MGREEE PROJECT 2009

Substation Automation using IEC 61850

A. Prasoon Kumar, B. Pratyush Kumar, C. Ratnesh kumar Verma, D. Ruchika.
Internal Guide: A. Nalini, lecturer, EEE Department, Dr. M.G.R. University, Chennai.

Abstract:- In the era of automatic operation
Substations which forms a vital node in the
transmission of electrical power system, also needs
automation. The automation of a substation started
earlier in 1900 with the introduction of relays, and is
going on till now with the introduction of new
technology which provides communication between
two substation to improve the reliability and for
better efficiency. This paper deals with the time line
history of automation, the automation technique and
the networking between substations, Concepts which
were used to develop intelligent substation. The paper
also gives a brief introduction of the latest protocol
(IEC61850) developed for the interoperability of
substations.
Index terms:--Automation, IEC 61850, IED, relays.
Substation communication.
I.INTRODUCTION
A software development tried to build a system
considering the runtime behaviour and assembly of
properties than can be obtained from the pattern of
interaction. Recently, in 2006 the International
Electro technical Committee (IEC) developed a
protocol (IEC61850) which provides
interoperability of substations, to make the control
more effective and direct.
II. A CONVENTIONAL SUBSTATION
According to the reference of paper [1], a
conventional Substation [1] forms vital nodes in
power networks because, among others, they make
possible modifications in the configuration of
networks during the operation of the EPS by means
of switching devices that can be controlled by
computer-based control systems.

Substation automation is a system to enable an

electric utility to remotely monitor, control and
coordinate the distribution component installed in
the substation. It started with the advancement in
relays. Relay is an automatic device which senses
an abnormal condition in an electric circuit and
closes its contact. The first relay was developed in
1900 and then onwards their function has been
improved to a protective device and more to an
automatic device.

The development of relays can be divided into

three main stage: Electromechanical relays, (1900),
static or electronic relays, (1960), microprocessor
based relay or numeric relay (1980). The most
advanced form of relays is known as intelligent
electronic devices (IEDs). Introduction of IED
embarked the communication in between two
equipments. This communication is nothing but the
data sharing module of equipments. Fig1. Architecture of a substation [1]

