Old School versus New School - The Change of Generations in the Power Industry

Recently there was a conference in Cologne (Germany) held on how to improve human resources developments in power utilities. It seems that many managers expect that they fall short of hiring the best engineers.
Why is the situation in the power industry so crucial? There are many reasons - according to my personal experience. One crucial fear is the change of generations: Old School versus New School.
It is a pity that maintaining and improving the largest and the most crucial machines ever (the interconnected power delivery systems) are not so attractive to young people. What would young people do if there would not enough power to send their messages and photos back and forth? What would hospitals do without electric power? Or ...

Many discussions in the public are centered around one issue: getting cheap and cheaper power. I have experienced this quite often when HR managers start discussing with me to offer cheaper training courses ... I guess many of them have to learn that the change of generations of engineers will become THE challenge in the power industry. Why: Because the complexity of the secondary power system solutions has reached a level that can't easily be managed by inexperienced and less-motivated engineers. These engineers have to be trained in power systems theory AND information systems theory.

We (older) engineers had a chance to learn new technologies step by step over a long period - sometimes 20 or more years. These days we see new approaches being popping-up over night - more or less. The pressure is coming, e.g., from Internet technologies, Industry 4.0, and Smart Phones. These new possibilities will have a big impact on the way how power is generated, transmitted, and (of course) how it is distributed and used.

How do we get prepared for the future power delivery system? Solid education is one of the key issues and expensive.

But many HR managers want to get the best for free. The best things in life may be free. But not the power delivery. The real cost of power delivery will likely only be understood after a longer huge black-out.

One objective of HR managers is to hire more young and motivated engineers - another should be to give the experienced and interested engineers more chances to receive the education they need for the years to come.

Ask for a permission to attend a training - good luck!

Experience with the OMICRON IEDScout Version 4.10 - The Name Space Concept

As you may know we have defined a very powerful namespace concept into IEC 61850. It allows to use logical nodes and data objects from multiple application domains in one single SCL File.
This concept has been incorporated into the standard (IEC 61850-6, -7-1, -7-2, -7-3, 7-4, and 8-1) some 15 years ago. At that time I was the editor of parts -7-1 and -7-2.
By the way: These five (5) parts are often called "The Core Parts of IEC 61850".

The name space “IEC 61850-7-4:2003” indicates that ALL instances within this logical device
are derived from the 2003 editions of IEC 61850-7-4, IEC 61850-7-3, and IEC 61850-7-2. The logical device name space could be understood as the prime name space. The attribute ldNs is an attribute contained in the name plate of the logical node zero (LLN0).
A device that implements more than one Logical Device can support multiple prime name spaces - one per Logical Device.

The name space for Edition 2 of the core documents is as follows:

        IEC 61850-7-4:2007A

The Omicron IEDScout V4.1 analyzes this Logical Device name space and acts according to the name space configured. Let's see how that works.

If the LD name space is missing then the default value will be used: this means Edition 1 of the core documents).
The following figure shows an SCL file that does not contain a value for the "ldNs". Now we open the SCL file with the IEDScout 4.1.The IEDScout figures out that the prime name space is Edition 1 of the core parts. In Edition 1 of IEC 61850-7-3 (Common Data Classes) there are no CDCs like ENS and ENC defined. This is indicated in the warning area. Edition 1 of IEC 61850-7-3 defines INS and INC instead.



The new enumerated Common Data Classes (ENS, ENC and ENG) have been added in Edition 2 of IEC 61850-7-3. The SCL File with the Edition 2 prime name space is shown next:


The IEDScout does not show any warning!

Smart!

What does that mean for all of us? We have to make sure that our IEC 61850 models configured in an SCL File are according to the prime name space we want to use!

And: The IEDScout has many other powerful (browsing, testing, ...) features build-in that help you to get your IEC 61850 based system running according to the standard series IEC 61850, IEC 61400-25, ...

I am using the IEDScout 4.1 in my training courses. Attendees learn how to model IEDs and how to test them.

Click HERE for downloading a 30 days fully functional evaluation license.

Should Power Grids Put Their Critical Digital Systems Off?

Power delivery systems worldwide are under heavy stress: physical stress and stress caused by shareholders and hackers and ... The stress is heavy often due to very limited resources that hinder engineers to improve the system very much.

Some people believe that the solution may be lying in going back to the Old Days! They want to spend USD 10.000.000+ for studying to go ,Back to analog and non-digital control systems, purpose-built control systems, and physical controls. Who has said this? ... some 20 years ago? No: this month!

