International Journal of Engineering and Advanced Technology (IJEAT)

ISSN: 2249 – 8958, Volume-9 Issue-1, October 2019

Real Time Operation of IEC 61850 Based Digital

Substation
Tanuhsree Bhattacharjee, Majid Jamil


Abstract: The advancement in technologies applied on
large numbers of digital and analog data points. Also there are
substation studies are leading towards substation automation
systems (SAS). In SAS network interoperability of substation no limits to communication bandwidth. The formation of
devices is an important factor that needs good media of utility communication architecture (UCA) in 1988 developed
communication. IEC 61850 protocol has a greater role in device the requirement for next generation communication systems.
communications and protection functions of an integrated system. Then forms the IEC TC57 group whose foundation is created
Also this standard can address the problem of interoperability of
by taking concepts and fundamentals of UCA. This group has
devices from various vendors. With the implementation of IEC
61850 standards in SAS networks, integration of latest devices formulated an international standard IEC 61850 to use in
like, intelligent electronic devices (IEDs), analog merging units substation communication networks to upgrade it into a
(AMUs) and Ethernet networks are becoming possible. IEC 61850 digital substation [1].
standards will upgrade a conventional substation model into IEC 61850 forms abstract of data items services and
Digital Substation providing IEDs and modern substation devices definitions. The mapping of data services and objects to other
are getting installed. In this paper IEC 61850 standard with its
various operational levels have been studied for basic
protocol as per requirement is done with the help of this
understanding of the protocol. A digital substation model with abstracts. Also substation configuration language (SCL)
operational architecture has been shown and its various process which is a extensible markup language (XML) based
bus communication messages have been discussed. To establish language has been defined in this standard for doing
the concept of interoperability of subsation devices in a substaion configuration with minimal human error. The IEDs that are
model, a digital substation laboratory model has been developed
enabled with IEC 61850 standard can detect any filed
here with IEC 61850 standard implementation. Real time analysis
of protection functions with process bus communications of the measured input like input of current transformer (CT)/
substation model have been executed. The study of IEC 61850 potential transformer (PT) and it can get automatically
standard and digital substation with its real time hardware test assigned to a measurement unit without user intervention.
results will give the reader a clear idea about digital substations, Also most of the substation devices needs to get configured
substation devices interoperability operations and protection using SCL files, the user need to just import the SCL file to do
functions. This implementation and application of IEC standards
in substation communication and protection functions can get
the configuration. From the devices connected in the network,
used effectively in future for testing some other network topology. the IEC 61850 client can get any object definitions. So using
this standard any vendor specific devices can get
Keywords : Digital substation, IEC 61850 standards, IEDs,
Substation automation, Substation protection.
interoperated and also it will save efforts and cost of device
configuration [2].
I. INTRODUCTION The integrated real time operation of a digital substation
as a functional system with standard communication protocol,
Modern power system networks needs good physical connections, storage share and coordinated control
communication media while performing any real time
with sequential operation is possible with the model having
operation. In early ages like 1930’s telephonic switching were
used for remote control of power units and for monitoring of IEDs, Ethernet based local area network (LAN), IEC 61850
status of few power network points. After this, digital protocol and communication technologies [3].The concept of
communications came into role from 1960 onwards. In this smart grid also came with the aim of having higher efficiency
system for collection of substation measured data, installation in every operation and lower outage time by implementing
of digital acquisition systems (DAS) were done. The DAS multifunctional IEDs [4].The transfer of time critical
communications were optimized on communication channels messages and security of network has been improved by the
with low bandwidth because of bandwidth limitations. This use of analog merging units (AMUs) with IEDs operation
optimization by the protocols was time consuming as it takes [5].The IEC standards are having object oriented approach
time in configuring, mapping and documenting received data that needs larger data transfer capacity within critical fund
locations. Coming to digital age we are having intelligent
investment. The IEC standards are a key component in
electronic devices (IEDs) with
substation automation system (SAS) network that is used for
protection and communication methods of the network with
desired performance [6].
Revised Manuscript Received on October 15, 2019.
Tanushree Bhattacharjee, Department of Electrical Engineering, Jamia
Millia Islamia, New Delhi, India. Email: [email protected]
Dr. Majid Jamil, Department of Electrical Engineering, Jamia Millia
Islamia, New Delhi, India. Email: [email protected]