Electric power substations consist of two essential

Prasoon Kumar, EEE Department, Dr. M.G.R
University,Chennai. (prasoon1302@gmail.com)
. Pratyush Kumar, EEE Department, Dr. M.G.R.
University, Chennai. (pratyush.mgr@gmail.com)
. Ratnesh Kumar Verma, EEE Department. Dr.
M.G.R. University, Chennai . transformers, etc. to the bus bar system through
(ratnesh.3919@gmail.com)
Ruchika, EEE Department, Dr, M.G.R. University,
Chennai. (ruchika.jan18@gmail.com)
parts main (high or extra-high voltage) circuits,
also called primary circuits and auxiliary circuits
also called secondary (low- medium voltage )
circuits.
The main circuit of a substation composed of a bus
bar system and connection of power lines, power
switching devices. A Substation is divided into
bays. If a bay is used to connect a power line to the
bus bar system, it is called a line bay, if it is used
MGREEE PROJECT 2009
for connecting a power transformer to the bus bar
system, it is called a transformer bay, and so on.
Normally, a substation contains a number of line
and transformer bays and also other bays. All bays
are similar to the line bay.
Auxiliary circuits are electrical circuits which
contain measurement, signalling, control and
protection devices. in a primary circuit always
plays a critical role because all functions connected
with EPS protection, automation and control
operation realized by a substation are realized by
switching devices.
III. TIMELINE DEVELOPMENT
The reference paper [2], deals with year wise
development of relays and effect of this
development on automation of substation.
(a) Relay operation: .
 Electromechanical relays: The first relay
function were integrated in the breaker design
and acted as over current trips. The first stand-
alone electromechanical relay [2] was designed
in 1904. The first relay of induction type was
delivered 1912 to a hydropower station in the
north of Sweden, built to deliver power at 16
2/3 Hz to the railway.
Fig.2. Electromechanical relay [2]
These were mainly used for high power
substations.
 Static relays: It was introduced in the form of
timers, time over current relays etc. The
measurement is performed by electric,
magnetic, optical or other components with
the help of comparison and measurement.
Fig. 3.Static relay [3].
Advantages:
 Moving parts and contacts are
eliminated.
 More precise and high speed operation
These [3] were famous for their high speed
operation (i.e. 21ms or less) which insures high
security
 Microprocessor based relays: It operates by
critical filtering of time, performed with
analogue electronics. These are also known as
numeric or programmable relay.
Advantages:
 Display information about faulted part
 Includes many features such as fault
diagnostic, fault locator etc.
 Capable of replacing all specific purpose
relay by a single relay for various fault. The
protection, monitoring and control were also
easier for this relay.
(b) Remote terminal units (RTU):
Reference paper [3], deals about RTU Modelling of
intelligent substation which started with the
introduction of static relays. Each bay is controlled,
protected with different units (e.g. circuit breaker)
and provided with multifunction meters (e.g. a fault
recorder and an event recorder). Reference [4]
states the basic definition and working of RTU. An
RTU is an electronic device which interfaces data
from physical world to control system by telemetry
so that The operator sitting at control centre can
monitor the substation and take appropriate
decision. Paper [5] gives an idea of synchronized
operation of RTU and the interfacing device used.
The interfacing device used is Supervisory Control
And Data Acquisition (SCADA) system. It has a
synchronized sampling rate which made the
working of RTU time dependent and reliable.
(c) Programmable logic control (PLC):
In the reference paper [6] communication of
substation is being consider which mainly started
with the introduction of PLC. It was introduced in
1980 for substation control with the integration of
RTU [4]. It has been used for switching, load
shedding and restoration and emergency generator
control. With the introduction of SCADA its utility
increases. Paper [7] specially emphasise the
changes occurred in a substation when PLC is
introduced. It includes features like automatic
switching, self monitoring, interfacing the
substation with graphical user interface (GUI) and
human machine interface (HMI). The interfacing
was done over ethernet. A better monitoring,
control and monitoring was done.
MGREEE PROJECT 2009
Fig.4. A PLC substation [4]
Goals achieved by this technique are:
 Real time data collection
 Fail-safe, robust, long term application,
 Timely and cost effective implementation
(d) Intelligent electronic devices (IED):
Reference [8] and [6] gives a brief introduction of
new gateway i.e. IED. The benefit of new
technology resulted into fully automated substation
with almost all protection, monitoring and control
functions distributed to the line breaker terminals.
The more advanced version of these relay is
intelligent electronic devices (IED) [5]. A typical
IED can perform around 5-12 operation according
to the condition required.
Fig.5. IED organization [5].
The reference paper [9] shows the dependency over
IED in current scenario. A case study is dealt with
respect to IED. Now a days dependency of IED
results the obsolete presence of RTU in the
protection and monitoring purposes. These devices
receive data from sensors and issue control
command. A design incorporated with the IED,
local area network (LAN), protocol converter
SCADA and human machine interface (HMI) was
tested in 1994. It succeeded the next year when it
operated on database. Each IED can perform one or
many sub function operation. A set of such sub
functions are integrated together and
communicated with each other through Local Area
Network (LAN).
Fig.6.An IED based substation [6]
A Substation [6] divided into nodes according to
the positioning of IED. IEDs installed at nodes in a
substation collect data and communicate directly
through Ethernet switches over LAN wires. The
HMI recorded the database which increases fault
tolerance.
Reference paper [12] deals with some difficulties
faced by user with IED. The user could not directly
interconnect competing products since the protocol
remained unique for each system. Using competing
products from competing vendors offers a variety
of protection and monitoring capabilities for users,
who are often frustrated by the communications
variations. They could not interconnect the devices
(e) Real time simulator for SAS
In the reference paper [10], a real time simulator
named substation automation system (SAS)
simulator [7] was designed based on the theory of
digital simulator. It introduces the elements,
structure and function of substation.
Fig.7. Real time simulator model of Substation [7]
MGREEE PROJECT 2009

