ABB

Application Note

2000R
AN-65A-00

Substation Automation and Protection Division

Commissioning Microprocessor Based IED Communication Systems.

ABSTRACT: Substation commissioning to verify correct data reporting between a host device and an
IED is a tedious and lengthy process. Integrity of data exchange between the field device(s) and a host
traditionally involved taking the system protection offline and testing each point using test switches,
current and voltage generators and applying each known case to the system to prove data integrity.
Using an advanced concept using software bit setting though the IEDs auxiliary ports, the events may be
simulated in software, without removing the IED from service and testing the database link between the
IED and host device.

Historical Perspective:
In any relay installation, commissioning the installation can be an exceptionally time-consuming
procedure. The IED must be placed out of service and a crew must attach current and voltage simulator
equipment to the out of service IED and read all data values for each fault scenario. The remote
commissioning team must be in contact with the SCADA or Energy Management System personnel to
verify that the correct data is being received and interpreted correctly. Testing Phase A,B,C, Amps, Volts
and Watts may be the least complicated portion of the commissioning process. Verifying activation or deactivation of functions such as reclosing, ground blocking, or other functions and reporting them correctly
to the host device is one of the more tedious and time consuming processes in commissioning an
microprocessor based relay. Intricate knowledge of the IED configuration software must be known.
Usually the relay engineer may be familiar with the procedure of setting the relay and forcing the
functions, however, the SCADA engineer may not be knowledgeable with the process to enable or
disable these functions. The SCADA engineer may only know the memory map of the device undergoing
commissioning and the format of the data reporting to the host device. The SCADA engineer is primarily
interested in data and database integrity such that an event is displayed and archived correctly at the host
level.
ABB has incorporated a new concept to verify end to end integrity of data between microprocessor based
relay IED devices. The new technique is called SCADA REDI (SCADA Rapid Electronic Device
Integration). ABB devices traditionally have read only components (reporting the present state of the
function or input/output device). ABB microprocessor based protective relays traditionally have control
capabilities in forcing physical devices attached to the relay, but there was no method to force analog
readings, to verify database mapping integrity. The analog readings are stored in the MODBUS protocol
in 4X memory and were traditionally read only.
ABB DPU 2000, DPU 2000R, TPU 2000 and TPU
2000R relays have the capability to allow a read only 4X register to be forced from a personal computer
through the relays communication port. SCADA REDI allows one port (attached to a computer) to
force a register with data, while the host device polls the second port and verifies the data forced by the
auxiliary computer. Figure 1 illustrates the methodology with SCADA REDI enabled and disabled.

Commissioning Microprocessor Based IED Communication Systems AN-65A-00

Field Analog Ia

Read Only

DUAL PORT
RAM

Host Requests Ia Magnitude with 03 Modbus Command

(Read Only). Real Time Value returned to host.
Host

40257: Ia Magnitude

Com Port 3.
C
E

DPU 2000R

SCADA REDI : Host Polls Relay for read only value and gets field value returned.
DISABLED

DUAL PORT
RAM

Read Only

Host Requests Ia Magnitude with 03 Modbus Command

(Read Only). DUAL PORT Value returned to host. Host

40257: Ia Magnitude

Com Port 3.
Commissioning Computer writes data tothe relay with
the 16 Modbus Command (Write). DUAL PORT Value
is returned upon request on any port.

Field Analog Ia
C
E

DPU 2000R

AUX COM PORT

Commissioning Computer

SCADA REDI : A. Field values only used for protection algorithm (Protection still occurs.)
ENABLED
B. The previously read only memory is now READ/WRITE
C. Commissioning Computer writes to memory and host reads the value for
verification.

Figure 1 - SCADA-REDI Methodology

Methodology:
The DPU 2000, DPU 2000R, TPU 2000 and TPU 2000R have two microprocessors operating in parallel.
One microprocessor provides the functionality required for the protective functions.
The other
microprocessor is resident on the communications card providing its functionality. An internal electronic
bus with a dual-port RAM memory resident on the communication card provides the electronic
interconnection of the main board and the communication board. In this way, the protocol is included
within the protective relay. No expensive port switches, cabling or auxiliary power sources are required to
establish communications with common protocols such as Modbus, Modbus Plus, and other industry
standard protocols. Figure 2 illustrates the typical DPU 2000 and DPU 2000R memory map.

