FREE IEC 61850/61400-25 Evaluation/Starter Kit

A FREE IEC 61850/61400-25 Evaluation/Starter Kit is now available for immediate download and use. The wait for a FREE IEC 61850/61400-25 Evaluation/Starter Kit is over - here it is for immediate use.

SystemCorp (Perth, Australia) and NettedAutomation offer an IEC 61850/61400-25 DLL (Dynamic Link Library) and three Application examples using the DLL (PIS10.dll; providing a simple stack API):

• C Server Application (simple Console) 
• C Client Application (simple Console) 
• C#/.Net Client Application (runs under XP, Vista, Windows 7)

The Kit contains executable software and the source code of the C and .Net Applications (projects) as well as "Getting started manuals". The PIS10.dll is based on the IEC 61850 stack developed by SystemCorp. The client and server (publisher/subscriber - GOOSE) run on one machine or on different machines as depicted below:

You can use these source code of the application examples and modify them according to your needs. The configuration of the Server AND the Client done by ICD files (according to IEC 61850-6, SCL) - no need for self-description; the model is build at start time. This client/Server package is applicable for M2M (machine to machine) communication. The IEDScout could be used as a Browser-Client as well. Modified applications would require a modified ICD file as well. The "ICD Designer" - a tool to design ICD files - will be available within a week or so.

The services supported are: Association, GetDataObjectValues, SetDataObjectValues, Control, Reporting, GOOSE, ...

NettedAutomation GmbH offers a new services for the integration of the PIS10 stack (DLL, ...) into your application:

Support will be provided by our experienced application programmer: Andreas Pfefferle. Andreas is familiar with Substation Automation, RTUs, IEC 60870-5-10x, protocol integration, ... SystemCorp PIS10-Stack API and many other power utility applications.

Click HERE to Download the IEC 61850/61400-25 Evaluation/Starter Kit
(The Kit comprises first a readme.txt file and four (4) zip files - each file can be downloaded individually; You need at least the <<Console-Server-Client_2010-08-31>> to get the server; to run the client with another server you need to change the ICD file accordingly).
IF you have an Account for downloading content from www.nettedautomation.com then you can use your email address and password. If you have forgotten the password, just enter your email address in the field "Email (required)" and click on the button "I agree ... continue" at the end - you will receive your password. Or just enter your email and further information and you will receive a password immediately.

Enjoy.

NIST SGIP - Special Cross-PAP Session on Coordinated Information Modeling for Generators and Storage

The fall face-to-face meeting of the NIST SGIP (Smart Grid Interoperability Panel) will take place in St. Louis (MS) from September 14-16, 2010.

A Special Cross-PAP Session on Coordinated Information Modeling for Generators and Storage is intended to provide overviews of and to initiate coordination of activities required to develop consistent information models for different generator/storage types across different Smart Grid domains. This Cross-PAP issues session is your chance to participate in discussions on coordinating consistent information models and information exchange requirements for different generator types (e.g., wind turbines [IEC 61400-25-2], hydro power plants [IEC 61850-7-410], PV systems, and storage [IEC 61850-7-420], ...) across multiple domains (consumer, distribution, and transmission).
Session is scheduled for Wednesday, Sept. 15^th (12:30-15:00)

Click HERE for the full program and other details of the meeting.

Please note that Mr. Karlheinz Schwarz (member of PAP16, editor IEC 61850, IEC 61400-25) will be in St. Louis on Sept. 15 and 16 ... to meet you ...

SystemCorp and NettedAutomation exhibit at DistribuTech 2011

SystemCorp Embedded Technology Pty Ltd (Perth, WA/Australia) and NettedAutomation GmbH (Karlsruhe/Germany) will exhibit the latest developments in lite implementations of IEC 61850 and IEC 61400-25, gateways between IEC 61850/61400-25, DNP3, IEC 60870-5, Modbus, RTUs, Bay controller, PLC programming IEC 61131-3, starter kits, ... training opportunities, training tools at booth 2822 at the DistribuTech 2011 Exhibition in San Diego (CA), 1.-3. February 2010.

Please plan for a meeting the "IEC 61850 Lite" experts.