It deals with situation such as monitoring and The core components of this standard are:
protecting. The simulator embeds with running  An object model describing the information
system through hardware interface to realize real available from the different primary equipment
time simulating. Physical data such as voltage, and from the substation automation functions.
current is outputted as network message by TCP/IP  A specification of the communication between
or other network. It connects outside interface and the IEDs of the (IEDs) of the substation.
high speed network for monitoring and protective  A configuration language used to exchange
device, safety automation etc. configuration information between the
engineering tools used for the substation
(f) Prediction enabled component technology engineering as well as from the engineering of
(PECT) the network control centers.
 Modernization of all SCADA Systems.
Reference paper [11] deals with a prediction  New Human Machine Interfacing (HMI).
software methodology. In 2002, the Software
Engineering Institute (SEI) developed a method IV. INTELLIGENT AUTOMATION SYSTEM
that builds a predictable system which, on the basis
of runtime behaviour and pattern of instruction
The reference paper [1] deals with the modelling of
predict any fault, if occur, before their occurrence.
architecture of a current substation to make it an
To check the availability of this methodology an
intelligent substation. In the diagram [1] a system
empirical and a technological model are considered
architecture for 400 kV and for 66 kV separate
to develop. A low power high speed switch was
subsystems are interconnected via the station bus.
developed by SEI to simulate primary equipment of
This allows the data exchange with the local
substation. An automatic controller switch was
workplace as well as to the maintenance server.
developed for external switch control and over
The data exchange with SCADA and EMS as well
current protection. Empirical calculations were
as with the back office is enabled via the corporate
verified up to an accuracy of 97% but developing a
information system. Real time interaction between
real time technological model was complex and
protection and control IEDs via the fibre-optic inter
proved a challenging task and require further
bay bus allows automation functions as well as
elaboration to generate massive data set to
adaptive protection schemes.
adequately validate complex analysis.
Reference paper [15] deals with the two most
intelligent systems are neural networks and fuzzy
(g) IEC 61850
logic system.
Neural networks: a neural network techniques are
Reference paper [13] deals with the impact of a
very attractive because they do not require tedious
new protocol which is being developed for SA.
knowledge acquisition, representation and writing
This changes the architecture, functionality
stages. But they were adapted only to some
protection, control and monitoring system. It was a
problem. like recognition of speech, pictures and
complete new concept. In 2006, the International
waves. It concern mainly security assessment,
Electro technical committee, Europe, developed a
alarm handling, fault diagnosis.
protocol (IEC61850). It provides a flexible data
communication to ensure interoperability among
the various IEDs of multi vendors [8].
(Interoperability is the ability of two or more
system to exchange information to use that
information for the future development).

Table.1.application of neural and fuzzy network [1]

Fuzzy logic: A Fuzzy interference program uses a

Fig.8. A multi vendor IEC 61850 [8]
qualitative knowledge to deduce the conclusion
which have the highest possibility to occur. It is
MGREEE PROJECT 2009

combined with the existing technology applicable (e) Substation Monitoring

to protection real time control and SA.
The following examples demonstrate how modern
substation automation concepts can be effectively
applied to improve the power system performance.
(a) Dynamic Load Shedding
When drop in frequency is large, the loads can be
shed by under frequency load shedding and finally,
the generating unit may be tripped because of the
action of low frequency protective relays. The
conventional load shedding approach is static, as it
initiates tripping of pre-selected circuit breakers
when a certain level of under-frequency is reached,
regardless of the actual load conditions. Since the
actual load behind each individual circuit breaker is
not considered. Microprocessor based schemes
consider the actual load currents and to
dynamically select only those feeders to be opened,
which are needed to regain the frequency stability.
Monitoring is defined as “a station or network
management technique, which exploits the regular
evaluation of the actual operating condition, in
order to minimise the combined costs of power
transmission/distribution and maintenance” [9].
Information may be located at various locations
such as:
• Locally within the substation
• At any remote location as a centralised
SMS allocated to a specific region
• Operation and Maintenance Centre
• Engineering Centre for protection and planning
• Network control Centre

(b) Line tripping

Load shedding are initiated, if necessary, in areas

which could be destabilised by area isolation.
Specific circuit breakers simultaneously open the
border line of out-of- step areas and by the local
station computers, which shed the supply in
weakened areas.

(c) Adaptive Line Distance Protection

It is related to automated adjustments of protection
functions and made them more attuned to the
prevailing power system conditions. i.e. the
protection scheme is enhanced by additional
information about the network. Transmission lines
often run in parallel over long distances. The
automatic switching of the load from one line to the
other as in case of one line being faulty, the
distance protection needs to be automatically
adapted to the topology of the parallel lines. Apart
from this, also the power carrying capability of one
of the lines may have to be increased by
corresponding adaptation of the line protection. .
(d) Data Acquisition
With computing power making its way into the
primary equipment, more and more internal data
from high voltage equipment can be made
available. Data that will be accessible includes, but
is not restricted to:
• Switching counters,
• Thermal information,
• Quality of isolation media,
• Switching currents,
• Manufacturing data.
Fig.9. A substation monitoring [9]
V. SUBSTATION BASED ON IEC61850
In the reference paper [14] the basic architecture
and communication of a substation based on the
standard of IEC 61850 is discussed. A substation
[10] is divided into three basic levels viz. Process
level, Bay level and Station level.
 Process level function:
It extracts the information from
sensors/transducers in the substation and sent
them to bay level. It receives and control
commands from bay level and execute it at the
appropriate switch level.
 Bay level function: .
It acquires data from bay and then mainly act
on the primary circuit (which includes
protection and control devices).The CT, PT
and actuators are connected to protection and
control unit via merging unit.
MGREEE PROJECT 2009

