PAC World Conference (13-16 June 2016) at the University of Ljubljana

The Seventh Protection, Automation and Control (PAC) World Conference will take place from 13 June to 16 June 2016 at the University of Ljubljana in Slovenia. Members of the PAC World community, professionals from utilities and universities, manufacturers and consultants, are invited to take part in a unique event that will help us build better understanding and knowledge in our industry.
The conference format is unique not only in bringing experts from different domains of the PAC space together in the same room. The conference will be held in six half-day sessions. More than 100 papers from 33 countries will be presented during the three full days of the conference in oral and poster sessions.
This format will allow us to capture the pulse of our industry and to provide to the participants at the conference and the members of the PAC World community around the globe a snapshot of the state of technology, challenges, experience and future developments that will shape protection, automation and control systems as part of the Smart Grid of the future.

Click HERE for the details, program, registration, etc.

One crucial topic will be IEC 61850. Many or even most of the 60 presentations are linked to IEC 61850 - one way or the other.

SystemCorp, SISCO, Triangle Microworks, and other companies will present their stacks, API, applications, ... and how to build IEC 61850 Gateways like HMS:

Click HERE for more details on the HMS Gateways.

Detlef Raddatz (SystemCorp) will present a paper on:
IEC 61850 Communication / IEC 61131 Programmable Logic Control Application Integration Methods

Enjoy!

SystemCorp Provides New Release of their famous IEC 61850 DLL

SystemCorp has published a New Release of their famous IEC 61850 DLL (Stack version V2.06.28).
Click HERE for the webpage.
Click HERE for the direct download.

Click HERE for the full release notes.

New Features of the Release V2.06.28

• Added new API IEC61850_ControlTerminateCommand() to manually trigger command termination for the active control the server
• Added support for Integer Controls with Enhanced Security, NOTE: Command Termination for INC controls is the responsibility of the user using the IEC61850_ControlTerminateCommand() API
• Added new API IEC61850_SetOriginator() to set the originator orCat and orIdent for controls on the client
• Added VLAN Tag to the Ethernet Headers for GOOSE and SV on Linux
• Client and servers with GOOSE Subscription can now be recreated without restarting an executable
• Edition 2 mode supports Domain names of length 64 bytes
• Added Support for SCL Type ObjRef 

The new DLL could be used with the current C# client and server demo and evaluation applications:

Click HERE for the demo and evaluation.

Version 2 of SystemCorp’s IEC 61850 Stack and API available

The V2.02 of SystemCORP's IEC 61850 library is now available for all platforms. A new demo and evaluation package that runs under Windows is also available. This evaluation provides the DLL (includes Stack, internal IED SCL configuration tool, and API), a server application, and a client application. The demo applications come also with source code in C/C++:

This version supports both Edition 1 and Edition 2 of the IEC 61850 standard, and includes multiple improvements to system communication and memory management.

The following list shows the communication service models implemented:

and these are the API functions:

The API is very convenient and simple!

Click HERE for more general details.
Click HERE for the getting started check list …

We are offering 6 hours comprehensive hands-on training in our standard public training courses like the one scheduled for October 15-17, 2014:

http://nettedautomation.com/seminars/uca/sem.html#fra14-05 

The most efficient education are offered as in-house training courses.

IEC 61850/61400-25 for QNX available

Please note that the SystemCorp IEC 61850/61400-25 Stack/API has been ported to QNX 6.5 and PREEMPT_RT Linux. You are invited to visit the SystemCorp booth to discuss further details.

Invitation to Hanover Fair 2013 from 8th to 12th April | E-Energy, Smart Grids

Dear All,
We invite you to visit the booth of SystemCorp (Hall 13, booth C45/1).

SystemCORP offers their IEC 61850 (IEC 61400-25) Stack/API for Substations, Decentraliced Energy Resources , Distribution Automation, Hydro Power Plants, and Wind Turbines, to name few.

The communication stack with integrated APIs has been developed by SystemCorp and most efficiently ported to QNX 6.5 and PREEMPT_RT Linux. Both APIs are also supported by the advanced SoftPLC DACHSview++ with realtime targets under QNX 6.x or PREEMPT_RT Linux..

