POWERGRID has been implementing Substation Automation Systems (SAS) at its substations over the last decade. However, to overcome the deficiencies of point to point copper connections between process level equipment and IEDs, and to harness the digitization of data at process level for advanced diagnosis and eased maintenance, the adoption of Process Bus Technology was thought to be a suitable option. Keeping this in view, POWERGRID has started its journey into the world of completely digitized substations.
The first step in this regard was taken by implementing a Pilot Project on Process Bus at 400/220 kV Bhiwadi substation in the state of Haryana. This Pilot Project was commissioned in 2015. The system was implemented with an Optical CT and Switchgear Controllers which were installed in the switchyard by digitizing all the equipment in one of the Line feeders of 400/220 kV Bhiwadi substation.
This Pilot implementation is being used as test beds for conducting performance evaluation studies on advanced IEC 61850 engineering aspects, Process Bus devices and their conformance to the IEC 61850 standard along with the behavior of the devices in different configurations. The evaluation studies have helped in refining the specifications, FAT requirements and defining the specific test requirements for GOOSE & SV based protection schemes. The experience gained and results of the performance evaluation studies are being leveraged for India's first full scale commercial implementation of digital substation at 400 kV level, by retrofitting the control & protection system of a conventional 400/220KV substation located at Malerkotla in the state of Punjab, with IEC 61850 based Process Bus based SAS.
This paper will discuss the performance evaluation studies conducted on the Pilot Project of Process Bus at Bhiwadi substation of POWERGRID.
IEC 61850, Process Bus, Substation Automation Systems (SAS)
