USOO9684020B2

(12) United States Patent (10) Patent No.: US 9,684,020 B2

Rudolph (45) Date of Patent: Jun. 20, 2017
(54) MERGING UNIT AND METHOD OF (56) References Cited
OPERATING AMERGING UNIT
U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
(75) Inventor: Thomas Rudolph, Rosbach v.d.H. (DE) 5,807,245 A * 9/1998 Aldestam ............... A61B 5,085
600/300
(73) Assignees: She is E. iyen
ecnnology s
6,954,704 B2 * 10/2005 Minami ............... HO2HTOOf
1 OO61
292
Baden (CH) (Continued)
(*) Notice: Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
patent is extended or adjusted under 35
U.S.C. 154(b) by 905 days. CN 1761124. A 4, 2006
CN 101026633. A 8, 2007
(21) Appl. No.: 14/007,125 (Continued)
(22) PCT Fed: Mar. 26, 2012 OTHER PUBLICATIONS
(86). PCT No.: PCT/EP2012/055.316 International Search Report issued Jun. 25, 2012 in PCT/EP2012/
S 371 (c)(1), O55316.
(2), (4) Date: Nov. 19, 2013 (Continued)
(87) PCT Pub. No.: WO2012/127058 Primary Examiner — Ricky Ngon
(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm — Oblon, McClelland,
PCT Pub. Date: Sep. 27, 2012 Maier & Neustadt, LLP.
(65) Prior Publication Data (57) ABSTRACT
US 2014/OO74415 A1 Mar. 13, 2014 A merging unit for Substation automation includes at least
O O one input interface for receiving input data characterizing at
(30) Foreign Application Priority Data least one voltage and/or current related to a component of a
power system, and a timing synchronization mechanism
Ma: 3. SE --- ------ ----- --------- -- --- ------ --- E. which includes an interface to an external synchronization
ar. Z4, (EP) ..................................... network operating according to one of Inter Range Instru
(51) Int. Cl mentation Group, IRIG, -B standard, the 1PPS standard and
coiR 2I/33 (2006.01) the Institute of Electrical and the Electronics Engineers,
HO4, 3/06 (2006.015 IEEE, 1588 standard. The merging unit is configured to
(52) U.S. Cl implement logical nodes according to the International Elec
AV e. we trotechnical Commission, IEC, 61850-7 standard. The merg
CPC .......... G0IR 21/133 (2013.01); toget ing unit is configured to map information to and/or from at
( .01) least one of the logical nodes; to the IEC 61850-9-2 sampled
(58) Field of Classification Search GO1R 21f133 measured values, SMV, communication protocol.
(Continued) 11 Claims, 5 Drawing Sheets

200

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 US 9,684,020 B2
Page 2

(58) Field of Classification Search EP 1898.509 A1 3f2008

USPC ............................................................ 702/60 EP 21598.93 A1 3/2010
S lication file f 1
ee application file for complete searchh history.
hi KR
RU 10-2008-0094489 A
88157 U1 10, 2008
10, 2009
WO 2009 136975 A2 11/2009
(56) References Cited
U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS OTHER PUBLICATIONS

8,934,471 B2 1/2015 Yang et al. Extended European Search Report issued Nov. 15, 2011 in Patent
2004/0059469 A1 3, 2004 Hart Application No. 11159554.2.
2007/O114987 A1 5/2007 Kagan Klaus-Peter Brand, “The Standard IEC 61850 as Prerequisite for
2008, OO6527O A1 3, 2008 Kasztenny et al. Intelligent Applications in Substations' IEEE, Power Engineering
2009/0113049 A1 4, 2009 Nasle et al. Society General Meeting, XP010756486, Jun. 6, 2004, pp. 714-718.
