technology that combines predictive and other advanced maintenance techniques, has been very successful in the process manufacturing and power generation sectors. Predictive asset management techniques can provide even greater benefits for TD. With TD assets dispersed across hundreds or thousands of square miles, predictive asset management solutions are even more compelling because of the time required to travel to and back from the site. Unlike a plant, where assets are confined within the physical facility, inspecting TD assets requires travel back and forth from regional centers, increasing the time customers are without service, reducing revenue, and negatively impacting system reliability. Deploying predictive maintenance, enabled by intelligent devices, automation systems and digital communication systems, provides technicians with remote access to equipment health from central locations, reducing labor cost and the time it takes to restore power to customers. This improves the financial payback for TD companies, providing them with a tangible incentive to jump into the smart grid fray; an incentive that can provide sustainable value long after the government funding subsides.

預見性資產管理技術，結合預測和其他先進的維護技術，在過程制造和發(fā)電行業(yè)一直很成功。預見性資產管理技術甚至可以為輸配電企業(yè)提供更大的利益。輸配電資產都分布在數(shù)百萬平方公里內，維護人員往返現(xiàn)場需要花費大量的時間和費用，這也是預見性資產管理技術變得更具有吸引了。與資產集中在一定區(qū)域內的電廠不同，檢查輸配電資產需要從區(qū)域中心來回往返，增加無服務消耗的時間和減少收入，并對系統(tǒng)的可靠性造成消極影響。采用由智能設備、自動化系統(tǒng)和數(shù)字通信系統(tǒng)組成的預見性維護，技術人員可以遠程診斷設備工作狀況，減少勞動力成本和為客戶恢復供電所花費的時間。這為輸配電公司帶來切實可見的投資回報，激勵他們建立智能電網(wǎng)的積極性，，在政府資金補貼之后仍可以帶來持續(xù)的價值。

In the process sector, predictive asset management provides intelligent maintenance solutions that predict the health of assets, allows operators to intervene before a failure, and significantly extends equipment life. Predictive maintenance for TD assets can also protect assets and reduce catastrophic failures that can potentially bring down large sections of the electric grid. By including the automation and control communication infrastructure with smart grid investments, TD companies can have a ready-made communication channel that will enable improved electric transmission and distribution control and remote equipment diagnosis. As a result, technical crews will only mobilize when needed to complete actual equipment repairs.

在過程行業(yè)，預見性資產管理提供預測資產健康狀況的智能維護解決方案，允許運營商在故障發(fā)生之前進行干預，顯著延長設備壽命。對輸配電資產來說，預見性維護也可以保護資產，并減少可能造成大面積電網(wǎng)崩潰的災難性故障。通過包括自動化和控制通信基礎設施與智能電網(wǎng)的投資，輸配電企業(yè)可以有一個現(xiàn)成的通信渠道，將使得電力傳輸和分配控制能力和遠程設備診斷能力進一步提高。其結果是，技術人員將只在必要時動身完成實際設備維修。

Focus on Critical High Value Equipment First
The most efficient TD asset management solutions provide continuous online monitoring. They deploy intelligent electronic devises (IEDs) and soft and hard sensors with associated diagnostic software with open bi-directional digital communications. This enables fast distribution of alarms and allows operators to analyze equipment faults and determine remedial action before sending the
crew to the site.

第一重點放在關鍵的高價值設備
最有效的輸配電資產管理解決方案提供連續(xù)的在線監(jiān)測。他們采用智能電子設備（IEDs）和軟型和硬型傳感器，以及相關的、帶有開放雙向數(shù)字通信能力診斷軟件。這使得報警可以快速分配，允許運營商分析設備故障，并決定在派遣人員到現(xiàn)場之前采取補救措施。

Of all the assets in the TD electric grid, transformers can be the most problematic. Power transformers can be quite old and have limited backup when they fail. By measuring load, voltage, current, temperature, transformer oil quality, status of ancillary equipment, and other parameters, operators can remotely determine the health of the transformer and load tap changers, (electromechanical voltage regulators in transformers). Some simple measurements enable many issues to be diagnosed. These include water contamination, insulation damage, excessive heat, arcing, and mechanical wear of electromechanical components. In addition, operators can fine-tune loading based on actual temperature to maximize electrical output without damaging the transformer.

在所有輸配電網(wǎng)的資產之中，變壓器的問題是為最棘手。相當多的變壓器已經老化，一當失效，備件也很有限。通過測量負載、電壓、電流、溫度、變壓器油的質量、輔助設備狀況以及其他參數(shù)，操作人員可以遠程確定變壓器和負載分接開關的機電式整流器的狀況 。一些簡單的測量使許多問題得到診斷。這些問題包括水污染、絕緣損壞、過熱、電弧和機電元件的機械磨損。此外，操作人員可以根據(jù)實際溫度對負載微調，以最大限度地提高電力輸出而不至于損壞變壓器。

Last Word
The Smart Grid initiative offers TD companies an opportunity to implement a Smart Grid with substation control systems, digital communications, and asset management systems that will not only conserve energy at the end user level but also improve the reliability of the grid and reduce operating costs for TD.

結束語
智能電網(wǎng)計劃為輸配電公司提供了一個建立具有變電站控制系統(tǒng)、數(shù)字通信和資產管理系統(tǒng)的智能電網(wǎng)的機會，將不僅在最終用戶層面節(jié)約能源，而且還提高了電網(wǎng)的可靠性和為輸配電降低運營成本。

TD companies should seize this opportunity and provide an open network infrastructure, including the sensors necessary for asset management. Open systems will allow future interoperability throughout the grid and potentially across the globe. The access to information will increase TD revenue and profitability by optimizing energy delivery and increasing uptime. In addition, information can be easily directed to EAM/CMMS maintenance scheduling systems for efficient workforce management and logistics.

輸配電企業(yè)應該抓住這個機會，并提供一個開放的網(wǎng)絡基礎設施，包括資產管理所必需的傳感器。開放系統(tǒng)將實現(xiàn)未來整個電網(wǎng)的的互操作性，并可能在全球各地互通。獲取信息將可以優(yōu)化能源供應，增加正常運行時間，增加輸配電企業(yè)的收入和利潤。此外，信息可以很容易地用于EAM/CMMS維護調度系統(tǒng)，實現(xiàn)有效的勞動力管理和物流。

（本文作者為ARC顧問集團高級分析師Wil Chin先生）