Automation of HV Substations in Iberdrola.

Experiences and Plans by

J. Amantegui Iberdrola (Spain) I. Ojanguren Iberdrola (Spain) C. de Carlos Iberinco (Spain) F. Cobelo ZIV Aplic. y Tecnol. (Spain) R. Quintanilla ZIV Aplic. y Tecnol. (Spain)

58th Annual Conference for Protective Relay Engineeers Texas A&M University April 7th, 2005 ABSTRACT The automation of substations in Iberdrola, has experienced a maturing process during the last decade. During the 1980s Iberdrola built prototype installations. Those trial projects where the basis for the development and generalized application of technically and economically feasible solutions implemented during the 1990s. The paper describes the architecture of current substations detailing the communication system selected and the protocols in use, and summarizes the utilitys experience and possibilities for evolution. An overview with examples of the system functionality reviews the protection system reliability, details those functions dependent on the substation communication system, and analyzes the cost reduction opportunities identified. 1. INTRODUCTION The automation of electrical substations has experienced a maturing process during the last 10 years. During the 1980s prototype installations where built. Those trial projects where the basis for the development and generalized application of technically and economically feasible solutions during the 1990s. The main factors for this evolution have been: The development of microprocessor based digital technology and numerical signal processing techniques and its progressive implementation in protection, control, monitoring and metering devices. The capabilities that this technology has provided to conceive multifunction equipment: Less components are necessary. Redundant elements are eliminated for analog and digital signal acquisition as well as for switchgear actuation. Wiring is reduced. Auxiliary devices are no longer required. The use of the new capabilities for recording and remote communication of the data that this generation of digital equipment is able to provide. The significant progress and development of communication systems, that has enabled the generalized availability of remote communication accesses at most of the electrical substations locations. The users and manufacturers acceptance of the minimally required agreements and/or standards on the communication protocols to be used. This has made possible the conception, design and implementation of systems that allow the use of equipment from different manufacturers. The various works and joint efforts done with the objective of obtaining detailed models for data interchange between devices. This makes possible the interoperability between equipment of different manufacturers even when performing complex automation functions distributed in separate devices. The use of generic, manufacturer independent, software for display, operation and configuration functions is also made possible by the common data model definitions.

2. ARCHITECTURE OF SUBSTATION SYSTEM

CURRENT

Figure 1 shows a simplified diagram of the architecture of a typical substation system currently used in IBERDROLA.

It is the support of the distributed functions architecture and its performances (reliability, speed and supported functions) determine and define the overall system performances. The solutions currently being applied employ serial, asynchronous communications. The protocol used is based on the IEC 870-5 International Standard. Communication speed is typically either 19200 or 38400 bd. At the physical layer, 62.5/125 multimode fibre optic is used. The network is built in a tree form structure, based on active fibre optic data concentrators / diffusers (see figure 2). Other arrangements for the substation network, such as the double ring represented in figure 3, were considered at the beginning, as a means to provide a higher degree of tolerance in case of single failures, but the experience registered with the star arrangement has been very satisfactory and therefore the double ring arrangement was not applied.

Figure 1. Substation Integrated System. In the figure, the substation primary equipment (breakers, power transformers, etc.) and their interface elements with the secondary protection, control and automation system (instrument CTs and VTs, breaker operating coils, etc.) is represented as Level 0 (switchgear). The protection, control and automation system is represented in two levels. Level 1 (bay) corresponds to equipment that is directly connected to the level 0. Devices on this level performs protection, control, data acquisition, metering, programmable logic, quality of service and monitoring functions. Level 2 (substation) corresponds to centralised equipment, communicating digitally with the bay devices. At this level, global substation functions are performed, such as centralised automatic functions, local operation, macro-commands and overall event and incidence recording. Equipment at this level also performs the remote communication functions with the SCADA centres and with the engineering and managing functions of the Company, represented as Level 3. 2.1. The Substation Communication System In this hierarchy based architecture, the communication system connecting the level 1 and level 2 equipment is considered of a great relevance.