2009,0265124 A1 10, 2009 Kagan Kenneth E. Martin, "Synchrophasor Standards Development—
2009/0327787 A1 12, 2009 Yu et al. IEEE C37.118 & IEC 61850” System Sciences (HICSS),
2010.015303.6 A1 6, 2010 Elwarry et al. XPO3 1981200, Jan. 4, 2011, pp. 1-8.
2011/O112699 A1 5, 2011 Tournier et al.
2012,0014315 A1 1, 2012 Yang et al. A. Apostolov, et al., “IEC 61850 Process Bus—Principles, Appli
cations and Benefits' IEEE Protective Relay Engineers,
FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS XPO3 1679 128, Mar. 29, 2010, pp. 1-6.
Yonghui Yi, et al., “An IEC 61850 Universal Gateway Based on
CN 1.01431230 A 5, 2009 Metadata Modeling” Power Engineering Society General Meeting,
CN 101498757 A 8, 2009 IEEE, XPO311 18555, Jun. 1, 2007, pp. 1-5.
CN 201569 691 U. 9, 2010 Russian Office Action issued Oct. 8, 2015 in Patent Application No.
CN 101841399. A 9, 2010 2013147200/07(073341).
EP 1 134 867 A1 9, 2001
EP 1830 450 A1 9, 2007 * cited by examiner
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 US 9,684,020 B2
1. 2
MERGING UNIT AND METHOD OF transformed input data, which enables a particularly precise
OPERATING AMERGING UNIT assessment of the data collected by the merging unit. Espe
cially, further devices which are supplied with the respective
FIELD OF THE INVENTION data by the merging unit according to the embodiments. Such
as e.g. protection and/or control IEDs, can process the
The present invention relates to a merging unit, particu respective data with a correct time reference, which is
larly for Substation automation. particularly advantageous if said data is delivered to the
The present invention further relates to a method of protection and/or control IEDs by various merging units that
operating a merging unit. are geographically distributed.
10 According to a further preferred embodiment, said merg
BACKGROUND
ing unit is configured to implement at least one logical node
according to the International Electrotechnical Commission,
IEC, 61850-7 standard, wherein said logical node preferably
Merging units are e.g. used in Substation automation comprises at least one of QFVR, QITR, QIUB, QVTR,
systems for collecting and forwarding sensor data to further QVUB, TCTR, TVTR, MMXU, MMXU including PMU
devices such as intelligent electronic devices (IEDs) pro 15
(phasor measurement) data, GGIO. Thus, the merging unit
vided for protection and/or control purposes on a higher according to the embodiments can advantageously make use
level of said Substation automation system. of underlying data model as specified by the IEC 61850
It is an object of the present invention to provide an standard.
improved merging unit and an improved method of operat According to a further preferred embodiment, said merg
ing a merging unit that provide an increased operational ing unit is configured to map information to and/or from said
flexibility and enable a reduced complexity for higher level at least one logical node to at least one of the following
architectures of a Substation automation system and provides communication protocols: IEC 61850-8-1 (Mapping to
a basis for a better power quality monitoring of an electrical MMS), IEC 61850-8-1 Generic Object Oriented Substation
distribution grid, for electrical grid stability and for wide Event (GOOSE), IEC 61850-9-2 Sampled Measured values
area monitoring, protection and control schemes 25 (SMV), IEC 61850-90-5 (Synchrophasor), whereby a par
(WAMPAC). ticularly efficient communications process between the logi
cal node(s) as implemented in the merging unit according to
SUMMARY the embodiments and external devices such as e.g. protec
tion and/or control IEDs is attained.