At the booth you will see an overview about the possibilities, how to apply Embedded Controllers to realize most powerful and cost efficient implementations of standards for Protection Relays, Automation Devices, SCADA, Gateways and Systems.

Best Regards,
Your Team from SystemCorp and STEINHOFF Automation

Mr Karlheinz Schwarz, NettedAutomation will be available at the booth to answer your questions related to the standards.

http://systemcorp.com.au
http://www.steinhoff-automation.com

See you there.

Lite Gateway IEC 61850 to IEC 60870-5-104 at DistribuTECH in San Diego

NettedAutomation will demonstrate the following lite Gateway between IEC 61850 (process level with various I/Os) and IEC 60870-5-104 (RTU) at the DistribuTECH next week (29.-31. January 2013) in San Diego (booth 1648):

The components (HW and SW) can be used to build many useful topologies:

• Gateway IEC 61850 (client) to IEC 60870-5-104 (slave) – as shown in the picture
• Gateway IEC 60870-5-104 (master) to IEC 61850 (server)
• Gateway many serial links to IEC 60870-5-104 (slave)
• The two software packages from SystemCorp running on these platforms (IEC 61850 stack/API and IEC 60870-5-104 stack/API) can be used in any combination and with many communication channels (Ethernet, GSM GPRS, WiFi, Bluetooth, …).
• The IEC 61850 server could – of course – be accessed directly by a remote client.
• Other protocols are available.

The box in the middle is a Com.Tom Radio 2.0 and the right box is a development kit DK61.

The following signals (data model) will be demonstrated:

I look forward to meeting you at the DistribuTECH in San Diego (CA) next week.

If you need help in using these lite components, please let us know.

Beck DK61 Library Update Available

An updated IEC 61850 library (v1.36.07) is now available for Beck IPC Development Kits. This replaces what is being shipped on the DK61 disks.

The Beck DK-61 IEC 61850 library v1.36.07 with example application with source can be found on the following website website:

https://www.systemcorp.com.au/support.html

https://www.systemcorp.com.au/component/content/article/23-software/70-iec-61850-single-chip-solution-presentation.html

Revision history can be found in the On-line API Manual:

https://www.systemcorp.com.au/PIS10API/_release_notes.html

https://www.systemcorp.com.au/PIS10API/index.html

Java SDK for MMS and IEC 61850 available

Monfox (Cumming, GA, USA) implemented the DynamicOSI™ Java MMS SDK as a Standalone platform-independent software development kit and API which implements the core message defined in ISO 9506 Manufacturing Message Specification (MMS) required for implementation of most client and server MMS and IEC 61850 / 61400-25 applications.

The SDK is a simple Java MMS service-based API and OSI protocol stack for performing MMS operations over OSI/RFC1006 (TCP/IP). It provides a 100% Java, fully-interoperable, standard-compliant implementation for:

• Core MMS services from ISO 9506-1
• OSI Association Control Service Element (ACSE)
• OSI Presentation Layer
• OSI Session Layer
• OSI Transport Layer
• RFC1006 (OSI over TCP/IP)
• IEC 61850 Client/Server Support

More information on MMS in Java for IEC 61850 can be found here.

SystemCorp IEC 61850 Stack/API – Questions and Answers

SystemCorp has published a lot details on their website. Several often asked questions have been answered in Application Notes.

The recent notes deal with GOOSE performance, Update call at server side to provide multiple values (e.g., stVal, q, t) in ONE call, and Ethernet raw package driver.

The Application notes can be found here:

https://www.systemcorp.com.au/support.html

C# Server and Client Application Source Code for IEC 61850 DLL

NettedAutomation has updated the C# Client AND SERVER application (GUI) of the IEC 61850 Evaluation Kit (DLL). You can use the SystemCorp DLL (dated back to 2010) from the evaluation package downloaded from the above NettedAutomation link. If you have installed the IEC 61850 DLL before March 2012 it will not run anymore on your PC (it runs for 6 just months). In that case you can install it on a different machine – maybe you have a new PC anyway since you tested the DLL.

The C# application source code and executable code as well as documentation and the appropriate SCL files for the client and the server are provided via the link below.

