The document discusses the benefits and drivers for moving to a digital substation, which uses digitization and embedded processing to add capabilities like easier use, asset management, modularity, and real-time awareness. Key benefits include improved safety by eliminating open CTs, optimized maintenance through condition monitoring, reduced lifecycle costs, and improved reliability and situational awareness. Digital substations use technologies like Ethernet, IEC 61850 standards, merging units, and non-conventional instrument transformers to realize these advantages over traditional analog substations.

1. 10/22/2013
Movement to the full
Digital Substation
CIGRE
Ravindranauth Ramlachan

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that it is complete or correct or will apply to any particular project. This will depend on the technical and commercial circumstances. It is provided without
liability and is subject to change without notice. Reproduction, use or disclosure to third parties, without express written authority, is strictly prohibited.
Presentation title - 24/10/2013 – P 2
• Safety issues – equipment isolation, touch and step potentials, EMC
• Copper – raw material cost has increased 400% in 10 years
• Material cost – cubicle wiring and test costs, labour cost per wire end
termination
• Schematic design - verification cost, excessive on-site work content
• Civil work costs – trays, troughing, cable access/egress…
• Maintainability cost
Why Digital - Wiring, wiring, wiring…….

3. © ALSTOM 2013. All rights reserved. Information contained in this document is indicative only. No representation or warranty is given or should be relied on
that it is complete or correct or will apply to any particular project. This will depend on the technical and commercial circumstances. It is provided without
liability and is subject to change without notice. Reproduction, use or disclosure to third parties, without express written authority, is strictly prohibited.
Presentation title - 24/10/2013 – P 3
What is a Digital Substation?
Digital substations are those which have embedded processing
intelligence in order to implement part of their operational duties,
and as such typically exceed the capability of their analogue
predecessors. The intelligence adds:
• Ease of use
• Asset management
• Modularity
• Vendor interoperability
• Real time awareness
Realized by digitizing the data related to the primary process at
the point where it is measured

4. © ALSTOM 2013. All rights reserved. Information contained in this document is indicative only. No representation or warranty is given or should be relied on
that it is complete or correct or will apply to any particular project. This will depend on the technical and commercial circumstances. It is provided without
liability and is subject to change without notice. Reproduction, use or disclosure to third parties, without express written authority, is strictly prohibited.
Presentation title - 24/10/2013 – P 4
The Digital Substation – Architect Levels
CIT & NCIT
CTs and VTs
Station Control
Protection and
Control
Primary
Equipment
Process

5. © ALSTOM 2013. All rights reserved. Information contained in this document is indicative only. No representation or warranty is given or should be relied on
that it is complete or correct or will apply to any particular project. This will depend on the technical and commercial circumstances. It is provided without
liability and is subject to change without notice. Reproduction, use or disclosure to third parties, without express written authority, is strictly prohibited.
Presentation title - 24/10/2013 – P 5
Key Drivers
Improved Safety
-Eliminate open circuit CTs
Asset Optimisation
-Intelligent monitoring of equipment
Reduced Maintenance Cost
-Condition-based maintenance
Optimisation of New Investments
Increased Reliability and Availability
extensive self-diagnosis capability, redundancy
Why install a digital substation?
“Not only does it optimise overall lifecycle costs, it is easier
to use. Asset managers now have a vital tool that, with less
wiring and fewer commissioning tests, accommodates
preventive maintenance and can extend transformer and
switchgear lifetime. Digital substations are modular, so they
can be tailored to system needs and open to third-party
devices. It is easy to retrofit protection and control schemes
with minimal outage constraints. Ultimately, operators
manage a smarter grid, with better, more complete real-time
situational awareness, making the system more available and
secure.”

6. © ALSTOM 2013. All rights reserved. Information contained in this document is indicative only. No representation or warranty is given or should be relied on
that it is complete or correct or will apply to any particular project. This will depend on the technical and commercial circumstances. It is provided without
liability and is subject to change without notice. Reproduction, use or disclosure to third parties, without express written authority, is strictly prohibited.
Presentation title - 24/10/2013 – P 6
Key Drivers
Standardisation and Interoperability
-Multi Vendor
Ease of Refurbishment
-Refurbish with minimum primary outage
Improved communication capability
-Data available to all levels
Environmental Responsibility
-Wiring is reduced by typically 80%.
Why install a digital substation?
“Not only does it optimise overall lifecycle costs, it is easier
to use. Asset managers now have a vital tool that, with less
wiring and fewer commissioning tests, accommodates
preventive maintenance and can extend transformer and
switchgear lifetime. Digital substations are modular, so they
can be tailored to system needs and open to third-party
devices. It is easy to retrofit protection and control schemes
with minimal outage constraints. Ultimately, operators
manage a smarter grid, with better, more complete real-time
situational awareness, making the system more available and
secure.”