Click HERE for the floor plan and booth 2822.

Draft Technical Report - IEC 61850 for Synchrophasor

Draft IEC 61850-90-5 TR Ed. 1 – Use of IEC 61850 to transmit synchrophasor information according to IEEE C37.118 has been published as draft Technical Report (57/1086/DC). Comments by 2010-10-01.

This technical report describes how to use IEC 61850 to transmit synchrophasor information according to IEEE C37.118. Later, once the report is approved and published, results will be integrated as amendments in the relevant parts of the IEC 61850 standard.
This document contains a first draft of that report. As a significant part, it includes new mappings of the IEC 61850 GOOSE and sampled value services that can be used for a wide area communication.

Two new control blocks are defined for IP networks:
• The sending of stream information (e.g. Sampled Values)
• The sending of event driven information (e.g. GOOSE)

Two possibilities are drafted:

The streams for SMV and GOOSE will be transmitted over a transport profile that utilizes IPv4 or IPv6, and TCP as well as UDP.

Once these models are extended in the ACSI (IEC 61850-7-2) they may also be used for Reporting over UDP.

FDIS of IEC 61850-7-3 Edition 2 out for final Ballot

IEC Central Office has published the FDIS of IEC 61850-7-3 Edition 2 (57/1087/FDIS). The ballot closes 2010-10-29.

The second edition comprises 39 Common Data Classes (CDC):

• defines new common data classes used for new standards defining object models for other domains based on IEC 61850 and for the representation of statistical and historical data,
• provides clarifications and corrections to the first edition of IEC 61850-7-3.

Common data class specifications for status information

1. Single point status (SPS)
   Double point status (DPS)
   Integer status (INS)
2. Enumerated status (ENS) - NEW
3. Protection activation information (ACT)
4. Directional protection activation information (ACD)
5. Security violation counting (SEC)
6. Binary counter reading (BCR)
7. Histogram (HST) - NEW
8. Visible string status (VSS) - NEW

Common data class specifications for measurand information

1. Measured value (MV)
2. Complex measured value (CMV)
3. Sampled value (SAV)
4. Phase to ground/neutral related measured values of a three-phase system (WYE)
5. Phase to phase related measured values of a three-phase system (DEL)
6. Sequence (SEQ)
7. Harmonic value (HMV)
8. Harmonic value for WYE (HWYE)
9. Harmonic value for DEL (HDEL)

Common data class specifications for controls

1. Controllable single point (SPC)
2. Controllable double point (DPC)
3. Controllable integer status (INC)
4. Controllable enumerated status (ENC) - NEW
5. Binary controlled step position information (BSC)
6. Integer controlled step position information (ISC)
7. Controllable analogue process value (APC)
8. Binary controlled analog process value (BAC) - NEW

Common data class specifications for status settings

1. Single point setting (SPG)
2. Integer status setting (ING)
3. Enumerated status setting (ENG) - NEW
4. Object reference setting (ORG) - NEW
5. Time setting group (TSG) - NEW
6. Currency setting group (CUG) - NEW
7. Visible string setting (VSG)- NEW

Common data class specifications for analogue settings

1. Analogue setting (ASG)
2. Setting curve (CURVE)
3. Curve shape setting (CSG) - NEW

Common data class specifications for description information

1. Device name plate (DPL)
2. Logical node name plate (LPL)
3. Curve shape description (CSD)

ICS-CERT Advice on STUXNET Maleware Mitigation

In July, ICS-CERT published an advisory and a series of updates regarding the Stuxnet malware entitled “ICSA-10-201- USB Malware Targeting Siemens Control Software.”
Stuxnet makes use of a previously unpatched Windows vulnerability. Since then, ICS-CERT has continued analysis of the Stuxnet malware in an effort to determine more about its capabilities and intent. As the analysis has progressed, understanding of the malware sophistication has continued to increase.

Click HERE for the complete report [pdf].
Click HERE for details published by Symantec.
Click HERE to visit the website (in German) of GAI NetConsultant (Berlin), a well experienced team of security experts.