The motto of some US congress man seems to be: Get rid of state-of-the-art technology.

A corresponding bill was assigned to a congressional committee on June 6, 2016:
Click HERE for more details.
Click HERE to download the text of the bill [pdf].

Click HERE for a discussion published under nextgov.com.

Does this mean the end of digital protection and automation systems? The end of communication according to IEC 61850, IEC 60870-5, DNP3, Modbus, ...?

What is needed? More well educated engineers that can use the digital technology in a way that the power delivery system can be managed securely and that become able to understand how the technology can be applied in order to re-start the power delivery system after a blackout.

I would like to see 10 per cent of the budget (USD 1.000.000) spent into education for protection, automation, SCADA and communications engineers. Have you ever tried to get approval for attending a training course for advanced protection, automation, SCADA, and communications like IEC 61850, or ...??

My experience after I run more than 230 courses worldwide and educated more than 4.100 engineers is this: many engineers that have asked me for a quote to conduct an in-house course or attending a public course had to give up due to budget restrictions!!

The other USD 10.000.000 could be spent for improving the digital based equipment as Cris Thomas, a security expert (see link to nextgov.com above), said: "Instead of spending two years and $10 million exploring ways to downgrade critical systems with even more outdated tech, we should instead invest that time and money into transforming security for the technology currently in place, and into building next-generation security features directly into future technology."

If utilities want to change the way the run their assets the management and stake holders should listen to the engineers!! And follow their recommendations! This is even more crucial in case of implementing more physical control done by human beings!

Badly educated engineers could do more harm than well operating machines.

Whatever we want to do to "ruggedize" our power delivery system, we need more well educated and experienced engineers. Retiring senior engineers with 52 years (to reduce costs) is not a real option! Or? We need you all! And we need young people to study electric power systems and information technology.

Click HERE for some additional discussion by myself (German version).

FMTP and NettedAutomation announce Seminar Dates for 2017

Due to the request from power engineers FMTP and NettedAutomation have scheduled several dates for public training courses in 2017:

2016

19-23 September 2016 in Stockholm, Sweden [EN]
10-13 Oktober 2016 in Karlsruhe, Germany [EN]
07-09 Dezember 2016 in Karlsruhe, Germany [DE]

2017

30 January 2017 in San Diego, CA USA (just prior to the DistribuTECH 2017) [EN]
14-17 March 2017 in Stockholm, Sweden [EN]
04-07 April 2017 in Karlsruhe, Germany [EN]
19-22 September 2017 in Stockholm, Sweden [EN]
10-13 Oktober 2017 in Karlsruhe, Germany [EN]

Keep tuned to this blog to receive the latest in the domain power system protection and automation. Tap the experience of more than 230 training courses:

Plan your training for Fall 2016 and 2017 now!
Click HERE for further details.
Click HERE to contact us per email in case you have any question.

IEC 60870-5-104 AND IEC 61850 in all Training Courses of NettedAutomation

Due to the increasing importance of IEC 60870-5-104 in many new projects (e.g., in VHPready) NettedAutomation incorporates a new training module into the standard 3 days and 4 days training courses.
Usually we will spent a half day on IEC 60870-5-104 during our 3 days course and a full day in our 4 days course.
In-house courses may vary. We also offer 2 days special courses on IEC 60870-5-104 including practical exercises, e.g., to understand the VHPready solution and how to build gateways for many well known industrial fieldbusses like Profibus, Profinet, Ethernet/IP, etc.
Click HERE if you are interested in training for IEC 60870-5-104.

VHPready - Offener Industriestandard auf dem Vormarsch

Die Versorgungssicherheit in der Energiewende soll durch innovative Applikationen wie Lastmanagement und virtuelle Kraftwerke gewährleistet werden. Ihre Aufgabe ist es, die natürlichen Schwankungen der erneuerbaren Energien auszugleichen. Der offene Industriestandard VHPready fördert dabei auch die Einbindung industrieller Anlagen und Lasten in die Leitwarte und die notwendige Kommunikation (Profibus, ProfiNet, Ethernet/IP, Modbus, ...). Für den Informationsaustausch werden die beiden Lösungen angeboten: IEC 60870-5-104 (klassische Fernwirktechnik) und IEC 61850-7-420 (moderne Informationsmodelle und Austauschmechanismen).
Im SPS-Magazin finden Sie einen aktuellen Artikel von HMS.
HIER klicken, um den Artikel zu lesen.

