Huawei Distribution Automation Solution

With the advent of the smart grid era, distribution network automation and intelligence have become key areas of focus for power companies, as they directly impact the quality and reliability of power supply. Huawei's Distribution Automation Solution leverages advanced ICT technologies, such as xPON and LTE, to provide new approaches for the development of distribution automation in the smart grid era.

Business Challenges

The distribution network has a wide coverage area and complex topology, playing a crucial role in energy distribution and feedback on power demand. Its reliability and power quality directly affect economic activities and the daily lives of residents. Current distribution automation faces the following challenges:

• Aging equipment and lines, poorly distributed grids leading to high transmission losses and low power quality.
• Low levels of automation and weak fault self-healing capabilities, affecting both industrial production and residential life.
• The wide coverage of distribution automation terminals and complex scenarios with high communication network reliability and latency requirements.
• Lack of monitoring of distribution network equipment and difficulty in fault location, leading to challenges in management and maintenance.

To enhance distribution automation, improve power supply reliability, reduce grid losses, increase supply capacity, and improve management levels while reducing operational costs, these goals must be addressed. Huawei’s Distribution Automation Solution effectively helps improve the automation level of distribution networks.

Solution Overview

Huawei’s Distribution Automation Solution is divided into three main parts based on the vertical dimension: the power terminal layer, communication layer, and master station system layer.

1. Power Terminal Layer: Huawei, in collaboration with major secondary equipment manufacturers for distribution automation, provides DTU/TTU/FTU devices, as well as video surveillance solutions for various scenarios.

2. Communication Layer: Huawei provides a range of wired and wireless communication solutions, including xPON, LTE, industrial Ethernet switches, and GPRS/3G communication modules, to meet diverse customer needs across multiple scenarios.

3. Master Station System Layer: Huawei offers an ICT solution for distribution automation master stations, including servers, storage, routers, switches, and security devices, which support distribution SCADA, feeder automation, grid dispatch management, and GIS systems.

xPON-Based Distribution Automation Communication Private Network

In urban areas with fiber-optic resources, such as CBDs and high-tech zones, Huawei recommends an xPON-based distribution automation communication private network solution.

Components of the xPON-based Distribution Automation Communication Private Network Solution:

• OLT (Optical Line Terminal): Responsible for ONU access aggregation, deployed at the transformer station. It can connect to existing power communication networks for uplink transmission.
• ODN (Optical Distribution Network): Used for the optical communication link between OLT and ONU.
• ONU (Optical Network Unit): Deployed in various locations such as ring network cabinets and switchgear, responsible for collecting monitoring data from FTU/RTU/TTU. Huawei’s SmartAX MA5621 ONU, the first natural heat-dissipation ONU designed for power private networks, can support remote data collection and transmission, as well as video surveillance.
• U2000 (Network Management System): Provides powerful network management features, including remote soft commissioning, acceptance, patch updates, and fault location.

Features:

• Supports backup switching and dual uplinks for high-reliability distribution automation services in key load areas.
• Security features such as anti-eavesdropping and MAC address spoofing protection ensure the security of automation services.
• Communication bandwidth up to 2.5Gbps with a transmission range of up to 20km, improving the network’s ability to handle automation services.

LTE-Based Distribution Automation Communication Private Network

In mature urban areas where fiber installation is difficult and costly, Huawei recommends an LTE-based distribution automation communication private network solution.

Components of the LTE-based Distribution Automation Communication Private Network Solution:

• Compact Core Network: The core network equipment handles mobility management and user context, supporting integrated functionalities in a single cabinet to reduce space.
• Distributed Base Station eNodeB (RRU+BBU): Responsible for wireless signal transmission between the optical transmission network and CPE.
• Wireless Communication Terminal CPE: Connected to DTU/TTU/FTU for local deployment.
• M2000 (Network Management System): Provides unified network management and future-proof capabilities for evolving networks.

Features:

• Wireless networks in old urban areas, eliminating the need for fiber laying, with easy expansion by adding CPEs and updating data.
• QoS dynamic bandwidth allocation to meet varying priority requirements in the power industry, ensuring the effective execution of critical services like relay protection.
• Security measures such as two-way authentication, UTRAN encryption, and signaling integrity protection ensure network security.

Business Value

Huawei’s Distribution Automation Solution helps power companies build a reliable, secure, and efficient ICT platform for distribution automation services:

• Increases the automation and intelligence of the distribution network, reducing power outages and fault recovery time.
• Provides flexible networking options, including xPON, LTE, and industrial switches, for various scenarios.
• High bandwidth and low latency support for multiple distribution automation services, ensuring the effectiveness of traditional "three remote" services (remote monitoring, remote control, remote measurement) while meeting high-bandwidth requirements for video surveillance and other services.
• Unified network management for efficient operation and fault detection, enabling quick and accurate fault location.
• One-stop hardware solution for master station systems, ensuring the reliable and secure operation of distribution SCADA and other core systems.