Overcoming the Challenges of Implementing Multi-Vendor IEC61850 Based Flexible and Distributed Generation Automation Projects
(Room Lehar 4)
21 Jun 18
11:00 AM
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12:30 PM
Tracks:
Track 4: Power Generation – Everything You Know is Wrong
IEC61850 is now the key international standard for integrating intelligent electronic devices in power systems allowing Ethernet based communication to replace hardwired signals for power system control and monitoring applications and enabling delivery of greatly enhanced control and situational awareness projects using components from multiple vendors. This paper describes a number of IEC61850 based distributed energy resource projects implemented using power equipment, switchgear and communicating protection relays from different manufacturers. The equipment was integrated with power management systems configured to provide intelligent fast acting response to power system problems, control of synchronous generators and situational awareness via user interface displays. The paper addresses the challenges of system specification, planning, implementation, test and putting into service addressing some of the following issues: 1. Aspects to be considered when deciding upon network configuration, redundancy options, communication protocols, security, time synchronisation etc. 2. Management of IEC61850 configuration data for protection relays from disparate manufacturers. 3. Technical workarounds required to accommodate differing and in some cases limited interpretation/implementation of IEC61850 4. Technical workarounds required to accommodate unexpected/undocumented functionality present in particular manufacturer’s protection relays. 5. Methods used to simulate system functionality before commencement of site work to ensure site downtime is minimised. 6. Issues with integrating legacy interface signals with 61850 signals such as hardwired signals and Modbus communications links.