and different protocols are being developed to

provide better communication in between two such
equipment. Some predictable methodology and
simulating model to develop a theoretical solution
of fault occurred were also used which tried to
predict a fault earlier than its occurrence.
In the series of advancement the latest protocol
developed by International Electro technical
Committee is IEC 61850. It has been developed for
interoperability of substation. i.e. to provide a
better communication protocol. It is in the initial
stage of development and promises a better
communication between substations.

Fig.10. Three level topology of substation
equipment [10].
 Station level functions:
Station level functions are of two type:
(a) Process related functions: it act on the data
obtained from multiple bays. They submit the
control commands from the primary
equipments (e.g. CB) and collect the data like
voltage, current and power factor.
(b) Interface related function: it interfaces the
substation automation system to a local
station operator HMI (human machine
interface) or to the remote monitoring system.
The two station and process buses are realized
through the standard Local Area Network (LAN).
Multi-port Ethernet switches are installed in station
bus which connected HMI through routers. Router
facilitates data communication between substation
and MCC. HMI enables the operator to monitor
and operate the switching element in substation
through Graphical User Interface (GUI). Suppose
station level node has to communicate with process
level, it will send message to bay level node
through Ethernet switch. This bay level node
executes its function and forwards the message to
process level node through merging unit. Merging
unit acts like a switch and provides the appropriate
path to message. Finally, the function will be
performed by the process level devices.
VI. CONCLUSION
REFERENCES
[1] J. Amantegui, I.Ojanguren, C. De carlos, F.Cobelo, R.
Quintanilla, “ Automation of HV Substations in
Iberdrola. Experience and Plans”, 58th Annual
conference for protective relay engineers, Texas A&m
University,April 7th, 2005.
[2] Bertil Lundqvist, “100 years of relay protection, the
swedish ABB relay history”, Project paper ABB
automation products,Substation Automation Division,
Sweden
[3] Gopal krishna palepu “Substation automation, from
Conventional substation to automation system” book
Style
[4] Wikipedia, “remote terminal unit RTU”
[5] Joachim, “ Advantages of remote terminal units: a case
Study”, Project paper, A&M University, Texas.
[6] Daniel E.Nordell, “Substation communication history
and practice”, book style
[7] Tom Wilson, “ PLC based Substation Automation and
SCADA Systems and Selecting a control system
integrator”, Project paper, Western Electric Power
Institute, Las Vegas, Nevada, March 17- 19,1999.
[8] Wikipedia, “intelligent electronic device,(IED)”.
[9] Gerrit Dogger, “optimizing Substation Automation by
Using IED data in an intelligent Gateway”, Project
Paper
[10] Huang Shu, Liang Xiao-bing, Gao Xin –hua, Dai Shi-
Yong, “ Design and realization of real time simulator
For Substation Automation system”, Guandong
power test & Research Institute, Project paper
[11] “Predictable assembly of substation automation
systems:An Experiment report, second edition (page
no. 17-29)”, Technical report, book style.
[12] M.Kezunovic, T. Popovic, “ Substation data integration
For automated data analysis system”, Project paper,
Texas. A&M university,2007
[13] Sergio Kimura, Andre Rotta, “ Applying IEC 61850 to
Real life”. Project paper
[14] R.P. Gupta “Substation Automation Using
IEC61850 Standard”, Project report, Fifteenth National
Power Systems Conference (NPSC), IIT Bombay,
December 2008
[15] M.Kezuvonic, “ Use of Intelligent system within
Substation”, Project report, UK.

.
A substation has gone through many phases of
development during its automation. Initially
devices were used for protection, monitoring and
control purpose using relays, PLC etc. Now a days
networking between substation via LAN through
ethernet is in practice after the introduction of IEDs