Regarding the abovementioned merging unit, this object 30
According to a further preferred embodiment, said merg
is achieved by said merging unit comprising at least one ing unit is configured to map communications according to
input interface for receiving input data characterizing volt IEC 61850-8-1 to a, preferably dedicated, first physical
communications port, and to map communications accord
age and/or current measurements related to a component of ing to IEC 61850-9-2 to a, preferably dedicated, second
a power system, wherein said merging unit further com physical communications port. Alternatively, the first physi
prises a control unit that is configured to determine power 35 cal communications port, which is proposed to support IEC
quality information and/or phasor measurement information 61850-8-1 communications, may also be employed for IEC
depending on said input data. 61850-9-2 communications. Further alternatively or addi
The determination of power quality information and/or of tionally, communications according to the IEC 61850-90-5
phasor measurement information within the inventive merg or IEEE C37.118 standards may also be mapped to either
ing unit advantageously enables to provide a simplified 40 one of said physical communications ports or further ports
Substation automation system architecture and provides the provided for communications.
information required for enhanced electrical grid Stability A further solution to the object of the present invention is
related to functions implemented on Substation and/or net given by a method of operating a merging unit according to
work control center level. claim 8. Further advantageous embodiments are subject of
According to a preferred embodiment, said merging unit 45 the dependent claims.
is configured to transform said received input data into a
predetermined output format, whereby transformed input BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
data is obtained, and to output said transformed input data to
a further device. Thus, input data collected by the merging Further aspects, features and embodiments of the present
unit can locally be processed within the merging unit and 50 invention are given in the following detailed description
can be forwarded to external devices such as IEDs of the with reference to the drawings, in which:
Substation automation system in the desired data format. FIG. 1 depicts a schematic block diagram of an embodi
Alternatively or additionally, the power quality information ment of the inventive merging unit,
and/or the phasor measurement information, which is deter FIG. 2 depicts a detailed functional block diagram of an
mined by the control unit of the merging unit according to 55 embodiment of the inventive merging unit, and
the embodiments, can also be transformed to a predeter FIG. 3 depicts a schematic block diagram of a third
mined data format which e.g. facilitates evaluation of said embodiment of the inventive merging unit,
power quality information and/or of said phasor measure FIG. 4 depicts a schematic block diagram of a fourth
ment information by other devices. embodiment of the inventive merging unit, and
According to a further preferred embodiment, said merg 60 FIG. 5 depicts a schematic diagram of a power system
ing unit is configured to output said power quality informa comprising an inventive merging unit and a communication
tion and/or said phasor measurement information to a further scenario in the power system.
device.
According to a further preferred embodiment, said merg DETAILED DESCRIPTION
ing unit is configured to assign timestamp information to 65
said power quality information and/or to said phasor mea FIG. 1 depicts a schematic block diagram of a first
Surement information and/or said input data and/or said embodiment of an inventive merging unit 100, which is
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3 4
assigned to a power system 200 for processing input data ID, tion System (SAS), which may e.g. use IEC 61850-9-2 and
Such as sensor data, characterizing Voltage and/or current IEC 61850-8-1 protocol as a option.
measurements related to components of said power system Generally, according to a preferred embodiment, the
2OO. merging unit 100 is configured to perform measurements,
Said power system 200 exemplarily comprises switchgear preferably real-time measurements, of the input data ID as
like disconnectors 202 and circuit breakers 204. Further, the provided by the instrument transformers 206, 208, and to
power system 200 comprises one or more Voltage trans forward said measurements to further external components
formers 206 and one or more current transformers 208 for 400. As will be explained in detail below, the measurements
transforming the Voltages and/or currents of the power related to the input data ID may inter alia comprise a
system 200 in a per se known manner, i.e. to reduced value 10 transformation of those portions of input data received in the
ranges, to facilitate measurement and analysis of these analog domain to the digital domain.
parameters. Presently, Substation automation systems, which are used
For example, the Voltage transformers 206 may comprise to control power systems 200 as exemplarily depicted by
conventional voltage transformers and/or non-conventional FIG. 1, are based on a functional distribution which is
voltage transformers. Likewise, the current transformers 208 15 mainly structured into 3 levels: process Level, bay level and
may comprise conventional current transformers and/or substation level. In this context, the merging unit 100 may
non-conventional current transformers such as e.g. non typically represent a device of the process level or of the
contact current transformers (NCCT) of the Rogowski coil substation level, and the device 400 may represent an
or fibre-optic type. intelligent electronic device (IED) in the sense of the IEC
For receiving output signals of the Voltage transformers 61850 standard which is provided at the bay level, e.g. a
206 and the current transformers 208, which are further protection or control IED.
