Comment on second Draft Release Smart Grid Roadmap of NIST

The Draft NIST Framework and Roadmap for Smart Grid Interoperability Standards, Release 2.0 is now available for public comments.

NIST solicits comments on the draft Release 2.0 document.

Due to the fast growth in various aspects of Smart(er) Grids, it is required to speed up in the selection of the needed and recommended standards. IEC 61850 is one of the crucial standards for Smart(er) Grids!!

Click HERE for the SGIP website with more details on the draft.

The list of standards comprises also DNP3 as a new IEEE standard.

Click HERE for the draft list of standards … which states on page 2:

“Because the Smart Grid is evolving from the existing power grid, NIST has also included standards that support widely deployed legacy systems. Priority Action Plans (PAPs) have been established with the goal of resolving interoperability issues between the standards for legacy equipment and those others identified for the Smart Grid. For example, PAP12 seeks to enable implementations of the Distributed Network Protocol, DNP3.0 as specified in IEEE 1815, to work with implementations of the IEC 61850 standard …”

This will definitely help to tap the information provided by the running systems! … without replacing one protocol (DNP3) by another (IEC 61850-8-1, MMS).

IEC 61850 and DNP3 are becoming good FRIENDS … keep going!

IEC 61850-9-2 FDIS of Edition 2 open for Ballot

The IEC 61850-9-2 Edition: Communication networks and systems for power utility automation – Part 9-2: Specific communication service mapping (SCSM) – Sampled values over ISO/IEC 8802-3

is open for FDIS ballot until 2011-07-29.

Changes comprise:

• Addition of an optional Link redundancy layer
  Link Redundancy:
  Parallel redundancy protocol and high availability seamless ring
  IEC 62439-3, Amendment 1
• Redefinition of “reserved” fields in link layer
• USVCB and MSVCB components
• Encoding for the transmission of the sampled value buffer

IEC 61850-8-1 Edition 2 approved as International Standard

The 2nd Edition of IEC 61850-8-1 has been approved with 100 per cent support by the national committees of IEC TC 57.

IEC 61850-8-1 Ed. 2.0: Communication networks and systems for power utility automation - Part 8-1: Specific communication service mapping (SCSM) - Mappings to MMS (ISO 9506-1 and ISO 9506-2) and to ISO/IEC 8802-3

The standard will be published soon.

This mapping has been implemented in many IEDs. Even in the wind power market, this mapping is the most crucial mappings … the other four mappings defined in IEC 61400-25-4 may be implemented as well.

Please note that most of the changes and corrections have been implemented by many IEDs, because many of them have been made during the edition 1 Tissue process. The first Tissue goes back to 2005.

Click HERE for the list of Tissues for part IEC 61850-8-1 Edition 1. The green Tissues are those that have been solved already – most of them are required for conformance testing. IED’s TICS (Tissue Implementation Conformance Statement) have to indicate which of the green Tissues have been implemented.

Click HERE for a sample TICS document.

8-1
#116 GetNameList with empty response?
#165 Improper Error Response for GetDataSetValues
#183 GetNameList error handling

Click HERE for further details on Edition 2 of IEC 61850-8-1.

New Version of SystemCorp’s IEC 61850 Software

After the first certified IED using the SystemCORP Embedded Technology IEC61580 Library (PIS10) SystemCorp has published information and documentation about the latest Version (1.36.02) today. This version comprises all modifications, fixes and extensions that take many experiences and the successful conformance test at KEMA into account.

A comprehensive set of easy to browse web html pages are available.

Click HERE for more details on the updated stack software and documentation of version 1.36.02.

More details can be found HERE and HERE.

This new version runs smoothly on the Beck IPC Chip and other embedded controllers on LINUX, …

The interest in IEC 61850 Chips is growing very fast – all over.

Transformer Protection and Monitoring IED with IEC61850@Chip

C&S Electric Ltd (India) has developed a Transformer Protection and Monitoring IED with an IEC 61850 interface build on the Beck IPC Chip “IEC61850@CHIP” with SystemCorp’s IEC 61850 solution integrated.

Click HERE for more technical information.

Podcast from Black and Veatch on IEC 61850 in the U.S.

