SCADA system for energy efficiency UNAH

Abstract

A SCADA system is a specialized software application to run on computers and field devices for monitoring and control of any system or distant installations. Therefore, the following is a proposal for the implementation of a SCADA system in the UNAH, which has as a main objective the reduction of electricity consumption costs, since the university currently has high energy consumption. In addition, the university has a fiber optic ring that is present on campus (where the entity responsible for managing the network is the Executive Director of Technology Management EDTM, DEGT in Spanish), which reduces the initial investment needed, and is a vital reason for conducting this project.

The SCADA system will enable the user to monitor and control installed devices (data acquisition card, PC, PLC, and various motion and capacitive sensors), where these are interconnected to the network via a VLAN through a Switch and with the other buildings through fiber optic ring, which has its main server.

It is important to mention that the same research led us to perform a REAL SCADA prototype of low cost, to demonstrate the performance of this type system and prove that it can be applied to the UNAH. The prototype was developed using a Data Acquisition Card, Project Board, and electronic devices, Performing the real-world data acquisition and control of these physical variables through remote computers via a wireless communication network, for simulation of a network LAN TCP / IP. The design and prototype were presented orally at the Research Seminar class and specifically to DEGT, where development and implementation of SCADA were explained, which must start with a pilot Building for the design and development of the system to carry all UNAH.

The investment plan for the 25 buildings with high consumption of electrical power is 3,903,743.75 LPS, where funds could be acquired as follows, 30% own funds or from external sources (1,171,123.13 LPS), and 70% funded by one or more financial institutions (2,732,620.63 LPS). These investments include furniture, software and hardware only, these costs can vary considerably, because much of the network equipment already exist in university. The DEGT manages these resources, so it is important that, the detail of these must given by them and is itself which defines the final cost.

The conditions in which the project arises, allows us to recover the investment in eighteen months. As shown in parallel the relationship between benefit and cost of project implementation, because the benefit is very profitable for more than five years. See Fig.8

Due to the magnitude of the project, it is extremely important to hire a professional engineer to work in DEGT full time, with extensive knowledge of electricity, software, automated systems and networks. Granting sufficient authority to coordinate and manage the implementation and development of this project and other energy saving projects in buildings of the National Autonomous University of Honduras. If the complete project is implemented, the economic savings that the UNAH would have is more than a million Lempiras annually.

Key words: SCADA; Automation; Networks and Communication Protocols; Remote Control; Computer Systems for Automation and Control.

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5377/rct.v0i6.514

Revista Ciencia y Tecnología, No. 6, Segunda época, junio 2010: 97-109