Authors : N.B. Sparks and A.K. Saha
Abstract: This study presents a review of the IEC 61850 substation protocol and its implications for communication in both modern and legacy-based protection schemes. The intelligent substation devices of today have the ability to communicate, interface and interoperate using ethernet-based protocols like the IEC 61850 standard. This has promoted an industry shift from the outdated serial and legacy protection schemes which rely on binary and analog hardwire connections between device to an ethernet-based architecture. Therefore, the IEC 61850 protocol affects the way substations are designed how IEDs are interfaced, the manner in which devices communicate and the overall effectiveness and efficiency of a substation. However, this new standard also presents a fresh set rules to engineers and utilities alike. These define the manner in which IEDs are configuration as well as how they communicate with other devices using a newly established peer to peer message system. Thus, the continued collaboration of the International Electrotechnical Commission has resulted in the development of a communication standard that allows IEDs of different manufacturers to interact within the local substation environment and transfer data and signals quickly over a ‘virtual’ ethernet-based network.
N.B. Sparks and A.K. Saha, 2018. A Review of the IEC 61850 Protocol and its Implications for Substation Communication. International Journal of Electrical and Power Engineering, 12: 6-14.