System level testing for substation automation systems

Abstract

The invention is concerned with the testing of system level functionality involving several Protection. Control and Measurement (PCM) Intelligent Electronic Devices (IEDs) of a Substation Automation (SA) system for IEC 61850 compliant substations. An extensive testing of all conceivable control or protection functions / applications of an extended SA system comprising a large number of IEDs with a multitude of configurations is facilitated by simulating at least one of the IEDs in a testing device. Hence, only a limited number of IEDs are physically present as individual devices in a test environment, the behaviour of at least one further IED being simulated by a dedicated testing device with appropriate data processing means. The testing device sends network messages indicative of the behaviour of the simulated IED according to its communication and device configuration over a substation communication network to the physically present IED to be tested. The proper working of the configured IED functions, i.e. the expected correct action as triggered by the testing device, are then verified by analyzing the device's response over its analogue and digital outputs, as well as its response over the communication network. Preferably, the set-up for SA system testing is automatically detected and configured.

Description

Technical field [0001] The invention relates to the field of substation automation (SA) systems for substations in high-voltage power grids and medium-voltage power grids. More specifically, the present invention relates to the testing of system-level functions of two intelligent electronic devices (IEDs) related to the SA system. Background technique [0002] The power system includes a transmission grid and / or a distribution network interconnecting geographically separated regions, and a plurality of substations at nodes of the grid. The substation includes equipment used to transform and switch the connections between the lines of the power grid. Power generation and flow to users are managed by the Central Energy Management System (EMS) and / or monitored by the Monitoring and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system located in the Network Control Center (NCC). [0003] Substations in high-voltage and medium-voltage power grids include primary equipment such as cables, wires, bus bars, ...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

However, due to the sheer number of IEDs requiring more complex test rigs, and due to cost and space constraints, not all IEDs for a particular substation are installed for FAT, let alone the largest possible substation required for a system verification test. Number of IEDs

Accordingly, the scope of test configurations and the complexity of the above-mentioned signal patterns are limited

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