Verification of next generation process bus based modular substations

Modular substations are believed to help increase the project execution rate. This paper describes how DSO, Vattenfall Eldistribution, is continuously developing towards the next generation of modular substations and exploring their possibilities. The key technical concepts and corresponding technical solutions have been identified and validated in lab environment. These include communication architecture, communication traffic engineering, time synchronization, centralized Protection Automation and Control Systems (PACS) solution, test method and test routine, etc. The results of the tests show the feasibility of using IEC 61850 process bus as the interface between switchyard modules and the control room module. Meanwhile, the challenges, such as need of testing tools for validate configuration of communication system and time synchronization system, need of redundant centralized PACS solution, need of documentation, etc., have been summarized. Other findings and lessons learned gathered during the implementation, configuration and validation are presented in this paper.