Figure 2. Fibre optic star arrangement

Figure 3. Fibre optic double ring arrangement

2.2. The Protocol In choosing the communication protocol for the substation automation systems, early in 1993, two basic aspects were considered. One aspect was the need to support the transfer of data for both the protection informative functions as well as the control functions. The data to be transmitted in each case has different characteristics: The control functions require the fast transmission of a small volume of data (commands, status, measurands). The typical refresh time for all the substation variables at the operating screens is 0.5 seconds or lower. The protection functions require the transmission of a greater volume of data, but the response times can be slower (event reports, fault report files, oscillographic data, settings). Based on the IEC 870-5 documents and drafts available at the moment, a set of procedures and data units where selected allowing for the appropriate transmission of both types of data. The second aspect was the need for devices, supporting the protocol, available from several manufacturers. At least two independent suppliers were needed for each of the devices to be used in the substations (protective relays, bay control units, substation control units, etc.). In order to obtain an adequate level of device interchangeability, the protocol definition included a detailed specification of the data for the basic system functions. The semantics for settings, control inputs, indications, events and analog measurands was defined for overcurrent, directional overcurrent, distance, reclosing and other functions. This work was done in co-operation by Iberdrola, Iberinco engineering and ZIV. Other manufacturers of protection and control equipment were invited and participated in the definition process. The resulting IEC 870-5 profile is named PROCOME, is openly available since 1994 and is currently in use in Iberdrola and other utilities for substation automation systems.

3. SYSTEM FUNCTIONALITY
The basic assumptions for the conception of the substation integrated system are described bellow: 3.1. Protection reliability Critical functions such as protection and local interlocks are performed by the bay equipment, directly connected to the switchgear and instrument transformers. Between protection devices, any signals related to the protection functions, such as enabling or blocking commands, are transferred via wired connections. 3.2. Functions dependent communication system on system the substation the

The communication following functions:

supports

All supervisory control and data acquisition messages between the bay units connected to the switchgear and instrument transformers and the central unit. The central unit acts as the substation RTU and supports the overall substation operating console functions. Automatic functions requiring data from several bay devices. The automatic functions implemented have, typically, delays of the order of seconds. All remote or substation centralised accesses to the protection functions settings and to the informative data such as event reports, fault report files and oscillographic data. 3.3. Cost reduction opportunities Protection and control functions can be performed by a single multifunctional device at the bay level. Bay devices have local indication and operation capabilities as a backup of the centralized operation console. The local operation function may be suppressed in the future.

4. LOGIC SCHEMES AND AUTOMATIC FUNCTIONS

As an illustration of the capabilities of the system, here are some examples of the logic schemes and automatic functions that are implemented. 4.1. Coordination of instantaneous overcurrent units This is an example of an scheme requiring the transfer of protection related data between different devices. This scheme allows for the use of the instantaneous overcurrent unit at the low side of the transformer feeding the busbar, to provide a fast trip in case of a fault in the busbar. To coordinate with the instantaneous units at the feeders, any pick-up signal from the feeder relays must be sent to the transformer relay to block its instantaneous unit. See figure 4, representing a fault in a feeder.

4.2. Voltage restoration in H type substations In substations of the type represented in figure 5, this function allows for an automatic transfer of the HV line feeding the substation in accordance to the desired (programmable) operation conditions and the availability of voltage in the feeding lines.
VLA 52L 52LA VLB 52L

52T VAab VAbc VAca

52B1

52T VBab VBbc VBca

Figure 5. H type substation The function has four different set status: MANUAL (function disabled), Preference A, Preference B or Preference BOTH. If both voltages VLA & VLB exist, the breakers 52LA, 52LB and 52LAB are arranged to feed the station according to the set preference. If one of the voltages is missing, the arrangement is changed so that both MV busbars stay energized.

