Powerlink Experience with 

Process Bus
International IEC 61850 Process Bus User Task Force Meeting

Secondary Systems Strategies Engineer: Tuan Vu
Agenda
1. Powerlink Secondary Systems
Assets

2. Powerlink’s Experience with

Process Bus and Non-Conventional
Instrument Transformers (NCITs)

3. Single Vendor IEC 61850 Process

Bus

4. Challenges and Opportunities

5. Next 5 Years Strategies – Doing

Things Differently

6. Aim for Low Long Run Cost,

Acceptable Risk Solutions

7. Questions and Discussion

 Powerlink Secondary Systems Assets
• Over 140 Operational HV and EHV Substations: 110kV – 330kV
• 6 Turnkey iPASS Substations – Commissioned 2000 - 2003
• 2 Turnkey Outdoor GIS Substations – Commissioned 2000 - 2001
• 1 Turnkey Substation – Commissioned 2000
• 22 Turnkey Static Var Compensators (SVCs and STATCOMs) Substations
• Over 110 Remaining Substations – In house Standard Design and Integration,
Period Equipment Sourcing Strategies and Selected Outsourcing Strategies.
• Over 1400 Switching Bays
• Distributed Secondary Systems – Scalable Modular Design
• Over 80% Control System Equipment Based on Proprietary RTU Control Systems
(Optonet Network) with DNP3.0 Serial links to Protection IEDs
• First Experience with Proprietary Process Bus, Non-Conventional Instrument
Transformers (NCITS) and highly Integrated GIS Primary and Secondary Digital
Systems in 2000.
• Pilot Commercial IEC61850 Process Bus Project in 2011
• Focus on Strong Asset Management Principles and Integrated Strategies - Business,
Network, Assets, Delivery and Operation and Maintenance Strategies
Case Study - iPASS GIS Integrated Digital Systems
• 6 Major Substations: 2000 - 2003
– 3 x 275kV Substations
– Interconnector
• 1 x 275/330kV Substation
• 2 x 330kV Substations
• Highlights:
– Primary Switchgear: Compacted GIS Hybrid Modules (CB, Esw, Isol, NCITs)
– Secondary Systems: Integrated Digital Systems, Proprietary Process Bus
– Fully Integrated Secondary Systems and Primary Switchgears

• iPASS Population in total – 59 Switching Bays

– 39 iPASS M1 275kV (117 poles + 1 Spare Pole each at H036 and H035)
– 20 iPASS M2 330kV (60 poles + 1 Spare CB + 1 Spare Pole at R002)
Experience with Proprietary Process Bus - iPASS
• 6 Major Turnkey iPASS Substations (Intelligent Plug And Switch Substations) installed
between 2000 - 2003.
• iPASS is a Hybrid Switchgear solution with, GIS Switchgear, Integrated NCITs and
proprietary Process Bus interface

M M M M M M M M M M M M

C o n tro l
M M M M M M

M M M M M M
M M M M M M

S ta tio n F a u lt p lo ttin g
Level E v e n t p r in tin g
D ia g n o s tic s
A la rm A n n u n c ia to r

In te rb a y B u s
C o n tro l
L in e / Tra n s fo r m e r P ro te c tio n
Bay B u s b a r P ro te c tio n
B re a k e r F a ilu r e P ro te c tio n
Level

CHHOS/AC; PASS_13a.cdr; date: 99-02-15 Rev. A;

M e a s u re m e n t
E v e n t / F a u lt R e c o r d in g

P ro c e s s PA S S in te llig e n t
Level + V 1 + V 1
S w itc h g e a r
- Q 0 - Q 0

- Q 1 - Q 1

L 1 L 1

P ro cess B u s
Experience with Proprietary Process Bus - iPASS
Experience with Proprietary Process Bus - iPASS
iPASS Hybrid Switchgear
Combined Current /
Voltage Sensor
CB Operating
Mechanism

Star Coupler Polymer

Bushings

+V1

-Q0

-Q1

Combined Disconnector /
Earthing Switch
L1

SF6 Circuit
Breaker

Digital, Fibre-Optic
connected Control & Protection
Experience with Proprietary Process Bus - iPASS
Manual Crank Handle

programmable speed/time 2

curve to reduce wear and Pos. Res. “Guest” Density Sensors

minimize trapped charges Encoder Gear Motor Encoder 3

1
single pole drive
PISA

compact, rugged design Process Bus

el.
Microprocessor optic
continuous monitoring
of complete motion chain Auxiliary Controll
DC DC = Gas Density
self supervision = Eqpmt. Temperature
Manufacturing Memory Anti Condensing Unit/Heating

Manufacturing Memory DC PISA A

DC Process Bus A
el.
Integrated supervision of hydraulic Low Temp. Heating optic
Microprocessor
Anti Condensing Unit
Aux. Trip
Pos.
Precise local time Encoder Aux. Control
synchronisation Pump Control
Pump Motor Trip/Close Control
Motion versus time Hydraulic
curve can be recorded t in g
He a DC
ls
Coi
C
O Process Bus B
O el.
optic
Compact, rugged design Pos.
Encoder external Trip
Continous self supervision

