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1. Introduction
IEC 61850 is the standard for communications networks and systems within electrical
substations. It defines the substation information model and the information exchange
mechanism [1]. It is a common standard for substation communication which allows the
communication between Intelligent Electronic Devices (IED) from different vendors [2]. Part 6
of the standard has defined the lingua franca of the substation communication called substation
configuration description language (SCL) for configuring substation secondary devices and
communication [3]. The SCL is based on extended markup language (XML) format and has
several types of description file such as System Specification Description (SSD) file, IED
Configuration Description (ICD) file, System Configuration Description (SCD) file and
Configured IED Description (CID) [3-4].
SSD file is a formal description of the substation single line diagram together with the
functions to be performed at the primary equipment, in terms of logical nodes. ICD file is the
capabilities of an IED type in terms of communication functions and of the data model
application functions. SCD file is a description of the communication and function configuration
of a substation automation system and its relation the switch yard. CID file is a subset of SCD
file used for the IED configuration and all its needed data coming from the rest of the system [4].
Generally, these SCL description files are used to define the information of the substation
single line diagram, substation secondary functions and the substation communication
architecture. SCL is intended to enabling the interoperable between different engineering tools
from different manufacturers with the integration and configuration of description files for IEC
61850 engineering process [3]. In the future, SCL as a core language format for the engineering
process will provide flexibility in terms of configuring and designing the substation secondary
system with multi-vendors IED. It also will simplify the process of substation communication
configuration and protection and control scheme modification work in substation expansion
project.
2. IEC 61850 Engineering Process for TNB Substation using HELINKS STS
The SCL and the engineering process are described in IEC 61850-6 standard. The IEC
61850 engineering processes, the relevant generated SCL files, and the relationship among the
engineering tools and the SCL files are summarized in Figure 5.
The specified substation topology such as single line diagram, substation equipment
interfaces and functions in terms of Logical Nodes (LNs), relationship among substation
equipment and functions, and data signals in the LNs are translated into IEC 61850 SSD file.
This SSD file is generated or created using System Specification Tool. The IED capability
templates of the available Logical Device, available functions in the form of LNs, available
communication Services, Data Sets, Control Blocks (e.g. Reporting or GOOSE) and Data
Object/Attributes can be formally described by IED ICD file which can be generated or
downloaded from IEDs by the manufacturer specific IED Configuration Tool.
Using the System Configuration Tool, the SSD file and the ICD files from multivendor IEDs
are imported and configured by the engineering tool. The System Configuration Tool specifies
the relationships between the substation functions defined in the system specifications and the
IEDs to be installed. The Function Naming addresses in the SSD and the Product Naming
addresses in ICD files from all implemented IEDs are linked and configured to generate the SCD
file. The engineering tool compares the IED ICD files with the SSD file to verify whether the
IEDs capabilities
In order to materialize this process, TNB has identified HELINKS STS as a third party
configuration tool for configuring the Substation Configuration Language (SCL) file of the
substation. HELINKS STS software comprises two tools, System Specification Tool and System
Integration Tool for configuring the Substation Specification Description (SSD) file and System
Configuration Description (SCD) file as shown in Figure 3.
By default, HELINKS STS automatically map the specific LNs such as XCBR, XSWI, CSWI
and CILO to the corresponding primary equipments. The LNs that associated with the primary
equipments can be viewed in HELINKS STS Function Specification Editor as shown in Figure
5. All of the LNs of the primary equipments are mapped as an information model which will be
used for the SSD file configuration.
The secondary system functions, such as protection, automation, control, measuring, and
ancillary signals for TNB substation can also be mapped or allocated in HELINKS STS.
HELINKS has also created utility customized interface file, i.e. PIO file, which is embedded
inside the engineering tool that allows user such as TNB to directly import the required function
and signal lists in Excel format (see Figure 6) into the HELINKS STS Single Line Editor.
TNB standard function and signal list format is based on the model structure of HELINKS STS;
i.e. Substation, Voltage Level, Bay, IED, TNB Code, Signal Name, Prefix, Logical Node, Instant
and Data Attribute. This list is compiled based on the type of circuits or bays that are available in
TNB substation such as Overhead Line, Transformer, Bus Coupler and Bus Section. The
functions that have been listed were based on the TNB Transmission SCADA point list and
Teleprotection signal list.
