Technical–economic evaluation model for a process bus based on IEC 61850

Abstract

Abstract The continuous technological evolution of protection and control systems has allowed improvements in the accuracy, operational flexibility and reduction of the size of equipment. The electricity sector is exploring commercially available solutions for the implementation of a process bus based on IEC61850. Functionally, IEC61850 is an equivalent solution to conventional wired logic systems; however, it has generated great expectations for reductions in the cost of design, construction, operation and maintenance. Several works on specific technical aspects of IEC 61850 are available in the literature, such as latency analysis, network topology, data models, services and types of message. However, when making decisions, a more comprehensive analysis of implementation costs, reliability, regulatory framework, operational context and technical trade-offs is required. This article proposes a mathematical model for the quantitative benefit–cost analysis of a process bus solution based on IEC 61850. In this work, four architectures of a substation automation system are compared in terms of their initial investment, scheduled maintenance, unscheduled maintenance, reliability, and penalties for energy not supplied considering the regulatory framework. The method used to carry out these evaluations is an analysis of the life cycle cost, which allows more objective decisions to be taken when considering the reliability requirements for electric power transmission and distribution systems. The goal of the model is to identify opportunities for companies in the electricity sector to involve themselves in the design and construction of the next generation of substations in such a way that their operation will be safe, reliable and economically efficient.