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T&D World Article

March 2009 Issue - AEP Process Bus Replaces Copper     


AEP Process Bus Replaces Copper

In the March 2009 edition of Transmission & Distribution World magazine, American Electric Power (AEP) discussed their evaluation of a next generation distributed protection & control system which takes control cabling, with its associated material and labor costs, out of the design, replacing it with fiber optic communication.


AEP implements GE Digital Energy HardFiber IEC 61850 Process Bus. Replacing copper in stations translate to more savings in material, time and manpower.


In the second half of 2008, AEP completed the installation
phase of an evaluation retrofit project with GE’s Multilin HardFiber System in its Corridor Substation near Columbus, Ohio. The HardFiber System is a complete and commercialized solution designed to eliminate copper control cables from the switchyard.


Installation of AEP’s first HardFiber System was successful. The system is straightforward and practical, and proved easy to engineer, install and commission.


The installation phase of the HardFiber System accomplished the early objectives of this demonstration.