IEC 61850 Standards

SCMS team – power systems, ABB Industries LLC

21st May, 2009

© ABB Group
April 5, 2018 | Slide 1
IEC 61850 – Basics, Modeling and Services.

•Why a new standard for Substations?

 The present substation automation market is characterized by de-facto
standards (baseless – Manufacture/Engineer oriented),
manufacturer-specific and hardware-oriented solutions. A large
number of protocols for communication exist; giving rise to the problem
that equipment from different manufacturers cannot communicate with
each other, or only with disproportionate expenditure.

 Furthermore, fuelled by the advancement in communication technology

(advancement in TCP/IP technology), modern information systems are
increasing in number and the volume of data being handled is
becoming larger. The innovation cycle-time of hardware and software is
also constantly shortening. IEC 61850 replaces a number of
incompatible protocols leading to improving the situation.

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IEC 61850 – Basics, Modeling and Services.

•Why a new standard for Substations?

 The industry’s experiences have demonstrated the need for developing
standard communication protocols.
 which would support interoperability of IEDs from different
manufacturers.
 Which also would support interchangeability of devices in the
system… There is a desire to have IED interchangeability of devices
from different manufacturers, without making changes to the other
elements in the system. Interchangeability is beyond this
communication standard.
 Reduce possibility of errors in mapping.

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IEC 61850 – Basics, Modeling and Services.

•Why a new standard for Substations?

 Need for easier, more efficient, timesaving, cost effective… engineering
and commissioning process.
 Furthermore, fuelled by the advancement in communication technology,
modern information systems are increasing in number and the volume
of data being handled is becoming larger. The innovation cycle-time of
hardware and software is also constantly shortening. IEC 61850
replaces a number of incompatible hardware/electromechanical
devices.
 The objective of SA standardization is to develop a standard that will
meet functional and performance requirements, while supporting future
technological developments.
 Achieve self description of devices.

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IEC 61850 – Basics, Modeling and Services.

•Why a new standard for Substations?

 Hence, IEC’s goal for numerous years has been to define a
communications infrastructure that will allow seamless integration of the
IEDs into higher level devices - an infrastructure that is vendor
independent and will allow devices from multiple vendors to be
integrated together. The definition of a suitable Station Bus as depicted
above has been the focus of standardization efforts on both sides of the
Atlantic

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IEC 61850 – Basics, Modeling and Services.
IEC 61850 - proven technology and innovation
Communication concepts
Data Models

UCA 2.0 IEC 60870

IEC 61850
Ethernet
Configuration Technology
Language
Comm
Process Bus Architecture
IEC 61850 – Basics, Modeling and Services.

•Challenges and Opportunities!!

 IEC 61850 provide a structure to give a simpler view of SA
 IEC 61850 does not change the functions of a substation
 IEC 61850 does not change the functionality of the devices
 IEC 61850 provides Interoperability
 Main Benefit is “Data Model” not Communication
 61850 has an elegant solution to the challenge. IED vendors are required to provide
a descriptor file for their IEDs in XML format.
 The eventual goal is for the devices to transmit their configuration in XML upon
request. The use of XML and the substation configuration language defined by 61850
will provide visibility into the data available from any vendor.
 IEC 61850 forces utilities and manufacturers to re-think about today’s substation
automation philosophies
 Chance to reduce costs

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IEC 61850 – Basics, Modeling and Services.

•What was needed for achieving the standard?

 Common standardized data model
 Common standardized service model
 Common standardized protocol
 Common standardized communication architecture
 Common standardized engineering data exchange
 Common standardized conformance tests
 Simple logical thinking

 IEC 61850 standardizes these needs

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IEC 61850 – Basics, Modeling and Services.

•How was the standard achieved?

 Today a substation automation system comprises three hierarchical
levels,
 the station level
 the bay level
 the process level
 The communication between station level and bay level is realized by
means of different incompatible protocols such as IEC 60870, Profibus,
DNP, LON, Modbus and many of other proprietary and non-proprietary
protocols.
 Parallel wiring is mostly used for the communication between the bay
level and the process level.

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IEC 61850 – Basics, Modeling and Services.

•How was the standard achieved?

Station
Bus

Process
Bus

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IEC 61850 – Basics, Modeling and Services.

•How was the standard achieved?

 Now, to achieve the standard IEC came out with a new standard –
IEC 61850….
 Any device which is 61850 compatible should follow the modeling
and service structure defined by IEC.

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IEC 61850 – Basics, Modeling and Services.

•How was the standard achieved?