7. © ALSTOM 2013. All rights reserved. Information contained in this document is indicative only. No representation or warranty is given or should be relied on
that it is complete or correct or will apply to any particular project. This will depend on the technical and commercial circumstances. It is provided without
liability and is subject to change without notice. Reproduction, use or disclosure to third parties, without express written authority, is strictly prohibited.
Presentation title - 24/10/2013 – P 7
Technology Enablers and Standards
• Ethernet (typically 100Mbit/s, moving towards 1Gb)
• IEC 61850
−IEC 61850-8-1 and GOOSE Service
−IEC 61850-9-2LE for Sample Values
• IEC 62439-3
−PRP for redundant star architecture
−HSR for redundant ring architecture
• IEEE C37.118 – phasor measurement
• Precision time synchronising (µs)
−GPS (1pps)
−IEEE 1588
• Non Conventional CTs (NCIT) & Merging Units (MU)
• Cyber security

8. © ALSTOM 2013. All rights reserved. Information contained in this document is indicative only. No representation or warranty is given or should be relied on
that it is complete or correct or will apply to any particular project. This will depend on the technical and commercial circumstances. It is provided without
liability and is subject to change without notice. Reproduction, use or disclosure to third parties, without express written authority, is strictly prohibited.
Presentation title - 24/10/2013 – P 8
What does IEC 61850 solve?
Control Centre HMI, Station
controller
Gateway
Relay
X1
Bay
Controller
Conventional
Switchgear
Conventional
CT / VT's
Relay
X2
Relay
X1
Bay
Controller
Conventional
Switchgear
Relay
X2
Conventional
CT / VT's
Vendor specific protocols like LON, MVB, SPA,
Profibus, FIP, DNP3.0, Modbus etc
Hardwired with parallel Cu wires
Serial communications

9. © ALSTOM 2013. All rights reserved. Information contained in this document is indicative only. No representation or warranty is given or should be relied on
that it is complete or correct or will apply to any particular project. This will depend on the technical and commercial circumstances. It is provided without
liability and is subject to change without notice. Reproduction, use or disclosure to third parties, without express written authority, is strictly prohibited.
Presentation title - 24/10/2013 – P 9
What does IEC 61850 solve?
Control Centre
Router
Relay
X1
Bay
Controller
Intelligent
Switchgear
Non
conventional
CT/VT
Relay
X2
Relay
X1
Bay
Controller
Intelligent
Switchgear
Relay
X2
Non
conventional
CT/VT
HMI, Station
controller
Ethernet communications
Ethernet communications
Station Bus
Process Bus

10. © ALSTOM 2013. All rights reserved. Information contained in this document is indicative only. No representation or warranty is given or should be relied on
that it is complete or correct or will apply to any particular project. This will depend on the technical and commercial circumstances. It is provided without
liability and is subject to change without notice. Reproduction, use or disclosure to third parties, without express written authority, is strictly prohibited.
Presentation title - 24/10/2013 – P 10
The Digital Substation
CIT & NCIT
CTs and VTs
Enablers
-Ethernet
-Redundancy
-61850
-Station Bus
-Process Bus
-Precision Timing
-NCIT/MU
-Cyber Security

11. © ALSTOM 2013. All rights reserved. Information contained in this document is indicative only. No representation or warranty is given or should be relied on
that it is complete or correct or will apply to any particular project. This will depend on the technical and commercial circumstances. It is provided without
liability and is subject to change without notice. Reproduction, use or disclosure to third parties, without express written authority, is strictly prohibited.
Presentation title - 24/10/2013 – P 11
NCIT Advantages
• Cost Savings (particularly at voltages above 200kV)
− Compact and lightweight primary current and voltage transformers
− Space-efficient, easily transportable
• Digital Standard IEC 61850-9.2 - Interoperability
− Interoperability between conventional CT/VTs, other vendors supporting IEC
61850-9.2, and test equipment
− Ease of integration in the Total Digital Substation.
• Safety - Reliability - Availability
− No explosion risk
− No wired cross-site CT connection
• Measurement Improvement
− No saturation, no ferroresonance, accurate transient response
− High bandwidth: Wide dynamic range for Protection short circuits, whilst
retaining accuracy for low-current Measurement
• Exploitation Ease
− Ethernet distribution of sampled analogue values to multiple devices
− Ease of extension or modification without affecting physical wiring
− Measurement class accuracy and Protection dynamic range

12. © ALSTOM 2013. All rights reserved. Information contained in this document is indicative only. No representation or warranty is given or should be relied on
that it is complete or correct or will apply to any particular project. This will depend on the technical and commercial circumstances. It is provided without
liability and is subject to change without notice. Reproduction, use or disclosure to third parties, without express written authority, is strictly prohibited.
Presentation title - 24/10/2013 – P 12
Digital Substation Challenges
• Redundancy
• Extends to communication network
• Same considerations as with “traditional” substation
• Testing
• How to isolate and test
• Precision Timing
• Common time source needed

13. © ALSTOM 2013. All rights reserved. Information contained in this document is indicative only. No representation or warranty is given or should be relied on
that it is complete or correct or will apply to any particular project. This will depend on the technical and commercial circumstances. It is provided without
liability and is subject to change without notice. Reproduction, use or disclosure to third parties, without express written authority, is strictly prohibited.
Presentation title - 24/10/2013 – P 13
Architecture Redundancy Considerations
• There are numerous ways to increase the reliability and availability of
a digital substation through redundancy
− Redundant sensors
− Redundant IEDs
− Redundant networks
Station Bus (Redundant PRP)
Main
GOOSE A
GOOSE
B
Prot
B Backup
MUs A/B Main
MUs A/B
CB Control /
RTU
GOOSE & MMS
Prot
A
Main
GOOSE & MMS
Process Bus (Duplicated A/B)
Process Bus (Redundant PRP)
Switch (Process / Station bus
boundary)
SV
SV

