Point-to-Point-Based Centralized Protection and Control System Design for a Two-Transformer Distribution Substation

This paper documents a collaborative effort to design a centralized protection and control (CPC) system for an existing two-bank substation, with the goal of leveraging the benefits of the new technologies. Because of its simplicity and numerous other benefits, a point-to-point-based CPC system is selected in this case study. One of the goals is to develop a repeatable solution that can be used at many locations with minimal modification. The CPC system is compared against the existing protection and control (P&C) system by using total device count, device settings, and protection system operational speed of the transformer and bus differential protection elements. This paper contains a discussion of the utility perspective, exploring issues of potential benefits, design questions, and technical challenges.