New: Modelling of Logics for IEC 61850 Based Applications

IEC TC 57 has published a very interesting proposal (57/1814/DC; 49 pages) for modelling logics:

IEC TR 61850-90-11, Communication networks and systems for power utility automation –
Part 90-11: Methodologies for modelling of logics for IEC 61850 based applications

Comments are expected by 2017-02-03

This part of IEC 61850 describes the methodologies for the modelling of logics for IEC 61850 based applications in power utility automation. In particular, it describes the functional view of logic based on existing logical nodes for generic process automation and the operational modes of the logic. Furthermore it includes the specification of the standard language to be applied to specific the logic as well as the related data exchange format between engineering tools and their application as well as the mapping of logic elements to IEC 61850 data types.

The IEC 61131-3 PLC programming language is used to describe syntax of functions.

Example PLD (Programmable Logic Description): The PLD file contains the logic unit program code in PLC OpenXML format, representing the description of the logic programmable scheme that can then be mapped to a GAPC LN instance. Excerpt:



... more to come next year.

HMS exhibits IEC 60870-5-104 and IEC 61850 Anybus SG Gateways at Hannover Fair and SPS IPC Drives

Anybus SG-gateways - solving Smart Grid communication challenges!
The Anybus® SG-gateway™ family is designed to specifically target Demand Response (networking of industrial electric loads) and Virtual Power Plants (networking of energy resources like biogas plants or combined heat and power units) applications.

The gateways will be shown in action at the following two events in 2016:

Hannover Messe
Hannover, Deutschland
25. - 29. April 2016
Halle 8, Stand D11

SPS IPC Drives
Nürnberg, Deutschland
22. - 24. November 2016
Halle 2, Stand 2-438

Protocols supported so far:
IEC61850 client/server, IEC60870-5-104 client/server, Modbus RTU master/ slave, Modbus TCP client/server, EtherNet/IP, PROFINET and PROFIBUS.

Click HERE for more information about the Anybus SG Gateways.

The Beautiful Simplicity of the Integration of IEC 60870-5-104 and IEC 61850

The experience has shown that manufacturers are still shying away from the high costs and long time required for the development of new products based on standards like IEC 61850, IEC 60870-5-104, and IEC 61400-25 (Wind Turbines) because the implementations and applications are quite complex.

For these reasons, a team at NettedAutomation developed a web-based integration tool based on Beck IPC’s com.tom WEB-PLC that significantly streamlines the application of these and other standards and the implementation of simple logic functions that consume and generate data communicated with a variety of protocols. The solution can be used to build various kinds of IEDs for monitoring, control, data concentrators, data aggregators, and gateways.

An 18 page paper describes „The Beautiful Simplicity of the Integration of Modbus, DNP3, IEC 60870-5-104, and IEC 61850 into a powerful WEB-PLC operating on an Embedded Controller“

Click HERE to download the paper [pdf, 2.2 MB]

The com.tom with IEC 60870-5-104 and IEC 61850 are available – see the following website:

http://www.com-tom.de/products.php

These standards are available on most com.tom … DNP3 is available soon. The programming with CoDeSys (IEC 61131-3) and C/C++ is also available.

Siemens reported using IEC 60870-5-104 for DEMS

Siemens DEMS 3.0 stands for third version of their “Decentralized Energy Management System”. It uses IEC 60870-5-104 for communication with power generators, storage devices or loads. The use of open communication and other solutions built-in reduce the engineering cost for virtual power plants by 60 percent – according to Siemens.

What could you do to apply the same cost reduction – or more – if you have to integrate IEDs that provide IEC 61850 information, information exchange and configuration language? Or how to connect a DEMS 3.0 system to IEC 61850?

Here is – I guess – the easiest and shortest time-to-market solution … without writing a single line of program code: The gateway using a so-called com.tom (communication to machine). The topology of an example is shown in the following figure. The gateway is implemented in the upper box.

All WEB PLC objects (inputs and outputs) related to IEC 61850 models are automatically generated from the corresponding SCL files. There is no need to do any manual configuration as long as you have the ICD files of the devices. The object names of the WEB PLC are derived from the object references of the IED/LD/LN.DO.DOA and so on. You see the path names in the I/O list.