A podcast provided by Black & Veatch reports how IEC 61850 is expected to be accepted in the U.S. power industry. It is also reported how American Electric Power uses the GE BRICK solution for the interface between the control room and the switch yard.

There is no doubt about the trend towards IEC 61850 in North America!

The GE Brick solution is based on IEC 61850 concepts. Many benefits provided by IEC 61850 are offered by the Bricks – except one crucial issue that is not supported: The Brick solution is NOT interoperable with fully IEC 61850 compliant IEDs like protection and control devices or merging units according to IEC 61850-9-2.

An IED with an IEC 61850 interface can NOT communicate with the Brick! So, the Brick is a vendor specific solution using mainly fiber optic cables and Ethernet and message formats from IEC 61850 to replace copper wires to the switch yard. The idea of an open international standard for multi-vendor systems is supported by fully IEC 61850 compliant merging units and other IEDs (as publisher) and other IEDs (as subscribers).

Click HERE for listening the podcast [some 14 minutes].
Click HERE for more information on the concept.

Certified IEC 61850 compliant IEDs

KEMA has published a Test Register for conformance tested IEDs:

• IEC 61850 Client Systems
• IEC 61850 Server Devices
• IEC 61850 Ethernet Switches
• IEC 61850 Sampled Value Publishers (Merging Units)

Click HERE to access the test register dated 2011-01-27

Telecontrol and IEC 61850

IEC 61850 is used in many applications inside substations and other domains. RTUs from many vendors provide IEC 61850 support for Telecontrol.

Click HERE for a set of 27 slides of an applications of ABB RTUs (used as substation control system) in 12 substations of Stadtwerke München [German].

Click HERE for Information about ABB’s RTU 560 [English]

Click HERE for a description of an programmable device from WAGO that can be used for Telecontrol (RTU) [German]

Photos from the AWEA WINDPOWER 2011 Anaheim, CA, May 22-25

Click HERE for some photos from the exhibition provided by Oscar Naval … see IEC 61850 (IEC 61400-25) in action for the wind industry and other application domains.

TÜV Süd – Getting involved in IEC 61850 Conformance Testing

The well known TÜV Süd has announced that it will offer Conformance Test services for IEC 61850 … for Smart Grids and for Smart Metering.

Click HERE to access the corresponding webpage at TÜV Süd.

IEC 61400-25 & IEC 61850 at AWEA WINDPOWER 2011 Anaheim, CA, May 22-25

The interest in the International Standards IEC 61400-25 and IEC 61850 is picking-up globally and also in North America. Some 45 experts form BCIT (British Columbia Institute of Technology) and BC Hydro had been in a 3 day seminar and hands-on training in Vancouver, BC (Canada). More people were interested to attend – the meeting room just had 45 seats.

This week (Sunday – Wednesday,May 22-25) there is another step towards simple, powerful and easy to use automation devices that support at the

AWEA WINDPOWER 2011, Anaheim, CA, May 22-25:

1. Standardized information and information modeling (IEC 61400-25-2, IEC 61850-7-x),
2. Information exchange (IEC 61400-25-4, IEC 61850-8-1),
3. System configuration language (IEC 61850-6), and
4. Function programming (IEC 61131-3 and IEC 61499):

Booth 185 (Hall D) exhibits the full range of the above standards:

• Beck IPC (IEC 61400-25, IEC 61850, IEC 61131-3, …): Chips, Devices, charging station, PLC, …
• SystemCorp (IEC 61400-25, IEC 61850, IEC 61131-3, …): Stack Software, Devices, Tools, …
• ISaGRAF (IEC 61131-3, IEC 61499, IEC 61400-25, IEC 61850): Programming language/tool running on the Beck IPC Chip

See below the Booth 185 in Hall D:

A video of some 15 MB shows the steps in programming IEC 61131-3 using IEC 61400-25 and IEC 61850 on a Beck IPC Chip:

www.nettedautomation.com/download/isagraf/IEC61850_2011-05-18.mp4

Remote Service Forum und IEC 61850

Das 19. Remote Service Forum findet vom 6.-7. Juli 2011 bei der IHK Karlsruhe unter dem Titel “Von der Technologie zu neuen Dienstleistungen” statt. Neue Dienstleistungen im Bereich der erneuerbaren Energien und intelligenten Energieversorgungs-Netze sind unumgänglich, um die Flut der Informationen zum Überwachen, Steuern und Regeln des Energieflusses zu beherrschen. Industrielle Kommunikationsnetze (Feldbusse) sind kaum als Basis geeignet, weil es zu viele gibt: mehrere hundert!

