Recent courses and discussions with experts reveal that education is THE most crucial activity to securely and reliably apply the Standard Series IEC 61850 in Power Automation Systems.
The training being conducted from 13-16 October 2015 in Karlsruhe (Germany) is just five (5) weeks away. Karlsruhe is a lovely town one hour train trip from Frankfurt International Airport, 30 minutes away from France, 45 minutes to the Black Forest, …
Note that this is much more than introducing IEC 61850 concepts and details – here you learn from two senior protection, automation and communication experts HOW IEC 61850 compliant devices can provide a plus of functionality and reliability. Don’t believe that? Come and see! You will be surprised after the course.
We have several seats available – the course details and registration information can be found HERE.
Click HERE for other courses in English and German.
Some 20 (!) years after the publication of the first field bus standards, the acceptance of field busses in the process industry is still behind expectations! The current IEC Field Bus Standards comprise about 100 (!) parts - specifying some 50 solutions under one Standard number: IEC 61158. No wonder that the users are still looking for a convergent solution.
The German Association NAMUR (representing some 120 users and vendors involved in process automation) has published a very strong requirement document on the convergence of wireless sensor networks: NE 133 "Wireless Sensor Networks - Requirements for the convergence of existing standards" ("Wireless Sensor Netzwerke: Anforderungen an die Konvergenz der verfügbaren Standards")
NAMUR requires to get coexistence, interoperability and Interchangeability for wireless based technologies.
The press release states that NAMUR is expecting to get ONE International Wireless Standard for the process automation domain. ("Die NAMUR erwartet, dass diese klare Meinungsäußerung und die formulierten Anforderungen alle am Standardisierungsprozess Beteiligten zu einer konstruktiven Zusammenarbeit mit dem Ziel eines konvergierten Standards bringt." / "NAMUR expects that this clear statement and the requirements formulated will enable all those involved in the standardisation process to work together constructively with a view to achieving a converged standard.")
Click HERE for some details listed in the press release of the annual conference of NAMUR (Nov 2010) [pdf, German].
Click HERE for the abstract (Zusammenfassung) of NE 133. [Word, de/en]
Click HERE for the order form to order a free of charge copy of the requirements document NE 133 [order form, de/en] ... you will get a free copy sent to your email address.
Click HERE for a list of IEC 61158 standards (Edition 2).
The far too many IEC standardized protocol stacks of the Field Busses (comprising some 12.000 pages) are causing still a lot of headaches and pain.
IEC 61850 provides JUST ONE Client/Server and two Publisher/Subscriber protocol stack solutions - This is what the Utility domain appreciates very much all over! Many vendors of industrial automation systems have already or will soon implement IEC 61850 - especially for their need to communicate over TCP/IP.
The Protocol stack defined in IEC 61850-8-1 using ISO 9506 (MMS) is not the crucial focus of IEC 61850 at all - BUT when it comes to interoperability at device level, then this is very crucial! IEC 61850 has more than protocols: information models and a configuration language ...
The first Conference on Innovative Smart Grid Technologies (ISGT) Europe, is sponsored by the IEEE Power & Energy Society (PES) and hosted by Chalmers University of Technology. The Conference will be a forum for the participants to discuss the state-of-the-art innovations in smart grid technologies. The Conference will feature paper sessions, panels and tutorials by international experts on smart grid. The organizing committees invite researchers, practitioners, decision makers and students, worldwide to participate and submit papers!
Tutorial 3 will be about IEC 61850.
Implementation of the standards IEC 61850 and IEC 61400-25 in small devices (14:15-15:15) by Karlheinz Schwarz ... See you there.
Click HERE for the program of the tutorial 3 on IEC 61850.
Click HERE for an overview on all three tutorials.
Click HERE to visit the conference home page
The US Homeland Security has published a comprehensive list of recommendations for System Security of Control Systems like SCADA systems the other day.
Hope your system is secure - and hope that you have people you can trust ...
Click HERE for the 171 page list [pdf].
The edition 2 of IEC 61850-7-4 has new Logical Nodes (LN) and existing LNs that have been cleaned up. One of these LNs is the LN SIML (Insulation Medium Supervision Liquid).
The new Data Objects (DO) defined in Edition 2 are marked in yellow. One DO (marked in red) has changed its name from "H2" to "H2ppm".
The "Committee on Science and Technology’s Subcommittee on Technology and Innovation" of the U.S. House of Representatives held a hearing on the NIST Smart Grid activities with regard to Interoperability Standards.
Read what the Witnesses have said:
A remarkable statement was made by Dr. George Arnold: "The basic structure of the present grid has changed little over its hundred-year history. The U.S. grid, which is operated by over 3100 electric utilities using equipment and systems from hundreds of suppliers, has historically not had much emphasis on standardization and thus incorporates many proprietary interfaces and technologies that result in the equivalents of stand-alone silos.