All WEB PLC objects can be used to build applications like linking any input with any output (applying the same type – of course): single point input to single point output. The following diagram shows a simple gateway functionality to receive a command via IEC 60870-5-104, route it through an IEC 61850 client to an underlying IEC 61850 server that switches a fan on or off. The status of the FAN LN (using an extended Data Object OpSt) reports the status of the fan. This status is received from the underlying IED via an IEC 61850 report and routed to an IEC 61850 server and an IEC 60870-5-104 server in the gateway.

After “drawing” this diagram, all you need to do is to store the diagram to the gateway (com.tom Basic 3.1 S) and start the program. That’s it.

You may also have figured out the the com.tom Basic 3.1 S integrates an 5-port Ethernet Switch and another independent Ethernet port. This allows to build secure proxy servers/gateways.

The WEB PLC with IEC 60870-5-104, DNP3, Modbus, IEC 61850, … is a very easy, low cost and fast-to-market product that can be applied for many applications running on these communication solutions and for gateways. The application is freely configurable by drawing lines.

If you need complex functions, you can write them in C/C++ or IEC 61131-3 (CoDeSys) and wrap them for immediate use at the WEB PLC. For more complex applications you can program the application in C/C++ or CoDeSys and use the same communication.

Whatever protocol standard is used for a system (IEC 60870-5-104 for Siemens DEMS 3.0) you can easily integrate other devices that run DNP3, Modbus, IEC 61850, … with the com.tom WEB PLC gateway.

You want to learn more about the gateway, please contact us.

Click HERE for information about the com.tom family. The com.tom Basic 3.1, for example, costs 368 Euro plus some license costs for IEC 60870-5-104 and IEC 61850 – this includes already the 5-port Ethernet Switch!

Beautiful Simplicity of Gateways and Applications

One of the crucial challenges in applying open information and information exchange standards is the complexity (or better the comprehensiveness) of the standard series IEC 60870-5-104, DNP3, IEC 61850, IEC 61400-25, and IEC 62351 …

Check the beautiful simplicity of using gateways and application logic integrated into the com.tom platforms based on the WEB PLC (BASIC 3.1 S and 5.1). The following figure shows the general architecture of crucial gateways in the energy domain that allow to add Logic functions as well:

The main parts are the communication defined by (1) IEC 60870-5-105 (DNP3), (2) IEC 61850 Proxy, and (3) IEC 61850. These can be applied in seven different combinations:

The WEB PLC (a key feature of the com.tom) can be used to configure LOGIC and Gateways:

The WEB PLC unifies all input and output signals – independent of their origin or destination. Once you have them listed in the WEB PLC, you just need to draw a line between any input and output … and put logic gates in between:

Combine any signal with another signal (input with output) and your logic – using local input 0 and local output 1 and 2 as well as 61850 input (HeatKFAN1.OpCtl.Oper), 61850 output (HeatKFAN1.OpSt – extended Data Object), and 104 status of Fan:

This WEB PLC and the integration of many protocols, security (openVPN), firewall, … makes your life really easier.

With the com.tom and WEB PLC you are entering into the comfort zone of secure energy information and information exchange.

Click HERE to get started with the WEB PLC [pdf, 800 KB]

Work on IEC 61850-90-11 started -- Logics

It was agreed internationally to develop IEC TR 61850-90-11: Communication networks
and systems for power utility automation – Part 90-11: Methodologies for modelling of logics for IEC 61850 based applications.

The scope could be quite narrow, taking into account simple logics for input and output signal … but it could cover also the way how to program complex distributed applications. The standards like IEC 61131-3 or IEC 61499 may be taken into account.

Some discussion on the use of IEC 61499 …

Modeling Logics with IEC 61850-90-11

IEC TC 57 has started to work officially on models for Logics:

IEC TR 61850-90-11: Communication networks and systems for power utility
automation – Part 90-11: Methodologies for modeling of logics for IEC 61850 based applications

The national committees of TC 57 are requested to contribute to the new part of the standard series IEC 61850.

Standards like IEC 61131-3, IEC 61499 and others will be taken into account.

If you are interested in this work, contact your TC 57 National Committee or myself.

A discussion of the use of IEC 61499 in conjunction with IEC 61850 can be found HERE (Towards Intelligent Smart Grid Devices with IEC 61850 Interoperability and IEC 61499 Open Control Architecture)

Or check these.