Altero iCon — A New Standard of Precision and Speed in Power System Measurement

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Intelligent Dynamic Process Recorder for Digital Substations and Industrial Automation Systems

AlteroSmart presents Altero iCon — an intelligent controller and dynamic process recorder designed for high-precision, high-speed acquisition and analysis of electrical and process data in power systems and industrial facilities.

 

Why iCon Was Created

The rapid growth of distributed generation, renewable integration, and dynamic grid behavior creates new challenges for monitoring and control.

Traditional protection and automation devices operating at 1–4 kHz sampling rates can no longer capture the full dynamics of modern power networks.

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Altero iCon was conceived as a core component of next-generation WAMPACS (Wide Area Monitoring, Protection and Control Systems), providing accurate, time-synchronized measurements that enable fast, adaptive decision-making.

 

Key Features

• 64 kHz sampling rate of primary current and voltage — 16× higher than typical protection devices.

• Fiber-optic link between outdoor measurement units and the indoor industrial computer (up to 400 m).

• Proprietary algorithms for calculating electrical condition (regim) parameters on 1/128–1/256 of the fundamental period, far beyond standard 1–2 period processing.

• Real-time disturbance identification and generation of control signals for protection and automation systems.

• 16-bit ADC resolution and 1 µs time synchronization accuracy via GPS/GLONASS.

 

Together, these features allow iCon to detect, classify, and react to transient phenomena faster and more precisely than any conventional recorder.

 

System Architecture

Altero iCon employs a distributed measurement architecture with centralized processing for maximum reliability and performance.

 

System components:

• Remote measurement and normalization modules (BPI + BN);

• Measurement conversion modules (MPI) — 12 analog channels each;

• Synchronous control modules (MSU) — installed in an industrial PC (up to 4 modules per system);

• Fiber-optic communication lines ensuring deterministic data transfer;

• Software layer: AU Application for real-time acquisition, integrated with the AlteroUniversal platform for analytics, visualization, and control.

 

This architecture provides a unified measurement layer for all automation subsystems — SCADA, PCS, WAMS/WAPS/WACS, Protection & Automation, and Energy Management Systems — fully compliant with IEC 61850and IEC 60870-5-104 standards.

 

Intelligent Algorithms and Applications

Based on high-frequency synchronized data, Altero iCon enables:

• Verification and validation of grid simulation models;

• Adaptive relay setting control in real time;

• Transformer and generator diagnostics (magnetic core degradation, insulation faults, winding asymmetry);

• Fault location detection and dynamic oscillation monitoring;

• Detection of hidden distributed generation;

• Monitoring of voltage stability and inter-area oscillations;

• Residual lifetime estimation and creation of digital twins of primary equipment.

 

In essence, iCon acts as the data heart of a digital substation, delivering precise, high-speed insights into system behavior.

 

Testing and Validation

In 2022, prototype units of Altero iCon underwent comprehensive testing on an electro-dynamic model (EDM) at the Scientific and Technical Center of the Unified Power System, St. Petersburg.

Results confirmed:

• Measurement accuracy better than 0.5 %;

• Stable real-time recording of transient processes;

• Full compliance with declared performance and synchronization parameters.

 

Experts of Scientific and Technical Center of the Unified Power System concluded that iCon represents a new generation of high-fidelity measurement systems ready for industrial deployment.

 

Benefits

• Unified, high-quality measurement data for all subsystems;

• No data “storms” on IEC 61850 networks thanks to dedicated fiber links;

• Reduced cost of digital transformation:

  • Fewer cables, cross-connects, and control cabinets;

  • Reduced PLC and I/O hardware;

  • Lower installation and commissioning labor;

• Centralized diagnostics and condition-based maintenance;

• Higher overall reliability and scalability for digital substations.

 

Application Domains

• Digital substations and next-generation measurement infrastructure;

• WAMS / WAMPACS and wide-area control systems;

• Process control and diagnostics in power plants;

• Mobile and stationary dynamic process recorders;

• Generator diagnostic stations for thermal power units;

• Mini-grid and renewable energy controllers.

 

Industrial Readiness

Following successful validation and field trials, Altero iCon has proven its industrial maturity and scalability.
It paves the way for a new class of precision measurement and control systems — fast, modular, and cyber-secure — for power generation, grids, and critical industrial infrastructure.

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