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DOI: 10.35940/ijeat.A9748.109119 2698 & Sciences Publication
 Real Time Operation of IEC 61850 Based Digital Substation

IEC 61850 can get implemented in substations with following depending on the system condition [10].
operations: The configuration of IEC 61850 substations are defined
 Object model will use to define information form with the use of SCL language. Its XML files are having
automation functions and primary equipment of plant. description of different system level with hierarchy of the
 Abstract will define about substation services, data and configuration files [11].
data class irrespective of protocol underlying.
 It maps the communication services of IEDs in substation
automation system.
 It forms configuration language files for use in substation
automation.
 Transfer of system configuration files for configuration of
devices at various points of station [7].

II. IEC 61850 STANDARD

To implement any new technology successfully in power
system network we need to be able to use legacy IEDs and
past protocols with it. IEC 61850 standard has logical devices
or LDs to accommodate the past protocols with IEDs. There
are complex functions of IEDs that are used to define using Fig. 2 Different levels of IEC 61850 communication
simpler functions in IEC 61850 standard and this are called
LNs. The logical devices are made from group of LNs and so III. DIGITAL SUBSTATION
these are complex functions. IEC standard, models data
concentrator by supporting multiple LDs in a single device of A. Substation Model
station. The IEC 61850 information model for IEDs operation The IEC 61850 enabled digital substation model with
is shown in fig. 1 [8]. operating architecture is shown in fig. 3. The diagram is
showing that the field data gets collected at the process bus
level by using CT/PT and sensors. This information will then
travel through AMUs that will use to convert this analog
information into digital form. The AMUs can be placed in
station field site or in a control room. The digital information
from the AMU will get transferred to the Ethernet based LAN
or WAN communication network. This communication
network is used for control and protection operations in
Fig. 1 Information model for IEDs primary level communication and called process bus
The communication media used in IEC network can be communication. There are also substation level station bus
TCP/IP, Ethernet. The conventional and cost consuming communications and internet based communications to other
technique of data transfer using copper wires has been systems as shown in figure [12].
replaced by Ethernet networks and it also has improved the
communication speed. The devices of IEC 61850 enabled
substations are having feature of ‘self description’ which
means it can display its content to client. Overall IEC 61850
standard supports formation of peer to peer communication,
client-server communication model and substation
configuration [9].
IEC 61850 communication architecture have three
operation levels as shown in fig. 2. The levels are defined as
per their own specific operations as given below:
Process Level- In this level all the field measuring
Fig. 3 IEC 61850 based digital substation
instruments like CT/PT, sensors, actuators are connected. In
Networks with IEC 61850 communication protocol should
this level primary measured values are processed and sent to
be so designed that it can support the followings:
the bay level through process bus for functioning of IEDs.
1) Communication with client/server architecture
Bay Level- In this level all protection and controlling
2) Communication with publisher/subscriber architecture
operations of IEDs are performed taking the primary inputs
3) Trade-off between delivery reliability and delay
from process bus communication. There are different bays
4) Time synchronization
present in a substation model with interconnecting IEDs.
5) Different message types requirement for different
Station Level- In this level all bays data are collected and
quality of service
implementation of functions are also done.This all levels are
identification [13].
having data communications between them from both end

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DOI: 10.35940/ijeat.A9748.109119 2699 & Sciences Publication
 International Journal of Engineering and Advanced Technology (IJEAT)
ISSN: 2249 – 8958, Volume-9 Issue-1, October 2019

