Substation Automation

SEL provides automated protection and control solutions at the substation level, the system and process level, and the grid operations level. These solutions include cybersecure remote access and monitoring and can be fully integrated with SCADA systems.

We leverage SEL technology to implement high-speed automatic transfer topologies (such as fast bus transfer), ensuring that substation equipment is better protected and mitigating the risk of critical loads losing power.

We also implement high- and low-impedance bus differential protection schemes that provide secure fault clearing and integrated arc-flash mitigation with SEL relays.

In industrial substations, these solutions seamlessly integrate with SEL powerMAX power management and power plant control systems and our motorMAX protection and control system, allowing operators to manage a facility’s entire power system, including end devices, from a single HMI screen.

Digital Secondary Systems

SEL digital secondary system (DSS) solutions digitize measurements from primary equipment in the field and use fiber-optic cables to transmit the data to protective relays—eliminating the cost, complexity, and safety hazards associated with running copper cabling into the control house.

SEL Engineering Services implements two types of digital secondary systems:

• A point-to-point solution using SEL Time-Domain Link (TiDL) technology, which eliminates the need for network engineering, Ethernet equipment, and external time sources—and significantly reduces exposure to cyber threats.
• A networked Sampled Values (SV) solution, which offers the flexibility of IEC 61850-9-2 and merging units with built-in protection.

If you have modern substation IEDs in place, they may already be capable of producing the data necessary for asset monitoring and predictive maintenance—and some of your primary equipment may even have come bundled with a CBM system from the vendor.

We use proven methods to integrate CBM systems from multiple vendors into a single, comprehensive asset monitoring and predictive maintenance system powered by the advanced data recording and analysis capabilities of SEL automation controllers.

These systems continuously monitor the health and condition of substation equipment, such as transformers and switchgear, reducing unexpected failures and enabling you to perform maintenance precisely when and where it’s needed.

They also provide data that can be used for root cause failure mode analysis, management of capital assets, efficiency improvement programs, and risk assessment studies.

SEL Engineering Services follows rigorous engineering procedures for design, development, testing, and commissioning of electric power systems. We continually identify, monitor, and improve best practices to ensure your satisfaction.

Our gated quality assurance process ensures that you have insight into every phase of the project and can verify that our work meets your requirements at all key stages.

Cybersecurity

At SEL, we design layered cybersecurity defenses into every automation solution.

By using system hardening as part of our design process, we are able to ensure more reliable and secure solutions for your critical electric infrastructure. Hardening includes limiting applications, securing open or unused ports, and reducing services to an absolute minimum in order to minimize a device’s attack surface.

Our solutions are tailored to the specific installation and comply with all applicable security standards and regulations.

The Industry’s Most Trusted

SEL is the electric power industry’s most trusted provider of protective relays, and you can trust our engineers to leverage their full capability and integrate them with other systems.

SEL products are designed to withstand the world’s most challenging environments, exceeding all industry standards for temperature, shock, and electric stress. An optional conformal coating for electronic components adds extra protection against contaminants in extreme environments.

Our quality management system is certified to ISO 9001 requirements, and every SEL-manufactured device comes with a ten-year warranty and lifetime technical support—the best in the industry. If any product fails under warranty, we’ll repair or replace it for free.

Secure Supply Chain Management

All SEL electronics are designed, tested, and manufactured in North America, in facilities that we own and operate. We practice secure supply chain management, including verified chains of custody, responsible sourcing, and keeping quantities of critical parts in reserve.