Gateway and substation system migration method

Abstract

To provide a gateway and a substation system migration method capable of sequentially replacing a plurality of analog switchboards with digital switchboards at a substation for digital networking of the substation.SOLUTION: A gateway (GW) 40 comprises: a first communication interface unit 41 for performing data transmission with a TC master station 220 using a communication protocol complying with IEC61850; a second communication interface unit 42 for performing data transmission with digital switchboards 53, 54 using a communication protocol complying with the IEC61850; a third communication interface unit 43 for performing data transmission with a TC slave station 10 using a communication protocol other than the IEC61850; a fourth communication interface unit 44 for performing data transmission with the TC master station 220 using a communication protocol other than the IEC61850; and a protocol conversion unit 48.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a gateway used for digital networking in a substation and a substation system migration method. [Background technology]

[0002] In response to the need to reduce costs after the separation of power generation and transmission and to comply with international standardization, each electric power company is considering the digitalization of its power system, and it is expected that IEC61850, an international standard established by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), will become the global standard for the operation and management of power systems in the future. Accordingly, each electric power company is expected to transition to a monitoring and control system that applies IEC61850.

[0003] However, it is difficult in terms of labor and cost to replace conventional systems that are not compatible with the international standard IEC 61850, for example, substation equipment such as analog switchboards and control center equipment such as control computers, all at once with a monitoring and control system that complies with the international standard IEC 61850. For this reason, for example, Patent Document 1 discloses a monitoring and control system that operates in a coexisting state in which control center equipment that does not comply with international standards and digitally networked substation equipment that complies with the international standard IEC 61850 coexist. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2022-78430 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] In the monitoring and control system disclosed in Patent Document 1, it is possible to maintain the control center equipment as a conventional system that communicates using the HDLC communication method, and to build the substation side as a digital network system that complies with the international standard IEC61850. However, in order to digitally network the substation, it is difficult in terms of construction time and cost to replace all of the existing analog switchboards at the substation with digital switchboards that comply with the international standard IEC61850. For this reason, it is desirable to gradually replace the many analog switchboards at the substation with digital switchboards, but Patent Document 1 does not disclose a specific method or necessary devices for this.

[0006] The present invention has been made in consideration of these circumstances, and has an object to provide a gateway that can sequentially replace multiple analog distribution boards in a substation with digital distribution boards in order to digitally network the substation, and to provide a substation system migration method that can sequentially replace multiple analog distribution boards in a substation with digital distribution boards. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to solve the above problems, a first technical means of the present invention is a gateway used for digital networking in a substation, characterized in having a first communication interface unit that transmits data with a monitoring and control device parent station using a communication protocol that complies with the international standard IEC 61850, a second communication interface unit that transmits data with a digital distribution board using a communication protocol that complies with the international standard IEC 61850, a third communication interface unit that transmits data with a monitoring and control device child station using a communication protocol other than the international standard IEC 61850, and a protocol conversion unit that converts between the communication protocol that complies with the international standard IEC 61850 and the communication protocol other than the international standard IEC 61850.

[0008] The second technical means of the present invention is characterized in that, in the first technical means, it further has a fourth communication interface unit that transmits data between the monitoring and control device parent station using a communication protocol other than the international standard IEC61850.

[0009] A third technical means of the present invention is characterized in that in the first or second technical means, the communication protocol other than the international standard IEC61850 is an HDLC communication protocol, a CDT communication protocol, or a PMCN communication protocol.

[0010] A fourth technical means of the present invention is a substation system migration method for replacing a plurality of analog switchboards connected to a monitoring and control device slave station in a substation having a monitoring and control device slave station that transmits data with the monitoring and control device master station by a communication protocol other than the international standard IEC61850, with a digital switchboard, the method including: a first communication interface unit that transmits data with the monitoring and control device master station by a communication protocol conforming to the international standard IEC61850; a second communication interface unit that transmits data with the digital switchboard by the communication protocol conforming to the international standard IEC61850; a third communication interface unit that transmits data with the monitoring and control device slave station by a communication protocol other than the international standard IEC61850; a fourth communication interface unit that transmits data with the monitoring and control device master station by a communication protocol other than the international standard IEC61850; a first step of installing a gateway between the monitoring and control device parent station and the monitoring and control device child station, the gateway having a protocol conversion unit for converting a protocol between the monitoring and control device parent station and the monitoring and control device child station via the fourth communication interface unit and the third communication interface unit, without passing through the protocol conversion unit; a second step of replacing some of the plurality of analog distribution boards with the digital distribution board, and transmitting data between the monitoring and control device parent station and the digital distribution board via the fourth communication interface unit, the protocol conversion unit, and the second communication interface unit, without passing through the monitoring and control device child station; and a third step of replacing all of the plurality of analog distribution boards with the digital distribution board, removing the monitoring and control device child station, and transmitting data between the monitoring and control device parent station and the digital distribution board via the fourth communication interface unit, the protocol conversion unit, and the second communication interface unit.

