Diseño de un entorno de simulación automatizada para el control y operación de protecciones en redes de distribución eléctrica

Abstract

The present degree project consists of the design and implementation of an automated simulation environment for the control and operation of protection systems in electrical distribution networks. The analysis was carried out in the Electrical Engineering laboratory of the Universidad Politécnica Salesiana, Guayaquil campus. This research project arises from the identified need to complement students’ practical training with resources that simulate current operational conditions of electric power systems. The developed system integrates professional industrial technologies such as the SEL-3530 Relay Automation Controller (RTAC) and the Siemens WinCC SCADA platform, making it possible to indefinitely reproduce operating, switching, and supervision conditions of distribution networks without the need to energize real physical loads, thereby avoiding risk situations in energized installations. The implemented architecture is composed of three hierarchical layers: the field layer (control panel with circuit breakers and disconnectors), the control layer (RTAC as the functional controller and a communications gateway), and the supervision layer (an HMI interface developed using WinCC software). Communication among components is established through the Modbus TCP/IP communication protocol over an-Ethernet network, ensuring real-time and reliable data transmission. Experimentally, three operational scenarios representative of typical situations in distribution networks were validated: normal operation with power supplied to the BUS H1 and BUS H2 busbars, followed by an operational maneuver due to a line failure, resulting in transfer to a backup line for normal power supply to the BUS H1 and BUS 2 busbars, and transfer to a second backup line for the operational maneuver due to de-energization of the main busbar.. The results confirm correct digital signal acquisition, proper processing of the required automation logic, and dynamic system visualization.