14. © ALSTOM 2013. All rights reserved. Information contained in this document is indicative only. No representation or warranty is given or should be relied on
that it is complete or correct or will apply to any particular project. This will depend on the technical and commercial circumstances. It is provided without
liability and is subject to change without notice. Reproduction, use or disclosure to third parties, without express written authority, is strictly prohibited.
Presentation title - 24/10/2013 – P 14
SV considerations – isolation and testing
• Set IED into ‘Simulation’ mode
• IED processes SV frames with Test/Simulation indication
set
−Does not operate IED trip outputs
IED
Sim=TRUE
MU1
Simulator
MU1
(process) X
SV Sim=FALSE
SV Sim=TRUE
Prot
Functions
Trip
values Output
X

15. © ALSTOM 2013. All rights reserved. Information contained in this document is indicative only. No representation or warranty is given or should be relied on
that it is complete or correct or will apply to any particular project. This will depend on the technical and commercial circumstances. It is provided without
liability and is subject to change without notice. Reproduction, use or disclosure to third parties, without express written authority, is strictly prohibited.
Presentation title - 24/10/2013 – P 15
Merging Unit considerations – SV delays
• Different delay in samples from different MUs
−could be from different vendors
IEC 61850
Merging Unit 1
Ethernet
Switch
IA1, IB 1, IC 1
IEC 61850
Merging Unit 2
IEC 61850
Merging Unit 3
IY1
IA3, IB 3, IC3
IY 2
IA5, IB 5, IC5
IY 3
VA , VB , VC
Protection
IED
-
9
-
2
L
E

16. © ALSTOM 2013. All rights reserved. Information contained in this document is indicative only. No representation or warranty is given or should be relied on
that it is complete or correct or will apply to any particular project. This will depend on the technical and commercial circumstances. It is provided without
liability and is subject to change without notice. Reproduction, use or disclosure to third parties, without express written authority, is strictly prohibited.
Presentation title - 24/10/2013 – P 16
Merging Unit considerations – SV delays
• Need each MU to be accurately synchronized
−1 PPS, IEEE 1588 PTP
• IED processes global/local synchronization indication for SV received
−Adapts protection functions – e.g. inhibits current differential
−Alarms on loss of synchronization
• IED should align SV according to maximum time delay between subscribed Merging
Units

17. © ALSTOM 2013. All rights reserved. Information contained in this document is indicative only. No representation or warranty is given or should be relied on
that it is complete or correct or will apply to any particular project. This will depend on the technical and commercial circumstances. It is provided without
liability and is subject to change without notice. Reproduction, use or disclosure to third parties, without express written authority, is strictly prohibited.
Presentation title - 24/10/2013 – P 17
Presentation title - 01/01/2010 - P 17
Pilot Project – ENDESA, Spain
ENDESA substation:
SE Llobregat
145kV
Pilot Projects

18. © ALSTOM 2013. All rights reserved. Information contained in this document is indicative only. No representation or warranty is given or should be relied on
that it is complete or correct or will apply to any particular project. This will depend on the technical and commercial circumstances. It is provided without
liability and is subject to change without notice. Reproduction, use or disclosure to third parties, without express written authority, is strictly prohibited.
Presentation title - 24/10/2013 – P 18
Pilot Project – ENERGIENET, Denmark
ENERGINET: Denmark – Full digital solution
6 Underground 420 kV Cables differential monitoring
OHL
420kV
3000A
RF 1.2
Diff 1
Cable 1 - 420kV
1500A - RF 2
> 20km
NXMU ’s
In : 3 currents
Out : 2x 61850 9 -2LE
Diff 2
Redundancy
Cable 2 - 420kV
1500A - RF 2
> 20km
9 - 2LE 9 - 2LE
9 - 2LE
9 - 2LE
MICOM
P594
1PPS
MICOM
P594
1PPS
AIS scope:
• 72 COSI CT420
• 24 COSI NXMU
SAS scope:
• 24 P546
• 12 P594
x6

19. © ALSTOM 2013. All rights reserved. Information contained in this document is indicative only. No representation or warranty is given or should be relied on
that it is complete or correct or will apply to any particular project. This will depend on the technical and commercial circumstances. It is provided without
liability and is subject to change without notice. Reproduction, use or disclosure to third parties, without express written authority, is strictly prohibited.
Presentation title - 24/10/2013 – P 19
The Digital Substation: Conclusion
• The Digital Substation requires:
− A common, coherent solution integrated using modern communication
architectures
− An optimized solution for customers, with reduced costs of ownership and higher
performance
• This is supported by the application of IEC 61850 within the substation :
− Digitization of data at source
− Implementation of “real-time” communications
− Integration of all control, measurement, protection and monitoring functions
− Test features

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