IEC 61850 Protection & Control Seminar on 8-10 December in Prague: GET a 25 per cent last call Discount

As a kind of an early Seasonal gift, you could receive a 25 per cent discount of the attendance fee for the following seminar:

PROTECTION AND CONTROL WITH IEC 61850

3 DAYS SEMINAR WITH PRACTICAL DEMONSTRATIONS

PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC, DECEMBER 8TH – 10TH

With focus on protection and control in HV/MV substations using GOOSE, SV, SCADA and SCL Language

Teachers:
Mr. Andrea Bonetti (FMTP Power AB)
Mr. Karlheinz Schwarz (NettedAutomation GmbH)

Click HERE to receive a 25 per cent discounted attendance fee [pdf, 530 KB]

Can IEC 61850 be Applied in the Industrial Automation Domain?

Sure: It can. Why? Because IEC 61850 uses native standards like Ethernet, Ethertype, TCP/IP, UDP/IP, XML, MMS, … defines a dictionary of common information models, like MMXU (electrical measurements of a 3-phase AC system) that are applicable wherever a 3-phase AC System provides measurements like phase voltage or phase-to-phase voltages.

A motor with 3 phases is a motor with 3 phases everywhere! Or?

A very interesting paper by Dustin Tessier (Canada) discusses that IEC 61850 could be used in the power and industrial domain:

The Dual-Domains of IEC 61850 – Power vs Industrial Domains

“ … Despite the popular belief that the “power” domain and “industrial” domain have
intrinsically unique principles, this paper suggests the gap is decreasing, and through the
use of IEC 61850 we can adopt a single strategy that capitalizes on a common
technology platform.

… Whether it’s the SAS, DCS or PLC applications, these all share a common goal of collecting, processing, distributing and visualizing the data.

… No longer is the day where we ask, "Is this an industrial product or a utility
product?, and the same applies to system integration services. IEC 61850 may have been
designed for the power domain, but it won't be long before we see it revolutionize the
industrial domain.”

Click HERE for the paper [pdf, 100 KB]

Wherever there is electricity, IEC 61850 will be be involved one way or the other!

Click HERE for further discussion on the topic: Industrial and Power domain.

New Models for Condition Monitoring: IEC 61850-90-3

IEC TC 57 just published a very comprehensive document (draft technical report, 57/1522/DTR) of 150 pages that suggests a lot of new models:

IEC 61850-90-3 TR:
Communication networks and systems for power utility automation –
Part 90-3: Using IEC 61850 for condition monitoring diagnosis and analysis

The CMD (Condition Monitoring Diagnosis) which diagnoses power grid health status has been one of the major issues to improve the reliability of the power system by preventing a potential failure in advance. Since too many different information modeling, information exchange, and configuration techniques for CMD in various forms from many vendors are currently used, they need to be standardized in TC57.

The new document contains a lot of new Logical Nodes and Data Objects like for:

• GIS (Gas Insulated Switchgear)
• Transformer
• Load Tap Changer (LTC)
• Under Ground Cable (UGC)
• Transmission Line (TL)
• Auxiliary Power System

Example of an extension of the very common Model for a tank (KTNK):

LevMaxSet - Maximum level reached setting
LevHlfSet - Half level reached setting
LevMinSet - Minimum level reached setting

LevMax - Maximum level reached
LevHlf - Half level reached
LevMin - Minimum level reached

Voting terminates on 2015-01-16

More to come.

COSEM Object Model (IEC 62056) carried with IEC 61850 Data Model

IEC TC 57 has just published a very interesting new draft (57/1521/CD):

IEC 61850-80-4 TS:
Communication networks and systems for power utility automation - Part 80-4:
Translation from COSEM object model (IEC 62056) to the IEC 61850 data model

The IEC 61850 is already THE international Standard series when it comes to (electric) power applications and information modeling and exchange. Metering Information is quite often exchanged with DLMS and COSEM:

COSEM (Companion Specification for Energy Metering) is part of the DLMS (Device Language Message Specification)

This information needs to be “fed” into the IEC 61850 world. That is done by defining how the corresponding COSEM information can be wrapped with IEC 61850 Logical Nodes and Data Objects. The title says: Translated … which means the same.