Kostengünstige IEC-61850-Lösung für kurze Entwicklungszeiten

Ein hoher finanzieller und zeitlicher Aufwand bei der Realisierung der IEC 61850 und IEC 61400-25 in Steuerungen und andere Geräten hat bisher die breite Anwendung in den unteren Spannungsebenen, in der Energieerzeugung und weiteren Bereichen gebremst oder gar blockiert. Seit der Hannover Messe 2010 ist jedoch eine kostengünstige Komplettlösung auf Basis des Beck IPC@Chip verfügbar, welche die Entwicklung von IEC-61850-konformen Schnittstellen innerhalb kurzer Zeit ermöglicht. Die Stack-Software auf dem Chip (von SystemCorp, Perth, Australien) bietet ein sehr einfaches IEC-61850-API an - MMS (ISO 9506) und weitere Definitionen sind verborgen. Das API hat neben einigen Management-Funktionen nur drei Call-Back-Funktionen als Schnittstelle zwischen IEC 61850 und Anwendung: Read, Write, Update.

Click HERE for the paper in German recently published by etz / VDE Verlag.
Click HERE to access the pdf version of the paper.
Click HERE for the API documentation in English.
Click HERE for the description of the starter kit DK61 (development kit).

IEC 61850 Test Labs and Certified IEDs

The UCA International Users Group (UCAIug) has approved seven
IEC 61850 Test Labs (as of 21 July 2010):

ABB Switzerland Ltd
Server: Level B

American Electric Power (AEP)
Dolan Technology/Testing Center
Client and Server: Level A

AREVA T&D UK Ltd,
Substation Automation Solutions
Server: Level B

KEMA Nederland BV
Client and Server: Level A

NARI-RELAYS Electric Co., Ltd., Nanjing, China
Server: Level B

Xuchang KETOP Electrical Apparatus
Testing & Research Institute, Henan, China
Server: Level B

Additional labs are underway.

A total of 155 certified products are listed at the UCAIUG website.

IEC 61850 Tutorial at IEEE PES Conference, Gothenburg, 10-13 October 2010

Everybody talks about Smart Grid but what is interesting about standards? What is a “smart” standard? Come to the IEEE PES Conference on Innovative Smart Grid Technologies Europe 2010, Gothenburg, Sweden, 10-13 October 2010.

And join the tutorial "IEC61850 and related standards for interoperability within Power Utility Automation":

Sunday 10th October, 3 sessions with 2 breaks (13:00 - 16:30):

• Requirements and challenges of a future proof migration towards a Smart Grid
• Smart Grid Standard Landscape
• Implementation of the Standards
  learn about IEC for small devices, Starter Kit IEC 61850 and IEC 61400-25, Lite implementation, ... there is no excuse anymore for not implementing these standards!
• IED for Smart Grid

Click HERE for the Tutorial description and program.
Click HERE for the conference information and registration.

European Roadmap - More Euros for Smart Grids

The European Electricity Grid Initiative (EEGI) has published a Roadmap for the years 2010-18 and a Detailed Implementation Plan 2010-12; with proposals how many Euros to spend.

The EEGI has proposed a nine-year European research, development and demonstration (RD&D) program initiated by electricity transmission and distribution network operators to accelerate innovation and the development of the electricity networks of the future in Europe.

The following statement is great: "The proposed RD&D program focuses on system innovation rather than on technology innovation." Yes, the time to develop crucial Technologies was during the years 2000 and 2010. Several basic Technologies like the international communication standards IEC 61850, IEC 61400-25, IEC 62351, IEC 61968, and IEC 61970 are published AND IMPLEMENTED in many devices - ready to build SYSTEMS.

The time has come to USE these standards and devices - rather than start again discussing protocols again and again ... like in the nineties ...

Planned investments for monitoring, communication, ... automation are:

Start	Function	Budget
2012	Improved planning, monitoring and control of LV networks	100 M€
2011	Automation and control of MV network	90 M€
2012	Integrated Communication Solutions	50 M€
2011	Joint Task force on IT system protocols and standards (DSO driven)	19 M€

Click HERE to download the Roadmap.