Eine kostenlose Evaluierungssoftware unter Windows ist verfügbar (C#-Anwendung unter Verwendung des SystemCorp IEC 61850 Stack/API; Server und Client; C#-Anwendung mit Sourcecode).
HIER klicken, um zum Download zu gelangen.

Client-Anwendung (links) und Server-Anwendung (rechts) unter Localhost (auch mittels SCL-File konfigurierbar für PC-PC-Kommunikation mit Nachrichten auf TCP/IP):



Die HMS-Gateways unterstützen sowohl Server- als auch Client-Rollen (für IEC 60870-5-104 als auch für IEC 61850.

Beck IPC Offers New Very Powerful Embedded Platforms for Realtime Applications

Beck IPC (Wetzlas/Germany) is very successful in offering embedded platforms for many applications - including IEC 61850, IEC 60870-5-104, DNP3, ...
In order to offer a very powerful platform Beck IPC has developed two new SoM (System on Module): IPC@CHIP® SC1x5 and SC1x8 SoM

Some features:




Due to the compatible API, applications available for the SC143: IEC 61850, IEC 60870-5-101, (soon: DNP3), ... and many other applications, can easily be ported to the new powerful platform!

Click HERE for a two page brochure.
Click HERE for the latest documentation - search, e.g., for SC145

New part IEC 61850-90-19: Using Role Based Access Control (RBAC) and IEC 61850

IEC TC 57 has just proposed a new part of the series IEC 61850:
57/1740/DC:
IEC TR 61850-90-19: Communication networks and systems for power utility automation –
Part 90-19: Using Role Based Access Control (RBAC) and IEC 61850
This document is intended to extent IEC TS 62351-8 and provide configuration and maintenance or RBAC for IEC 61850 devices and applications.

Schedule Model combined with Setting Group Control Model

Schedules (LN FSCH) and Schedule Controller (LN FSCC) operate on a single Data Object (controllable entity) only. In case you want to set several or even many values with the Schedule Model - you will fail to do so.
Is there a work-around? Yes!
You can control Setting Group Control Blocks through Schedules as shown in the following picture:



The example shows a schedule with 24 enumerated values (1, 2, 3). These values control the Setting Group Control. That way allows to schedule many values (in the example 9 values) with a single schedule! The Schedule Controller LN FSCC is not shown.
This example shows the flexibility of IEC 61850!
Enjoy!
More to come!

Neues IEC-61850-Seminar in Deutsch – Karlsruhe (7.-9.12.2016)

Sie haben jetzt wieder die Möglichkeit, ein dreitägiges (deutschsprachiges!) Intensivseminar
mit Theorie und viel Praxis in Karlsruhe zu einem
***unschlagbar günstigen Preis*** von NUR 790,- Euro (netto) zu buchen!
07.-09. Dezember 2016 (Karlsruhe)

Die NettedAutomation GmbH hat seit 2003 weltweit über 200 Seminare (mit mehr als 4.000 Teilnehmern) für IEC 61850 und IEC 60870-5-104 durchgeführt.
Das Interesse an Seminaren und Trainingskursen im deutschsprachigen Raum ist so groß,
dass NettedAutomation im Dezember 2016 einen weiteren Trainingskurs in Deutsch anbietet.
Am ersten Tag wird ein Überblick über das Normungsumfeld und die einzelnen Normen
gegeben (Edition 1, 2, 2.1). Im Mittelpunkt stehen dabei die grundlegenden Eigenschaften und Bedeutung der Normenreihe IEC 61850 für Engineering, Datenmodellierung, Datenmodelle,
Kommunikationsmöglichkeiten, Sicherheitslösungen sowie deren internationale Umsetzung
und Akzeptanz.
Am zweiten und dritten Tag werden Details behandelt und mit praktischen Übungen an
realen Geräten begleitet. Ein Teil der eingesetzten Lösungen und Werkzeuge können auch
nach dem Training weiter verwendet werden. Es wird vor allem die Frage behandelt: Was
bedeutet der Einsatz dieser Normen für Hersteller von Geräten und Systemen, für die
Systemintegratoren und für die Anwender?

Hier CLICKEN (Email schreiben), wenn Sie Interesse haben.

Training offers by FMTP and NettedAutomation in fall 2016

Upcoming Open Seminars in English for SMART GRID, IEC 61850, PAC, Protection
Automation Control:

Stockholm, SE Sept 19-22 2016
Karlsruhe, DE Oct 10-13 2016

Click HERE for more details and registration information.

