S3N - Smart Solution for Substation Networks, an Architecture for the Management of Communication Networks in Power Substations

Abstract

Today, the communications network has become an essential element to the operation of any type of organization or infrastructure, such is the case of the electrical power substations. Such networks in particular, demand high levels of availability and reliability, as the substation is a key element in the chain of energy generation and distribution. However, although recent network modernization introduced new features that allow to optimize the operation of the substation, the variety of devices that integrate it Intelligent Electronic Devices - IED: breakers, switches, Protection and Control, Merging Units - MU, Network Switches, IEEE 1588 Master Clock and the huge set of application-level protocols SMV - Sample Measure Value, GOOSE - Generic Object Oriented Substation Event, MMS - Manufacturing Message Specification, PTP - Precision Time Protocols, among others, increase the management complexity. In this context, the Applied Telecommunications Research Group GITA, has decided to propose the development of S3N - Smart Solution for Substation Networks. S3N is defined as a network architecture that introduces the novel Software Defined Networks SDN and virtualization technologies, in order to simplify the management of communication networks in power substations.