Figure 4. Coordination of instantaneous units In this scheme, according to the criteria for protection reliability and the high communication speed required, the blocking signal is copper-wired from the auxiliary outputs of the feeder relays to the blocking input of the transformer relay. The next functions described in this section make use of the substation communication system to interchange the required data and commands between the involved devices:

When the voltage returns, the preferential arrangement is re-established. If both voltages are missing, no action is taken. Due to the fact that only one phase voltage is available from the HV lines, this logic is complemented by taking into account the voltage measured in the three phases of each MV busbar. A faulted transformer function is also included in this scheme. In case of a trip of, say, transformer A, if 52LAB is open and there is voltage in Line B, the automatic function closes breaker 52LB and sets itself to MANUAL.

4.3. Transformer load automatic function

VT1 VT2 VL1

In the arrangement shown in figure 6, when one of the transformers trips, this function evaluates if the load that was carried by both transformers is lower than the maximum service load of the one remaining in service. If this is the case, breaker 52E is closed.
T1 T2
VL2 VL3 VL4 VL5 VL6 VL7 VL n

VB

Figure 7. Automatic service restoration

52A I1 52E I2 52B

Figure 6. Transformer load function The resulting load is monitored, so that if the measured current exceeds the transformer maximum load during a specified time, a trip command to breaker 52E is issued. A logic for the detection of transformers running in parallel is also included, so that if this situation stays for the adjusted amount of time, a trip command to breaker 52E is issued

If VB = 0 , then open all breakers Wait until any of the voltages (from a source with restoration capability) appears. Then close the breaker and check if busbar voltage VB stays. If VB goes to 0 again, open the breaker (if still closed), indicate fault in busbar, and stop. If VB stays OK, then continue the restoration process according to a pre-programmed sequence, always checking VB after closing a breaker. If, for example, when closing L4 breaker, VB goes to zero, open all breakers, indicate fault in the line (i.e. L4), and start all over again (without including L4 in the new process).

4.5. Other schemes Other logic schemes implemented in the substations that make use of the substation communication system are: Capacitor bank automatic connection / disconnection, by measuring reactive power flow and/or following a pre-scheduled calendar. Load restoration schemes (after underfrequency load shedding).

4.4. Automatic service restoration The objective of this automatic function is to act as a trained operator would do when the busbar voltage drops to zero. The logic performed is described bellow. See figure 7 as a reference. In this figure, the arrows pointing towards the busbar indicate sources with capability to restore the service at the bus.

5. EXPERIENCE AND POSSIBILITIES FOR EVOLUTION

5.1. Installations Starting in 1996, after the final approval of three previous test installations, IBERDROLA is installing this type of systems in new and refurbished substations. Table 1 below shows, yearly, the number of total installed systems. 1996 6 2001 160 1997 26 2002 200 1998 46 2003 235 1999 88 2004 270 2000 124 2005

e) Considerable effort was dedicated to debug some minor interoperability / interchangeability problems in the PROCOME protocol. This can be attributed to the deliberate decision of mixing equipment form different manufacturers in the same installation and the non existence of suitable standards at that moment. At the present, there still are some aspects that can be improved, such as: a) Dependency on the manufacturers for reparations and small modifications. b) Replacement parts availability: A 20 year guarantee is required from the manufacturers, but this may not be practical taking into account the fast evolution of the technology. c) Need for improvement of the rudimentary level of tools and utilities for graphic design, logic debugging, system configuration maintenance, automatic back-ups, etc. d) Excessive number of software version changes. The main observed advantages obtained with the use of integrated automation systems can be summarized as an overall improvement of the reliability against previous conventional protection and control solutions. The reduction of wiring, the use of digital technologies, the self-supervision functions and the integration of functions (maintaining the redundancies that were considered necessary), have been the main factors of the improvement accomplished. With respect to the automatic functions it can be said that the initial trend was to maximize the use of automatic functions, specially in MV, due to the available capabilities of the system. Nowadays, the installation of automatic functions is rationalized, based in the balance between the benefits and difficulties experienced by its use. Other initial trend was to run the automatic functions at the substation level. Today, many of the functions are run at the bay level, even though this increases slightly the required wiring. The main reason is the complexity of the commissioning tests and the maintenance of automatic functions when they reside at the central level.