Here is an example:

IEC 61850 Data	COSEM OBIS Code	Explanation
TotVAh	(1-b:9.8.0.255) – (1-b:10.8.0.255)	Net apparent energy
TotWh	1-b:1.8.0.255 - 1-b:2.8.0.255 (¦+A¦ - ¦-A¦)	Net real energy
TotVArh	1-b:3.8.0.255 - 1-b:4.8.0.255 (¦+R¦ - ¦-R¦)	Net reactive energy
SupWh	1-b:1.8.0.255 (+A)	Real energy supply (default supply direction: energy flow towards busbar and is equivalent to Energy Export[+])
SupVArh	1-b:3.8.0.255 (+R)	Reactive energy supply (default supply direction: energy flow towards busbar and is equivalent to Energy Export[+])
DmdWh	1-b:2.8.0.255 (-A)	Real energy demand (default demand direction: energy flow from busbar away and is equivalent to Energy Import[-])
DmdVArh	1-b:4.8.0.255 (-R)	Reactive energy demand (default demand direction: energy flow from busbar away and is equivalent to Energy Import[-])

These IEC 61850 Logical Nodes are of interest for the translation:

MMTR - Metering 3 Phase
MMTN - Metering Single Phase
MMXU - Measurement
MMXN - Non-phase-related measurement
MMDC - DC measurement
MSQI - Sequence and imbalance
MHAN - Non-phase-related harmonics or interharmonics
MHAI - Harmonics or interharmonics
MFLK - Flicker measurement

Closing date for comments: 2015-02-20

HMS offers IEC 60870-5-104 and IEC 61850 Gateways to Industrial Communication

Some four weeks ago I reported that HMS offers Smart Grid solutions that support building a power network for the future.

In the meantime HMS has posted more details on their corporate website.

One of the most interesting news is, that the LABLINE SG gateways can also communicate with industrial fieldbus or industrial Ethernet networks such as Profibus, Profinet or any other industrial network thanks to the HMS Anybus technology.

Click HERE to link to the new web pages.

What does IEC 61850 mean for Power Systems?

A lot. There are many different approaches to describe the benefits. You can start with the System Specification Description (SSD according to part IEC 61850-6, SCL) and go down to the signals and communication. Or you can describe it bottom-up. I like the bottom-up approach:

1. Take a signal (e.g. Voltage phase A in kV) coming trough a serial Modbus (Address 12122) by polling into an IEC 61850 Server device
2. Give it a NAME (MyMMXU1.PhV.phsA) based on a STANDARDIZED Structure (Logical Node MMXU), and
3. Use the protocol (MMS, ISO 9506) to just poll the current value with a MMS Read.

We may have 10 bays with each providing the voltage phase A: then we could model this as follows:
Bay1MMXU1.PhV.phsA
Bay2MMXU1.PhV.phsA
Bay3MMXU1.PhV.phsA
...
Bay10MMXU1.PhV.phsA

That's some basic benefit ... for a first “"brief introduction”.

In addition (there are many other features to look at), e.g.:

1. MMS allows to retrieve the Signal List (device model comprising all logical nodes ...) ...
2. The system configuration language (SCL) allows to carry the "signal list" in form of an XML file ...
3. SCL could carry the complete signal flow between any device in a system: who has which signal to offer, who needs which signal, how are signals carried between the many devices (real-time, non-realtime ...) ...
4. SCL could carry the single line diagram (topology) of an electrical system ...
5. SCL could carry how the information is related to the single line diagram ...
6. …

So, does IEC 61850 add to the complexity of power systems? No that much! See also:

http://blog.iec61850.com/2014/10/does-iec-61850-add-complexity-for.html

Be aware: There is more than IEC 61850 that has to be learned, understood and managed!

IEC 61850 Devices installed worldwide by Siemens: 300.000

The amount of IEDs installed in China (see post of yesterday) is amazing: some 10.000 by each of the major vendors … in some 10.000 substations (by 2013).

Siemens reported that they have installed 300.000 already:

Siemens reported in 2010:
As the world’s leading supplier of IEC61850 installations with over 1,000 reference sites,

Siemens was proud to deliver the first IEC61850 installation for a transmission utility in Australia
http://www.siemens.com.au/files/Energy/Distribution/ea_cs_electranet.pdf

and in 2012: Siemens has the largest installed base worldwide:
more than 200,000 Siemens devices with IEC 61850 are in operation around the globe.

http://www.energy.siemens.com/MX/pool/hq/energy-topics/standards/iec-61850/IEC61850_e.pdf

and in 2014: More than 300,000 devices with IEC 61850 are in operation around the globe
http://w3.siemens.com/smartgrid/global/en/products-systems-solutions/smart-communication/pages/iec-61850.aspx

These figures speak for themselves.

IEC 61850 in China: More than 10,000 Substations with IEC 61850 Devices in Operation

One of the many responses to my newsletter dated 04 November 2014 informed me about the BIG SUCCESS of IEC 61850 in China.

In a 2 page fact sheet dated October 2014 the authors report that by now more than 10,000 Substations in China (35KV to 1000kV) are equipped with IEC 61850 compliant devices. The top four vendors have each more than 10,000 IEC 61850 compliant devices in operation.