The new Server GUI supports manipulating values in the server application, e.g., the temperature and setting for temperature alarms at the server:

The client application allows to see results from polling and Reports:

You may just use another browser (e.g., the Omicron IEDScout) to connect to the server and retrieve the model and the values:

Download the complete C# application examples for the IEC 61850 DLL [zipped file, 1 MB].

Details on downloading the DLL evaluation package could be found here.

Libraries – New License Policy for IEC 61850 Stack and API from SystemCorp

SystemCORP Embedded Technology Pty Ltd (Bentley WA 6102, Australia) offers a very modern and brand-new license policy for precompiled Libraries (Windows and Linux) for IEC 61850 Source code for their Stack and API effective August 2012 meeting the market demands.

The prices depend on the number of signals implemented: 1-100, 101-500, 501-1500, 1501-5000, 5000+

There are two options to chose from:

1. End User Server/Client (Windows and Linux); based on quantities
2. Re‐distributable Server/Client (Windows and Linux); royalty free with application

They offer the following services:

Built in Server & Client Function (based on ICD/CID configuration file)
‐ Reporting (buffered and unbufferd)
‐ MMS Services
‐ GOOSE Publisher (Server) and Subscriber (Client)
‐ Logging (Custom XML file format)(**)
‐ Application Programming Interface (API) manual published on
http://www.systemcorp.com.au/PIS10API/index.html

In addition to the new pricing it is also crucial to understand that the package comes with a build-in API that can be used by the application software immediately.

Most of the needed definitions in edition 2 of the core documents (7-2, 7-3, 7-4, 8-1 and 6) have been implemented. Most Object models (LN, DO) of other standards like IEC 61400-25-2 (Wind Turbines) can easily be implemented using the corresponding models in the CID file.

Contact SystemCorp by email for a quote.

Note also the new prices for the IEC 61850 source code.

New Source Code License Policy for IEC 61850 Stack and API from SystemCorp

SystemCORP Embedded Technology Pty Ltd (Bentley WA 6102, Australia) offers a brand-new license policy for IEC 61850 Source code for their Stack and API effective August 2012 meeting the market demands. The new policy is extremely suitable for manufacturers that plan to implement IEC 61850 into more than one product.

They offer the following easy to understand options:

1. Portable Server AND Client IEC 61850 Stack and API Source Code
   License for one (1) product
2. Extension License for Portable Server AND Client Stack and API Source Code License for an additional product
3. Unlimited Company Wide Portable Client AND Server IEC 61850 Stack and API Source Code License
4. Annual Service and Maintenance Contract

License fees stated under item 1, 2 and 3 are one off costs. No other license fees or royalties for re-distribution of customer products apply.

In addition to the new pricing it is also crucial to understand that the package comes with a build-in API that can be used by the application software immediately.

Most of the needed definitions in edition 2 of the core documents (7-2, 7-3, 7-4, 8-1 and 6) have been implemented. Most Object models (LN, DO) of other standards like IEC 61400-25-2 (Wind Turbines) can easily be implemented using the corresponding models in the CID file.

Contact SystemCorp by email for a quote.

The IEC 61850 portable software stack and API comprises:

Server and Client Function using static CID configuration file with inbuilt functions:
- Reporting (buffered and unbuffered)
- MMS Services
- GOOSE Publisher (Server) and Subscriber (Client)
- Sampled Values Publisher (Server)
- Logging (Custom XML file format)(*)

Pre-compiled libraries based on platform:
- Windows™ Library (dll) and/or
- Linux Ubuntu Library and/or
- Standard Linux library matching customer tool chain and kernel definition for one embedded hardware platform(**)

Pre-compiled libraries are also available as stand-alone products (without the need of the source code purchase).

Application Programming Interface (API) published on http://www.systemcorp.com.au/PIS10API/index.html
- 2 x free SystemCORP ICD Designer
- 1 x free SystemCORP eNode Workbench(***) allowing customer for testing ICD/CID files and simulating simple server and client functions
Notes:
(*) Customer specific file formats on request. Engineering charges may apply.
(**) Porting to non-standard Linux tool chains/kernels or propriety software operating systems engineering charges might apply.
(***) Available from January 2013

IEC 61850 Course conducted by TÜV SÜD in Seoul (South Korea), 04.-05. September 2012

KTL (Korea Testing Laboratory) has prepared for the Smart Grid businesses for many years. IEC 61850 has been the core technology in Smart Grid, and KTL now is on progressing the international testing and certification organization of IEC 61850. KTL would like to invite the best experts of IEC 61850 over the world, and the training will be helpful for the participants to develop new businesses and to find the best solution in Smart Grid.