[0011] A fifth technical means of the present invention is characterized in that, in the fourth technical means, it further includes a fourth step of converting data transmission from the monitoring and control device parent station to a communication protocol that complies with the international standard IEC61850, and transmitting data between the monitoring and control device parent station and the digital distribution board via the first communication interface unit and the second communication interface unit, without going through the protocol conversion unit.

[0012] A sixth technical means of the present invention is a substation system migration method for replacing a plurality of analog switchboards connected to a monitoring and control device slave station in a substation having a monitoring and control device slave station that transmits data with the monitoring and control device master station by a communication protocol other than the international standard IEC61850, with digital switchboards, the method comprising: connecting a gateway having a first communication interface unit that transmits data with the monitoring and control device master station by a communication protocol conforming to the international standard IEC61850, a second communication interface unit that transmits data with the digital switchboard by the communication protocol conforming to the international standard IEC61850, a third communication interface unit that transmits data with the monitoring and control device slave station by the communication protocol other than the international standard IEC61850, and a protocol conversion unit that converts between the communication protocol conforming to the international standard IEC61850 and the communication protocol other than the international standard IEC61850; a first step of installing a monitoring and control device parent station between the monitoring and control device parent station and the monitoring and control device child station, changing the communication protocol of data transmission from the monitoring and control device parent station to one that complies with the international standard IEC61850, and transmitting data between the monitoring and control device parent station and the monitoring and control device child station via the first communication interface unit, the protocol conversion unit, and a third communication interface unit; a second step of replacing some of the plurality of analog distribution boards with the digital distribution board, and transmitting data between the monitoring and control device parent station and the digital distribution board via the first communication interface unit and the second communication interface unit without using the protocol conversion unit; and a third step of replacing all of the plurality of analog distribution boards with the digital distribution board, removing the monitoring and control device child station, and transmitting data between the monitoring and control device parent station and the digital distribution board via the first communication interface unit and the second communication interface unit.

[0013] A seventh technical means of the present invention is characterized in that, in any one of the fourth to sixth technical means, the communication protocol other than the international standard IEC61850 is an HDLC communication protocol, a CDT communication protocol, or a PMCN communication protocol. Effect of the Invention

[0014] According to the first technical means of the present invention, by selecting an appropriate communication interface unit from a plurality of communication interface units and selecting whether or not to use a protocol conversion unit, it is possible to sequentially replace a plurality of analog distribution boards in a substation with digital distribution boards, and it is possible to provide a gateway that can be used from existing substations to digitally networked substations.

[0015] According to the second technical means of the present invention, when multiple analog distribution boards in a substation are successively replaced with digital distribution boards, multiple migration methods can be selected, and it is possible to provide a gateway that can be used from existing substations to digitally networked substations.

[0016] According to the third technical means of the present invention, it is possible to support various communication protocols used in existing substations.

[0017] According to the fourth and fifth technical means of the present invention, it is possible to provide a substation system migration method that allows the coexistence of analog and digital switchboards when digitally networking a substation and enables multiple analog switchboards in a substation to be gradually replaced with digital switchboards.

[0018] According to the fifth technical means of the present invention, when digitally networking a substation, it is possible to allow the coexistence of analog and digital switchboards and sequentially replace a plurality of analog switchboards in a substation with digital switchboards, and it is also possible to provide a substation system migration method for migrating the entire monitoring and control system consisting of a control center and substations to a system that applies the international standard IEC61850.

[0019] According to the sixth technical means of the present invention, when digitally networking a substation, it is possible to allow the coexistence of analog and digital switchboards and sequentially replace a plurality of analog switchboards in a substation with digital switchboards, and it is also possible to provide another substation system migration method for migrating the entire monitoring and control system consisting of a control center and substations to a system that applies the international standard IEC61850.