In der elektrischen Energieversorung haben sich die Normen IEC 60870-5-10x (Telecontrol), IEC 60870-6 TASE.2 (Inter-control center communication), IEC 61850 (substation automation and protection, DER, Hydro power plant monitoring and control), IEC 61400-25 (monitoring and control of wind turbines), und IEC 61131-3 (open PLC programming language) durchgesetzt.

Herr Dipl.-Ing. Karlheinz Schwarz (SCC) wird am 7.Juli 2011 einen Vortrag unter dem Titel “Genormter Remote-Zugriff auf Informationen elektrotechnischer Erzeugungs-und Verteilungsanlagen mit IEC 61850” halten.

NettedAutomation GmbH wird in der begleitenden Ausstellung über die neuesten Trends bei der Realisierung von IEC 61850 basierten Komponenten berichten und Realisierungsmöglichkeiten für embedded controller und vieles mehr vorstellen.

HIER klicken, um das Programm und die Anmeldeinformationen herunterzuladen.

Electro Mobility, Substation Automation and IEC 61850

The basics for the infrastructure needed for the Electro Mobility have already been standardized – the electrical power delivery system: generation – transmission – distribution of electric A.C. power. The standardization of the electrical system has a long tradition. The monitoring, protection and control of electric power is automated in many higher voltage levels. There are mainly five international standards used all over: IEC 60870-5-10x for telecontrol, IEC 60870-6 TASE.2 for inter-control center communication, IEC 61850 for substation automation and protection, DER, Hydro power plant monitoring and control, IEC 61400-25 for monitoring and control of wind turbines, and IEC 61131-3 for a open PLC programming language.

These standards cover most of the needs for information modeling, information, system configuration, information exchange, and function programming for substations and power generation.

Mr Roland Bent (CEO of Phoenix Contact) stated the other day in the Open Automation magazine that EV charging stations are small low voltage substations. He is absolutely right! It is crucial to understand that the above mentioned standards are applicable in all voltage levels. What is the difference of a three phase Y-system for 400.000 V and 400 V? The multiplier of factor 10**3. There is no need to re-event the wheel again.

Here is an excerpt of Mr Bent’s statement in German:

“Ein noch wesentlich größeres, neues Marktfeld findet sich in der Infrastruktur für Elektromobilität. Ladestationen für Elektrofahrzeuge sind kleine Niederspannungsschaltanlagen mit all den Komponenten und Steuerungskonzepten aus diesem Bereich. Sie müssen auch informationstechnisch in die intelligenten Netzstrukturen integriert werden und stellen neue Anforderungen an IKT-Strukturen, zum Beispiel im Bereich der Abrechungssysteme. Auch hier werden wieder Kompetenzen und
Know-how aus der Industrieautomation benötigt.”

Click HERE to read the complete statement from Mr Bent.

New Date for Seminar and Hands-on Training in Frankfurt

Please note that due to the huge fair IAA 2011 in Frankfurt mid-September 2011 we have deferred the date for the seminar on IEC 61850 Seminar and Hands-on Training from

14.-16. September to 05.-07. October 2011

The seminar will be held at the NH Hotel Frankfurt/Moerfelden.

Click HERE for the program.

Click HERE for the registration information.

ICD Documents for programmable and modular IEDs

If you have a modular 61850 product that can be shipped with a variable number of I/O cards, this may have a number of consequences:

1. The number of LNs this product can support depends on the hardware configuration.
2. LNs use shared resources, so if the user adds an LN of one type, he may not be able to add an LN of another type.

Be aware: everything is limited!

These tradeoffs are complex. If you produced an ICD file with the maximum number of LNs of every type your IED supports, for the maximum hardware configuration, the resulting file would be ridiculously large and unwieldy.