Three New CDVs of IEC 61850 Edition 2 Amendments published

IEC TC 57 just published three new CDVs for Edition 2 documents:

57/1707/CDV
IEC 61850-7-2 A1 Ed.2: Amendment 1 to IEC 61850-7-2 Ed.2: Communication networks and systems for power utility automation - Part 7-2: Basic information and communication structure - Abstract communication service interface (ACSI)
The Amendment solves issues that have been reported and discussed in recent years. Some 50 of them are documented in the Tissue Database for part 7-2.

57/1708/CDV
IEC 61850-7-3 A1 Ed.2: Amendment 1 to IEC 61850-7-3 Ed.2: Communication networks and systems for power utility automation - Part 7-3: Basic communication structure - Common data classes
The Amendment solves issues that have been reported and discussed in recent years. Some 45 of them are documented in the Tissue Database for part 7-3.

57/1709/CDV
IEC 61850-9-2 A1 Ed.2: Amendment 1 to IEC 61850-9-2 Ed.2: Communication networks and systems for power utility automation - Part 9-2: Specific communication service mapping (SCSM) - Sampled values over ISO/IEC 8802-3
The Amendment solves issues that have been reported and discussed in recent years.

All three documents can be accessed publicly.

Please take some time to review both documents.
The documents should be available online for reading and for comments.
Check HERE for the access and for providing comments.

New Seminar "Protection and Control with IEC 61850" in Stockholm

FMTP is pleased to announce their newly designed Seminar "Protection and Control with IEC 61850" in cooperation between FMTP Power,  NettedAutomation and KTH, conducted by the well know experts: Mr Andrea Bonetti, Mr Karlheinz Schwarz and Prof. Lars Nordström.

We have added one extra day, with group practical exercises and guest speakers from a well-known Power utility and OPAL RT real time testing of power systems for IEC 61850 environment.

Stockholm, Sweden –  at KTH (Royal Technical Institute)

Sept. 19-23, 2016

Click HERE for the program and registration

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!

IEC 61850 Europe 2016 takes place 18-20 October 2016 in Amsterdam

The 3rd annual IEC 61850 Europe 2016 conference, exhibition and networking forum will draw together 150+ IEC 61850 experts and implementation leaders for 3 intensive days of discussions around multi-vendor multi-edition system architectures to support the smart grid. Placing Edition 2 at the heart of discussions, this year’s agenda provides a clear plan for optimising the system design, engineering, testing, operation and maintenance procedures of next generation systems.

“There has been tremendous progress in the take-up of IEC 61850 enabled systems in the last 3 years since the conference first launched” says Mandana White, Programme Director of IEC 61850 Europe 2016, organised by Phoenix Forums. “With utility commitment to IEC 61850 at an all-time high, IEC 61850 workforces expanding at a rapid rate, and the application of the standard going beyond the substation, the opportunities and challenges facing the IEC 61850 end-user community are now significant. And it is with these important shifts in mind that we have shaped this year’s agenda.”

Click HERE for details.

1,500 IEC 61850 Tissues posted since 2004

One of the crucial tools to help improving the quality of the Standard Series IEC 61850 is the so-called Tissue Database (Technical Issues):

tissues.iec61850.com

Currently 1,500 Tissues have been posted, discussed, answered, solved, ...

The Tissue #1,500 has been posted by TÜV SÜD on June 06, 2016.

The Tissue Database is open for every expert in the domain of IEC 61850. To post a tissue you need to register.

CDV of IEC 61850-6 Amendment 1 and IEC 62351-9 available for comments

IEC TC 57 has published the following documents for review:

57/1697/CDV
IEC 61850-6 A1: Amendment 1 to IEC 61850-6 Ed.2:Communication networks and systems for power utility automation -
Part 6: Configuration description language for communication in electrical substations related to IEDs

The Amendment incorporates 60 Tissues - listed in the CDV document. You can find easily what has been revised.

57/1699/CDV
IEC 62351-9: Power systems management and associated information exchange - Data and communications security -
Part 9: Cyber security key management for power system equipment

Please take some time to review both documents.
The documents should be available online for reading and for comments.
Check HERE for the access and for providing comments.

Many Open Positions in the U.S. linked to IEC 61850

An indication that IEC 61850 is used more often in the U.S. can be found when you search for an position with Simplyhired:

http://www.simplyhired.com/search?q=IEC+61850&l=

Today the search engine found 59 links ... Wow.

Several links are shown for France and Germany:

http://www.simplyhired.fr/search?q=IEC+61850
http://www.simplyhired.de/search?q=IEC+61850

Good luck.