Day 1 – Sep 4th
Day 2 – Sep 5th

Korean Testing Laboratory
87, Digital 26-gil, Guro-gu, Seoul,
KOREA (152-718)

Further details of the IEC 61850 training like program and pricing are available for download.

IEC TR 61850-7-510 ed1.0 has been published

The new part IEC 61850-7-510 has been officially published:

Communication networks and systems for power utility automation -
Part 7-510:
Basic communication structure - Hydroelectric power plants - Modelling concepts and guidelines

Download the Preview of IEC 61850-7-510

IEC/TR 61850-7-510:2012 provides explanations on how to use the Logical Nodes defined in IEC 61850-7-410 as well as other documents in the IEC 61850 series to model complex control functions in power plants, including variable speed pumped storage power plants. This publication is to be used in conjunction with IEC 61850-7-410 which introduced the general modelling concepts of IEC 61850 to hydroelectric power plants.

This document lays a ground for control devices like PLCs to implement the information interface. One simple implementation could be to integrate an IEC 61850 gateway into a PLC. The gateway could, for example, be implemented with an powerful embedded controller.

The controller would implement the information model and the services like GOOSE for operational status, Setting limits or Reporting of status or measured values:

A gateway could be easily build with available embedded controllers that provide an easy API for IEC 61850 clients, servers, publishers and subscribers.

Powerful Arm and Freescale Platforms with IEC 61850 Stack and API at Hanover Fair 2012

SystemCorp and TQ offer the easy to use and powerful IEC 61850 stack and API running on two Mini modules:

1. TQMa28 is based on the i.MX28 pro­cessor (ARM926 core with up to 450 MHz)

2. TQMa35 is based on the Freescale i.MX35 processor (ARM 11 core with up to 532 MHz)

The platforms will be presented during the Hanover Fair:

Hall 13, Stand C45
Co-exhibitor with: TQ-Systems
23-27 April 2012 - daily, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Karlheinz Schwarz will also be present at the booth – offering training services and answering questions related to IEC 61850, IEC 61400-25, IEC 60870-5/6, IEC 61968/70 CIM, DNP3, …

Check for more details on the ARM 9 and ARM 11 platforms offering IEC 61850.

Read the experience and CV of Karlheinz Schwarz.

IEC 61850 Gateway And Programmable IED

These days many vendors that have to develop devices for the electric power delivery are interested in applying a third-party Gateway that map the commonly used protocols like DNP3, Modbus, IEC 60870-5-10x, or CAN bus to an IEC 61850 Server. There are ready-to-go gateway available.

Usually the gateways map between one other protocol and an IEC 61850 Server – if you want to have two or three protocols to be mapped to IEC 61850 you likely have to pay a license for each protocol. The gateways usually are just gateways and do not allow any other application running on the same platform providing application data through IEC 61850 models and services.

The Gateway provided by SystemCorp is quite different as the following figure depicts:

In addition to the Gateway functionality any other application programmed on the very same platform can provide data exchange with the IEC 61850 server through the simple API of the IEC 61850 stack. Various embedded controllers like the Beck IPC Chip provide these possibilities.

This allows with one IEC 61850 license to implement gateway functionalities AND let any other application functionality “speak” IEC 61850.

Access the description of the IEC 61850 Protocol Stack Online API Manual.

Easy, Affordable and Fast Integration of IEC 61850 in Small Devices

High financial and time expenditures for the implementation of IEC 61850 in control systems and other devices prevented so far a broad market penetration of the standard in the lower voltage levels and in distributed power generation. A reasonable and cost effective solution is now available with the Beck IPC@CHIP. The development of IEC 61850 conformant interfaces in power delivery systems – particularly renewable and decentralized power producers and consumers – can now be realized within very short time to market.

The stack and API used on many platforms has been developed by SystemCorp (Bentley, Western Australia), e.g., on the Beck IPC Chip.