 IEC 61850 series:
 IEC 61850-1 Introduction and overview
 Introduction and overview of IEC 61850
 IEC 61850-2 Glossary
 Collection of terms
 IEC 61850-3 General requirements
 Quality requirements
 Environmental conditions
 Auxiliary services
 Other standards and specifications.
 IEC 61850-4 System and project management
 Engineering requirements
 System lifecycle
 Quality assurance

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IEC 61850 – Basics, Modeling and Services.

•How was the standard achieved?

 IEC 61850-5 Communication requirements for functions and device models
 Basic requirements
 Logical nodes approach
 Logical communication links
 PICOM concept
 Logical Nodes and related PICOMs
 Performance
 Functions
 IEC 61850-6 Configuration description language for communication in electrical substations
related to IEDs
 Overview on intended system engineering process
 Definition of system and configuration parameter exchange file format based on XML
containing
 primary system schematic (single line) description
 communication connection description
 IED capabilities.

© ABB Group
 Allocation of IED logical node to primary system.
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IEC 61850 – Basics, Modeling and Services.

•How was the standard achieved?

 IEC 61850-7-1: Basic communication structure for substation and feeder equipment –
Principles and models
 Introduction to IEC 61850-7-x
 Communication principles and models
 IEC 61850-7-2: Basic communication structure for substation and feeder equipment –
Abstract communication service interface (ACSI)
 Description of the ACSI
 Specification of the abstract communication services
 Model of the device database structure
 IEC 61850-7-3: Basic communication structure for substation and feeder equipment –
Common data classes
 Common data classes and related attributes
 IEC 61850-7-4: Basic communication structure for substation and feeder equipment –
Compatible logical node classes and data classes
 Definitions of logical node classes and data classes; logical node classes are composed of
data classes.

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IEC 61850 – Basics, Modeling and Services.

•How was the standard achieved?

 IEC 61850-8 Specific communication service mapping
 Mapping(s) of services commonly used for communication within the
whole substation
 IEC 61850-9 Specific communication service mapping
 Mapping(s) of services used for the transmission of sampled
analogue values
 IEC 61850-10 Conformance testing
 Conformance test procedures
 Quality assurance and testing
 Required documentation
 Device related conformance testing
 Certification of test facilities, requirement and validation of test
equipment
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IEC 61850 – Basics, Modeling and Services.

•How was the standard achieved?

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IEC 61850 – Basics, Modeling and Services.

•The standard ensures, among others, the following features:

 That the complete communication profile is based on existing

IEC/IEEE/ISO/OSI communication standards, if available.
 That the protocols used will be open and will support self
descriptive devices. It should be possible to add a new
functionality.
 That the standard is based on data objects related to the needs of
the electric power industry.
 That the communication syntax and semantics are based on the
use of common data objects related to the power system.
 That the communication standard considers the implications of the
substation being one node in the power grid, i.e. of the SAS being
one element in the overall power system control.

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IEC 61850 – Basics, Modeling and Services.

•IEC 61850 system architecture:

 The functions (application functions) of an SAS are control and

supervision, as well as protection and monitoring of the primary
equipment and of the grid.
 Other functions (system functions) are related to the system itself,
for example supervision of the communication.
 Generally, a function consists of subparts called logical nodes,
which exchange data with each other. By definition, only logical
nodes exchange data and, therefore, a function that exchanges data
with other functions must have at least one logical node. As a
consequence, only data contained in logical nodes can be
exchanged in the context of the IEC 61850 series.

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IEC 61850 – Basics, Modeling and Services.

•IEC 61850 system architecture:

 Functions can be assigned to three levels:

 the station level
 the bay level
 the process level
 Process level devices are typically remote I/Os, intelligent sensors and
actuators
 Bay level devices consist of control, protection or monitoring units per bay.
 Station level devices consist of the station computer with a database, the
operator’s workplace, interfaces for remote communication, etc.

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IEC 61850 – Basics, Modeling and Services.
Traditional approach

Line
Protection
IEC 61850 – Basics, Modeling and Services.
Traditional system architecture
NCC SCADA

Router

RTU / data
collector unit

Bay Relay Relay Bay Relay Relay

Controller A B Controller A B

Conventional Conventional Conventional Conventional

Switchgear CT / VT's Switchgear CT / VT's
IEC 61850 – Basics, Modeling and Services.
System architecture using IEC 61850
Control Center HM Engineering
I
Router

Station Bus
10 MBit/s Switch

Bay Relay Relay Bay Relay Relay

Controller A B Controller A B

9-1 link

Conventional Modern Conventional Modern

Switchgear CT / Switchgear CT /
VT's VT's
IEC 61850 – Basics, Modeling and Services.

