IRWIN BARNETO, ABB INDIA LTD., CIGRE NOV. 2013
The role of Communication systems
for Smart transmission
Agenda

Typical power utility communication infrastructure

Application requirements on communication network
performance

Technologies for the Utilities Core Network ,Trends

Conclusion
Introduction
PTN & Utility Communication Networks

Today…


the development of telecommunication
technologies is driven by the needs of public
telecom operators and corporate networks.
However….

The communication requirement(s) of utility
networks and Public Telecom Networks (PTN)
vary significantly.
Typical power utility communication infrastructure
Substation
Control
Centre
Power Plant
SDH/ SONET
PLC
Administration
Wide Area
Network
(WAN)
ISDN
SDH/ SONET
Regional Office
DATA
ISDN
SHDSL
Twisted pair
|
DATA
PDH
Design parameters
Typical requirements for a Power Utility..

Dependability- always the highest

Security- the highest possible

Transmission time- the minimum possible

Transmission Bandwidth- not very critical/ not very high

Transmission media- Fiber/ Microwave/ PLCC/ VSAT

MTBF & Availability- no compromise
Design considerations
1. Environmental
Consideration
 Electrically
hostile environment, where
electromagnetic interference’s are a common
phenomenon
 Stringent
EMC (Electromagnetic
Compatibility) directives of IEC & EN
 Operating
Temperature: quite extensive
For example:

IEC 61000-4-12 standard (damped oscillatory waves) is
simulating high voltage breakers and is not executed for
telecom equipments.

IEC 61000-4-4 standard (fast transient test) is simulating
relay contacts and is only tested with insufficient low
values for telecom equipments.
Application requirements
Utilities mission in the focus

Power utility need to reliably transmit and distribute
electrical energy

Various applications help the utility to ensure the
reliable energy transmission and distribution

Some of them are mission critical


Requiring real time communication

Requiring predictable and constant communication
channels
The utility communication network helps to achieve reliable energy
transmission and distribution and accordingly it needs to fulfil the
requirements defined by the applications without compromise
Requirements for utility communication
Application requirements
2 wire

Requirement for huge variety of different
interfaces

Requirement for utility specific interfaces
such as Teleprotection

Highest requirements for communication
channel availability

Real time data channels for mission critical
applications

Channel supervision for mission critical
services (e.g. Teleprotection)
contact
RS-232
multiplexing
Ethernet
IEEE C37.94


Delay times

Wrong channel routing
Traditional SCADA Systems are using RS232
protocol in polling mode

Point-Multipoint functionality on data
interfaces required
Prevailing Technologies
TeleProtection
Electrical Telecom Cables
Fibreoptic Cables / OPGW
Data
Communication
eqpt.
Speech
Communication
eqpt.
Power Line Carrier Communication
Speech
TeleProtection
Data
Radio
Prevailing Technologies
Communication Media
Media & Technology
• PLC: Power Line Carrier
• DLC: Distribution Line Carrier
• Coaxial Cables
and Services
• Voice
• FAX
• X.25, Frame Relay
• Pilot (copper) wire
• Radio Relay Link (Micro wave)
• Optical fibres
• UHF / VHF Radio
Technology
• Satelite
Wireless communication
PDH, SDH, DWDM
Mobile Telephony
FDDI
LAN: Ethernet, Token Ring
Gigabit Ethernet
ATM
xDSL: ADSL, HDSL, VDSL
• Modem
• E-Mail
• Video Surveillance
• Video Conferencing
• TeleWorking
• Telemetry
• Data
• Scada
• Tele Protection
• Management
SDH introduced

To overcome PDH shortcomings, ITU-T defined a new
transmission standard:
The SDH Synchronous Digital Hierarchy to …

access 2Mbit/s signals in any level of a data stream

have an integrated network management channel with
routing functionality in every network element

standardise the complete technology including
- frame formats,
- multiplexing schemes
- synchronisation

allow bit-rates of up to 10 GBit/s in one signal
Why SDH?
A robust Communication Network is the key for a reliable Powergrid
operation
Network Management
Benefits
- Path management
- Standard management
channel
Multi-vendor networks
Improved protection
Network simplification
- Access signal from the
largest
Multiplexed
signal
Network optimisation
- Distributed bandwidth
management
Reduced over-all cost
Not a PDH replacement
Increased revenues through
Improved services
Differentiation of service
offering
Survivable networks
Reduced operating cost
Improved network utilisation
communication networks for power utilities
Present situation
•