[0020] According to the seventh technical means of the present invention, it is possible to support various communication protocols used in existing substations. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0021] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a flow diagram for explaining an example of a substation system migration method according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a state in which a gateway is introduced and installed in an example of a substation system migration method according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a state in which some analog switchboards have been replaced with digital switchboards in the example of the substation system migration method according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a state in which all analog switchboards have been replaced with digital switchboards in an example of a substation system migration method according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 5]FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a state in which an entire monitoring and control system including a control center and a substation has been migrated to a system that applies the international standard IEC61850 in an example of a substation system migration method according to the first and second embodiments of the present invention. [Figure 6] FIG. 11 is a flow diagram for explaining an example of a substation system migration method according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a state in which a gateway is introduced and installed, and communication between a control center and a substation is performed using a communication protocol that complies with the international standard IEC61850, in an example of a substation system migration method according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a state in which some analog switchboards are replaced with digital switchboards in another example of the substation system migration method according to the second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9] FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining the state of an existing monitoring and control system including a substation before the transition to a digital network. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0022] Hereinafter, with reference to the drawings, preferred embodiments of the gateway and substation system migration method of the present invention will be described. In the following description, components with the same reference numerals in different drawings may be omitted because they are the same. Note that the present invention is not limited to the examples in these embodiments, and includes all modifications within the scope of the matters described in the claims and within the scope of equivalents. In addition, as long as a combination of multiple embodiments is possible, the present invention includes any combination of the embodiments.

[0023] In the following description, the HDLC (High Level Data Link Control) communication protocol will be described as an example of a communication protocol other than the international standard IEC61850. However, the communication protocol other than the international standard IEC61850 may be a CDT (Cyclic Digital data Transmission) communication protocol or a PMCN (Protocol for Mission Critical industrial Network use) communication protocol, or may be another communication protocol. In this description, the international standard IEC61850 may be simply referred to as "IEC61850". Furthermore, in this description, the digital networking of a substation means, in a narrow sense, replacing an existing analog switchboard with a digital switchboard that complies with IEC61850, and in a broad sense, transitioning to a system in which data transmission within a substation and data transmission between a substation and a control center are performed using a communication protocol that complies with IEC61850.

[0024] First, in order to explain the gateway and the substation system migration method of the present invention, an existing substation to be digitalized will be explained. Fig. 9 is a diagram for explaining the state of the existing monitoring and control system including the substation before digitalization.

[0025] The monitoring and control system is roughly classified into a substation 100 and a control center 200. The control center 200 is composed of a computer 210 that executes an application for monitoring and controlling a power system including the substation, and a monitoring and control device master station 220 (hereinafter also referred to as a "TC master station") that transfers data between the computer 210 and a monitoring and control device slave station 10 (hereinafter also referred to as a "TC slave station") installed in the substation 100. In general, the control center 200 transfers data between a plurality of substations 100.

[0026] In the substation 100, a plurality of analog switchboards 21-24 connected to the TC slave station 10 are provided, and a plurality of main circuit devices 31-34 connected to the analog switchboards 21-24 are provided near the analog switchboards 21-24. The main circuit devices 31-34 are devices that are subject to monitoring and control, and include, for example, VTs (potential transformers), CTs (current transformers), and CBs (circuit breakers).

[0027] A large number of control cables are laid between the TC slave station 10 and the analog switchboards 21-24, and between the analog switchboards 21-24 and the main circuit devices 31-34. For example, various measurement information and status information of each of the main circuit devices 31-34 is transmitted as monitoring information to the TC slave station 10 as analog voltage and current signals via the analog switchboards 21-24. The TC slave station 10 converts the monitoring information into data conforming to the HDLC communication protocol, and transmits it to the TC master station 220 as upstream information via the communication cable 11. The TC master station 220 also converts, for example, control information into data conforming to the HDLC communication protocol, and transmits it to the TC slave station 10 via the communication cable 11. The TC slave station 10 generates analog signals in response to the control information from the TC master station 220, and transmits them to the main circuit devices 31-34 via the analog switchboards 21-24.

[0028] As described above, in existing substations, information is exchanged over a large number of control cables laid between the TC slave station 10 and the main circuit devices 31-34, and therefore construction work is required every time equipment is updated or added, making it difficult to shorten the construction period and requiring a lot of labor and cost for maintenance, etc. Therefore, there is a demand for digital networking (digitalization) of substations in order to reduce the number of control cables in the substation.