Introducing new sensor technology IEC 61850-9-2

Line
Protection

IEC 61850-9-1
Logical Device
“Merging Unit”

LNPCTR
LN PCTR
LN TVTR

LNPCTR
LN PCTR
LN TCTR
IEC 61850 – Basics, Modeling and Services.
System architecture using IEC 61850-9-2

Control Center HMI Engineering

Router

Station Bus
10-100 MBit/s
Switch

Bay Relay Relay Bay Relay Relay

Controller A B Controller A B
Process Bus

Modern Modern Modern Modern

Switchgear CT / VT's Switchgear CT / VT's
IEC 61850 – Basics, Modeling and Services.
Introducing breaker IED: full process bus solution

IEC 61850-9-2 – process bus

Line
Protection
Logical Device
“Breaker IED”
Logical Device LNPCTR
LN PCTR
LN XCBR
“Merging Unit”
LNPCTR
LN PCTR Logical Device
LN TVTR
“Breaker IED”
LNPCTR
LN PCTR LNPCTR
PCTR
LN TCTR LN
LN XCBR
IEC 61850 – Basics, Modeling and Services.
61850 system architecture – station bus ring
HMI Engineering
Control Center

Router Station Bus

Ethernet Ring with Switches

Bay Relay Relay Bay Relay Relay

Controller A B Controller A B

Process Bus

Modern Modern Modern Modern

Switchgear CT / VT's Switchgear CT / VT's
IEC 61850 – Basics, Modeling and Services.
System overview

Plant Intranet
or Internet

LAN Switch LAN Switch LAN Switch IEC 61850-8-1

Control Network
= Inter Bay Bus

LAN Switch LAN Switch

IEC 61850-9-x
Process bus
IEC 61850 – Basics, Modeling and Services.

•IEC 61850 modeling:

 IEC 61850-5&7 define the modeling of a 61850 supported device.
 Every 61850 device is made of Logical device (LD).
 Every logical device is internally constructed by functional blocks
called logical nodes (LN).
 Every logical contains at least one data object (DO).
 Every data contains at least one data attribute (DA).
 Further for data type definitions of data attribute types, common
data classes are defined by IEC.
 IED-LD-LN-DO-DA
 In lay man’s terms, IED is a container made of many logical devices,
each of which contains one or more logical nodes, each of which
contains one or more data objects (pre-defined set of data classes),
each of which contains data.
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IEC 61850 – Basics, Modeling and Services.

•IEC 61850 modeling:

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IEC 61850 – Basics, Modeling and Services.

•IEC 61850 modeling:

© ABB Group
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 IEC 61850 – Communication Networks & Systems in S/S
The data model is process oriented...
Control
Q0/CSWI
Q8/CSWI
Q9/CSWI
Bay-HMI
IHMI
Earthing Switch
Q8_L1/XSWI
Gas density mon.
Q8_L1/SIMS

Isolator
Q9_L1/XSWI
Gas density mon.
Q9_L1/SIMS
Distance Protection
Secondary PDIS
Circuit Breaker
Q0_L1/XCBR
technology
Gas density mon.
Q0_L1/SIMS Primary technology
IEC 61850 – Basics, Modeling and Services.

•IEC 61850 modeling:

 There are 13 different groupings, intent is that all data that could
originate in the substation can be assigned to one of these groups.

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IEC 61850 – Basics, Modeling and Services.

•IEC 61850 modeling:

© ABB Group
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IEC 61850 – Basics, Modeling and Services.
IEC 61850 services:

Application
ACSI
Client / Server
GOOSE Samples
Services

MMS

TCP
IP
Ethernet II
Priority tagging 802.1p/802.1Q
IEC 61850 – Basics, Modeling and Services.

•IEC 61850 GOOSE service:

 GOOSE = Generic Object Oriented Substation Event.
 Engineered in IEDs as GOOSE control blocks (GCB).
 It aims to replace the conventional hardwired logic necessary for intra-
relay coordination with stationbus communications. Upon detecting an
event, the IED(s) use a multi-cast transmission to notify those devices
that have registered to receive the data. The performance
requirements are stringent – no more than 4ms is allowed to elapse
from the time an event occurs to the time of message transmission.
 Also known as horizontal communication, peer to peer comm.
 As told above, used for very important data transfer between the IEDs,
like interlock information, trip signals etc.

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IEC 61850 – Basics, Modeling and Services.

•IEC 61850 GOOSE service:

© ABB Group
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IEC 61850 – Basics, Modeling and Services.

•IEC 61850 MMS service:

 MMS = Manufacturing Message Specification.
 Engineered in IEDs as report control blocks (RCB).
 Also known as vertical communication, since the service is
used to send data to upper level objects/systems.
 All the data updating at OPC servers is by this service.

