Advanced supervisory and distributed control frameworks in modern industrial and energy applications

Abstract

Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems have emerged as a highly effective technology for automating dynamic industrial and engineering processes. Globally, numerous automated systems are designed based on SCADA principles due to their capability to efficiently collect, archive, visualize, and transmit critical operational data. Modern Open-SCADA platforms enable rapid development of large-scale distributed systems by leveraging pre-built components, while also allowing customization through built-in tools and configurable settings. In parallel, Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs) offer significant advantages for automated control applications, including simplicity of operation, high processing speed, reliability, noise immunity, and long-term stability. The versatility of PLCs has made them a cornerstone in a variety of sectors, ranging from industrial automation and energy production to engineering research and complex process control. Although PLCs have certain limitations, empirical evidence indicates that their benefits outweigh their drawbacks, making them suitable for both simple and sophisticated control systems. This paper presents a comprehensive review of SCADA and PLC technologies, emphasizing their applications in power distribution and industrial automation. The study details the architecture of SCADA systems, including the proposed control and monitoring scheme implemented in a real-time network. This scheme ensures continuous power availability through appropriately designed breaker interlocks at all levels of switchboards within substations. To enhance reliability, redundant Optical Fiber Communication (OFC) cables and Ethernet switches are integrated at every level of Remote Terminal Units (RTUs). Furthermore, a case study demonstrates the deployment of PLC and SCADA systems in a critical building automation scenario, highlighting practical applications and system performance. Additionally, the discussion integrates the perspective of Distributed Control Systems (DCS), illustrating how SCADA and PLC can complement DCS architectures to optimize process control, improve system resilience, and enable advanced monitoring applications in complex industrial environments. The paper further addresses the emerging domain of Electric Vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure integration, covering SCADA interfaces with EV charging networks, smart charging coordination, Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) bidirectional power exchange, and AI-based load management strategies in distribution systems.