IEC61850 Protocol Research Articles

A Telegrapher’s equations-based implicit finite difference solution for fault location with current transformer saturation

This paper introduces a fault location method based on time analysis, utilizing synchronized data collected from both ends of the faulted line. The data is obtained either from Common Format for Transient Data Exchange (COMTRADE) files or Sampled Measured Value (SMV) of the IEC-61850 protocol. The method proposed in this study employs the implicit finite difference solution to the Telegrapher’s equations. In certain fault scenarios, such as when one or both transformers experience saturation, a narrow time window of data can be utilized to accurately pinpoint the fault location. The implicit solution method is unconditionally stable and therefore decouples the choice of the line discretization step from the sampling time interval, which is commonly required to maintain numerical stability of the explicit strategies for fault location. Furthermore, the numerical stability of the implicit process allows for devising a systematic search procedure that improves the accuracy of the calculated fault location, regardless of the transmission line length. By conducting numerical comparisons with an explicit time-domain fault locator and recent frequency-domain algorithms, the superiority of the proposed approach becomes evident. The results highlight the significant improvements achieved through the utilization of this method. Specifically, the results demonstrate that Telegrapher’s Equations implicit finite difference solution maintains accuracy under current transformer saturation, as it can locate the fault using data from a brief interval where the current transformer is not saturated.

Impact and Vulnerability Analysis of IEC61850 in Smartgrids Using Multiple HIL Real-Time Testbeds

Due to the increasing use of smart components in smart grids, interoperability among them is a crucial aspect to address. IEC61850 is a communication standard that has been already used in substations because of its instant data transfer and the ability to enable data exchange between a variety of smart energy-related digital technologies. This article studies the application of the communication protocols defined by the IEC61850 standard in Intelligent Electronic Devices (IEDs) by using a prototype testbed architecture running on a real-time digital device. The goal of this activity is to study the impact of smart simulations and the vulnerability in terms of cyber-security. This testbed includes the supervisor, the substation bus, and the process bus communication layer creating a local network exchanging data at distinct levels. Different fault protection scenarios are discussed using both physical and emulated IEDs, and the communication protocols implemented in each scenario are explained showing that additional delays are introduced. In the first two scenarios, the operation of the testbed using physical versus emulated IEDs is analyzed and compared, ensuring the robustness of this methodology in situations where the use of a physical IED would be unfeasible. In these scenarios, the functionality and robustness of the protection mechanisms and communication protocols are confirmed. In the third scenario vulnerability of smart grids that use IEC61850 as their primary communication protocol to data injection attacks is studied. Sniffing the local network, packets are captured and monitored. Spoofed data with the same structure are injected into the network to conduct false data injection attacks on the supervisory unit. Vulnerability to cyber attacks of the IEC61850 protocol in specific situations is shown.

Network traffic prediction for detecting DDoS attacks in IEC 61850 communication networks

This article presents the development of a Generic Object Oriented Substation Event (GOOSE) message traffic prediction system using a Nonlinear Autoregressive Model with Exogenous Input (NARX) input. An Artificial Neural Network was adopted to detect Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) attacks in networks using the IEC-61850 protocol. The system uses the OpenFlow protocol to split the multicast groups of GOOSE messages, in which each transmission is analysed separately. The implemented intelligent system used 62 prediction steps with a percentage relative error of up to 5%. The system was embedded in the ZYBO development platform with the OpenMul controller. The results showed that the percentage relative error of each sample presents a determinant signature for classifying the state of operation of the electrical system, making it possible to identify DDoS attacks in communication networks for electric power substations.

A Device for Online Monitoring of the Measurement Accuracy of Digital Electric Energy Meter

The application of smart substation technology has brought many opportunities to the power industry, but also caused many new problems and challenges. At present, with the large-scale promotion of intelligent substation based on IEC61850, there are many engineering problems which will not appear in IEC61850 protocol and are closely related to practical application. A device for online detection of electrical error is designed in the paper for the measurement deviation problem of “IEC61850-9-2 input digital power meter” in the new generation of intelligent substation. The characteristic of the device is that once the meter measurement error is detected within the set time interval, it will record the voltage and current waveform data within the interval in real time for error analysis and problem finding.