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IEC 61850 – Basics, Modeling and Services.

•IEC 61850 MMS service:

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IEC 61850 – Basics, Modeling and Services.

•Example for interoperability:

© ABB Group
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IEC 61850 – Basics, Modeling and Services.

Engineering Tools

Engineering tools are tools to determine and to document the application specific
functionality and the integration of devices into the SAS. They can be classified as:
• project design tools
• parameterising and configuration tools
• documentation tools.

The IEC 61850 series defines requirements on engineering-tools, especially for system
configuration and parameterisation.

IEC 61850-6 defines a substation configuration language (SCL)

• to describe the capabilities of an IED in terms of the models of IEC 61850-5 and
IEC 61850-7-x for import to the system engineering tool

• to describe all data needed to define system parameters for a single IED. This
includes the binding of the IED and its functions to the substation itself, in terms of
its single line diagram, and its place in the communication system.
IEC 61850 – Basics, Modeling and Services.

Engineering Tools
The language itself is based on XML. For the above purpose it contains the following
subsections:

• Substation subsection: describes the substation single line diagram, and its
binding to logical nodes as well as the placement of logical nodes onto IEDs

• Communication section: describes the communication connections between

IEDs in terms of connecting communication links

• IED section: describes the capabilities (configuration) of one or more IEDs, and
the binding to logical nodes on other IEDs

• LNType section: defines which data objects are actually contained within the
logical node instances defined for the IEDs
IEC 61850 – Basics, Modeling and Services.

Engineering Tools – IED Engineering

ICD-File

IED Tool / PCM tool Format: XML

 The .icd file describes the data model of the IED

 logical devices, logical nodes
 Common data classes
 control blocks
IEC 61850 – Basics, Modeling and Services.

Engineering Tools – Substation Engineering

ICD-File
ICD-File SCD-File
ICD-File
ICD-File

Substation Configuration Tool

/ IET-CCT tool

 The .scd file describes the complete substation configuration

 single line diagram, feeder block diagram
 communication network
 IED configurations
 Dataset, RCB, GCB,61850 mapping and client assignment done here.
IEC 61850 – Basics, Modeling and Services.

Engineering Tools – GCB and RCB info. Into IED.

SCD-File
IED Engineering Tool
/ PCM tool

CID-File GOOSE data and

MMS data
IEC 61850 – Basics, Modeling and Services.

Engineering work flow with ABB tools.

A Actual Workflow
IET Tool
CCT Tool
Step 2A
Import CID File
1. Create Project; SLD to 1. GCB Configuration
assign Conducting eq
Step 1
2. Assign Logical Nodes
+ CID File for 3rd Party
2. Define Switches, IP Step 2C
to Conducting Equipment (Pre-configured as
Addresses, Network
Management specified to vendor)

3. Configure AC800M 3. RCB Configuration

template Step 2B
4. Data sets Config

Export CID File for ABB B

(Contains Configured LN)

Note1: A is SA system engineering, Step 3

Export SCD File
B is IED Engg & C is SA / PA
PCM600
engineering
Note 2: A, B and C can be Step 5
decoupled in time and in location SCD File
1. Application Engineering for
Import CID File IEDs

Step 4A
Step 4B Step 4C

Import SCD File C

Download CCF

CCF File
CET COM 581 SATEEN Step 6
P&C IED

Aspect Directory
BDM
1. Naming
MicroSCADA
NCC
2. FP
1131 Application
IEC 61850 – Basics, Modeling and Services.

Summary
• IEC 61850 is supporting all known functions in stations.
• IEC 61850 is supporting different operational philosophies and
a free allocation of functions.
• IEC 61850 is future proof, i.e. it can be adapted to innovations
of communications technology.
• IEC 61850 is open and can be adapted to new applications.
• IEC 61850 is a "global" standard, thanks to harmonization with
UCA.2.
• IEC61850 is candidate to be the basis for a future overall utility
communication architecture!
IEC 61850 – Basics, Modeling and Services.

Related links and references.

http://www.ucausersgroup.org/IEC61850docs.html
http://www.nettedautomation.com/index.html
http://www.iec.com

K.P. Brand, C. Brunner, W. Wimmer

Design of IEC 61850 based Substation Automation
Systems according to
customer requirements,

IEC 61850-6 Communication Networks and Systems in

Substations – Part 6: Substation
Configuration Description Language for communication
in electrical substations related to IEDs
 By: abilash.chandrashekar@ae.ab.com
© ABB Group
April 5, 2018 | Slide 48