Commissioning Microprocessor Based IED Communication System AN-65A-00

00001

OX
Memory
(READ Only)

DPU 2000

01056
10001

HOST

1X
Memory
(READ Only)

C E
TARGETS

4x
Memory
(READ ONLY)

OR

(READ/WRITE)
CAPABLE
( QUASIREAD/WRITE
CAPABLE)

C
E

File 10

DPU 2000R

11056
40001

41153
41154

41408
41409

41919
60000

File 2
File 1
6X
Memory
READ/WRITE
Capable
63199

Figure 2 - Typical Modbus/Modbus Plus Register Definition

During the commissioning process, it is required that the correct data is mapped from the relay to the host
device. The conventional method is to have an individual with expensive test gear to apply individual
voltages and currents to the relay terminals to simulate field conditions. The individual must be at the
substation and a direct link must be made to the individual at the host device verifying the correct data is
being received and interpreted correctly.
With 6X memory and some of the 4X memory, a host device can force the read/write capable 4X and 6X
memory locations and verify data is sent and received to some memory location. The SCADA REDI
process provides much more flexibility, allowing streamlining of the commissioning process.
Within the DPU 2000 and DPU 2000R control register memory map a single bit (Bit 13 in Register
411159) may be set to allow READ, WRITE, and READ/WRITE Modbus /Modbus Plus commands to be
sent to the previously READ ONLY memory locations. A typical scenario is illustrated in Figures 3, 4, and
5.

Commissioning Microprocessor Based IED Communication Systems AN-65A-00

SCADA REDI(R) BIT = 0

SCADA REDI(R) BIT = 1

00001

00001

OX
Memory
(READ Only)

OX
Memory
(READ Only)

DPU 2000
01056

01056

10001

10001

1X
Memory
(READ Only)

C
C E
E

1X
Memory
(READ Only)

TARGETS

4x
Memory
(READ ONLY)

OR

(READ/WRITE)
CAPABLE
QUASIREAD/WRITE
CAPABLE

C
E

File 10
File 2
File 1

DPU 2000R

11056
40001

11056
40001

41153
41154

4X
(READ/WRITE)
CAPABLE

41408
41409

41919
60000

41919

File 10
File 2
File 1

6X
Memory
READ/WRITE
Capable

60000

6X
Memory
READ/WRITE
Capable
63199

63199

Figure 3 - SCADA REDI Memory Map Modification

As per Figure 3, all 4X memory is read/write capable. In other words, Modbus commands 03 READ
HOLDING REGISTERS, 16 WRITE HOLDING REGISTERS, and 23 WRITE/READ HOLDING
REGISTERS, may be used to communicate with the relay. IT IS MOST IMPORTANT TO REALIZE
THAT THE RELAY DISABLES
THE LINK BETWEEN THE PROTECTIVE RELAY AND THE
COMMUNCATION CARD ( SIMILAR TO THE LOCAL REMOTE FEATURE). RELAY PROTECTION
FUNCTIONS ARE STILL ENABLED IF SCADA REDI IS SET. ONLY COMMUNICATION IS
DISABLED BETWEEN THE RELAY AND COMMUNICATION CARD. AS ILLUSTRATED IN FIGURE
1, THE DUAL PORT RAM UPDATE CYCLE BETWEEN THE COMMUNICATION CARD AND
PROTECTIVE RELAY IS HALTED.
DPU 2000

C E

To AUX COM PORT

WRITING 4X MEMORY

SIMULATOR
PC

TARGETS

OR

C
E

TO COM 3 PORT
READING FORCED\
4X MEMORY VALUES

DPU 2000R

Figure 4 - Typical Commissioning System

Host

Commissioning Microprocessor Based IED Communication System AN-65A-00

As shown in figures 1 and 4, one system ( a typical PC operating with a DDE utility and WINDOWS utility
for example) could be forcing the registers and the second system, the host verifies that the data values
are received correctly. Although the illustration shows a direct connect scenario, the Host and Simulator
devices may be located offsite and connected to the substation via a modem or fiber optic connection.
To initiate SCADA REDI refer to Figure 5 illustrating the method to initiate the function through a series
of Modbus or Modbus Plus control writes. Once SCADA REDI has been initiated, any register within
the 4X Modbus or Modbus Plus register range ( as illustrated in Figure 4) may be forced to a values
using a Modbus /Modbus Plus 16 command ( Write Multiple Holding Register Command).
To de-activate the SCADA REDI command, repeat the same procedure as illustrated in Figure 4 except
load registers 41158 and 41159 with a value of 0.
EXAMPLE 1 -ENABLE SCADA -REDI (R) in the DPU 2000 or DPU 2000R
STEP 1 Host sends following register contents
to initiate SCADA REDI (R) ( Assumed that default
password of all spaces is active).
41155 = 2020 hex (Password Hi)
41156 = 2020 hex (Password Lo)
41157 = 0
(Reserved)
41158 = 2000 hex ( SCADA REDI (R) Bit Set To Change)
41159 = 2000 hex ( Change SCADA REDI (R)
bit to value of 1).
EC

