Manufacturing's modernization theme keeps pushing along in 2013 with the news that the Comision Federal de Electricidad (CFE) utility, owned by the Mexican Federal government, has chosen Open Systems International's (www.osii.com) “monarch” (Multi-platform Open Network Architecture) platform for its new SCADA system.
CFE is the largest electric utility in Mexico and is responsible for the control and development of the nation's entire electric industry. It has an installed generation capacity of 52,515 megawatts from 209 generating plants. The Division de Distribucion Noroeste, one of several CFE divisions, is responsible for the distribution of electricity to more than 1.7 million customers in the northwest region of Mexico, including the states of Sonora and Sinaloa.
The new SCADA platform will include a Microsoft.NET-based graphical user interface (GUI), dynamic tabular display subsystem, alarm management system, real-time and historical trending and communications front-end processor. OSI, which is known for its modular architecture, will also provide Calculation & Scripting Subsystem and Load Shed and Restoration software products, with Monarch interfaces to DNP, SNMP, ODBC and VRTU.
Sergio Bajetti, director for OSI Latin America, noted, “The monarch platform is a great match for the automation needs of the Culiacan area of CFE's Division de Distribucion Noroeste, one that can be easily expanded to support Smart Grid initiatives."
This is the second OSI system intended for the Division de Distribucion Noroeste, said Bajetti. The systems integrator for the project, Chihuahua, Mexico-based Atemex (www.atemex.com), designs and manufactures remote terminal units (RTUs), SCADA communication accessories and data concentrators for electrical utilities in the Mexican market. OSI and Atemex have worked together since September 2007.
“We are confident that this system will continue in operation for many years and will greatly help the Culiacan area and the Division de Distribucion Noroeste in their goals of providing world-class service to their customers,” said Luis Teran, president of Atemex. At the time of the announcement, details of the power source for the Division de Distribucion Noroeste were not disclosed.
-- Edited by Grant Gerke, Digital Managing Editor
