DIGITAL SUBSTATION AND
COVENTIONAL
SUBSTATION
BY
ADITI V - 1DS18EE004
ARJUN H J - 1DS18EE010
KARTHIK C R - 1DS18EE026
MURALI S BHARADWAJA -
1DS18EE035
INTRODUCTION
● Traditionally substations have used circuit breakers, current transformers (CT), voltage
transformers (VT) and protection relays all wired together using copper cables. With advances in
digital technology, communications and standards, this is now changing to what is known as the
digital substation.
● The Digital Substation is a term applied to electrical substations where operation is managed
between distributed intelligent electronic devices (IEDs) interconnected by communications
networks. It became possible by using computing technology in the substation environment.
HOW DOES IT WORK
The above image illustrates the concepts associated with a digital
substation. In the arrangement, the workstations, protection devices and
low level transducers are connected together on an optical fibre
communications backbone. The substation system architecture is dividing
into three levels:
1) the station level where operations, engineering functions and reporting
take place
2) the bay level where system protection and control functions are
implements and
3) the process level where signals from CTs and other transducers are
transmitted.
SYSTEM ARCHITECTURE
The digital substation starts with IEC 61850 "Communication networks and systems in substations". This is the
international standard governing communications, SCADA and automation systems within substations. It is the
backbone and framework around which a digital substation is built.
The standard has ten parts, and the structure is summarised by the following:
● Parts 1 to 3 - are an overview and guide to understanding the standard, in addition to providing the general
rules.
● Part 4 - project management of products and tenders for an IEC 61850 installation.
● Part 5 and 6 - detail the communication requirements and language used.
● Part 7 - provides details on the data models and transactions used by the standard.
● Parts 8 and 9 - identify the required mappings for the station and process bus.
● Part 10 - provides instruction on how to carry out conformance testing of an IEC 62850 installation
KEY COMPONENTS OF DIGITAL SUBSTATION
Intelligent Electronic Devices (IDE)
The substation primary devices (protection relays,
tap-changers, CTs, etc) are implemented as intelligent
electronic devices (IED). These devices can
communication with each other (and higher level
substation control) via the 61850 optical network.
STATION AND PROCESS BUS
These two communication bus allow signals to be exchanged between the
bay level IED and station control (station bus) and the bay level IED and
system equipment, devices and transducers (process bus).
The above diagram shows dual redundant station and process bus. This
provides a greater reliability for important substations as compared to a
single bus. The station and process bus systems are typically implemented
using Ethernet switches (external or built into the IED), connected together
in a ring configuration.
GENERIC OBJECT ORIENTED SUBSTATION EVENT
(GOOSE)
The 61850 optical network operates using the Ethernet protocol. Within this
framework traditional digital signals are transmitted using a generic object-
oriented substation event (GOOSE). GOOSE is a specific formatting of data
which enable protection status signals to be transmitted in a time period under
4 ms. The is essential to ensure the reliable and timely operation of
interconnected IED.
GPS TIME CLOCK
This ensures the protection functions operate within the required times, but
synchronises substations in different locations so that event and operation
logs can be compared and trip events analysed.
The preferred approach to achieving this is by the use of a GPS clock to
transmit time synchronisation signals to the IED, using Simple Network
Time Protocol (SNTP).
MERGING UNITS
Merging units collect signals for various items of
equipment and transducers. This signals are then
transmitted via the process bus to other devices. The
merging unit is the interface between the traditional
analogue signals and the bay controllers and protection
relays.
ELECTRONIC FIBRE OPTIC CT AND VT
These devices operate by measuring changes in the optical performance of fibres in the
presence of electric and magnetic fields. The transducers are able to measure both current
and voltage.
As the signals are generated and transmitted using optical fibre, transducer signals are not
subject to voltage drop issues and electromagnetic interference which can affect
conventional equipment. Optical transducers also tend to be smaller, have improved
linear characteristics and more accurately reproduce the primary signal.
ADVANTAGES OF THE DIGITAL SUBSTATION
The digital substation offers numerous advantages over a conventional arrangement. These include:
● easier and simpler installation (much less wiring)
● interoperability between devices made by different manufacturers
● improved reliability
● improved measurement accuracy and recording of information
● improved commissioning and operations
● easy incorporation of modern electronic CT and VT sensors
● better EMC performance and isolation of circuits
COMPARISON BETWEEN DIGITAL SUBSTATION AND
CONVENTIONAL SUBSTATIONS
● [Link] Copper:
● Digital Substations utilize less copper by
● (1) replacing copper cables between switchyard and relay house by fibre optics.
● (2) replacing horizontal wiring between protection and control IEDs with IEC 61850.
● (3) reducing the number of connections between primary apparatus and redundant process
interface modules.
● (4) reduction in cables for power supply and other connection for primary equipment .
● [Link] Transport:
● In digital substation, more than 30 tons of material can be saved. This
helps in less transportation. The fiber optic installation reduces the
cabling under 90% and by using optical instead of conventional CTs
achieves an 80% weight reduction on CTs.
● 3. Space Reduction:
● IED installations require less space than conventional IOs. A space
reduction around 30% to 60% for panels is possible. This results in higher
integration of control and protection systems and reduction of switchyard
footprint
● 4. Less Installation and Outage Time:
● Digital substations cause faster installation of control systems due to reduction in
number of panels for installation. There are fewer cables to be pulled, connected
and tested. This causes reduction of feeder outage time by 40 to 50% during
secondary system upgrades. This helps in full system test from process IO to
protection, control and SCADA system offsite and Installation of new FO based
system while the station is in service.