Command
Sequence Through
Modbus Command 16
Preset Multiple Holding Registers
EC

The Relay Responds

over the network that
the data has been
accepted. If data has
not been accepted, an
exception response is
generated

STEP 2 The host sends the register execute

command to the following address
with the following contents.
41154 = 0001 hex
EC

Command
Sequence Through
Modbus Command 16
Preset Multiple Holding Registers
EC

The Relay logically ANDS the

register 41158 and 41159. If the
result of the logical operation is a 1
for the operation, then the relay performs the operation.
The Relay enables the SCADA REDI (R)
command in one quarter cycle.
The Relay then responds to the
request received over the network.
If the registers are not configured correctly to
perform the operation, a Modbus exception
response is generated upon response to the host.

Figure 5 - Enabling SCADA-REDI Mode in the DPU 2000 or DPU 2000R.

A DDE (Dynamic Data Exchange) package may be utilized to perform the forcing functions. A DDE editor
may be used with a spreadsheet program to form a powerful, yet simple and inexpensive method to force
the variables during a commissioning session. Such DDE packages are sold by a variety of
manufacturers including Square D, and KEP (Kessler Ellis Products). The DDE link allows a spreadsheet
to link to the protocol (Modbus or Modbus Plus) and perform data reads/writes to the IED. The
spreadsheet program (Windows operating system capable), serves as the operator interface for
troubleshooting and commissioning the system.

Economics:
Through evaluation and comparison between SCADA-REDI and traditional methods of commissioning,
substantial cost savings can be realized using SCADAREDI . Economics are evaluated using two
commissioning models:
A. A Traditional RTU Equipped Substation with 25 breakers testing a limited amount of data
such as breaker status, V, I, W, Vars reported to the RTU and Host Device.

Commissioning Microprocessor Based IED Communication Systems AN-65A-00

B. A fully Integrated IED equipped substation with 25 breakers testing the full complement of
data displayed on a local monitoring system and RTU. Data verified includes, but is not
limited to that of scenario A, but also , alarms, control, status, events, reports ).
When using the test criteria of insuring that the test variable displays correctly in all host screens, event
lists, logs, and that all analog quantities are displayed and trigger proper alarms when out of range, the
following can be realized:
WITHOUT SCADA REDI , a traditional RTU- equipped substation (CASE A) with 25 breakers can be
checked out in about 1 day.
WITHOUT SCAD REDI , an IED-Equipped substation with 25 breakers (CASE B) can require 25 days
to fully check out all data .
A SCADA REDI IED equipped substation with 25 breakers (CASE A) can be checked out in 3 hours.
A SCADA REDI IED equipped substation with 25 breakers (CASE B) can require 3 days to check out
all data .
The time savings is realized in that test equipment does not have to be located and each time consuming
setting of the test set or relay need not be performed. The data is set via an auxiliary test set connected
to another port. The forcing of the data is instantaneous leading to rapid verification of the event and data
at the host level. In a substation with SCADA REDI with 2 technicians performing test (at a rate of $60
dollars per hour),the cost savings of using SCADA REDI versus the traditional method of substation
checkout is 22 days saved at a cost of $21,120. The potential savings are enormous.

Conclusion:
SCADA REDI is a time savings device designed to increase productivity. An often overlooked but
expensive task is that of commissioning the interface between the host and IED. Using the traditional
methods of troubleshooting often neglects the integrity of the MMI system during all case scenarios.
Using SCADA REDI saves time through utilizing proven technologies that are synergetic with
microprocessor based IEDs. Combining automated SCADA-REDI checkout can further increase the
time and staff labor savings.

Contributed by:
Kenneth W. Powell
Revision 0, 5/08/00

ABB, Inc.
7036 Snowdrift Road
Allentown, PA 18106
800-634-6005 Fax 610-395-1055
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.abb.com/substationautomation