Transforming this infrastructure into an interoperable system capable of supporting the nation’s vision of extensive distributed and renewable resources, energy efficiency, improved reliability and electric transportation may well be described by future generations as the first great engineering achievement of the 21st century."
One of THE KEY prerequisites for a smooth transformation is Peopleware - Only smart and well educated people can transform the system! Education usually has a low priority in the utility industry. Usually IT people in the utilities do not much care about monitoring, protection and control of the electric grid - may be they fear he high voltage ;-)
I have trained more than 2,000 people on IEC 61850 all over. Just a very few IT people have attended. IT people usually lack understanding the electrical network. Many protection and control engineers have a good knowledge of information and communication technologies. Even Smarter Grids will be electrical networks.
In January 2010 I conducted a 3-day training on IEC 61850 for 30 experts in Reykjavik (Iceland). Iceland's population is some 300,000. Germany has a population of some 80,000,000. If I would train the same percentage of people in Germany I would need a soccer stadium for 8,000 attendees (for the U.S. I would need some 30,000 seats). That would not be problem: Just do it ... like in Bangalore (India) for 350 attendees in 2006:
Click HERE for a brief report on the Bangalore event.
One show-stopper of the success of Interoperability Standards like IEC 61850 is the behavior of some employees from well known vendors making statements like: "Dear user, you do not need understand IEC 61850 ... we do everything for you ... ". Another is the time and effort people have to invest to implement and use interoperable systems based on IEC 61850. With IEC 61850 running on a Chip and an affordable Development Kit experts can right start to use IEC 61850 and link their application to the IEC 61850 models, services and configuration language. Since the Kit is available (March 2010) I use several Kits for Hands-on Training.
Click HERE to get details on the Development Kit, Beck IPC (Pohlheim/Germany).
Click HERE on some discussion on Peopleware.
Click HERE for the Hearing Charter, Opening Statements and all Witness Statements
Omicron has posted a new version (2.11) of their IEC 61850 IEDScout.
The new version supports Windows 7 (64 bit and 32 bit); some modifications resolve minor issues.
Click HERE to go to the IEDScout web page.
The Danish TSO Energinet is challenged by several questions like:
The EcoGrid.dk project was initiated to find the best solutions to meet these requirements. One key issue is the information and communication technologies. Since Denmark is one of the key countries involved in the definition of the IEC Standard IEC 61400-25 (Communications for monitoring and control of wind power plants ) it is no surprise that the report on phase 1 states:
The international "communication standard for wind power is IEC61400-25: the standard will provide a critical measure to manage the rapidly growing wind power penetration – such a standard can really make a difference. Through communication standards the current state of the individual wind plant can be controlled and monitored when required, and counter measurements can be enforced if needed, in order to meet the changing demand for energy and to provide support to the overall power system operation."
Click HERE for the complete Report on phase 1.
Click HERE for more information on EcoGrid.dk.
IEEE announced on June 28, 1010, that a "Collaboratively developed Distributed Network Protocol standard set to benefit worldwide Smart Grid, process automation industries". What is meant is the old standard DNP3 with a new brand label: IEEE 1815.
IEEE has ratified the IEEE 1815 Distributed Network Protocol (DNP3) standard. The new standard, which improves device interoperability and strengthens security protocols, was fast-tracked for completion and was delivered in only seven months; i.e. re-labeled. The development of DNP3 was done many years ago.
Click HERE for the full press release from IEEE.
Click HERE for the PAR that lead to the IEEE 1815.
Some 10 years ago when there was not so much to discuss in the electric power industry (the Smart grid was not yet invented) I attended a conference on Electric Power Systems. One of the crucial questions was: Do Wind Power Turbines change our Climate? These questions are still asked - all over and by many experts.
The other day I read in the IEEE Power & Energy Magazine some interesting answers on this question. In the May/June 2010 issue you can read on page 6 (share your thoughts) an answer from NREL: "... it should be kept in mind that our energy mix will never be comprised solely of wind energy, so at even at large but reasonable levels of wind penetration the global impact would not be measurable. These results should not be surprising because fundamentally wind turbines just increase the friction or drag at the bottom of the atmospheric boundary layer much like trees or any other obstruction to the flow. My conclusion is that levels of wind energy amounting to 20–50% of our electricity should not cause any measurable change in global climate."
There is another question: Can you proof that the leaves of a tree are moved by the wind? Or are they generating the wind? Wind turbines may be used to generate wind - once we have too much electric power ... ok, I am kidding.
Click HERE to read the full text in May/June 2010 issue.
The IEC 61850 software stack PIS-10 accommodates client and server functionality. It is portable across various software platforms. Data throughput and other Ethernet related performance criteria are inherited from the operating system.