LN is an object-oriented data model that groups all of data with a common function. All
related data attributes are contained and defined in LNs [5]. There are several types of LNs that
represent the substation functions such as protection, metering, recording supervision,
controlling etc. The LNs associated with specific data attribute which will be used as an
information model that can be linked with IEC 61850 communication services.
TNB has defined the suitable LNs for each signal with predefine prefix and LN instant
associated with data attribute of each LNs. For the overhead line protection IED with integrated
functions such as current differential, distance and overcurrent, these functions are represented
by LNs PDIF, PDIS and PTOC respectively. TNB has also standardized the naming convention
format for the IED name based on the concatenation of the bay name and IED function. For
example, for IED name E01F11LP1, the term E01 represents the bay name and F11LP1
represents the integrated multi function line protection IED or relay. All of these are arranged per
columns and the translation will be made by HELINKS STS which will transform it into
predefined Intelligent Electronic Device (IED), Function Box and the required Logical Nodes in
the Function Specification Editor as graphically shown in Figure 7.
In the HELINKS STS Function Specification Editor, the Logical Nodes with common
function are grouped together in the Function Box which is linked to the predefined IED (virtual
IED) for ICD file integration. The virtual IED is modeled in HELINKS as a platform for
mapping the IED Configuration Description (ICD) file during IED implementation. The grey
box in Figure 8 represents the virtual IED with several Function Boxes. The TNB function and
signal lists will be used not only for the SSD file generation but also as a part of TNB substation
signal specifications or information checklist for the IED manufacturers to comply with. By
directly importing the lists into HELINKS STS for automatic functional mapping, TNB will have
the flexibility during engineering process for future reuse in new substation project.
In the SSD file, all of the substation bays have been mapped with specific Logical Nodes
according to the type of bays. Figure 9 shows the SSD file as viewed in HELINKS STS SCL
XML Editor.
communication and function configuration of a SAS. This file will be utilized by the
manufacturers proprietary IED configurator tool for the actual IED configuration process.
In HELINKS STS, the SCD file configuration process start with importing the ICD files into
HELINKS System Diagram for IED communication configuration. The System Diagram Editor
is a graphical editor to represent communication sub networks according to the IEC 61850 object
model (see Figure 10). Based on the communication structure in the SCD file, the configuration
of network of the substation is started by adding a Sub Network in System Diagram Editor.
HELINKS STS creates a copy of the ICD file where the IED Name is changed from Template
to the user defined unique name (e.g. E01F11LP1). The IP address of the IED can be configured
by using IEC 61850 connection in System Diagram palette. This process will built the
communication part of the substation in SCD file with the Sub network name, IED name and IP
address of devices will be updated based on the configuration in the System Diagram Editor as
shown in Figure 11.
After configure the SCD communication section, the ICD files can be mapped in their
counterpart bays for LNs mapping. This process can be done by mapping the IED from System
Diagram with the virtual IED in Function Specification Editor for IED implementation as shown
in Figure 12.
The LNs of the specification can be mapped with the LNs of the implemented IEDs (ICD
File). All of the mapped LNs can be used to create the dataset for IEC 61850 communication
services which are Manufacturing Message Specification (MMS) report (buffered and
unbuffered) and Generic Object Oriented Substation Event (GOOSE) messages. It also can be
linked with the TNB substation clients such as SCADA, Station Level Operator Interface (SLOI)
system and Engineering Workstation (EWS) system. For GOOSE message configuration,
HELINKS STS provides a graphical user interface platform. The Application box as shown in
Figure 14 is the place for the GOOSE message configuration. It can be created at the Single Line
Diagram editor by selecting the Application tool from the palette. The APPID of the GOOSE
message and the name of application (GoID) can be filled at the Property Tab. The AppID
attribute will be used to group all GOOSE messages for this application.
[3] Yong, H.K, Jeon, Y.H, You, J.L, Yong, H.A, and In, J.S (2011) Development of IEC 61850
Based Substation Engineering Tools with IEC 61850 Schema Library.
2011 Smart Grid and Renewable Energy, May 30.
[4] IEC Std. 61850 - Part 6: Configuration description language for communication in electrical
substations related to IED
[5] Yashwant, K (2011) Modeling an IEC61850 Based Substation Automation System
2011 India Conference (INDICON), Annual IEEE 16-18 December.