IEC 61850 certificate for ABB's 800xA Automation System

ABB's 800xA Automation System has been successfully tested for compliance with IEC 61850 recently. Bringing the world of process and power automation together is more than just a "nice to have". It is key to cost saving.

"The IEC 61850 standard ... has lowered the investment barrier for customers to integrate the process and power devices on their plant floors. The demand for integrated process and power automation is growing in traditional markets that are heavy energy users, such as Oil and Gas, Power Generation, Pulp and Paper, Minerals and Metals industries.

By integrating power and process systems on the common 800xA platform, customers optimize the design and performance of their electrical and automation systems and see additional benefits in reduced maintenance, engineering and overall lifecycle costs. According to ARC, typical savings can result in a 20% reduction in CAPEX (capital expenditures) and OPEX (operating expenditures) by integrating these two, usually separate, automation infrastructures."

IEC 61850 is THE crucial "link" within power automation systems and between power automation systems and any other automation system - it is likely that it will impact the whole process automation world. Why? Because it meets many crucial requirements in the cooperation of automation and SCADA devices by defining information objects like "circuit Breaker, XCBR" or "electrical measurement of 3-phase system, MMXU", a system configuration language (SCL) and information exchange services (read/write, reporting and logging events, control, real-time exchange, file transfer, ...). And it's based on native protocols like Ethernet, TC/IP, MMS, ... Any device that has Ethernet and TC/IP connectivity could use IEC 61850.

Click HERE for the ABB press release.

The Best Corporate Brochure on IEC 61850 ever seen

ABB has published the other day the Best Brochure on IEC 61850 I have ever seen! The 60+ page Corporate Technical Journal presents the strategy, vision, and experience of ABB. The Brochure contains the following topics:

• IEC 61850: The new approach
• Products for the standard
• Verification and validation
• Case studies of IEC 61850

This Journal is absolutely worth to read!

Click HERE to download the Journal [pdf, 2.9 MB].

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.

ABB uses IEC 61850 for integrated power and process control in Greece

ABB has won in December 2009 an order worth $26 million from Hellenic Petroleum SA to provide an integrated power and automation system for the upgrade of Hellenic Petroleum’s Elefsina refinery, west of Athens. The environmentally friendly refinery will manufacture products in accordance with best in class technology and global standards to minimize environmental impact.

ABB will install a fully automated power management and load shedding system based on the 800xA automation platform and IEC 61850 compatible communication networks. Integrating the electrical and automation system on the common 800xA platform provides additional benefits including reduced maintenance, engineering and overall lifecycle costs.

Click HERE for the full press release.