B. Process Bus Communication

The IEC 61850 standard based communication model is
having three types of messages: sampled measured values
(SMV), generic object oriented substation event (GOOSE)
and manufacturing message specification (MMS). The
message transfer hierarchies are shown in fig. 4. It can be seen
form the figure that MMS transfer is having seven layers
stack and GOOSE ,SMV are having three stack message
transfer. So, GOOSE and SMV communication is simplified
as compared to MMS transfer as these messages are time
critical messages. MMS messages are used in station bus level Fig. 4 IEC 61850 process bus communication
communication while GOOSE and SMV are for process bus
communication [14]. IV. DIGITAL SUBSTATION HARDWARE AND
RESULT ANALYSIS

A. Hardware set-up
The laboratory set up of digital substation installed with a
single line feeder network has been shown in fig. 5.

Fig. 5 Digital substation laboratory model

The complete hardware model is having following

substation devices and softwares: IED. IED can read this digital signals and will respond as
 Protection and control IED- REC670 per their configuration.
 Analog Merging unit- Vizimax MUG010000 There are some softwares, needed for operation of this
 Ethernet Hub- ABB AFS677 digital substation model. So, the client PC is installed with
 Test kit- Omicron CMC-256-6 PCM600 software which is used for configuration of
 Personal Computer as client for testing and monitoring REC670 IED. This software will be also used here for
 IED configuration software- PCM600, IED Scoute performing all substation operations and monitoring jobs. For
configuration of AMU in the network, vizimax
 AMU configuration software- Vizimax Commissioning
commissioning tool is being configured in the PC and for
tool
configuration of omicron test kit, test universe software is also
installed.
These digital substation model is tested for IEDs protection
 Test kit configuration software- Omicron Test Universe function operations. To test the model, inputs will get inserted
The Ethernet switch is connected to IED, AMU, omicron using omicron test kit that is being considered here as the real
test kit and PC using LAN wires. The digital substation model time field inputs of the station. The test is being performed
is enabled with IEC 61850-8-1 protocol which is required for by taking the substation feeder ratings having voltage 220kV
IED to IED or GOOSE communication and IEC 61850-9-2 and current 1kA. The omicron kit secondary values which
protocol for SMV communication between test kit and IEDs. will be the real time inputs to IEDs will have a reduced values
The real time analog input signals generated from the of voltage 100V and current 1A because of its secondary turns
Omicron test kit will be considered here as the substation field ratio settings and this set line values will get inserted into the
measured values and then send to the AMU. AMU is used to network.
convert this analog inputs in sampled values or in digital form
and through Ethernet LAN network it will travelled to the

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DOI: 10.35940/ijeat.A9748.109119 2700 & Sciences Publication
 Real Time Operation of IEC 61850 Based Digital Substation

B. Substation testing and result analysis the ultimate real time inputs that are inserted to the IED from
The REC670 IED is tested here for over voltage protection the AMU will have values of 220kV and 1kA. This are SMV
operation with user defined settings. Here the setting done on messages transferred from the AMU to the REC670 IED
IED for over voltage protection is to trip the IED at a over through Ethernet LAN network. The test values from the IED
voltage of 120% than the rated voltage taken. In over voltage with voltage and current waveforms of the over voltage
protection the IED should follow instantaneous curve of relay protection test are as shown in fig. 7- 10.
operation which means that for a fixed set over voltage value TRM setting of AMU:
the IED should trip at one set point of time. To test the over CT ratio - 1000:1
voltage protection operation, any one line voltage input of the PT ratio - 1:2200
substation can be considered.

Here Line1 or L1 is taken where the test voltage from the

omicron will be increased till the IED get tripped
automatically keeping other line voltages L2 and L3 constant
at 100V line. The real time inputs inserted in the IED from
omicron test kit for over voltage protection is shown in fig. 6.