The stack supports MMS, GOOSE, Sampled Value functionality as well as buffered and unbuffered reporting. Data sets are defined using the WebCAN Designer Studio configuration software.
Protoocol conversation from other SCADA protocols such as IEC 8750-5-10 or DNP3.0 require only the additional executable files to be downloaded and configured through WebCAN Designer Studio.
Products:
Platforms:
Click HERE for a two page description [pdf].
From time to time there is a discussion on the protocol stack for IEC 61850 - which is based on TCP/IP, upper OSI layers and MMS (ISO 9506). Some people today are looking for a lite edition that may use DNP3, IEC 60870-5-10x, or even Webservices.
Is there a need to define these protocol stacks during the years to come? NO!! The Standard IEC 61400-25-4 defines these stacks (published 12 months ago, 2008-08). No, I am not kidding. The Standard has been published by IEC TC 88 (Wind Turbines):
Wind turbines – IEC 61400-25-4: Communications for monitoring and control of wind power plants – Mapping to communication profile
Click HERE for the preview of the standard.
The stacks specified in this part of IEC 61400-25 comprise:
All mappings are optional, but at least one optional mapping shall be selected in order to be compliant with this part of IEC 61400-25.
The stacks in IEC 61400-25-4 are covering all or parts of the abstract services in IEC 61400-25-3 (IEC 61850-7-2, ACSI) - excerpt of the list of mappings and services supported:
Example of a service for the Webservice stack (excerpt):
The mapping of services to DNP3 is depicted for one example (excerpt):
The mapping of Common Data Classes to DNP3 is depicted for one example (excerpt):
So: Why waiting for an IEC 61850 LE or for IEC 61850 Webservices - Here they are: IEC 61400-25-4.
If there is a need to revise or improve the stacks, visit the Tissue Data Base for IEC 61400-25.
The Public Service Company of New Mexico (USA) is looking for an engineer with experiences in IEC 61850.
The job description asks for: "... Provide direction to improve the reliability of subtransmission and transmission electrical facilities, and design of electrical substation automation under IEC 61850. ... and experience working with large consulting firms in the power industry and large industrial users, and must also have experience with or have researched IEC 61850 substation automation.
Click HERE for the full text of the job description.
The other day George W. Arnold (National Coordinator For Smart Grid Interoperability) reported to the House Committee on Science and Technology Subcommittee on Energy and Environment United States House of Representatives on the progress in transforming the U.S. power grid into a Smart Grid.
Mr. Arnold reported that "Modernizing and digitizing the nation’s electrical power grid—the largest interconnected machine on Earth—is an enormous challenge and a tremendous opportunity. Success requires a combination of quick action and sustained progress in implementing and integrating the components, systems, and networks that will make up the Smart Grid. ... it is important that we base our standards, wherever possible, on international standards or work to get our approaches adopted as international standards. This will maximize the opportunities for U.S. suppliers to address a large, global market opportunity. Fortunately, we are well-connected to International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), IEEE and other international organizations and are pursuing those connections vigorously in our effort. ... it is essential that we base the Smart Grid on open standards."
Click HERE for the full (10 page) Testimony.
NettedAutomation GmbH (Karlsruhe/Germany) believes that the Net(works) will automate the future power generation, transmission, distribution and power consumption: The Net is the Automation.
The driving force behind the standardization is to effectively and efficiently perform seamless device data integration and sharing information based on a rich, fine-grained data-stream about the state of the “power world” in any given instant. Every node in the network would have to be awake, responsive, flexible, and – most important – interconnected with everything else: A distributed energy web.
(from "Seamless Communication with IEC 61850 for Distributed Power Generation" by Karlheinz Schwarz, SCC, Karlsruhe, Germany)
Click HERE for a copy of the full paper on Seamless Communication with IEC 61850 for Distributed Power Generation presented at the 2002 DistribuTech in Miami (FL).
EPRI has provided a list of prioritized actions on the "Smart Grid Interoperability Standards Roadmap" to NIST on July 30, 2009.
The plans cover 14 areas of interest. Excerpt from the Overview:
"On the basis of stakeholder input received at two public workshops as well as its reviews of research reports and other relevant literature, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is proposing a set of priorities for developing standards necessary to build an interoperable Smart Grid. Among the criteria for inclusion on this initial list were immediacy of need, relevance to high-priority Smart Grid functionalities, availability of existing standards to respond to the need, state of the deployment of affected technologies, and estimated time frame to achieve an effective solution.
To facilitate timely and effective responses to these needs, NIST has drafted a preliminary Priority Action Plan (PAP) for each need. The PAPs are intended to scope out problem areas and to begin clarifying the steps required for achieving solutions."
