Substation digitalization based on the IEC 61850 standard
Substation digitalization
based on the IEC 61850 standard
In a recent blog post on GatesNotes, Bill Gates emphasized the importance of transmission for addressing climate change. Upgrading power grids worldwide is crucial to support the increasing production of clean energy. Additionally, the impact of extreme weather events on power transmission cannot be ignored, especially when reliable electricity is most urgently needed. The modernization of the electricity grid is a vital step toward a future with reduced blackouts, enhanced energy and economic stability, and improved community well-being.
To ensure a dependable and effective grid operation, power substations play a crucial role in transforming, switching, and distributing electrical power to users. In addition to the electrical connections, these substations are interconnected through a comprehensive network of communication links and control systems. These networks are specifically designed to facilitate real-time monitoring, control, and protection of the power system, empowering operators to swiftly respond to fluctuations in power demand or grid disturbances. By adhering to the IEC 61850 Standard, a modern substation communication network enables seamless interoperability between diverse equipment and unlocks advanced functionalities like wide-area protection and control, fault location, and disturbance recording.
The communication framework specified by the IEC 61850 Standard categorizes substation communication into three distinct levels. At the Process Level, functions are responsible for interfacing with electricity processes, encompassing tasks like switching and monitoring. The control of these processes is facilitated by intelligent electronic units (IEDs) located at the Bay Level. These IEDs, which include devices like protection relays, meters, and controllers, oversee and regulate the electricity processes. Furthermore, data acquired from the Process Level is transmitted through the Bay Level, where it can inform station actions at the Station Level or be aggregated and forwarded to monitoring systems such as SCADA.
To ensure optimal reliability of a substation network, several crucial factors must be taken into account:
First and foremost, electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) plays a vital role. Substation devices, being located in close proximity to power equipment and cables, demand higher EMC standards compared to typical industrial facilities. The construction, design, and environmental conditions of substation devices are precisely defined by the IEC61850-3 standard. ATOP, a reputable provider, presents devices as "for substations" only when they are fully compliant and certified, guaranteeing adherence to these stringent requirements.
In power applications, the significance of rugged housing capable of enduring challenging weather and heavy usage cannot be overstated. Given the increasing prominence of clean energy, substations are frequently situated in remote and harsh environments. To address this, ATOP offers IEC 61850-3 certified devices that ensure exceptional performance even in extreme temperature and humidity conditions. Take, for instance, the Gigabit Ethernet switch EHG96xx series, which boasts a wide operating temperature range of -40°C to +85°C, further emphasizing its reliability and suitability for demanding environments.
Ensuring the continuity of substation network operations, even in the face of equipment or system failures, is a critical consideration. Redundancy plays a key role in achieving this objective by implementing redundant power supplies, control systems, and communication systems.
To address the need for redundancy, the EH9711 managed switch is specifically designed for substation access. This switch offers dual power inputs and supports ring topologies, allowing for both power and communication redundancy. In the event of a node failure, ring topologies such as RSTP (Rapid Spanning Tree Protocol) and ERPS (Ethernet Ring Protection Switching) enable seamless traffic self-recovery within milliseconds.
In addition to RSTP and ERPS, the Gigabit backbone switch RHG9628 provides support for HSR/PRP (High-availability Seamless Redundancy/Parallel Redundancy Protocol). This advanced feature ensures zero packet loss for critical substation information, further enhancing the reliability and resilience of the substation network.
As previously discussed, achieving interoperability is a crucial aspect of the IEC 61850 standard. Substations incorporate diverse devices that utilize various communication protocols, including legacy or proprietary ones. To facilitate seamless communication and information exchange between these devices, protocol gateways serve as a bridge. They enable different protocols to interoperate effectively, allowing devices to work together harmoniously. ATOP goes beyond this by offering additional media options, such as optional SFP slots in the PG5904D gateway and cellular connections in the PG5901B gateway, further enhancing connectivity possibilities within substations.
Although it may not initially appear significant, precise timing plays a vital role in power transmission within substations. The synchronization of devices with accurate timing is crucial for optimizing the efficiency and effectiveness of control systems, minimizing the potential for errors or failures. By logging all network events with the same time reference, synchronization ensures that protection devices operate in the correct sequence, regardless of their location. This not only upholds the safety and reliability of operations but also enables the identification of the exact sequence of events, which is essential for performance control and troubleshooting purposes.
ATOP provides a range of comprehensive solutions that ensure precise timing at the nanosecond level. These solutions include the NTS7500 grandmaster clock, which synchronizes with a GNSS reference, and a selection of high-performance switches equipped with hardware-based boundary and transparent clocks. These features guarantee the accuracy of events across the network, maintaining precise timing throughout.
In recent years, the focus on cybersecurity in substation networks has increased due to the growing interconnectivity and digitization of these systems. With this expansion, the vulnerability to cyberattacks has also risen, posing potential risks of significant damage. The unique challenges in securing power networks arise from the high availability requirements, wide geographic spread, and the presence of legacy equipment. It is crucial to address these challenges to ensure the protection and integrity of substation networks.
ATOP prioritizes cybersecurity and holds certifications for IEC 62443-4-1, with ongoing efforts to obtain IEC 62443-4-2. This ensures that our products are designed with a deep understanding of cyber-risk consequences. Our substation solutions offer comprehensive protection measures, such as access control, network segmentation, and encryption, tailored to address various scenarios and requirements. We are committed to delivering robust cybersecurity solutions to safeguard critical infrastructure and mitigate potential cyber threats.
As substation networks have become increasingly interconnected and digitized, cybersecurity has emerged as a critical concern. The vulnerability to cyberattacks poses significant risks and potential damage to these systems. Securing power networks is further complicated by high availability requirements, wide geographic spread, and the presence of legacy equipment.
ATOP prioritizes cybersecurity and has achieved certification for IEC 62443-4-1, with ongoing efforts to obtain IEC 62443-4-2. This certification reflects our unwavering commitment to developing products with a deep understanding of cyber-risk consequences. Our substation solutions provide comprehensive protection measures, including access control, network segmentation, and encryption, tailored to address diverse scenarios and meet specific needs. With ATOP, you can trust that our cybersecurity solutions are designed to mitigate threats and ensure the resilience and security of power networks.
In Conclusion: Efficient remote network management and monitoring are essential for ensuring a reliable infrastructure. ATOP offers robust solutions that include intuitive management software, enabling real-time visualization of network topologies, remote control, troubleshooting, and smart alarm functionalities. With this software, operators gain the ability to swiftly onboard new devices, seamlessly scale network systems, identify and rectify bugs and errors, and address issues remotely. This streamlined approach enhances operational efficiency and reduces maintenance costs, providing a comprehensive solution for effective network management.
In light of the increasingly frequent occurrence of extreme weather events globally, ensuring the reliability of power grids has become a critical subject of conversation. For in-depth insights into IEC 61850 networks and establishing robust communication systems for the power grid, we encourage you to consult with our team of experts. They possess the knowledge and expertise to provide you with comprehensive information on this important topic.