Database Structure
DIgSILENT StationWare is an extended and extendable system with regard to the type of information stored in it. The device list managed by DIgSILENT StationWare has no limits; and may be extended according to the number of devices to be managed.
Structured display
The settings management database stores the settings and data associated with protective devices, such as relays, CT's, VT's and circuit breakers. In reality these devices are all assigned to switch bays, which in turn are situated in a substation. Substations are located in different areas, which belong to geographical regions. These various sub locations may be configured in exactly the same manner as your network is arranged. In addition, relays themselves may have several different settings groups, each consisting of sometimes hundreds of individual setting parameters, that may similarly be exactly configured and noted.
Target data in just a few clicks
Using a centralised data repository provided by StationWare the user may search settings records using certain criteria, thereby quickly and easily accessing the required data from the huge set of data that is stored for power electrical systems.
Navigation help window
The navigation window allows you to quickly move to any target data required, without needing to page through data levels.
Historic view mode
Historic data, which may be used to evaluate the network as it was at any particular point in time, may be recalled for analysis. Such analysis, together with knowledge of system experience, can lead to improved stability and availability, simultaneously and automatically increasing expert knowledge.
Offline Functionality included
Where no network connection is available, as is frequently the case in power system substations, data stored in the central server may be exported for offline use. Field staff may take this data to site and amend or read it, as required. It may also be transferred to protective devices via interfacing formats and the relay manufactures software, which is embedded into StationWare wherever possible.
The user interface is exactly the same as that on central application server. The staff can therefore continue working in the usual manner.
Once such site work is complete the amended substation data package may be re-imported to the central system.
Audit trail available
With the audit trail rooted deeply inside this application all changes can be viewed. That means information about actions and notes won't be lost any longer.
Workflow Sequence
DIgSILENT StationWare supports the modelling of workflow sequences. Workflow sequences are generally defined by a state-graph consisting of states and state-transitions. Each settings record contains the "settings status" as a common property.
From the "settings status"-field the state of a specific relay settings record can be clearly identified. Using different colours to indicate the current status of a settings record enhances this even more. For example, 'Settings in Service' is shown in green, 'Settings calculation progress' in red, etc.
Management features
StationWare allows the settings status and its transitions to be linked to the user management. Some user groups have the right to modify relay settings at most phases in the workflow sequence, whilst other users may be only allowed to work at restricted levels. Field technicians for example will typically only be authorized to forward the status from "Settings applied" to "Settings applied and tested" or to "Rejected" should the settings not have worked for whatever reason.
Every single one of such state changes is stored with a date and time-stamp as well as the ID of the user who changed the status. The user may also add a description to a status change to record important information pertaining to the state change, which later on is displayed in Audit trail.
Role based security inside
Users are managed by role based security; for each administrative function there is a corresponding right which expands the levels between normal user-rights and unlimited super-user-rights.
For example there may be a user manager to administer the users and their rights. Another group who are the device managers create settings templates (called schemes), that other user groups (settings engineers / technicians) may use for modelling substations.