Table 1.Total number of systems in operation Of the quantities shown, approximately 40% corresponds to new substations, and 60% to refurbishment of existing ones. The type of substations in which the described approach for the integrated protection and control system is used are: 2 transformer, EHV/MV, with dual central unit. Rural, 1 transformer, EHV/MV, with single central unit. HV/MV H configuration, with single central unit. MV switch stations with reduced central unit. 5.2. Technical experiences The main aspects that had to be solved at the early stages of the implementation were: a) Lack of knowledge and training of the personnel for commissioning, operation and maintenance. b) Too long commissioning times due to the difficulties of coordinating the many different people involved in each project. c) Lack of standardization of the new substation automation engineering. d) Difficulties to perform complete system acceptance tests at the vendors factory/ies.

5.3. Economical aspects

A clear aspect is the reduction of the investment costs. The main reasons are the simplification of racks and panels, the reduction of the required space and the reduction of inter panel wiring. A second real cost reduction aspect is the reduced maintenance of the secondary side devices, due to the self-monitoring capabilities of the systems. Other generally supposed economic advantages are the opportunities for reduction of the maintenance of the primary side equipment and exploitation costs. In this respect, no evidence of such benefits has been experienced, mainly because no condition monitoring based maintenance applications are being used presently. 6. THE NEXT STEPS: IEC 61850 The solution presented and being applied today is a very proved and reliable system, allowing interoperability and interchangeability between at least two manufacturers. The system is well known and understood by the different organizations in the Company and performs satisfactorily. From this point, the decision to make a change and move to a new system for the future has been subjected to the following considerations: Real and universal standardization as expected from the IEC 61850 is highly desirable and may simplify the process to build interoperable systems in the future. The standard was to be finalized and approved, a complete enough range of complying products have to be available from several manufacturers, and early experiences, from Iberdrola and from any other utility, are beeing set-up, monitored and evaluated before a firm decision to change is made. Economic considerations must take into account the balance of the eventual added costs of compliant equipment and substation grade LAN, against the potential reductions of cost such as a greater degree of integration or the benefits of a powerful set of new tools for substation engineering, maintenance and exploitation. A possible strategy to lead into the change is to include in the new systems the non conventional instrument transformers technology and the

associated process bus in a search for greater integration and a longer life-time of the solution. With the objective of acquiring knowledge and first hand experience and to define needs and requirements, a pilot project, named InterUCA but dealing with the last revisions of IEC 61850 documents, was initiated and successfully completed during 2004. The project involved several spanish manufacturers, Iberinco engineering company and the pilot installation was done in a substation from Iberdrola. Manufacturers from any part of the world were invited to participate in the interoperability tests stages of the project. The satifying results of this pilot project have led to the decission of introducing the IEC 61850 station bus in the design of the substations to be installed in Iberdrola, starting at the end of 2005. The new system architecture accepts interoperating IEDs from seven different manufacturers. The first installation is due to be fully in operation by February 2006.

Figure 8. System architecture description PRESENTER BIOGRAPHY

Fernando Cobelo graduated in electrical engineering from the Superior Engineering College of Bilbao, Spain in 1973. He is an IEEE member of the Power Engineering Society and active participant in the Power System Relay Committee; member of the CIGRE currently serving as convenor for working group B5-11; member of the IEC TC57 working group 10; and he collaborates with the UCA International usersgroup working on the development of IEC61850. Fernando has extensive experience on the design and application of analog and digital equipment and systems applied to protection and control of electrical power systems. He is currently involved in the design of integration and automation for substations, and he is the author of numerous conference papers. Fernando is currently the Corporate Technical Manager of ZIV. He is one of ZIV founders after working 20 years with GE in Spain.