The 14 prioritized areas (text in bold indicates involvement of IEC 61850 for that area):
Click HERE for the complete action plans.
Several German E-Energy projects focus on ICT-based energy system of the future Smart Grid ... by spending an overall budget of some € 140 million for a 4-year term.
Initiated by the German Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology (BMWi) and implemented in collaboration with the German Federal Environment Ministry (BMU) the projects will deal with problems of the current German power delivery system. "New integral system solutions are called for, in which information and communication technologies (ICTs) will play a key role.", according to a new 2 page flyer that is available in three languages:
Click HERE for the German version.
Click HERE for the English version.
Click HERE for the Japanese version.
A Chinese version will be available soon.
Click HERE for an example of the use of IEC 61850 and IEC 61400-25 in an E-Energy projects.
Click HERE for further presentations discussing Smart Grid issues an some IEC Standards supporting Interoperability of devices and systems ... the slides were provided and discussed during the IEC TC 57 WG 17 DER Workshop in Fredericia (Denmark, 2008-02) and HERE for presentations of the Workshop in Oldenburg (Germany, 2007-06).
The next crucial step towards the U.S. Smart grid Roadmap is the public review and commenting of the EPRI "Report to NIST on the Smart Grid Interoperability Standards Roadmap".
The commenting phase is open until July 30, 2009.
Click HERE for more details on how to comment.
The federal Register Notice announced the availability of the report on June 30.
Click HERE for the federal announcement.
The "Report to NIST on the Smart Grid Interoperability Standards Roadmap (Contract No. SB1341-09-CN-0031—Deliverable 7) prepared by the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), June 17, 2009, is available at: www.nist.gov/smartgrid/
I hope that many experts reading this news blog will provide comments on the Report to NIST.
I will provide comments taking my experience in interoperability issues into account.
Click HERE to see my experience profile. If you have any comments you want to share with me, please send a copy of your comments to schwarz@scc-online.de
Dear expert interested in the standard IEC 61850 for Substations and other Power Automation Systems,
NettedAutomation GmbH (Germany) and STRI (Sweden) are proud to announce possibility for two 3-day Hands-On Training sessions in Buenos Aires (12-14 August 2009) and Sao Paulo (19-21 August 2009).
This training has the objective to provide both theory and practice on the application of IEC 61850 in a substation or a smart grid. We cover the planning, design and engineering process for real applications all the way to configuration and testing based on a real multivendor test installation. The 3 day course consists of:
Module 1 gives a level 1 introduction to the IEC 61850 standard together with a summary with real applications and the demonstration of STRI facilities for multivendor interoperability testing.
Module 2 gives an independent and more detailed update on the IEC 61850 standard for substation and device modelling as well as communication principles with real examples.
Module 3 provides a IEC 61850 hands-on workshop demonstrating interoperability of protection and control devices from ABB and Siemens as well as testing techniques communicating over a substation Ethernet network.
The program will be similar to the Training session scheduled for Frankfurt (Germany) on October 20-23, 2009 - mainly the Modules 1, 2, and 4a (of the Frankfurt event) will be used for the events in Buenos Aires and Sao Paulo:
Program and registration for the Frankfurt event [pdf]
The training is subject to minimum number of some 10 attendees. As we are traveling to South America for other events, we can offer these training sessions for a high discounted price of EURO 930 per person plus tax.
Please let us know by July 13, 2009 if you are interested to attend. Your feedback is essential in order to run the events.
We are confident, that our experience and service would meet all your expectations! You’d get first-hand, very comprehensive, vendor neutral and up-to-date knowledge, experience, and guidance.
Our experience profile can be found here:
http://nettedautomation.com/download/Netted-Schwarz-Profile-en_2009-01-21.pdf
We look forward to greeting you at one of our next training events.
If you are interested in a special in-house training for you and your people, please contact us.
Please feel free to forward this email to any colleagues who you think might be interested in one of the events.
Best Regards,
Karlheinz Schwarz
NettedAutomation GmbH
Im Eichbaeumle 108
76139 Karlsruhe
Germany
Phone +49-721-684844
Fax +49-721-679387
karlheinz.schwarz@nettedautomation.com
http://www.nettedautomation.com
Nicholas Etherden
STRI AB
Box 707
SE-771 80 Ludvika, Sweden
Phone +46 (0)240 795 02
Mobile +46 (0)70-6179562
Fax +46 (0)240 807 66
nicholas.etherden@stri.se
http://stri.se
According to ABB, the first substation with IEC 61850 conformant Devices (Protection and Control) has been commissioned in Australia in August 2008. "The system formed part of the $10-million turnkey construction of the Juna Downs 220kV substation, and is part of Rio Tinto Pilbara Iron’s extensive power upgrade in the Pilbara region of WA."
Click HERE to read the news report from ABB.
Posts
All Comments