[0029] (Embodiment 1) Next, as a first embodiment of the present invention, an example of a substation system migration method for replacing an analog switchboard in a substation with a digital switchboard in a digital network of the substation will be described. Fig. 1 is a flow diagram for explaining an example of the substation system migration method according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and Fig. 2 is a diagram showing a state in which a gateway is introduced and installed in the example of the substation system migration method according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The state shown in Fig. 2 shows a state in which steps S1 to S3 of the flow diagram in Fig. 1 have been completed.

[0030] In the first embodiment, first, as shown in step S1 of Fig. 1, a gateway 40 (hereinafter also referred to as "GW") according to the present invention is introduced and installed in an existing substation 100 (see Fig. 2). Here, the GW 40 does not necessarily have to be installed within the premises of the existing substation, but it is desirable to install it within the substation 100 from the standpoint of management and maintenance.

[0031] 2, the GW 40 according to the present invention mainly includes four first to fourth communication interface units 41 to 44, a CPU 45, a storage unit 46, and a data transmission control unit 47 and a protocol conversion unit 48 as main functional units. The first communication interface unit 41 is a communication interface unit for performing data transmission with the TC master station 220 by a communication protocol conforming to the international standard IEC61850, the second communication interface unit 42 is a communication interface unit for performing data transmission with a digital distribution board described later by a communication protocol conforming to the international standard IEC61850, the third communication interface unit 43 is a communication interface unit for performing data transmission with the TC slave station 10 by the HDLC communication protocol which is a communication protocol other than the international standard IEC61850, and the fourth communication interface unit 44 is a communication interface unit for performing data transmission with the TC master station 220 by the HDLC communication protocol which is a communication protocol other than the international standard IEC61850.

[0032] The storage unit 46 of the GW 40 is for storing various programs and data for making the GW 40 function, a management table storing information required for managing connected devices, and the like, and the CPU 45 realizes the functions required for the GW 40 by running the programs stored in the storage unit 46. As examples of functional units that perform these functions, a data transmission control unit 47 and a protocol conversion unit 48 are shown in FIG. 2. The data transmission control unit 47 determines whether or not protocol conversion is required based on, for example, address information included in the data sent from the TC master station 220 and information on the switchboard stored as management data in the storage unit 46, and selects a communication interface unit to be used for data transmission. The protocol conversion unit 48 converts between a communication protocol conforming to IEC 61850 and an HDLC communication protocol that is a communication protocol other than IEC 61850.

[0033] 2, when data is received from the TC master station 220 via the first communication interface unit 41 and the fourth communication interface unit 44, distribution is required, so the data transmission control unit 47 is illustrated near the first communication interface unit 41 and the fourth communication interface unit 44, but the data transmission control unit 47 is involved in distribution of input / output data of all of the first to fourth communication interface units 41 to 44. As will be described later, the GW 40 takes over the functions performed by the TC slave station 10 after the TC slave station 10 is removed, and has various functional units (not illustrated) for monitoring and control.

[0034] 1, the fourth communication interface unit 44 of the GW 40 is connected to the TC parent station 220 by the communication cable 11, and the third communication interface unit 43 of the GW 40 is connected to the TC child station 10 by the communication cable 12. Then, the process proceeds to step S3, and information indicating that the switchboard connected to the TC child station 10 is the analog switchboards 21-24 is stored in the management table of the storage unit 46 of the GW 40, and the management table of the GW 40 is set so that data transmission between the GW 40 and the analog switchboards 21-24 is performed without going through the protocol conversion unit 48. Note that the processes of steps S2 and S3 may be performed in order or simultaneously.

[0035] In the state shown in Fig. 2, the GW 40 is between the TC master station 220 and the TC slave station 10, and data transmission between the TC master station 220 and the TC slave station 10 is performed via the fourth communication interface unit 44 and the third communication interface unit 43, without going through the protocol conversion unit 48, with data being allocated by the data transmission control unit 47 of the GW 40. That is, the data transmission control unit 47 allocates downstream information from the TC master station 220 received through the fourth communication interface unit 44 to the third communication interface unit 43, and allocates upstream information from the TC slave station 10 received through the third communication interface unit 43 to the fourth communication interface unit 44. The state shown in Fig. 2 corresponds to the state in the first step of the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0036] Next, proceeding to step S4 of the flow shown in Figure 1, some of the analog distribution boards are replaced with digital distribution boards, the digital distribution boards are connected via LAN to the second communication interface unit 42 of the GW 40, and the main circuit equipment that was connected to the analog distribution boards is connected via LAN to the digital distribution boards via a Merging Unit (MU).