I guess there have been more than 100.000 IEC 61850 compliant devices installed in the first 10 years after first substations equipped with IEC 61850.

More to come.

Click HERE for the 2 page fact sheet.

New Training in Ecuador: Protection and Control with IEC 61850

FMTP and NettedAutomation (in cooperation with Power Technologies, Lima, Peru) offer a new crucial Seminar:

PROTECTION AND CONTROL WITH IEC 61850
4 DAYS SEMINAR WITH PRACTICAL DEMONSTRATIONS

LOCATION: GUAYAQUIL (ECUADOR)
DATE: 16 - 19 DECEMBER 2014

With focus on protection and control in HV/MV substations using typical Relays, Tools, GOOSE, SV, SCADA and SCL Language.

The IEC 61850 standard has been applied for several years to many new substation designs all over the world. It provides a compact solution, flexibility in engineering and installation and interoperability between devices from different manufacturers.

During the seminar, truly experienced engineers will help you to see and understand how use the core parts of the IEC 61850 standard are applied in substation design, engineering, configuration, communication methods for real-time information exchange, monitoring, protection and control applications.

You will learn all crucial lessons learned since the first projects with IEC 61850 in 2004.

Seminar content:

• IEC 61850 Introduction (Edition 1, 2, and 2.1) and experience after 10 years in operation. Where are we today? What to expect for the next year?
• Return of experience, applications and practical demonstrations:
• Protection and Control in Substation Automation
• Engineering and Configuration
• Maintenance
• Monitoring and SCADA system

Click HERE for details and contact information [pdf, 370 KB]

IEC 61850 in Hydro Power Plants

I have been asked recently about the application of IEC 61850 in Hydro Power Plants. Yes, there is growing interest to apply IEC 61850 conformant monitoring and control systems in the hydro domain.

A nice presentation from (Ingeteam Power Technology S.A.) with the title

HYDROELECTRIC POWER PLANTS AUTOMATION USING IEC 61850:
EXPERIENCES AND IMPROVEMENTS FOR THE USER
presented in April 2014

closes with the statement that “IEC 61850 is a valid solution for hydro power plant automation … More than 10 IEC 61850 hydro projects mainly in Spain.”

Click HERE for a nice presentation [pdf, 0.5 MB]

The use of IEC 61850 for conventional power plants is also growing. I have conducted several training courses in 2014 for engineers working in the power plant business.

Be sure: More to come.

UCAIUG Interoperability Report (Munich 2013) available – And Now?

IEC 61850 defines Modeling Methods, Information Models, Abstract Services, Service Mapping to MMS, Configuration Language to specify a whole System composed of several substations et cetera. Some 10 years after the publication of the first edition of the core parts (3, 6, 7-1, 7-2, 7-3, 7-4, 8-1 and 9-2) we expect the edition 2.1 of the core documents early 2014. There is a lot of progress during these 10 years of applications!

The well accepted tissue process has helped to increase the consistency of the various parts of the series and to help to reach a high level of conformity of devices and tools:

www.tissues.iec61850.com

In addition to Conformance tests it is obvious that Interoperability is one of the crucial issues that is expected by the users community. Many organizations are involved to further increase the Interoperability between the products provided by many vendors. One major step towards a higher level of interoperability is the UCAIUG Interoperability Test Session that was conducted at TÜV SÜD (Munich, Germany) the week of 27. October – 01. November 2013.

Click HERE to download the 240 page Report [pdf, 5.8 MB].

One of the crucial lessons I (and many other experts) have learned trough my long-term involvement in the standardization groups and more than 200 training courses is this: In case you are planning to use the new (IEC 61850) Technology in one of your next projects:

1. Get education and training from neutral trainers
2. Purchase or lent the devices and tools you are about to use in the real world: protection & control devices, SCADA systems, RTUs, Network Infrastructure like Switches and Routers, and Tools … and test them as a kind of “Multivendor Interoperability Test”
3. You can speed up this process by cooperating with FMTP Power Systems and NettedAutomation: They could come to you and provide the most well known and used devices and Tools and introduce Theory and Practice!!
   This helps to keep the cost low – you don’t need to figure out what to purchase … and how to use the Technology when you start.
   You would get the right support for a fast start … the most efficient way!

Please check these dates and locations:

Special Protection & Control Hands-On Training: 08.-10. Dec 2014 in Prague (Czech Republic)	Click HERE for the details
Special Protection & Control Hands-On Training: 16.-19. December 2014 in Guayaquil (Ecuador):	Click HERE for the details [pdf]
Common Hands-On Training in German: 24.-26. November 2014 (Karlsruhe) 12.-14. Januar 2015 (Karlsruhe) 23.-25. März 2015 (Karlsruhe)	Click HERE for more details

I look forward to meeting you there.