referred to as “input data ID to the merging unit 100, the According to the present invention, apart from performing
merging unit 100 comprises respective input interfaces. said measurements, preferably real-time measurements, of
According to the present embodiment, the merging unit the input data ID as provided by the instrument transformers
100 comprises a first input interface 110a, which is config 25 206, 208, and to forward said measurements to further
ured to receive the output signals of the Voltage transformers external components such as bay level IEDs 400, the merg
206 as input data ID. The merging unit 100 also comprises ing unit 100, or its control unit 120, respectively, is further
a second input interface 110b, which is configured to receive configured to determine power quality information and/or
the output signals of the current transformers 208 as input phasor measurement information depending on said input
data ID. 30 data ID or the associated measurements obtained via the
Depending on the specific configuration of the Voltage input interfaces 110a, 110b. According to an embodiment,
transformers 206 and the current transformers 208, the first said phasor measurement information may e.g. be transmit
input interfaces 110a, 110b comprise respectively config ted via the data interface 130 to further components, e.g. by
ured input ports. For example, if the Voltage transformers employing communications according to the IEC 61850
206 are of the conventional type delivering an output voltage 35 90-5 (Synchrophasor) or IEEE C37.118 standards. Such
within e.g. a 0 V to 100 V range depending on a primary further components may e.g. represent phasor data concen
voltage of a component 204 of the power system 200 to trators (PDCs).
which the voltage transformers 206 are connected, the first Thus, in addition to forwarding Voltage and/or current
input interface 110a is capable of processing said respective measurements to external devices 400, the inventive merg
input data within the specified Voltage range. The same 40 ing unit 100 advantageously enables to locally determine a
applies to the specific configuration of the second input power quality and/or phasor measurements associated with
interface 110b which is connected to the current transform the input data ID that reflects voltages and/or currents of the
ers. I.e., for operating conventional current transformers, the power system 200 the merging unit 100 is associated with.
second input interface 110b may e.g. be configured to The power quality information and/or the phasor measure
receive a current signal within the OA to 5 A range. 45 ment information so obtained may also be forwarded to
Optionally, the merging unit 100 may also comprise at further devices 400. According to a preferred embodiment,
least one further input interface 110c, which is configured to the phasor measurements comprise a vectorial three-phase
receive input data in binary form Such as e.g. from position representation of Voltages and currents at a fundamental
indicators or other components of the power system 200 network frequency of the power system 200 associated to
providing binary output data. 50 the inventive merging unit 100.
For processing the received input data ID, the merging By integrating the above explained functionality directed
unit 100 comprises a control unit 120, which may e.g. to determining power quality and/or phasor measurements,
comprise a microprocessor and/or a digital signal processor Substation automation systems may be provided which com
(DSP) or any other type of calculating means that are prise less IEDs, particularly on the bay level. Apart from
capable of performing the required steps of processing. 55 saving costs by reducing the number of elements of the
After processing the input data ID, the merging unit 100 Substation automation systems, higher accuracy regarding
may forward processed input data to an external device. the power quality information and/or the phasor measure
According to the embodiment of FIG. 1, the merging unit ment information may also be attained since the power
100 comprises a data interface 130 which e.g. serves to quality information and/or the phasor measurement infor
establish a data connection with a network 300 and/or 60 mation is determined at the same stage, i.e. the merging unit
further devices 400, e.g. via said network 300. 100, where the basic input data ID for deriving said power
For instance, the data interface 130 could comprise an quality information and/or said phasor measurement infor
Ethernet-type interface, which may provide data connec mation is obtained.
tions between the merging unit 100 and other Ethernet based Moreover, less documentation is required for substation
devices as protection relays, bay computers, Substation level 65 automation systems that are equipped with the inventive
devices like Gateways, Substation computer or Human merging units 100 since a higher degree of functional
Machine Interfaces (HMI) identified as substation Automa integration is provided.