[0037] 3 is a diagram showing a state in which some analog switchboards are replaced with digital switchboards in an example of a substation system migration method according to the first embodiment of the present invention. In the state shown in FIG. 3, the analog switchboards 23 and 24 among the analog switchboards 21 to 24 shown in FIG. 2 are replaced with digital switchboards 53 and 54, respectively, and the digital switchboards 53 and 54 are connected to the second communication interface unit 42 of the GW 40 via a station bus 70 by a LAN. In addition, the main circuit devices 33 and 34 connected to the analog switchboards 23 and 24 are connected to the digital switchboards 53 and 54 by a LAN via MUs 63 and 64 and a process bus 80, respectively. In the station bus 70 and the process bus 80, communication is performed by a communication protocol conforming to IEC61850.

[0038] The MUs 63 and 64 are devices that convert analog signals from the main circuit devices 33 and 34 into digital signals and transmit them to the digital distribution boards 53 and 54, and also convert digital signals from the digital distribution boards 53 and 54 into analog signals and transmit them to the main circuit devices 33 and 34. The digital distribution boards 53 and 54 are IEDs (protection and control units: intelligent electronic devices) that comply with IEC 61850, and are capable of communicating using a communication protocol that complies with IEC 61850.

[0039] Next, the process proceeds to step S5 of the flow shown in Fig. 1, where the information on the switchboards stored in the management table of the storage unit 46 of the GW 40 is updated. In the state shown in Fig. 2, information on the newly connected digital switchboards 53, 54 is stored, and information on the removed analog switchboards 23, 24 is erased. In addition, for data transmission with the digital switchboards 53, 54, the management table of the GW 40 is set so that data transmission is performed via the protocol conversion unit 48, and protocol conversion is performed between a communication protocol conforming to IEC61850 and an HDLC communication protocol.

[0040] 3, data transmission between the TC master station 220 and the digital switchboards 53, 54 is performed by distributing data by the data transmission control unit 47 of the GW 40, and via the fourth communication interface unit 44, the protocol conversion unit 48, and the second communication interface unit 42. On the other hand, data transmission between the TC master station 220 and the analog switchboards 23, 24 is performed by distributing data by the data transmission control unit 47 of the GW 40, and via the fourth communication interface unit 44 and the third communication interface unit 43 without passing through the protocol conversion unit 48. This state corresponds to the state in the second step of the first embodiment of the present invention, and allows the analog switchboards 23, 24 and the digital switchboards 53, 54 to coexist in the substation 100.

[0041] Next, the process proceeds to step S6 in the flow shown in Fig. 1, and the procedures of steps S4 and S5 are repeated until all analog switchboards are replaced with digital switchboards. After step S6 is completed, the process proceeds to step S7, and the TC slave station 10 is removed. Fig. 4 is a diagram showing a state in which all analog switchboards have been replaced with digital switchboards in an example of the substation system migration method according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0042] 4, all analog distribution boards 21-24 have been replaced with digital distribution boards 51-54, and main circuit devices 31-34 are provided with MUs 61-64, respectively, which are connected to the digital distribution boards 51-54 via a process bus 80 via a LAN. In addition, all digital distribution boards 51-54 are connected to the second communication interface unit 42 of the GW 40 via a station bus 70.

[0043] On the other hand, because communication between the TC master station 220 and GW 40 is still performed using the HDLC communication protocol, the GW 40 transmits data between the TC master station 220 and the digital switchboards 51-54 via the fourth communication interface unit 44, the protocol conversion unit 48, and the second communication interface unit 42. In this state, data transmission with the TC master station 220 is performed using the HDLC communication protocol, which is a communication protocol other than the international standard IEC61850, but the downstream side of the GW 40 in the substation 100 is a digitally networked substation that complies with the international standard IEC61850.

[0044] 4 corresponds to the state in the third step of the first embodiment of the present invention, and it is possible to eliminate many control cables that connected the analog switchboards 21-24 and the main circuit devices 31-34 in the existing substation 100. This makes it possible to significantly reduce the costs spent on laying and maintaining cables.

[0045] Next, the process proceeds to step S8 of the flow shown in Fig. 1, where data transmission with the TC master station 220 is changed to a communication protocol compliant with IEC 61850, and the first communication interface unit 41 of the GW 40 and the TC master station 220 are connected by a communication cable 13. Also, a management table of the GW 40 is set so that data transmission is performed without going through the protocol conversion unit 48. Fig. 5 is a diagram showing a state in which the entire monitoring and control system consisting of a control center and substations has been migrated to a system applying the international standard IEC 61850 in an example of a substation system migration method according to the first embodiment (and the second embodiment described later) of the present invention, and shows the state at step S8 of the flow shown in Fig. 1.