Chinese Strong and Smart Grid Roadmap available

The "State Grid Cooperation China" (SGCC) has published the 139 page "SGCC Framework and Roadmap for Strong and Smart Grid Standards". One of the key challenges is the standardization. Several IEC TC 57 and TC 88 standards are crucial for the Strong and Smart Grid. Among others the following standards are key: IEC 61850 and IEC 61400-25 (15+ times referenced), IEC 61968/61970 (30+), IEC 62351 (5+).

The first sentence of the three sentence summary states: "The release and implementation of SGCC Framework and Roadmap for Strong and Smart Grid Standards will greatly boost the standardization of smart grid technologies in all related areas, promote wide public involvement and facilitate technical innovation and industrial upgrading."

The preface reads: " ... Faced with new challenges in energy sector, State Grid Corporation of China (SGCC) officially put forward the strategy of building a world-leading strong and smart grid with ultra high voltage grid as its backbone and subordinate grids coordinated at various voltage levels, featured as being IT-based, automated, interactive, based on independent innovation. Up to now, remarkable progress has been made in this regard. By 2020, a smart grid that is robust and reliable, economical and efficient, clean and environmental-friendly, transparent and open, user-friendly and interactive is to be established. Since August 2009, SGCC has started 228 demonstration projects of 21 categories in 26 provinces and municipalities. By now, the demonstration projects have been progressing smoothly. ... Based on SGCC smart grid research findings and standard framework, taking IEC smart grid standardization roadmap and international standardization gap into consideration, SGCC set priorities for international standards and prepared new working item proposals for IEC. ..."

Click HERE to download the 9 MB framework and roadmap.

During the 11th Five-Year Plan period (2006-2010), SGCC promoted power grid technology upgrading from the following ten aspects, and accelerate the progressing of model projects that applies IEC 61850 among ten new technologies: Substation Automation Conformed with IEC 61850.

Click HERE for details.

Bachmann M1 Automation System supports IEC 61850 Client

The Bachmann M1 Automation System runs also an IEC 61850 (MMS) Client. This allows the M1 to connect to any underlying IEC 61850 server, e.g., to connect to controllers for distributed power generation (wind power, PV, CHP, ...) or protection relays at the electrical connection point of the feeder.

Click HERE for the newsletter in English (doc).
Click HERE for the newsletter in German (doc).

Preview IEC 61400-25-6 FDIS

Please find the preview of the FDIS IEC 61500-25-6: Wind turbines –
Part 25-6: Communications for monitoring and control of wind power plants –
Logical node classes and data classes for condition monitoring

This part defines further information models for IEC 61850 respectively for IEC 61400-25.

Click HERE for the preview.

IEC Goes Twitter

IEC uses the latest communication channel: Twitter !!

Click HERE for visiting IEC on Twitter.

New Smart Grid Information Clearinghouse Web Portal open

A beta version of the Smart Grid Information Clearinghouse (SGIC) web portal has been posted by The Virginia Tech Advanced Research Institute to invite comments and suggestions on usability from both consumers and the smart grid community. The full version of the site will be released this fall. The Virginia Tech Advanced Research Institute (ARI) was awarded a $1.25 million five-year contract by the Department of Energy (DOE) in October 2009 to develop the portal with content assistance from the IEEE PES and the EnerNex Corporation.

There is hope to receive more input from the public ... "Anyone visiting the portal is invited to contact the SGIC with comments and suggestions by clicking on “Contact SGIC Team” in the Contact Us box located at the bottom middle of the home page."

Click HERE to visit the portal.

A very interesting paper provided by NEMA is posted on the portal - worth to read: Click HERE to open the paper.

The paper lists the Factors of Intelligence (see clause 4.2) The most crucial factor seems to be the following:
• Communications – the extent of interaction and exchange of data and control parameters between entities that can help in improving situational awareness, support for industry standard communication protocol.

Integration of Process and Power Control using IEC 61850

Petrobras (Brazil) has decided to apply IEC 61850 for the integration of power system control into the process control system. ABB has been chosen to automate the production process and interface with the power delivery system using IEC 61850. IEC 61850 is a major standard to lower life-cycle cost of production facilities:

"One of the main benefits delivered to REPAR was optimal life-cycle management and low life-cycle cost through the use of a future-proof system with IEC 61850 interoperability. The reuse of engineering data and the use of a standard language for programming highlighted the power of IEC 61850 for REPAR projects and the associated costs savings through less need for training and reduced staff requirements."

