Overview

The IEC 61850-5 standard covers the requirements for communication networks and systems in electrical power supply systems. Its scope includes the functional requirements for communication between different devices in substations. Essential requirements include the specification of performance parameters such as latency, reliability, availability, and security of communication. The standard also specifies the environmental conditions under which the communication systems shall operate. The aim is to ensure interoperable and reliable communication in energy generation and power distribution systems. The IEC 61850-5 standard is specifically designed for communication networks and systems in substations and therefore mainly takes into account the requirements and conditions of these environments. It is not suitable for all types of power supply systems and does not cover general communication protocols outside substations. The standard is also not intended for applications that do not have strict requirements for latency and communication reliability. Furthermore, it does not deal with hardware-specific implementations or detailed security mechanisms outside of communication aspects. Its applicability is therefore limited to the field of electrical power supply in substations. The standard differs from DIN EN 61850-5:2014-06 as follows: a) extensions of the requirements to include several logical nodes; b) errors and typos have been corrected; c) harmonization of all descriptions of logical nodes (affecting all tables with logical nodes); d) restructuring of selected clauses; e) updating of headings; f) reorganization of subclauses in the chapter on services. Typical applications of the IEC 61850-5 standard include communication between protection devices and control devices in substations for coordinating protective and control functions. It is used to transfer measured values and status information between intelligent electronic devices (IEDs) and control systems. Other applications include automatic control and monitoring of switchgear and remote monitoring and control of transformers. The standard also supports the integration of new and existing devices from different manufacturers by means of standardized communication protocols. Another example is real-time monitoring and fault detection for rapid fault localization and correction in electrical networks.

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Responsible national committee

DKE/K 952 - Netzleittechnik