A new paper has been written about the benefits of using ready-to-go solutions. The paper discusses embedded controller with IEC 61850 stack and API, DLL and other libraries with IEC 61850 stack and API, … You will find also a brief discussion of the information models for PV inverters (IEC 61850-90-7).

Download the discussion about benefits using ready-to-go solutions with IEC 61850 and PV Inverter models [pdf, 2.3 MB, 18 pages]

MMS (ISO 9506) Introduction – Why to focus on the API?

Jan Tore Sørensen and Martin Gilje Jaatun (SINTEF ICT, Trondheim, Norway) have published a nice introduction to the basic architecture and definitions of MMS in a 46 page document – easy to read and understand.

This documents demonstrates that MMS is not complex. IEC 61850-8-1 (and IEC 61850-9-2) use MMS for specifying the message exchange between IEC 61850 servers (publishers) and clients (subscribers).

Implementing IEC 61850 compliant systems comprising SCL tools, servers, clients, publishers, and subscribers means to implement:

1. Upper layers on top of TCP/IP (or on Ethertype for publisher/subscriber)
2. Protocol machine (MMS, GOOSE and SV)
3. Encoding/Decoding ASN.1 BER messages
4. ACSI services (LD, LN, Control Blocks (reporting, Logging, service tracking, GOOSE, and SV), DataSets, Control, LOG –> mapped to protocols, mainly MMS)
5. Object model (dictionary in IED and behavior according to IEC 61850-7-4)
6. API (application program interface) for server, client, publisher, and subscriber
7. IED configuration using SCL file
8. SCL tool for system engineering and IED configuration

A ballpark estimate of the efforts needed to implement a reasonable subset of IEC 61850 (if one develops the software from scratch) is in the range of some 10 man-years. Only a small part of efforts (likely less than 10 per cent) deals with MMS and the underlying protocols required by MMS.

A different solution for the client-server messaging, e.g., by using a webservice, would have a minor impact on the total efforts. From a application point of view an efficient API should be in the focus when implementing of using IEC 61850!

Click HERE for the complete paper on MMS [pdf, 446 KB]

Note that IEC 61850 is much more than a protocol – and much more than MMS. MMS is just an international standard like Ethernet or TCP/IP.

NEW: Embedded Linux Gateway supporting IEC 61850 and IEC 61400-25

SSV Embedded Systems (Hannover, Germany) offers the embedded Linux gateway module DIL/NetPC DNP/9265 now with a preinstalled IEC 61850 (IEC 61400-25)protocol stack. An easy to configure and use IEC 61850 API (application program interface) allows for a very short time-to-market development – within days and weeks. Program your application, model the IEC 61850 logical nodes and data object that expose your application data, bind them together, configure the communication services like data sets and control blocks (reporting and GOOSE) – and you can connect with other IEC 61850 devices. The model, the binding, and the communication services are described in a standard SCL file (System Configuration Language, IEC 61850-6) and uploaded to the module. Restart the module and you are done. It’s that easy.

The ARM9-based DNP/9265 is equipped with 32MB of SDRAM, as well as 32MB of NOR flash for holding the boot-loader and Linux O/S, says the company. I/O is passed through a 40-pin DIL socket, and includes three UARTs for COM functions, as well as 20-bit GPIO.

The module supplies one interface each for USB 2.0 Host, SD card, I2C, SPI, and CAN (ISO/11898A 2.0B), says the company. A 10/100Mbps Ethernet port is also supported. Additional features include a watchdog timer, power supervisor for VCC control, and in-system programming features.

Measuring 2.17 x 0.91 inches (55 x 23mm), the module runs on a 3.3 Volt power supply, with supply current at typically 300mA, with a maximum of 500mA. The module is said to support temperatures ranging from 32 to 158 deg. F (0 to 70 deg. C).

SSV also offers other DIL/NetPC-based gateway box products for smart grid and virtual power plant applications. These gateways allow to connect distributed generation installations (such as CHPs, wind-turbines, small hydro, back-up gensets etc.) directly via IEC 61850 with any other application like power grid monitoring or control centers.

In addition to Linux and the integrated IEC 61850 the SSV gateway solutions comes with drivers and protocol stacks for SSL- or IPsec-based VPNs (virtual private networks). This allows secure data communication with powerful encryption technologies over the public telecommunication infrastructure, such as the Internet.