Click HERE to access the interesting paper.

IEC 61400-25-6 FDIS Ballot

The last step towards another International Standard for Information models (Logical Nodes; these LNs can be implemented using IEC 61850 compliant stacks) will start August 13, 2010:

IEC 61400-25-6 Ed.1
Wind Turbines - Part 25-6: Communications for monitoring and control of wind power plants - Logical node classes and data classes for condition monitoring
(88/377/FDIS)

The ballot is open from August 13 to October 15, 2010.

This part of the IEC 61400-25 series specifies the information models related to condition monitoring for wind power plants and the information exchange of data values related to these models.

Condition monitoring is mainly based on the following kinds of information:

• Time waveform records (samples) of a specific time interval to be exchanged in real-time or by files for analysis (e.g. acceleration, position detection, speed, stress detection).
• Status information and measurements (synchronized with the waveform records) representing the Turbine Operation Conditions.
• Results of Time waveform record analysis of vibration data (scalar values, array values, statistical values, historical (statistical) values, counters and status information).
• Results of analysis for example oil debris.

Contact your national IEC TC 88 committee to receive a copy.
Click HERE to visit the TC 88 website with links to national committees.

IEC 61850 Data Acquisition Options - An Overview

IEC 61850 provides several options to access the values of modeled information in sever devices. The following slide lists all options of IEC 61850-7-2 (ACSI - Abstract Communication Service Interface):

Depending on your needs you may use one or the the other option. Reporting is the most elaborated service. The behavior of reporting depends on the configuration of so-called Report Control Blocks. Reporting with Integrity Period set, e.g., to 1 second is more efficient than polling a list of data objects every second! Because polling needs two messages: request with then object references of all data to be polled and response with all values. Reporting with Integrity Period requires a single report with all values every second only. You save 50 per cent of the messages and a lot of processing resources. You can combine integrity period (e.g., 1 minute) with immediate transmissions of changes (events). This would save even more (in case there are events very seldom).

Before you can configure an optimized traffic (messages going back and forth in a Network in real-time or relaxed in seconds) you need to understand your needs - the arrival rate of values and the needs of the applications that access these values. And of course you need to understand the standard and what vendors have implemented. Some applications require information from other devices in the range of a few microseconds - this requires usually GOOSE. The various options serve different requirements with regard to the timeliness. It is easy to fill up the bandwidth of 10 GBit/s with wrong configurations. Monitoring for deadband changes (delta changes) of 0.001 per cent could cause a lot of messages ... ;-)

Smart Grids require smart systems and smart devices - all need smart people!

IEC 61850 and IEC 61400-25 Hands-On Training

A 3 day general IEC 61850/IEC61400-25 Seminar/Hands-on Training by Karlheinz Schwarz from NettedAutomation GmbH will be conducted in Frankfurt/M (Germany) from 22.-24. September 2010. He has trained more than 2,000 experts from more than 400 companies and more than 50 countries. You can tap a huge experience ...

For the hands-on training we will use the Beck IPC IEC61850@CHIP Development Kits, Client and Server DLL and several other demo software and free software.

There are still seats available.

Click HERE for the detailed program.
Click HERE for the registration information.

IEC 61850 Workshop at Hydro Quebec, Montreal, Canada

The IEC TC 57 WG 17 (DER) will meet in Montreal, Canada, on September 27-29, 2010. Experts from WG 17 invite interested experts from the power utility domain for a one day workshop on IEC 61850. 

Date and Time: September 30, 2010, (Thursday); 8:30 -15:00 h
Venue: Hydro Quebec, Montreal, Canada

A couple of WG 17 members have suggested to organize an extra day for information dissemination of the results reached by WG 17 and the ongoing work. Another objective is to discuss common modeling issues with experts from other domains like hydro, wind, PV, ... one issue for discussion is the remote monitoring and control of power generation (example of IEC 61400-25-2).

On Thursday (September 30) there will be an open presentation of crucial aspects of the standard IEC 61850 and especially of IEC 61850-7-420 and a demonstration of the latest development of the “IEC61850@CHIP” and first experiences with the small platform especially for PV systems.