Permits redundant configuration = Gas Density

= Eqpmt. Temperature
Experience with Proprietary Process Bus - iPASS
Rogowski Coils for
Current Measurement

Capacitive Ring for

Voltage Measurement

Mfg. CC CC Process Bus A

Memory Communication Interface el.
optic
Microprocessor
A
Digital Signal Processing
A
measures current and
a
voltage A
u Data Acquisition
for protection and ia PISA A
metering

CC CC Process Bus B
compact, robust design Communication Interface el.
optic
permits redundant Microprocessor
configuration = Gas Density
Digital Signal Processing
B B
local preprocessing = Eqpmt. Temperature
c
b
u = Capacitive Ring
local data store for ib Data Acquisition
disturbance data b
PISA B Ra,Rb = Rogowski Coils
Convert iPASS Secondary Systems to IEC61850
Convert iPASS Systems to IEC61850

+V1

-Q0

-Q1

FO 1PPS
A Ph
FO B Ph
GPS Clock
FO SV
C Ph

Merging
Secondary Unit
Converter 1PPS Protection Relay

Replace Combisensor with IEC 61850 Sampled Value Process Bus

Convert iPASS Systems to IEC61850
Convert iPASS Systems to IEC61850
Convert iPASS Systems to IEC61850
Convert iPASS Systems to IEC61850
• Simpler systems, reduced condition monitoring
– UI PISA
• Replaced by CP3 Secondary Converter & Merging Unit
– Combine current and voltage signals from a 3-phase system
– Transmission of Sample Value data via IEC 61850
• IEC61850-9-2LE
• 80 samples per nominal for protection and control
• Time synchronisation with 1PPS signal

– CB Drive
• Replaced by conventional drive HMB4/8
• Add OLM

– DES PISA
• Replaced by repackaged GIS unit
• New cables between poles & new building
Convert iPASS Systems to IEC61850
NCIT solution for iPASS

Merging Units for Control and Protection

Convert iPASS Systems to IEC61850
Layout with 3 MUs both PPL Outputs
Convert iPASS Systems to IEC61850
Convert iPASS Systems to IEC61850
Concept Testing
• Verify and validate Loganlea design concepts
• Verify and validate implementation of IEC 61850 Sampled Value Process Bus in
Merging Unit and Protection IED Platforms
• Test scalability of Loganlea solution
• Functional tests
– Basic functions
– Behaviour under normal conditions
– Behaviour under erroneous conditions
• System performance tests
– Normal load conditions
– Avalanche conditions
• Scalability tests
Concept Testing
Concept Testing
 Successful Roll Out
• Successful Migration of End of Support Proprietary Technology to IEC 61850
Standards
• 6 Major 275kV and 330kV Substations
• Single Vendor IEC61850 Station and Process Bus (Process Sample Values)
– 2011: Pilot Project (2 feeders, 2 Transformers)
– 2013 – 2017: 5 Remaining Sites
Challenges and Opportunities
Challenges

• Financial Constraint Environment

• Large Fleet of Aging Assets with Flat Load Growth – Stranded Assets
• Network Reconfiguration and Mothballing Asset Strategies to Maximize Network
Utilization and Minimize Asset Refurbishment Cost

Opportunities

• Great Opportunities for Engineers to be more creative to achieve:

– Economic (Low Long Run Cost), Acceptable Risk Engineering Solutions,
– Use proven technology and software to gain efficiencies – Automated design and
testing
– Challenge the Status Quo – Doing Things Differently
Next 5 Years Strategies – Doing Things Differently
• Focus on Asset Risks and Optimize Network Reinvestment Portfolio
• Focus on Integrated Strategies - Business, Network, Asset, Delivery and Operation
• Network Reconfiguration
• Mothballing “No Enduring Need” Assets
• Aim for Optimized Solutions and Options - Lowest Long Run Cost with Acceptable
Risks.
Lowest Long Run Cost at Acceptable Risks
• Secondary Systems Asset Life:
• Indoor Control and Protection IEDs In Control:15–20Y
• Panels and Wirings, including Field Wirings and Marshalling Kiosks: 30–40Y
• Outdoor IEDs (MU, Remote I/Os): 10-12Y
• Current Strategies for Secondary Systems Refurbishment:
• IEC 61850 Station Bus - Powerlinks’ Substation Design Standards Version 9
• Research and Investigations:
• Modelling of Cost and Risks to Integrate IEC61850 Process Bus Solutions into
Existing conventional primary plant using Merging Units
• Cost: Development Cost, Direct Capital Cost (Projects), Cost of Change or
Upgrade, O&M Costs over the life of Primary Assets (e.g. 40Y)
• Risks: Failures Result in Network Interruptions, Obsolescence, OT Network
Security
• Optical CTs with IEC61850 Merging Units
• Future Vision?:
• Integrated Primary and Secondary Systems Based on Open Standards e.g.
IEC61850 – only if it delivers Lowest Long Run Cost and Acceptable Risks.
Questions and Discussion