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Still further, the forwarding of power quality information the phasor measurement information PHM to facilitate a
and/or of phasor measurement information obtained accord precise Subsequent processing thereof in the context of the
ing to the present invention may seamlessly be integrated power system 200.
with existing data exchange techniques such as e.g. accord Additionally, the digital signal processing means 150 are
ing to the IEC 61850 standard, in particular according to at configured to determine sample measured values SMV
least one of the IEC 61850-90-5 or IEEE C37.118 Standards. depending on said input data ID (FIG. 1) obtained from the
FIG. 2 depicts a detailed functional block diagram of an respective input interfaces 110a, 110b. The sample measured
embodiment of the inventive merging unit 100. values SMV may advantageously also be associated with
As depicted by FIG. 2, the merging unit 100 comprises timing information Supplied by the time synchronization
input conditioning means 142 for conditioning the output 10 means 156.
signals of the voltage transformers 206 (FIG. 1) as received Optionally, the digital signal processing means 150 may
at the first input interface 110a of the merging unit 100. also be configured to determine further real-time operating
Likewise, the merging unit 100 comprises input condition measurements RTO, preferably also at least partially
ing means 144 for conditioning the output signals of the depending on said input data ID (FIG. 1) obtained from the
current transformers 206 (FIG. 1) as received at the second 15 respective input interfaces 110a, 110b. The further real-time
input interface 110b of the merging unit 100. operating measurements RTO may advantageously also be
Depending on a specific measurement scheme employed associated with timing information Supplied by the time
by the merging unit 100, the input conditioning means 142, synchronization means 156.
144 may be configured to provide standardized analog As already mentioned before, the sampling of input data
signals to a Subsequent signal processing stage 146 that is ID (FIG. 1) is controlled by the sample and conversion
configured to apply steps of filtering and sample and hold to control 158 which is controlling as well the A/D converter
the Supplied signals. Optionally, internal signal paths or 148. Since the sampled measured values SMV as well as
components of the processing stage 146 may be multiplexed power quality information PQ and/or phasor measurement
in a per se known manner. information PHM-requires a precise time synchronisation,
The processing stage 146 forwards respective output data 25 the time synchronisation means 156 provide respective
to the analog to digital (A/D) converter means 148 which synch signals for the sample and conversion control 158 as
transform the analog output signals provided by the pro well as for the time stamps of PQ, PHM, SMV. RTO, and
cessing stage 146 to the digital domain. Thus, digital data optionally also for real-time digital information 162.
representing the input data ID (FIG. 1), which relates to The digital signal processing means 150 preferably con
Voltage and/or current values associated with the power 30 vert all signals into the related format and manage the binary
system 200 may be forwarded to the digital signal process I/O of the merging unit 100, cf. the blocks 152, 154 as well.
ing means 150. For exchange with further devices 400 (FIG. 1), all data
The merging unit 100 also comprises input conditioning to be exchanged are mapped by communications mapping
means 152 for binary input data ID, such as received via the means 160 to a predetermined related communication pro
further input interface 110C (FIG. 1), which are configured 35 tocol, a variant of which will be explained below with
to forward respectively conditioned binary input data to the reference to FIG. 3.
digital signal processing means 150. Furthermore, a configuration, setting and test block 164
Optionally, output relay interface means 154 may also be may be provided which is using well-known protocols such
provided at the merging unit 100 in order to enable external as e.g. FTP (file transfer protocol) and HTTP (hyper text
devices to be controlled like auxiliary relays, circuit break 40 transfer protocol) for remote and local access to the merging
ers, disconnectors or any other equipment. unit 100. The implementation of the power supply 166 is
In order to enable time synchronization of the input data depending on the application.