The chip provides the complete IEC 61850 (IEC 61400-25) MMS, GOOSE and Sampled Value communication stacks. The stacks and the device data models are configurable by a standard SCL File (IEC 61850-6) uploaded to the chip. The stack provides a simple API for IEC 61850. Applications can be developed in C/C++ and IEC 61131-3. The focus shifts from communication (especially MMS) programming to your applications and system and device configuration.
The chip supports SSL and other security standards.

The development of affordable standards-conformant interfaces for distributed energy resources can now be shortened to days or weeks - from months and years. The range of all crucial Beck IPC products (IPC@CHIP®s, modules, Development kits, …SCL Designer, Application programming using the simple stack API) will be presented and discussed during the workshop. This extra workshop will be conducted by Karlheinz Schwarz.

The workshop is open to everyone interested in the presentation and demonstration free of charge. Breakfast and lunch breaks are on the attendees; drinks will provided.

You may attend and invite other experts that may be interested to attend.
Please let Karlheinz Schwarz (schwarz@scc-online.de) know who will attend in order that we can confirm a seat. The number of seats is limited to 20 seats.

Smart Grid Interoperability Panel (SGIP) meets in September 2010

The next face-to-face meeting of the Smart Grid Interoperability Panel (SGIP) will be held in St. Louis (MO) on September 14-16, 2010.

Click HERE for the program and venue.

IEC 61850 and IEC 61400-25 will be an issue in PAP 16 (Wind Power) and several other PAPs. A joint meeting of PAPs that deal with these standards is planned. There are several areas in which the various application domains need consistent information models for real-time information exchange. E.g., for the interface between power generation and control center. There is a first standard available: IEC 61400-25-2 that defines two logical nodes - one for active power control and one for reactive power control.

These could be used as a basis for further work in other domains. I guess there is a need for a common core model that may have special data for the various resources like wind, hydro, CHP, PV, ...

Karlheinz Schwarz (Editor of IEC 61850 and IEC 61400-25) will be in St. Louis on September 15 and 16.

The IEC TC 57 WG 17 (DER) will meet in Montreal, Canada, on September 27-29, 2010. Experts from WG 19 invite interested experts for a one day workshop on IEC 61850. 

Click HERE for details on the Workshop.

Security: Hackers to take control of Power System Automation?

Security is one of most crucial aspects in Power System Automation - in order to keep to power flowing. Hackers have started to take over control of critical infrastructures like power plants using Windows operating systems.

According to AP "The latest computer worm, dubbed Stuxnet, was an even more alarming progression. Now hackers are creating codes to actually take over the critical systems."

Click HERE to read more details.

It is highly recommended that intelligent devices that will be used to make the Power Systems smarter use the needed security measures. One of the key issues is that people deciding on how much money should be spend to ruggedize the systems are willing to develop the measures; and people that purchase devices only when they are secure.

The many Abstract and Concrete Layers in IEC 61850 (61400-25)

A new Comprehensive Overview of the many different layers in the definition of IEC 61850 has been provided by Karlheinz Schwarz. The various levels of models, the services, the mappings to MMS services and protocols, mapping of MMS messages to ASN.1, ASN.1. BER, ... are confusing - if you don't understand them. This presentation provides a lot of details and examples. 15 Slides bring light to the - often not understood - IEC 61850 layering:

1. Abbreviations
2. Hierarchy of definitions, protocols, …
3. Model (Standard)
4. Model (SCL)
5. Model (IED)
6. Services (ACSI)
7. Model and Service Mapping
8. Services and Protocols (MMS)
9. ASN.1 BER (Basic Encoding Rule)
10. Encoded MMS Message

Slide #1 of 15:

Click HERE to browse all 15 slides.

