Advanced Communications for Power System Protection and Automation

Introduction:

The goal of this higher course on power system protection, automation, and communication is to provide an understanding of some of the most common difficulties related to communication for power system protection. It emphasizes the deployment of automation and Smart Grid technology. Participants will study the standards and requirements of substation communication systems in compliance with IEEE, NIST, and NERC.

This training is especially useful for individuals aspiring to become effective power system protection engineers or those seeking to elevate their understanding of systems and communication tools.

Objectives:

Upon completion of this course on advanced power system protection, automation, and communication, participants will be able to:

• Establish a relay network through technical measures of power system protection.
• Extract information from IEC 61850 data objects and transfer it to an Excel spreadsheet.
• Utilize the IEC GOOSE interface for relay-to-relay communications and automated technologies.
• Intercept and decode network packets as well as perform network path analysis.

Training Methodology:

• Interactive lectures
• Case studies
• Group discussions
• Hands-on practical exercises
• Simulations
• Assessments and quizzes
• Field visits

Course Outline:

Unit 1: Analog Communications Fundamentals

• AM, FM, PM
• ASK, FSK, PSK, QAM
• Creation and authentication
• Severity scrutiny

Unit 2: Basic Principles of Digital Communications

• Quantization
• Encoding
• Frame multi-channels
• Understanding Synchronous Optical Network (SONET)

Unit 3: Fiber Optic Communication Theory and Application

• Fiber optic basics
• Fiber types (multi-mode, single-mode)
• System components (sources, detectors, connectors)
• System design (architecture, loss calculations)
• Utility applications
• New technology and standards (WDM, PMD)

Unit 4: Basics of Power Line Carrier Communications

• Basic system
• Architecture
• Coupling systems
• Modal analysis
• Performance calculations

Unit 5: Spread Spectrum Communication System

• Basic system
• Architecture
• Relay consideration
• Control consideration

Unit 6: WAN Ethernet Transport Technology

• MPLS
• Carrier Ethernet
• Comparisons and implications for power system-critical communications

Unit 7: Short-Term Assignments: Special Communication Needs of Protective Relaying

• Reliability
• Confidence
• Effects of channel delay
• Operating modes
• Channel configuration
• Tone protection in audio channel

Unit 8: Serial Data Interface

• Glossary
• Types of data formats
• RS-232
• RS-422
• G.703

Unit 9: Data Networks

• Devices and concepts in a network
• OSI seven-layer model
• Substation Local Area Network architectures
• Network time synchronization

Unit 10: Ethernet

• Physical links
• Data frames
• Mechanisms related to collisions and retransmissions
• Bridges

Unit 11: Time Synchronization

• Time synchronization sources, such as GPS
• Inter Range Instrumentation Group Model B timezone codes
• Features of IEEE 1588

Unit 12: Protocols and Standards

• Features of architectural development
• Overview of the Sequence of Events Standard
• Overview of the standard document IEEE for time sequence files
• Explanatory memorandum to the standard for events, faults, and dynamics recording set by NERC
• TCP/IP
• ModBus
• DNP
• DDE and OPC

Unit 13: 61850 Network Communications Systems

• Service modeling at an abstract level
• Logical Node Concept
• Internet-based communication
• IEC 61850 Security Model
• GOOSE-based P2P
• Substation Configuration Language (SCL)
• Ongoing system development examples
• Routable GOOSE/SV
• Case studies of specific sectors

Unit 14: DNP3 and Applications

• History, advantages, and capabilities of DNP3
• Overview of DNP3 object libraries
• Analyze DNP3 polling techniques
• DNP3 control trials
• Future improvements

Unit 15: Electronic Security of Remotely Accessible Control and Protection Equipment

• Threats
• Vulnerabilities
• Attack scenarios
• TCP/IP network scanner
• SCADA protocol reconnaissance
• Barriers to electronic attack
• NERC CIPS
• Requirements of IEEE 1686
• Identify compliance levels of substation IEDs

Unit 16: The Process of Implementing Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS)

• Introduction to MPLS and LDP
• Global IPv4 and IPv6 Petition
• Scheduling for customers in Safe Multi-tenancy Enhancement through MPLS Layer-3 VPNs
• Complex MPLS Layer-3 VPNs
• Pseudowires for Layer-2 Network Extensions
• MPLS Traffic Engineering practices
• Audit the OAM Tools for verifying MPLS LSPs functionality