Real Time Simulation Testing Using IEC 61850

-As IEC 61850 becomes more widely accepted in the electrical engineering community, it is important that the testing tools keep pace with this development. IEC 61850 presents new challenges to real time simulation and closed-loop testing of protective relays. Electrical interfaces used for binary signaling and voltage/current amplifiers must be replaced by an Ethernet connection and an IEC 61850 protocol stack. The electrical interfaces of a real time simulator are engineered to provide low latency and deterministic performance appropriate for a real time simulation. Similar attention must be given to IEC 61850 interfaces. Latency must be minimized so that the IEC 61850 interface does not add unacceptable delays to the operation of the simulator. Also, protocol processing must be deterministic to allow real time simulations to be repeatable and dependable. In addition, IEC 61850 specifies new configuration parameters and a new method for configuration called the Substation Configuration Language (SCL). These must be implemented in such a way that they fit within the typical modes of operation of the simulator. The paper presents a successful hardware implementation for IEC 61850 messaging on a real time simulator and discusses the key design criteria. The software required to configure the IEC 61850 will also be addressed along with the advantages in using the IEC 61850 protocol. One of the biggest advantages is brought about by the realization of the IEC 61850-9-2 sampled values, removing the need for amplifiers as the standard interface to protection devices. Sampled values of the voltage and current signals can be sent via Ethernet, making it even more practical to perform testing on a protective relaying scheme rather than just individual devices.