SCADA Systems Flashcards

Flashcards for reviewing SCADA systems, components, and regulations.

What does SCADA stand for?

Supervisory control and data acquisition

How would you describe SCADA systems in terms of process control?

Supervisory control and data acquisition systems are a specific application of a process control system.

What are the two distinct functions of SCADA systems?

Supervisory control and data acquisition.

What does supervisory control represent in SCADA systems?

The ability to communicate with and manipulate a process through a control system.

What does data acquisition represent in SCADA systems?

The remote measurement component of SCADA, which is the ability to monitor measured variables in a process.

What are some components that SCADA systems consist of?

Field instruments and fieldbuses, controllers and I/O, communication networks, and human-machine interface (HMI).

What are some possible controllers in a SCADA system?

PLC, RTU, and flow computer.

What are some challenges the Communication networks in SCADA systems address?

Intermittent communication, real-time data timestamping requirements, historical data transmission requirements, and alarm and event record transmission requirements.

What are some common SCADA related processes?

Wastewater processing, pipelines, upstream oil and gas production, and power transmission.

In Power transmission, what does a SCADA system do?

The SCADA system monitors system loads and controls switching stations.

What are the hardware environments that make up a SCADA system?

The front end or host, the communication network, and the remote sites.

What hardware components are generally located at a SCADA host?

Human-machine interface workstations, a data historian and reporting server, a data acquisition server, a web/remote access server, and a printer.

What technologies may the SCADA communication network integrate?

Leased lines, short-haul wireless, long-haul wireless, satellite, and wide area networks.

What are some installation concerns for SCADA systems?

Communication system reliability, network bandwidth, total cost of ownership, federal and provincial regulations, location of the SCADA host, and power availability at remote sites.

What expenses is the total cost of ownership (TCO) a combination of?

Engineering and design costs, installation and commissioning costs, service provider fees, and maintenance costs.

What are some common solutions used to generate power at remote sites?

Photovoltaics, wind turbines and thermoelectric generators.

What are some of the standards organizations that apply to SCADA systems?

The International Organization for Standardization (ISO), the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Standards Association (IEEE-SA), the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) and the Standards Council of Canada (SCC).

What regulatory bodies apply to SCADA systems?

National Energy Board (NEB) and Alberta Energy Regulator (AER).

What is one important licensing agency related to SCADA applications?

Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISEDC).

What standards are related to SCADA applications?

Standards for programmable controllers (IEC 61131), distributed network protocol (IEEE 1815), architecture for electrical power systems (IEC 61850) and distribution line carrier systems (IEC 61334).

What programming language standards does IEC 61131-3 define?

Ladder diagram (LD), function block diagram (FBD), structured text (ST) and sequential function chart (SFC).

What do the specific guidelines in Canadian Smart Grid Standards Roadmap define the standards for?

Peer-to-peer communication for energy markets, control centers using common information model (CIM), SCADA communication, field equipment communication and protocols, networks and media.

What does the NEB Onshore Pipeline Regulations (SOR99/294) define a set of regulations for onshore pipeline system operators in?

System management, design, materials, construction, operation and maintenance and auditing.

In relation to SCADA systems, what electronic flow measurement (EFM) requirements does AER Directive 017 defines?

Field instrument types, analog and digital field communication signal types, calibration procedures and frequency and calibration auditing practices.

What hardware requirements are included in AER Directive 046?

Implementing redundant host computers, or a single host computer capable of greater than 99% reliability, the availability of spare parts for the master radio system, required polling intervals, remote site backup battery specifications.

What software requirements are included in AER Directive 046?

User security, error detection algorithms, host computer data storage, RTU battery backup and flow calculation routine.