SPIDER, ABB's Network Managment System
SPIDER, ABB’s Network Management system for the control of London Underground’s power supply went live in 2004 and has since been extended across the network.
ABB is a member of consortium along with EDF Energy and Balfour Beatty employed by SEEBOARD Powerlink to manage, maintain, develop and finance London Underground’s high-voltage power supply system.
One of ABB’s main roles in the first years of the contract was the design, installation and commissioning of the new single, centralised SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) SPIDER system for the power distribution network.
Access for work was restricted to a short window in the small hours of the morning when the whole LU network shuts down for cleaning and maintenance, requiring careful planning to ensure restoration.
The SPIDER SCADA system has been fully integrated with LU’s existing communications system. Control of the network is now centralised in two replicated command centres (main and emergency), and control can be switched between the centres to ensure safe and reliable operation in an emergency.