What are the Features of IEC 61850?

IEC 61850

Substation automation systems once made use of very specific, easy-to-understand communication protocols. These protocols were less concerned with the interpretation of the data that was being communicated, even though the data types were quite simple. Systems were fundamental, and equipment was ignorant. Nevertheless, due to their increasing complexity, modern substation automation systems are unable to maintain their previous level of simplicity. As equipment becomes more sophisticated, most of the older, simpler systems have been replaced over time by open-source alternatives, which utilise the benefits of innovative operating systems, relational database systems, and support for advanced graphical display technology. Moreover, devices developed by various manufacturers did not communicate with one another since they employed distinct substation automation protocols. In order to get these devices to collaborate in a single substation, utilities have been spending a significant amount of time and resources. Currently, the majority of utilities and equipment manufacturers recognise that smooth collaboration between products from various suppliers requires a single, global standard. To address this issue, professionals in the field of substation automation from 22 different nations drafted the IEC 61850 worldwide standard. This standard greatly reduces configuration and maintenance costs by utilising an extensive object-based data model and Ethernet technology.

IEC 61850

The international standard IEC 61850 specifies communication protocols to enable communication amongst various substation equipment, including intelligent electronic devices (IEDs) and safety, control, and measurement devices. This standard has been quite successful in substation communication systems and network management since its initial release. Currently, it is employed in other industries as well, including wind energy and EV charging, in addition to utilities.

IEC 61850 defines three levels, with distinct devices found at each level:

  • Process Level: This level contains various equipment, including switchgear, such as switches, circuit breakers, and transformers for both current and voltage.
  • Bay Level: IEDs or Intelligent Electrical Devices, are located here. A process bus is defined in IEC 61850 to facilitate communication between intelligent instruments and switchgear and IEDs.
  • Station Level: The substation control and monitoring systems at the station level are SCADA and HMI systems. IEDs in a bay level are communicated with by station level via a station bus.

Features of IEC 61850

Following is a list of some features of IEC 61850.

1. Use of Abstract Communication Service Interfaces (ACSI)

These interfaces specify a range of services that are useful for inter-device communication. Because of this abstraction, the standard is incredibly flexible and adaptive, regardless of the network’s fundamental technology.

2. Use of a Virtualized Model

In addition to the protocols used to specify how the data is transmitted across the network, the virtualized model of logical devices, logical nodes, ACSI, and CDCs enables defining of the data, services, and operation of devices.

3. Setting Groups

The purpose of the Setting Group Control Blocks (SGCB) is to manage the setting groups, allowing the user to switch between any active group based on the situation.

4. Standardised Object-Oriented Data Model

This paradigm makes it possible to represent every substation element uniformly, which facilitates communication and interaction between various devices.

5. Reporting Schemes

For reporting data from a server through a server-client interaction, there are different reporting schemes such as BRCB & URCB that can be activated based on predefined trigger circumstances.

6. Commands

IEC 61850 also supports a variety of command types, such as Select Before Operate (SBO) and direct instructions with standard and enhanced securities.

7. High-Level Services

The range of services supported by ACSI is significantly greater than that of the average legacy protocol. The special features of IEC 61850 include GOOSE, GSSE, SMV, and logs, to name a few. The control model mechanism known as Generic Object Oriented Substation Event (GOOSE) offers an accurate and quick way to communicate event-oriented data. A protocol called Sampled Values is used to send digital versions of analogue data, like voltage and current readings. These protocols ensure quick and reliable device communication by being made to fulfil the rigorous performance standards of substation automation systems.

8. Data Modeling

The substation’s primary process objects, protection, and control functions are modelled as several standard logical nodes that can be categorised under various logical devices. Logical nodes are responsible for data and functions associated with both the physical device (LPHD) and the logical device (LLNO).

9. Self-Describing Devices

Without the need for manual data object or name setting, client programs that interface with IEC 61850 devices can obtain an outline of all the data the device supports directly from the device.

10. Defines Substation Configuration Language (SCL)

The standardisation of substation elements and configuration representation is made possible by the XML-based language SCL. The task of configuring while sustaining a substation automation system is made considerably simpler by this, as it enables the transmission of configuration data between various configuration tools and devices. Systems built on the IEC 61850 standard are more flexible and interoperable when SCL is used.

11. Object Name are Specified and Standardised Within the Power System Framework

The IEC 61850 device’s data names are not set by the user or determined by the device vendor. The standard defines all names and provides them in the context of a power system, so the engineer doesn’t have to build mappings to connect index numbers and registration numbers to power system data, such as voltage and current, in order to quickly understand the meaning of the data.

12. Fast Transfer of Events

For the purpose of facilitating quick event data transfer for peer-to-peer communication, Generic Substation Events (GSE) are defined.

The IEC 61850 standard is a major enabler of contemporary substation automation systems because of all these aspects that add to its strength and adaptability.

Conclusion

Since it defines and uses logical links, the IEC 61850 communication standard has gained more and more traction in recent years. This new communication protocol is being used more and more by newly constructed and updated transformers or power plants. In light of this, practically all owners and operators of power plants and power distribution networks now mandate adherence to this standard. It is therefore mandatory for IED manufacturers to incorporate this communication mechanism in compliance with the IEC 61850 standard in their products. In addition, they guarantee that intelligent electronic devices and their configurations adhere to the IEC 61850 standard through IEC 61850 protocol testing and certification.

Leave a Reply