Design and Its Application of Power Time Synchronization Management System Based on TMU and IEC61850 Protocol

By deploying the TMU device at stations and power plants, the time synchronization measurement of the station clock device and secondary device are performed. The automatic discovery of the device status and the real-time upload of the time difference data are realized based on the IEC61850 protocol. The time synchronization network configuration, alarm and performance datas are unified maintained, managed and monitored, to enhance the plant station time synchronization precision control ability, which has a good operability, scalability and compatibility.

An On-Line Monitoring Device for Dissolved Gas in Transformer Oil Based on Spectrum Technology

On-line monitoring of dissolved gas in transformer oil can effectively judge the early fault of transformer. The existing monitoring devices are generally based on gas chromatography, which need to be replaced carrier gas and calibrated periodically, therefore, the maintenance work is heavy. In recent years, photoacoustic spectrum technology with the advantages of high accuracy and no carrier gas required is gradually stressed, but its measurement accuracy is susceptible to mechanical vibration and noise, and its main components such as modulation disk is prone to failure. For this reason, this paper proposes an on-line monitoring device for dissolved gas in transformer oil based on spectrum technology, which doesn’t need carrier gas and maintenance during operation. The device is simpler and lighter in structure and better in performance. The device can on-line monitor 7 kinds of dissolved gas in transformer oil, and has functions such as transformer fault diagnosis, remote alarm, local man-machine interaction, local storage, and supports multiple communication modes such as IEC61850 protocol. The field application shows that the device can provide the basis for transformer fault diagnosis.

Smart Grid Simulation Including Communication Network: A Hardware in the Loop Approach

Smart grids are complex electrical systems made up of power devices and communication systems that interact with each other, both locally through measures and generally through the exchange of information on communication networks. In this article, the simulation of a smart grid including the emulation of the communication network behavior together with the physical hardware devices is proposed using hardware-in-the-loop methodology. The original aspect of the technique is related to the fact that the models are generated in a tool that is independent of the real-time simulator using a model-based design approach, and then the code is generated and deployed in a real-time simulator coupled with hardware devices such as low voltage protection units. The proposed framework is used to test the protection coordination that employs the IEC-61850 communication protocol. A test case is shown demonstrating the coordination of switches and the emulation of the PV system in hardware-in-the-loop, focusing on the implementation of the interface algorithm over Ethernet using the UDP communication protocol.

Fast Transmission Schemes in Substation Automation System

The main purpose of this paper is to study the communication protocol IEC61850 (Communication Networks and Systems in Substations) to develop of practical fast transmission modes in direct trip schemes, using communication functions to implement protection, control and condition monitoring functions under IEC61850 protocol to complete devices data integration in substation automation system. The way of direct trip schemes can provide fast communication speed to stable power system operation in case of suddenly events occasions. The messages interchange via GOOSE (Generic Object Oriented Substation Event) application is based on the IEC61850 communication protocol to implement fast direct trip modes. It is found that the interaction communication of direct trip schemes among various protective relays can be achieved by the IEC61850 protocol based on GOOSE application to approach system stabile operation under occasionally events.

On-line Monitoring System of Capacitive Equipment Dielectric Loss

To ensure capacitive equipment working safely and reliably, an on-line monitoring system of capacitive equipment dielectric loss was developed. The insulation situation was estimated accurately through long-distance synchronous sampling (using IRIG-B code synchronous clock), seamless connection of data between devices using Intelligent Electronic Device (IED), communication following IEC61850 protocol, and data analysis (using fault diagnosis algorithm). Running results showed that the system not only can accurately monitor the information, such as leakage current, dielectric loss, and equivalent capacitance, which reflect the working condition of capacitive equipment, but also can transmit data to the on-line monitoring data center through the IEC61850 protocol. The operating data, monitoring on CVTs in 330kV substation, showed the great improvement of this system on credibility, accuracy, and stability. What’s more, it also proved the great value of using and promoting this system. DOI : http://dx.doi.org/10.11591/telkomnika.v12i6.4866