Fig. 7 IED voltage waveform with over voltage in L1

Fig. 6 Real time phase inputs of substation taken from Fig. 8 Three phase voltage values at substation frequency
Omicron
From fig. 6 it can be seen that the input current of each line
is set at 1A and phase values also remain same as 1A (eq. 4).
While the input line voltages are 100V and converting in
phase voltage values of 57.7V (eq. 3) for L2 and L3 by
applying eq. 1.
V phase  Vline / 3 (1)

I phase  I line (2)

So, from eq. 1 : Fig. 9 Three phase currents of substation

V phase = 100/√3 = 57.7 V (3)

& I phase  I line  1A (4)

Where, V line = 100 V and I line= 1A

Also the phase voltage of L1 is increased to 120% of rated

value to test the over voltage protection operation of IED as
eq. 5.

VL1phase = 1.2 x 57.7 = 69.2 V (5) Fig. 10. Three phase current values at substation
frequency
This inputs will be given to the AMU so that it can From test results it can be seen that the real time substation
transform these analog inputs in digital form and transfer this SMV messages got transferred in the IED correctly.
SMV messages to IED. Now the AMU will convert the
omicron inputs back to the standard substation ratings
considered before by its TRM(Turn ratio meter) settings. So,

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DOI: 10.35940/ijeat.A9748.109119 2701 & Sciences Publication
 International Journal of Engineering and Advanced Technology (IJEAT)
ISSN: 2249 – 8958, Volume-9 Issue-1, October 2019

So, it is being established here that substation process bus line is having 152kV phase voltage as calculated in eq. 7
communications as SMV messages have been implemented in which is 120% of rated 127kV phase voltage.
the digital substation model successfully. The over voltage
protection test results as shown in fig. 7 & 8 depicts that the
SMV messages voltage output of IED is having phase voltage
127kV in both L2 and L3 lines as given in eq. 6. While L1
Table- I: Over voltage protection test results of IED

If convert this phase voltage values in line voltage then will model, interopebaility of SAS networks and role of IEC
get 220kV in L2 and L3 line with 264kV in L1 line which 61850 standards have been established.
were the standard values of the substation taken.. Also the As a future work this model can be extended with more
current outputs shown in fig. 9 & 10 states that the IED devices and a complex LAN network communications with
current is 1kA which was substation rated input. other result outputs.

From eq. 1 REFERENCES

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AUTHORS PROFILE
Ms. Tanushree bhattacharjee, she has received
her M.E. in power system from Indian Institute of
Engineering Science and Technology, Shibpur in
2014. In 2009, she has received her B-Tech in
Electrical Engineering from Kurukshetra
University. Currently, she is pursuing her Ph.D. in
Power Systems from Jamia Millia Islamia, New
Delhi, India. She has served as a project fellow in
UGC SAP DRS-II project at Jamia Millia Islamia,
New Delhi. Also She has served as an Asst.
Professor at DCE Gurgaon and MNIT Jaipur. She started her career as a
lecturer at REMTECH Shamli. She has 2 published papers in her area of
research and communicated several others to peer reviewed journals and
conferences. Her areas of interest are power systems, substation automation,
PV inverters, microgrids and optimization techniques.

Dr Majid Jamil, He obtained his Ph.D. in Power

Systems, Electrical Engineering from J.M.I., New
Delhi, India, in 2001. He did M.Sc. Engg. from AMU,
Aligarh, India in 1992 and B.Sc. Engg. (Electrical
Engineering) from Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi,
India in 1989. He is a Professor and former Head in the
Department of Electrical Engineering, Faculty of
Engineering & Technology, Jamia Millia Islamia, New
Delhi. He has also served as an Asst Professor at BITS Pilani Dubai Campus.
He has published more than 130 papers in his area of research. He has
published one book Grid Integration of Solar Photovoltaic Systems, CRC
Press, (Taylor and Francis Group), 2017, edited 2 books and has written
several book chapters. Prof. Jamil is a fellow of Institute of Engineers and
IETE, Senior Member IEEE and life member of ISTE, ICTP. His areas of
interest are power systems, energy, energy auditing and intelligent
techniques.

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DOI: 10.35940/ijeat.A9748.109119 2703 & Sciences Publication