ID or the respective measurement values (e.g., digital According to a preferred embodiment, one or more of the
samples as obtained by the ADC 148), time synchronization functional blocks of the merging unit 100 explained above
means 156 are provided. Said time synchronization means 45 with reference to FIG. 2 may advantageously be integrated
may provide an integrated clock and/or corresponding coun to the control unit 120 (FIG. 1).
ter modules (not shown). Moreover, the time synchroniza FIG. 3 depicts an internal structure of an inventive merg
tion means 156 advantageously comprise an interface to an ing unit 100 according to an embodiment from the commu
external synchronisation network, which may e.g. operate nication point of view based on IEC 61850. Following the
according to the Inter Range Instrumentation Group, IRIG, 50 IEC 61850 hierarchical concept of communication model
-B and/or the 1PPS standards, and/or to Institute of Electri ing, the physical device (PD) in the context of IEC 61850 is
cal and Electronics Engineers, IEEE, 1588. equivalent to the merging unit 100. The PD 100 contains one
A sample and conversion control 158 is supplied with or more logical devices LD, cf. the dashed rectangles, which
respective timing information from the time synchronization are used to group Logical Nodes LN (e.g. TCTR,
means 156, whereby the steps of filtering, multiplexing, 55 TVTR, . . . ) which belong together like LNs TCTR, TVTR
sample and hold and ADC within the components 146, 148 for transformers, and the like. Basically, according to a
may performed with a precise time reference. preferred embodiment, the merging unit 100 may provide
According to the present invention, the digital signal the following LNs: TCTR, TVTR, MMXU, MMXU includ
processing means 150 are configured to determine power ing PMU (phasor measurement) data, QFVR, QITR, QIUB,
quality information PQ and/or to determine phasor measure 60 QVTR, QVUB, QVIR, GGIO.
ment information PHM depending on said input data ID Further optional LNs are application depending: XCBR,
(FIG. 1) obtained from the respective input interfaces 110a, XSWI, RDRE, CSWI, RSYN, ... and may also be imple
110b. The power quality information PQ and/or the phasor mented by the inventive merging unit 100. Their use,
measurement information PHM, too, may advantageously however, is Subject to setting of additional application
be associated with timing information Supplied by the time 65 functional blocks (AFBs).
synchronization means 156. Thus, precise time stamps can According to a particularly preferred embodiment, the
be assigned to the power quality information PQ and/or to information originating from and/or to be Supplied to the
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LNs are mapped to one of the following protocols according particular including at least one protection IED 400, at least
to the type of information: Status information, commands, one control and automation IED 400 and at least one
settings and derived measurements are mapped to MMS measurement IED 400, by mapping the respective data to the
reports based on IEC 61850-8-1, cf. the protocol block 180. IEC 61850-9-2 sampled measured values, SMV, communi
In addition, derived measurements and binary information cation protocol. Furthermore, the merging units 100 are
could e.g. be mapped to IEC 61850-8-1 GOOSE (Generic configured to communicate power quality information PQ to
Object Oriented Substation Event) depending on the appli devices on the Substation level, in particular to a Gateway
cation, also cf. the protocol block 180. Sampled measured device and to a human machine interface device, HMI, by
values (SMV) are mapped to IEC 61850-9-2 SMV by means mapping the respective information to the IEC 61850-8-1.
of the further protocol block 182. Power quality information 10 Mapping to MMS, communication protocol and/or to the
and/or phasor measurement information may be mapped to IEC 61850-8-1 Generic Object Oriented Substation Event,
one of the aforedescribed protocols by means of the protocol GOOSE, communication protocol. Furthermore, the merg
blocks 180, 182. According to a preferred embodiment, ing units 100 are configure to communicate phasor mea
phasor measurement data may be mapped to IEC 61850 surement information PHM to a substation level phasor data
90-5 and/or IEEE C37.118 by a respective protocol block 15 concentrator, SSPDC, by mapping the phasor measurement
(see reference numeral 184 in FIG. 4). information PHM to the IEC 61850-90-5 (Synchrophasor)
The specific mapping of the communications Supported communication protocol.