Click HERE for the news [in German]
Click HERE for a description of the product [in English]
Click HERE to check the IEC 61850 (IEC 61400-25) API online [in English]

New Embedded Modules from TQ with IEC 61850 and IEC 61400-25 using ARM Architectures and Linux

Two New Embedded Modules developed by TQ with IEC 61850 und IEC 61400-25 (using ARM Architectures, Linux and the very simple and powerful SystemCorp IEC61850 API) are available:

ARM9 Modul with i.MX28 from Freescale
Click HERE for more details.

ARM11 Modul with i.MX35 from Freescale
Click HERE for more details.

TQ is conducting a one day introduction into the standards IEC 61850 and IEC 61400-25 and demonstrates how to build applications for IEC 61850 based on the above controllers.

Date: 2011-12-14 (Wednesday)

Location:
TQ-Systems GmbH
Mühlstraße 2
82229 Seefeld
Germany (near Munich)

Click HERE for more details on the seminar.

Click HERE for the Program (Presentation Language: German)

If you are interested in a presentation in English, please contact TQ.

What Do You Need to Know to Retrieve Process Values from an IEC 61850 Compliant Device?

The answer is quite simple: Almost nothing! It depends – of course – on the availability of software for IEC 61850. Let’s assume that we have a device that plays the role of an IEC 61850 server (providing a data model and services to access the values referenced by the model).

What you need is a software that plays the IEC 61850 client role. There are several options:

• Purchase source code and build your own client and API (Application Program Interface)
• Purchase source code and build your own client with an API already incorporated
• Purchase a client DLL with a simple and easy to use API
• Purchase a ready to go Browser with a graphical interface

If you want to just retrieve some data values from a IEC 61850 compliant device, you JUST need to know the IP address of the device and a free Browser evaluation software. Download the well known OMICRON IEDScout; the IEDScout runs in Demo mode for free (restricted services!):

Click HERE for more information and download link for the IEDScout.

Install the IEDScout, go to Configure (right), select New Server just by entering the below IP address and assign a server name:

SEL-421: 99.14.76.126

Use default values … click on OK … OK … done. Go to Discover … select the server you just configured … and start communication with the corresponding device. Retrieving the information model may take several minutes! The IEDScout retrieves the model … some thousand messages exchanged … you may trace the messages using the Wireshark analyzer. Start the Wireshark first and then start IEDScout and connect to any IED.

Once you have the model retrieved, open the model tree and read a value in the tree or see DataSets and Control Blocks.

How long did it take to access data values from an IEC conformant device? 30 minutes … may be 45. Maybe it took another 30 minutes to make it run on your Windows system ;-)

How many of the following standards have you read to get access to one of the above IEDs? IEC 61850-7-x, IEC 61850-8-1, ISO 9506-1/-2, ISO 8824, ISO 8825, IEEE 802.1Q, IETF RFC 792, … 1.000, 2.000, or 5.000 pages?

To use a (graphical) interface at a client there was NO NEED to read any of the above standards! What you may need is basic information about IEC 61850.

Of course, this IEDScout is not an API to be used by client applications. You cannot store the retrieved data values … ok, the full version allows to store the model as an SCL document … and store subscribed GOOSE messages.

Another easy to use API is the SystemCorp API used to build a very simple client HMI – a .Net/C# application:

http://blog.iec61850.com/2011/02/updated-c-client-application-for-iec.html

The API (in form of a DLL) can be used to build your own client application in Windows (DLL) or in Linux (library).

Even the use of the DLL for the client and the use of the C# build HMI does not require to understand all details of the protocol.

Lesson 1 learned: To use the comprehensive protocols like IEC 61850, IEC 60870-5-105, IEC 60870-6 TASE.2, or DNP3 … a simple and easy to use API is needed!! Reading thousands of pages of standards is NOT what is required!!

Lesson 2 learned: The efforts to use any of the above protocols is more or less the same! Of course there is a configuration language SCL in IEC 61850 that requires a little bit more information/education …

Implementing the protocols requires a lot of time and efforts … there may be some difference depending on the protocol.

Be happy by just applying simple and easy to use APIs for clients and servers. Get your first data values communicated within hours – not months …