SDH proved its capabilities for reliable communication
infrastructure with highest availability figures

Real time communication supported

Predictable communication channel

Symmetrical delay times

Low jitter/ wander

Synchronous system

Highest availability of data channels

Redundant channel routing with fast switchover times
PDH/ SDH is perfectly fitting to the real time requirements
of utilities mission critical applications such as
Teleprotection
Packet Switched Networks Drivers
Growing usage of IEC 60870-5-104 protocol


Today's SCADA communication uses increasingly the IEC 608705-104 (IEC 104)

...has been published some years ago (IEC104 in 2000)
 established standard

…is an up-to-date standardized SCADA protocol
 guarantees interoperability

offers also spontaneous communication (instead of polling)
 bandwidth optimized solution

requires less HW in the control centre
 allows to build up price optimized solution
for small systems
The same also applies for DNP3 over IP protocol
Packet Switched Networks Drivers
Additional applications trend towards Ethernet

Additional Ethernet based applications

Video over IP (CCTV)
 IT
infrastructure can be used for
Video surveillance
 Cost
optimised systems

Intrusion Detection System

Fire Detection System

Access Control System

ICCP Links between Control Centres
Packet Switched Networks Drivers
Additional applications trend towards Ethernet

Traditional substation services required a
whole bunch of different type of interfaces,
such as RS-232, V.11, G.703, 2/4 wire voice
channels….

Due to the wide deployment of Ethernet
technologies in industrial automation
environment also substation applications
are moving more and more towards Packet
Switched solutions (Ethernet/ IP)
Power Line Carrier Communication(PLCC) System
(16 …) 40 kHz
100 104 108
500 kHz
Line Trap
(DLTC)
Coupling Capacitor (CC)
or Capacitor Voltage
Transformer (CVT)
Coupling Filter
(MCD 80)
Voice
RTU
(SCADA)
Line Trap
Application of PLC:
Transmission of
voice, data (RTU)
and protection
signals (from IEDs)
Coupling Capacitor (CC)
or Capacitor Voltage
Transformer (CVT)
CF Coupling Filter
Voice
Data
Data
Full duplex
Protection
Protection
PLCC Terminal
PLCC Terminal
IED = Intelligent Electronic Device
(i.e. digital protective relay)
DPLC applications “Switching/Routing“
LAN – Coupling without external router is possible
LAN 2
LAN 1
DPLC
DPLC
Power Line
9.6 – 256 kbps
Substation A
Substation B
Fall-back / fall-forward supported
 Speed adapts to link condition
Challenges for smarter grid networks

Selecting the right network technology to avoid stranded
assets

AMI network solutions deliver sufficient capacity for meter
reading – but can’t support network requirements for other
smart grid applications

Some utilities select an AMI network solution without
considering future application and network needs

Cyber security threats are real and will continue to evolve over
time
Selecting a network communications strategy
Traditional approach

Network per project

Strategic approach

Layered communications
architecture

Supports for current plus
future smart grid apps

Minimizes incremental spend
for additional field
applications
Build/pay as you go

SCADA

AMI

Distribution Automation

Field data applications,…
Finding the Right Balance
Application Requirements
Technologies

Bandwidth

PLCC

Transmission time

FIBRE- PDH/SDH

Security and Dependability

MICROWAVE

Availability

IP

EMI/EMC

VSAT
Conclusion

It is important that a utility can take the decision for the
correct technology based on application requirements and
communication network performance and not…
… based on equipment and technology availability


Migration scenarios

Flexibility on technology

Step by step migration
General considerations

Utility grade design (EMC, EMI, Temperature)

No Varying Life cycles

Maintenance effort
© ABB Group
April 13, 2015 | Slide 23