What is BS EN 61850-5 - Communication networks and systems for power utility automation about?
BS EN 61850 is a series on communication networks and systems for power utility automation. A communication network is a group of nodes interconnected by telecommunication links that are used to exchange messages between the nodes. BS EN 61850-5 applies to power utility automation systems with the core part of substation automation systems (SAS). BS EN 61850-5 standardizes the communication between intelligent electronic devices (IEDs) and defines the related system requirements to be supported.
The specifications of BS EN 61850-5 refer to the communication requirements of the functions in power automation systems. Most examples of functions and their communication requirements in BS EN 61850-5 are originated primarily from the substation automation domain and may be reused or extended for other domains within power utility automation if applicable. Note that sometimes instead of the term substation automation domain the term substation domain is used, especially if both the switchyard devices (primary system) and the automation system (secondary system) is regarded. To support the resulting request for free allocation of functions, a proper breakdown of functions into parts relevant to communication is defined. The exchanged data and their required performance are defined in BS EN 61850-5.
Note: Standardizing functions and their implementation is completely outside the scope of BS EN 61850-5. Therefore, it cannot be assumed a single philosophy of allocating functions to devices.
Who is BS EN 61850-5 - Communication networks and systems for power utility automation for?
BS EN 61850-5 on communication networks and systems for power utility automation is useful for:
- Telecommunication sector
- Automation system sector
- Power utility plants
- Design engineers
- Quality control personnel
Why should you use BS EN 61850-5 - Communication networks and systems for power utility automation?
BS EN 61850-5 is intended to provide interoperability between all devices in power utility automation systems. Therefore, BS EN 61850-5 defines communication networks and systems for power utility automation, and more especially the communication architecture for subsystems like substation automation systems. The sum of all subsystems may result also in the description of the communication architecture for the overall power system management. Communication between these devices in subsystems and between the subsystems within the overall power utility automation system fulfils a lot of requirements imposed by all the functions to be performed in power utility automation systems starting from the core requirements in substations. These requirements are stated both for the data to be organized in a data model and for the data exchange resulting in services. Performance of the data exchange means not only transfer times but also the quality of the data exchange avoiding losses of information in the communication. BS EN 61850-5 is long-living but allow following the fast changes in communication technology through both its technical approach and its document structure. Using BS EN 61850-5 you can understand power utility automation systems with the core part of substation automation systems (SAS).
What’s changed since the last update?
BS EN 61850-5:2013 supersedes BS EN 61850-5:2003. BS EN 61850-5:2013 includes some technical changes with respect to BS EN 61850-5:2003. These include:
- Extension from substation automation systems to utility automation systems
- Including the interfaces for communication between substations (interfaces 2 and 11)
- Requirements from communication beyond the boundary of the substation