1

An Open Platform for Rapid-

Prototyping Protection and
Control Schemes with IEC 61850
Dr Steven Blair
University of Strathclyde, UK
 2

Using IEC 61850

Dr Steven Blair
University of Strathclyde, UK
 Introduction
• What is IEC 61850?
• What problems are faced when using it?
• A solution for prototype systems
• Example applications
• Conclusions
 What is IEC 61850?

Using Ethernet communications for

Protection, Automation, and Control

• Future-proofed for other technologies

• Data model
• Formal language Easier configuration
Lower life-cycle cost
Interoperability
 The Data Model
• Organising data
• Described by XML
documents: SCD file
• Defines:
– All devices in a system
– What data are shared
– How data are shared
 Communications in IEC 61850
• GOOSE GOOSE, SV

– trip and status messages GOOSE

Merging

– multicast Ethernet Unit 1

• Sampled Values (SV) Merging Merging

Unit 2 Unit 3

– instantaneous sensor
measurements
Ethernet Network

– GPS time-sync’d
– 4-15 kHz sampling Protection IED Automation IED

• Inter-substation comms LN
...
LN LN
...
LN

becoming important
 Problems using IEC 61850
<IED name="IED1">

• Complex:
...
<LN lnType="savContainer" lnClass="GGIO" inst="1">
<Inputs>

–
<ExtRef iedName="IED2" ldInst="CTRL" lnClass="GGIO" lnInst="1" doName="sav" daName="instMag"/>
very long, tedious documents
</Inputs>
</LN>
...
</IED>
– self-referencing
... – contradictory terminology
– the SCL is convoluted; weak semantic links
<IED name="IED2">
...

• Software tools are available

<LN lnType="savContainer" lnClass="GGIO" inst="1">
...
</IED>

... – some good products, but commercial and proprietary

• Different vendor implementations
<LNodeType id="savContainer" lnClass="GGIO">
<DO name="sav" type="mySAV"/>
</LNodeType>

...

High entry barrier for using IEC 61850

<DOType id="mySAV" cdc="SAV">
<DA name="instMag" bType="Struct" type="myAnalogValue"/>
<DA name="q" bType="Quality"/>
</DOType>
 Code generation overview

Merging
Unit 1
C
C implementation
implementation

Merging Merging
SCD.xml
SCD.xml
Unit 2 Unit 3

Ethernet Network

Protection IED Automation IED

LN LN LN LN
... ...
 Code generation
• Uses Eclipse Modeling Framework
– “understands” the model behind SCL
– automates XML parsing
– helps with semantic validation of SCD file
• C code implements GOOSE and SV
• C code is tailored for each SCD file
– very efficient at run-time
– bespoke and correct
 Using the library
• Simple API
• Platform-independent
– Windows, OS X, Linux
– ARM, Raspberry Pi
• Can used from Python and Java
• Useful for rapid-prototyping
protection, automation, and
control schemes
 Example: Load Shedding
GOOSE Real-Time Digital Simulator
(RTDS)
External
Devices
Grid GOOSE
100 MVA GTNET
11 kV Card

GOOSE

GOOSE
Microgrid Circuit Breaker &
400 V LOM Controller
Ethernet Network

Load Shedding IED Monitoring IED

GOOSE Inputs GOOSE Inputs
L1 L2 L5 L6 Generated
DG1 DG3 Generated IEC 61850
10 kW 20 kW 50 kW 60 kW
80 kVA 25 kVA IEC 61850 Simulink Comms Qt GUI Code
(Critical) (Critical) Comms Coder Code Code
Code
GOOSE Outputs

L3 L4
DG2
30 kW 40 kW
50 kVA
(Critical)
Example: IEC 61850 “multimeter”
 Example: SV over IP/MPLS
Simulation

Power
system fault

GTNET SV Real GTNET SV

Hardware
IEC 61850-9-2 IEC 61850-9-2
Differential Differential
Protection IP/MPLS IP/MPLS Protection
Relay Router IP/MPLS Router Relay
Example: SV over IP/MPLS

Microcontroller – subscribes to SV streams

 15

Other functions
• Protection testing
– generate or replay SV streams
– record GOOSE reactions
• Multi-IED simulation
– one hardware platform
– early verification of complex schemes
• Auto-generated protection logic
• Generate packet contents in comms simulator
• Visualisation and monitoring tools
 Other options
• libIEC61850
– C implementation of MMS and GOOSE
– http://libiec61850.com/libiec61850/
• OpenIEC61850
– Java implementation of MMS
– http://openmuc.org/index.php?id=35
 Conclusions
• IEC 61850 is complex and difficult to use
– but necessary
• There’s software to help
– for prototyping protection and control schemes
which require comms

https://github.com/stevenblair/rapid61850
http://bit.ly/rapid61850