All these details are hidden in the implementation of IEC 61850 (IEC 61400-25) provided by SystemCorp (Perth, WA, Australia) and by the Smart Grid "Beck-Bone". The IEC 61850 API just needs 8 services:

IEC61850_Create	API to create a client or server object with call-backs for reading, writing and updating data objects
IEC61850_LoadSCLFile	API to read the SCL XML file to get the configuration of server or client
IEC61850_Start	API to start the server or client
IEC61850_Stop	API to stop the server or client
IEC61850_Free	API to delete a client or server object created
IEC61850_Read	Read the value of a specified data attribute
IEC61850_Write	Write the value to a specified data attribute
IEC61850_Update	Update the value of a specified data attribute

The three last API services are the crucial services an Application programmer has to deal with. The Beck Development Kit DK61 and the DLL demos provide application examples (in C/C++ source code).

The "Beck-Bone" for Smart Grids Demonstrated at IEEE PES GM in Minneapolis

BECK IPC (Pohlheim, Germany), SystemCorp (Perth, Australia) and NettedAutomation (Karlsruhe, Germany) successfully demonstrated the "Beck-Bone" for Smart Grids at the IEEE PES GA in Minneapolis (MN, USA):
The IEC61850@CHIP.

More than 2,500 experts attended the IEEE Power & Energy Societies General Meeting in Minneapolis (MN, USA) form 26 to 29 July 2010. One of the highlights of the Power System Communications Committee's Event was the demonstration of a breakthrough implementation of IEC 61850 (IEC 61400-25) on a Chip. Detlef Raddatz (SystemCorp) runs a last test prior to the big show:

 

Detlef demonstrates the benefits of the IEC 61850 software running on different HW platforms (all using the same Chip): Development Kit DK61 (middle of photo), ruggetized I/O modules (left), COM.TOM module (right):

The Development Kit DK61 comes with IEC 61850 (61400-25) stack software, an easy to use API with 13 functions only, with C/C++ and IEC 61131-3 programming languages, FTP, Telnet, TCP/IP, IPSec, sample C code and sample exe files that run immediately, and comprehensive documentation.

Click HERE for more details of the DK61.
Click HERE to download the order form to get the special fair offer of US$ 1.250.

The stack software and sample code (source and exe) have been introduced in Minneapolis as DLL demos (client, server, publisher, and subscriber). The DLLs run for 6 months fully functional for up to 50 signals/points. The demo also contains the fully functional SCL designer to model up to 50 signals/points. The server runs the same model as provided with the DK61. You may use the DLLs for any other application you build around them. The given sample code runs on one PC (local host) and two PCs. The DLLs run under Windows - while the Beck Chip runs a very powerful real-time operation system (RTOS) for real-time applications.

Click HERE to download the DLLs to run under Windows (available end of August 2010; the availability will be announced in a new blog posting as soon as it is available).

During the many technical discussions experts had questions about the platform and functions. People had been quite surprised when they understood the performance of such a simple and small platform.

 

The Buffet offered a variety of food and beverages ... including Beck's Beer and Beck "Chips". The German brewery Beck and Beck IPC (the chip manufacturer) are not linked.

Professor Dr. John Newbury (The Open University, Manchester, GB) was quite happy to see the results of 15 years of standardization work in IEC TC 57 (WG 10, WG17, WG 18) and TC 88 PT 25 (IEC 61400-25, Wind Power) on such a small but powerful platform:

What are the steps towards a the "Beck-Bone" for Smart Grids and many other applications?

1. Many experts start with the Development Kit DK61 to do hands-on exercises using the provided software examples to get a good understanding of the IEC 61850 models and services. One of the big vendors of controllers reported the other day that they we able to implement their network interconnection for connecting PV systems to the power grid within 2 weeks !! The grid connection is completely modeled in IEC 61850.
   This is the easiest way to get your data communicated with IEC 61850 (IEC 61400-25). Another approach could be to start with DLLs on a PC and then use the DK61 for real-time requirements.
2. In case of implementing interfaces, e.g., for pilot projects, it is convenient to use one of the many ready to go COM.TOM modules:
   
3. After successful pilot projects it is recommended to use one or the other Chip in your specific hardware:
   
4. Other components hardened for higher EMC requirements are offered by SystemCorp: RTUs, Gateways, Protocol converter, ...
   

All these and other components implement IEC 61850 on the Beck Chip. The IEC 61850 stack software (developed by SystemCorp) runs on many other platforms:

Click HERE to visit the SystemCorp website (Perth, WA, Australia).