● 5. Operational Cost Reduction
● The Supervision of all exchanged data reduces the need for periodic maintenance
testing and permanent supervision enables fast and precise actions in case of
failures. IEC 61850 testing and simulation features enable fast and save isolation
and testing of protection functions. Standard compliance enables efficient future
retrofits of the secondary system.
CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
• Apart of above-mentioned benefits, digital substations in Smart Grids provide a series
of direct advantages to energy companies and end users that will help in the
development of the energy market. The evolution of the electricity network provides
the distribution companies with following benefits:
• Reduction of energy losses.
• Efficiency.
• Accomplish the optimization of the network infrastructure.
• Offering a better service to the client, with more commercial advantages (new rates,
payment for use, etc.).
• The users get the following benefits:
• Pay per use.
• Flexible rates.
CONVENTIONAL SUBSTATION
• Conventional substations are designed using
design procedures for the high voltage
switchgear in combination with copper cables
for all interfaces between primary and
secondary equipment. Several different types of
circuits are used in the substation:
• Analog (current and voltage)
Binary – protection and control signals
• Power supply – DC or AC
• A typical conventional substation has multiple instrument transformers
and breakers (Figure 1) associated with the protection, control,
monitoring and other devices being connected from the yard to a control
room / house with the individual equipment panels. The different types
of cables are used for the connections.
• The design of the conventional substation needs to take into
consideration the resistance of the cables in the process of selecting
instrument transformers and protection equipment, as well as their
connection to the instrument transformers and between themselves. The
issues of CT saturation are of special importance to the operation of
protection relays under maximum fault conditions.
DRAWBACKS OF CONVENTIONAL
SUBSTATION
• All connections are done in a jumbled way, no proper clear connection
•
Response time will be less accurate when compared to a digital substation.
•
The usage of more number of copper cables leads to a complex connection and it's hard to
trace all the cables.
•
More space is required due to the usage of more cables.
•
Conventional substation lacks digital communication, remote monitoring & control, and
consumer participation.
DIGITAL SUBSTATIONS IN INDIA
• India is the third largest energy consumer in the world. Digital
substations can therefore contribute to India's energy requirements by
rendering multiple efficiencies. The scope for digital substations could
be further strengthened with factors like the introduction of more
renewable energy into the grids. It can also effectively cater to the
power needs for railways, IT parks or industrial campuses. Thereby
further enhancing the Make in India initiatives across sectors by
contributing to reliable and quality power and providing access to
electricity.
• The implementation of the first commercial 400 kV fully digital substation based on IEC 61850 was
completed in April 2019 and the site commissioning activities are under progress.
•
Over the last decade the Power Grid Corp. of India Ltd. (POWERGRID), the central transmission
utility for India, deployed IEC 61850-based grid substation automation in more than 100
substations across the country.
• The company commissioned a pilot project in 2014 using process bus technology at its 400 / 220
kV Bhiwadi substation in the state of Haryana. The substation is equipped with three 315 MVA, 400
/ 220 kV transformers, 10 400 kV feeders, and eight 220 kV feeders.
• The complete substation upgrade required updating the protection and
control systems, including the bus bar protection system, for the entire
substation. IEC 61850 process bus technology had to be installed on all
feeders in the air-insulated switchyard as follows: 400 kV Malerkotla-
Dadri transmission line, 400 kV Malerkotla-Patiala transmission line,
400 kV Malerkotla-Ludhiana transmission line, three 400 / 220 kV
transformers, and a 50 MVAR bus reactor.
• POWERGRID incorporated advanced networking techniques, such as
virtual local area networks and multicast filtering, for efficient network
traffic management. As time synchronisation was extremely stringent,
the devices used were subject to rigorous validation testing.
NCIT
• Increased operational safety
• Lower environmental impact
• Reduced substation footprint
• Direct platform for digital process bus
• Active on-line supervision
• Improved measurement fidelity
FOCS
•First FOCS configuration
•Working
•Advantages
POWERGRID
• POWERGRID has been a Global leader in implementation of projects
on Process Bus based Full Digital Substation Technology.
• Helps in advanced diagnostics, superior visualization of information
flow
• Helps in reduced commissioning time and reduced environmental
footprint.
• Implementation of two commercial Full Digital substation projects
underway- Greenfield Implementation at Chandigarh & Retrofit project
for Malerkotla.
DIGITAL SUBSTATIONS IN INDIA
• The implementation of the first commercial 400 kV fully digital substation based on
IEC 61850 was completed in April 2019 at Malerkotla , Punjab
• POWERGRID leveraged the results of the performance evaluation studies to support
India’s first full-scale commercial implementation of a digital substation at the 400 kV
level
• IEC 61850 process bus technology had to be installed on all feeders in the air-
insulated switchyard as follows: 400 kV Malerkotla-Dadri transmission line
• Another fully digitalized substation, the 220 kV Greenfield Chandigarh substation, is
currently under construction. The FAT is complete and commissioning tests are
currently underway.
DIGITAL SUBSTATIONS ALL OVER THE
WORLD
• In 2005, the world’s first IEC 61850-based substation was
commissioned in Switzerland. It was the Winznauschachen substation
• ABB has commissioned two digital substations located in Tolve and
Vaglio, part of the Basilicata region in southern Italy. The substations
will integrate and transmit electricity generated by local wind farms to
homes and businesses in the region
TIME PROTOCOL
• IEEE 1588 version II Time Synchronization
Problems of time synchronization
• cable delay
• encoding and decoding of symbols on the wire
• switch fabric latency
• store and forward delay
• queuing from switches
THANK YOU!
