Date of Graduation
5-2018
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering
Degree Level
Undergraduate
Department
Electrical Engineering
Advisor/Mentor
Mantooth, H. Alan
Committee Member/Reader
Wu, Jingxian
Abstract
This thesis details the project to update the control and interface system of the National Center for Reliable Electric Power Transmission (NCREPT) testing facility. The need for this project arose from the 2017-2018 expansion of the facility, which included some modifications in the layout of electrical equipment used for testing purposes. These modifications necessitated the update of the control and interface system. Additionally, the old system was implemented a decade ago and is nearing obsolescence, so the facility’s expansion served as an opportune time for an upgrade.
There were two main parts to the scope of this project, which were developed in parallel. The first part involved the programming and configuration of the new programmable logic controller (PLC) from Bedrock Automation. The Bedrock PLC is a more powerful device possessing advanced cybersecurity features, as well as support for multiple communication protocols which allows greater flexibility in implementation. The added features will prove to be advantageous as the new PLC can be integrated into a testbed for ongoing cybersecurity research that the university is taking part in. The second part involved the layout and configuration of Ignition from Inductive Automation, which is the supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) software platform that will serve as the human-machine interface (HMI). The Ignition software is an affordable, highly modular, and user-friendly option for the SCADA interface that will make changes to the NCREPT system simpler in the future. The project culminated in a successful test of both the PLC and the interface to control one breaker in the facility. This project is a step towards keeping expertise within NCREPT and reducing the need for costly outside consultants or contractors for future improvements.
Keywords
SCADA; PLC; NCREPT; cybersecurity; power electronics; electric grid
Citation
Ahmed, A. (2018). SCADA and PLC Systems Configuration for the NCREPT Test Facility. Electrical Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses Retrieved from https://scholarworks.uark.edu/eleguht/55
