IEC EN 61850-4 Communication Networks and Systems for Power Distribution Automation - Part 4: System and Project Management

The standard “IEC EN 61850-4 Communication networks and systems for power distribution automation - Part 4: System and project management”, which is based on a European standard and subsequently published by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), describes the requirements for projects related to processes near automation systems of energy distribution companies (utilities automation system), such as substation automation systems. It defines the system and project management for the utility automation system, including communication between intelligent electronic devices in the substation and the related system requirements.

The features of this standard relate to systems and project management for:

• Engineering process and supporting tools
• Life cycle of the overall system and smart electronic devices
• Starting from the development phase public services automation system and smart electronic devices quality assurance ending with the stopping and deactivation of

This standard includes requirements for the system and project management process and specific supporting tools for engineering and testing.

For the purposes of this standard, the following terms and definitions apply:

• Supporting tools provide the user with a public services automation system and smart electronic devices Refers to tools that provide support in the engineering, operation and management of
• Engineering tools refer to tools that support the creation and documentation of conditions for adapting an automation system to the specific facility (substation) and customer requirements. Engineering tools are divided into project management, configuration and documentation tools.
• System specification tools refer to tools used to create a system requirement specification that includes the relationship of system functions to the facility or substation to be managed, specifically a tool that creates a specification in a formally defined, standardized format for evaluation by other tools.
• System configuration tools refer to tools that handle communication between smart electronic devices in the system, configuration of problems common to several smart electronic devices, and the logical relationship of the functions of the smart electronic device to the process to be controlled and supervised.
• Smart electronic device configuration tools refer to tools that handle specific configuration and downloading of configuration data to a specific smart electronic device of a certain type.
• Extensibility refers to criteria for efficient expansion of an automation system (hardware and functional) through the use of engineering tools.
• Flexibility refers to criteria for rapid and efficient implementation of functional changes, including hardware.

Engineering a utility automation system is based on a system requirement specification that defines the scope, functions, boundaries, and additional constraints and requirements for the system and includes:

• Definition of the required hardware configuration of the public services automation system (definition of smart electronic devices and their interfaces with each other and the environment, as shown in the figure given in the standard)
• Adaptation of functionality and signal quantities to specific operational requirements through the use of parameters
• Document all specific definitions (i.e., parameter set, terminal connections, etc.).

Parameters are data that control and support the operation of:

• Hardware configuration (composition of smart electronic devices)
• Software for smart electronic devices
• Process environment (primary equipment and auxiliaries)
• HMI with different support tools
• Telecommunications environment

The total set of parameter and configuration data of a public service automation system is called the public service automation system parameter set. In terms of processing methods and input procedures, the parameter set contents are divided into two categories:

• Configuration parameters
• Working parameters

Configuration parameters define the general behavior of the entire utility automation system and smart electronic devices. As a rule, a value is assigned only during initial parameterization, but must be updated when expanding or functionally changing the utility automation system.

The operating parameters define the behavior of the partial functions of the system. They must be changeable online during normal operation of the system. Changes are permitted within the range of parameter values ​​and without restricting system operation. As long as the protection functions are combined with other functions in intelligent electronic devices, they must not be affected during the parameterization of these functions.

By origin and function, parameters are divided into the following types:

• System parameters
• Process parameters
• Functional parameters

Among the numerous testing, measurement, analysis and evaluation studies that our organization has provided for businesses in various sectors, it also provides testing services defined in the standard “IEC EN 61850-4 Communication networks and systems for power distribution automation - Part 4: System and project management” with its trained and expert staff and advanced technological equipment.