The trend toward digital technologies in data acquisition and processing systems and substation control emerged over 15 years ago and is rapidly gaining popularity, with virtually all market leaders in the electric energy sector engaged actively in development and implementation. The body of theoretical and applied research on the matter is quickly expanding as new international standards, equipment prototypes and testing sites become available.

FGC UES and RDCPE have collaborated on commissioning the first start-up facility for the experimental digital substation (EDS).

The digital substation is equipped with smart secondary equipment operating with the common standard data exchange protocol IEC 61850. The hardware includes high-voltage digital metering optical current and voltage transformers, multi-functional measurement and metering tools, substation and process busbars, synchronization system and a new system for data acquisition, control and display (SCADA). The system is fitted with fiber-optic cables – a solution that makes costly copper cables unnecessary.

The advantages of digitizing data for all substation control purposes are as follows:

• Substantial cost savings related to secondary cable circuits and their trench routing as digital data sources move closer to the primary equipment;
• Increased electromagnetic compatibilities of modern secondary equipment, such as microprocessor devices and secondary circuits, due to transition to optic connections;
• Simplified and less expensive electronic microprocessor devices due to removal of analogue signal input leads;
• Unified IED device interfaces and better interchangeability (including device replacement regardless of manufacturer).
  
  

The purposes of digitizing substations include the following:

• Unification of information data exchange protocols;
• Ensuring inter-operability of devices;
• Reducing the volume of required cabling;
• The ability to monitor data acquisition, transmission and control channels;
• Reduction of metering losses in secondary circuits;
• Simplified copying of primary data;
• Simplified calibration processes;
• Installation of devices with updatable software;
• Unification of substation configuration software;
• Unification of the diagnostics system and transition to remote functional diagnostics;
• Information security of the energy facility;
• Transition to fully automated, no-maintenance substation.
  
  

RDCPE offers the following services in developing and installing digital substation:

• Developing a comprehensive list of rules and regulations governing design, development and maintenance of SHS;
• Harmonization or application of MEC 61850 9.2 and 8.1 protocol;
• Development of common technical requirements for DSS software and hardware;
• Development of a testing site;
• Testing digital new generation devices for control, security and monitoring based on modern protocols IEC 61850-9.2 and IEC 61850-8.1;
• Developing a substation mock-up.