Performance testing and assessment of multi-vendor protection schemes using proprietary protocols and the IEC 61850 standard

The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) developed a global standard for power system communication permitting Intelligent Electronic Devices (IEDs) to interoperate within the smart grid environment. However, in order for electric power utility companies to adopt IEC 61850 standard-based devices with confidence, it is necessary to carry out performance tests and evaluations to allay their fears. This paper presents an evaluation of the performance of IEC 61850 standard-based devices with respect to their speed, security, and dependability of operation. The study was implemented using multi-vendor IEDs configured for a Permissive Overreaching Transfer Trip (POTT) communication scheme with conventional proprietary protocols and the IEC 61850 Generic Object Oriented Substation Events (GOOSE) messages based on hardware-in-the-loop simulations with the Real-Time Digital Simulator (RTDS). RSCAD software was used in the modelling of a typical power system network protected by two multi-vendor distance protection IEDs using a lab-scale testbed designed and implemented for the investigations relating to this paper. Real-time simulations for various fault locations and fault resistances were carried out. The results obtained demonstrated the dependability and security of the operation of the IEC 61850-based POTT communication scheme with faster operating times compared with the conventional POTT communication scheme based on vendor-specific proprietary protocols. This paper could serve as a reference to electric power utility companies as they adopt IEC 61850 standard-based devices in their networks.