by the protocol blocks 180, 182 to physical interfaces is Eventually, the information provided by the merging units
Subject of setting. According to an embodiment, the IEC 100 may be provided to devices on the control center level,
61850-8-1 protocol block 180 is mapped to a dedicated Such as a Supervisory control and data acquisition system,
Ethernet port ETH1. This port ETH1 may also be shared SCADA, or a control center level phasor data concentrator,
together with the IEC 61850-9-2 protocol block 182 and/or PDC, and can be used for state estimation by a control center
with 61850-90-5 and/or IEEE C37.118. Further, the IEC level state estimation unit as shown in FIG. 5.
61850-9-2 protocol block 182 may be mapped to a dedicated The merging unit 100 according to the embodiments is
further Ethernet port ETH2, in particular separately or 25 going far beyond the conventional systems and implemen
commonly together with IEC 61850-90-5 and/or IEEE tations of power quality assessment and/or phasor measure
C37.118. The physical implementation of the interfaces ment assessment in dedicated IEDs or as a function in
ETH1 and ETH2 and the related network topology is not protection relays. Due to the emerging use of merging units
subject of the present invention. The implementation could 100, the invention is advantageously incorporating PQ and/
e.g. be wired (CAT5 or the like) or fibre optic, single or 30 or PHM data generation and/or analysis into the merging
redundant port, in accordance with IEC 61850-90-4 or could unit 100 and communicating conventional SMV as well as
comprise further communications channels capable of Sup power quality data PQ and/or phasor measurement data
porting the disclosed protocols. The same applies to the data PHM via the same or different communications ports ETH 1,
rate of the interfaces ETH1, ETH2. ETH2, SI to the upper level of a substation automation
According to a preferred embodiment, one or more of the 35 system comprising said merging unit 100. This advanta
communications- and protocol-related blocks of the merging geously ensures that the measurement of input data ID and
unit 100 explained above with reference to FIG. 3 may the determination of power quality information PQ and/or of
advantageously be implemented by the control unit 120 phasor measurement information PHM can be done with the
(FIG. 1) or its digital signal processing means. highest possible accuracy and less additional HW Such as
FIG. 4 depicts an internal structure of an inventive merg 40 conventional dedicated IEDs for assessing power quality.
ing unit 100 according to a further embodiment from the The merging unit 100 according to the embodiments can
communication point of view based on IEC 61850. The advantageously use existing communications infrastructure
merging unit 100 depicted in FIG. 4 corresponds to the and is open for future standardisation on communication
merging unit described above with respect to FIG. 3 with the protocol level.
following additional characteristics. The merging unit 100 45 According to a further preferred embodiment, the merg
shown in FIG. 4 provides the logical nodes (LNs) TCTR, ing unit 100 according to the embodiments may be remote
TVTR, MMXU, MMXU including PMU (phasor measure configured, e.g. via a HTTP interface or the like provided by
ment) data, GGIO and RDRE, but may also provide further the control unit 120 (FIG. 1) or a dedicated integrated web
LNs such as QFVR, QITR, QIUB, QVTR, QVUB, QVIR, server module.