How to solve this issue?

All IEDs with a fixed functionality have definitely an easy to build icd file.

IEDs that are programmable or that are modular with one or more I/O cards are different. When the IED comes from the factory, you do not know what the application will be – so you do not know the information model and therefore you cannot provide an icd file for an application running on an IED.

What you could do is to provide an icd file that specifies the communication capabilities (services) and the DataTypeTemplates with all LNTypes that can be instantiated in that IED.

Once it is decided which functions (and LNs) will be running on a particular IED (with one, two, … or five I/O cards), then the IED Configurator (as a manufacturer-specific tool) can create the “final” ICD file for a particular function.

The icd must have exactly one IED section. I would put the LN instances of LLN0 and LPHD in the IED section. The other (functional LNs) would be added be the IED Configurator later … when the number of I/O cards etc are known and selected.

Is the Protocol Stack for IEC 61850 important?

No and Yes! No, compared to the many other aspects covered by IEC 61850, the protocol issue of IEC 61850-8-1 (upper layers like MMS and transport layers …) are relatively of minor importance. There are the two crucial areas defined in IEC 61850: Information Models and System Configuration Language. I usually put it that way: SCL, engineering and configuration is 51 per cent of the importance … may be 52 now …

There is no real need to discuss other protocols and mappings from the view point of importance.

Yes, the protocols are very crucial!! … when it comes to the question how and how fast and for what cost can I get IEC 61850 information communicated? To exchange even the value of a single bit position of a digital input requires the implementation of the various protocols like MMS, Presentation, Session, RFC 1006, TCP/IP, …

This was – and still is –in many cases a quite expensive and time consuming effort! Yes, the availability of the protocol software is very IMPORTANT!

The other day I received an email with the following: “Although we have a … license, we wanted to get started with SystemCorp's stack. The reason was simple: some manufacturers came to us asking what to do to incorporate IEC 61850 to their products. When we told them about …, what it costs, how big it's API is, etc, they got frightened and said that it wasn't worth by now. When we first saw SystemCorp's solution in your blog, we realized that it was an excellent product for companies that wanted to "explore" IEC 61850.”

A lot of people have made similar statements during the last months.

Impact of User Application on the Conformance of an IEC 61850 IED

One of the latest conformance tests has shown quite interesting results. An IED developed by SystemCorp (Perth, Western Australia) was successfully tested by KEMA recently. The IED uses a Beck IPC Chip as the core component. The SystemCorp IEC 61850 software (PIS-10 Stack) is running on this Chip platform as an integrated part – encapsulated and thus a given component.

In a paper SystemCorp has published a table of 120 test cases and shown which tested Functions are integrated in the PIS-10 Stack (integrated on the Chip) and which Functions are in the User Application that impact the conformance test.

More than 75 per cent of the test cases are of the first category (integrated in the Stack software) and less than 25 per cent of the test cases are directly depending on the User Application.

It is likely that other IEDs with the same Beck Chip and the same integrated PIS-10 stack will pass the 91 test cases of the first category easily.

Click HERE to access the table [PDF].

THE END: INTERBUS Club now part of Profibus User Organization

Ethernet has become THE major solution for future field busses – as has been suggested more than 20 years ago. It took many years before enough users requested Ethernet based field busses.

Interbus is one of successful conventional field busses – in strong competition with Profibus and other solutions. Finally, Ethernet wins over Interbus and many other standard field busses. The Interbus Club released this: “Within users a strong change by the field bus technologies in the direction of Ethernet is to be recognized. Hence, the INTERCBUS club had promptly decided to set on … ethernet based standard.”

Click HERE for more information on the end of the Interbus Club.

There are (too) many Ethernet based international field bus standards specified in IEC 61158.

On the other side, IEC 61850 has – from the very beginning – decided to use native Ethernet and ICP/IP as specified in IEC 61850-8-1. There is an IEC 61850-8-1, where is the IEC 61850-8-2? The mapping of the ACSI and the information models to Profibus FMS was intended to be published as 8-2. Fortunately it was decided very some 15 years ago (!) to rely on Ethernet, TCP/IP and MMS – and not on a field bus.