Real Time Operation of IEC 61850 Based Digital Substation

The advancement in technologies applied on substation studies are leading towards substation automation systems (SAS). In SAS network interoperability of substation devices is an important factor that needs good media of communication. IEC 61850 protocol has a greater role in device communications and protection functions of an integrated system. Also this standard can address the problem of interoperability of devices from various vendors. With the implementation of IEC 61850 standards in SAS networks, integration of latest devices like, intelligent electronic devices (IEDs), analog merging units (AMUs) and Ethernet networks are becoming possible. IEC 61850 standards will upgrade a conventional substation model into Digital Substation providing IEDs and modern substation devices are getting installed. In this paper IEC 61850 standard with its various operational levels have been studied for basic understanding of the protocol. A digital substation model with operational architecture has been shown and its various process bus communication messages have been discussed. To establish the concept of interoperability of subsation devices in a substaion model, a digital substation laboratory model has been developed here with IEC 61850 standard implementation. Real time analysis of protection functions with process bus communications of the substation model have been executed. The study of IEC 61850 standard and digital substation with its real time hardware test results will give the reader a clear idea about digital substations, substation devices interoperability operations and protection functions. This implementation and application of IEC standards in substation communication and protection functions can get used effectively in future for testing some other network topology.