XCBR, XSWI, CSWI and RSYN. 50 The invention claimed is:
The merging unit 100 provides a protocol block 184 1. An apparatus for Substation automation of a power
which may map phasor measurement data to IEC 61850 system, the apparatus comprising:
90-5 and/or to IEEE C37.118. Communications according to circuitry configured to:
IEC 61850-90-5 and/or IEEE C37.118, as supported in receive input data characterizing at least one Voltage
particular by the protocol block 184, may be mapped to one 55 and/or current related to a component of a power
of Ethernet ports ETH1 or ETH2 or also to a serial com system,
munication link SI. interface to an external synchronization network,
FIG.5 depicts a schematic diagram of a power system 200 implement logical nodes,
comprising inventive merging units 100 and a communica map information to and/or from at least one of the logical
tion scenario in the power system. The dashed lines in FIG. 60 nodes to first communication protocol,
5 delineate the process level, bay level, substation level and determine power quality information depending on the
control center level of the power system 200, wherein the input data,
merging units 100 represent devices on the process level. associate the power quality information with timing infor
As shown by the solid lines in FIG.5 which connect to the mation Supplied by the circuitry, wherein
merging units 100, the inventive merging units 100 are 65 the logical nodes comprise at least one of frequency
configured to communicate data, in particular sampled mea variation, current transient, current unbalance varia
sured values (SMV) data, to various bay level IEDs 400, in tion, Voltage transient, and Voltage unbalance variation,
 US 9,684,020 B2
10
map information to and/or from at least one of the logical nication protocols for monitoring, protecting, and con
nodes to a second communication protocol, and trolling a power quality of an electrical power grid of
forward the determined power quality information with the power system.
associated timing information to a plurality of elec 7. A method implemented by circuitry for substation
tronic devices external to the circuitry via a plurality of 5 utomation
receiving
of a power system, the method comprising:
input data characterizing at least one voltage
physical ports dedicated to specific communication and/or current related to a component of a power
protocols for monitoring, protecting, and controlling a System;
power quality of an electrical power grid of the power interfacing to an external synchronization network;
system. implementing logical nodes;
2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the 10 mapping information to and/or from at least one of the
circuitry is further configured to transform the received input logical nodes to a first communication protocol,
data into a predetermined output format, whereby trans determining power quality information depending on the
formed input data is obtained, and to output the transformed input data,
input data to a further device. 15
associating the power quality information with timing
3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information supplied by the circuitry, wherein the logi
circuitry is further configured to output the power quality cal nodes comprise at least one of frequency variation,
information to a further device. current transient, current unbalance variation, voltage
4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transient, and voltage imbalance variation;
circuitry is further configured to assign timestamp informa mapping information to and/or from at least one of the
tion to the power quality information and/or the input data logical nodes to a second communication protocol; and
and/or the transformed input data. forwarding the determined power quality information
5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the with associated timing information to a plurality of
circuitry is further configured to map communications electronic devices external to the circuitry via a plu
according to a first protocol to a first physical communica 25 rality of physical ports dedicated to specific commu
tions port, and to map communications according to a nication protocols for monitoring, protecting, and con
Second protocol to a second physical communications port. trolling a power quality of an electrical power grid of
6. An apparatus for substation automation of a power the power system.
System, the apparatus comprising: 8. The method according to claim 7, the method further
circuitry configured to: comprising:
30
receive input data characterizing at least one voltage transforming the received input data into a predetermined
and/or current related to a component of a power output format, whereby transformed input data is
System, obtained; and
interface to an external synchronization network, outputting the transformed input data to a further device.
implement logical nodes, 9. The method according to claim 7, the method further
map information to and/or from at least one of the logical comprising:
35

nodes to a first communication protocol, outputting the power quality information to a further
device.
determine phasor measurement information depending on 10. The method according to claim 7, the method further
the input data,
associate the phasor measurement information with tim 40 comprising:assigning timestamp information to the power quality
ing information supplied by the circuitry, wherein information and/or the input data and/or the trans
the logical nodes comprise at least one of measurement formed input data.
circuit including phasor measurement and generic pro 11. The method according to claim 7, the method further
cessor input/output,
map information to and/or from at least one of the logical 45 comprising:
mapping communications according to a first protocol to
nodes to a second communication protocol, and a first physical communications port; and
forward the determined phasor measurement information mapping communications according to a second protocol
with associated timing information to a plurality of to a second physical communications port.
electronic devices external to the circuitry via a plu
rality of physical ports dedicated to specific commu