[0046] 5, the GW 40 is located between the TC master station 220 and the digital distribution boards 51-54, and data transmission between the TC master station 220 and the digital distribution boards 51-54 is performed via the first communication interface unit 41 and the second communication interface unit 42, without passing through the protocol conversion unit 48, with the data being allocated by the data transmission control unit 47 of the GW 40. This state corresponds to the state in the fourth step of the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0047] 5 differs from the state shown in Fig. 9 in that the TC slave station 10 that monitored and controlled the analog switchboards 21-24 through various data transmissions with the TC master station 220 has been replaced with a GW40 that monitors and controls the digital switchboards 51-54. The GW40 is used as is even after the substation 100 is digitally networked, and has the functions of monitoring and controlling the main circuit devices and determining abnormalities in data, which were previously performed by the existing TC slave station 10.

[0048] (Embodiment 2) Next, as a second embodiment of the present invention, another example of a substation system migration method for replacing an analog switchboard in a downstream substation with a digital switchboard in digitalizing a substation will be described. In the substation system migration method shown in the first embodiment, digitalization of an existing substation is promoted first, but in the second embodiment, data transmission between an upstream control center and a substation is first performed using a communication protocol conforming to IEC61850.

[0049] FIG. 6 is a flow diagram for explaining an example of a substation system migration method according to embodiment 2 of the present invention, and FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a state in which a gateway is introduced and installed, and communication between a control center and a substation is performed using a communication protocol that complies with the international standard IEC61850, in the example of a substation system migration method according to embodiment 2 of the present invention.

[0050] In the second embodiment, first, as shown in step S11 of Fig. 6, the GW 40 is introduced and installed in the existing substation 100 shown in Fig. 9, as in the first embodiment. Here, the GW 40 does not necessarily need to be installed within the premises of the existing substation, but it is desirable to install it within the substation 100 from the viewpoint of management and maintenance. Then, moving to step S12, as shown in Fig. 7, the data transmission of the TC master station 220 is changed from the conventional HDLC communication protocol to a communication protocol conforming to IEC61850, and the first communication interface unit 41 of the GW 40 and the TC master station 220 are connected by a communication cable 13, and the TC slave station 10 is connected to the third communication interface unit 43.

[0051] Next, proceeding to step S13 in Figure 6, information on the analog distribution boards 21-24 connected to the TC child station 10 is stored in the management table of the memory unit 46 of the GW40, and the management table of the GW40 is set so that data transmission with the analog distribution boards 21-24 via the TC child station 10 is performed via the protocol conversion unit 48.

[0052] In the state shown in Fig. 7, the GW 40 is located between the TC master station 220 and the TC slave station 10, and data transmission between the TC master station 220 and the GW 40 is performed using a communication protocol conforming to IEC61850, and data transmission between the GW 40 and the TC slave station 10 is performed using the HDLC communication protocol. In data transmission between the TC master station 220 and the TC slave station 10, data is allocated by a data transmission control unit 47 of the GW 40, and protocol conversion including data format conversion and synthesis is performed by a protocol conversion unit 48. The state shown in Fig. 7 corresponds to the first step of the second embodiment of the present invention.

[0053] Next, proceeding to step S14 of the flow shown in Figure 6, some of the analog distribution boards are replaced with digital distribution boards, the digital distribution boards are connected to the second communication interface unit 42 of the GW40 via LAN, and the main circuit equipment that was connected to the analog distribution boards is connected to the digital distribution board via LAN via a Merging Unit (MU).

[0054] Fig. 8 is a diagram showing a state in which some analog switchboards are replaced with digital switchboards in an example of a substation system migration method according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In the state shown in Fig. 8, among the analog switchboards 21 to 24 shown in Fig. 7, the analog switchboards 23 and 24 are replaced with digital switchboards 53 and 54, respectively, and the digital switchboards 53 and 54 are connected to the second communication interface unit 42 of the GW 40 via a station bus 70 by LAN. In addition, the main circuit devices 33 and 34 connected to the analog switchboards 23 and 24 are connected to the digital switchboards 53 and 54 by LAN via MUs 63 and 64 and a process bus 80, respectively.

[0055] Next, the process proceeds to step S15 of the flow shown in Fig. 6, where the information on the switchboards stored in the management table of the memory unit 46 of the GW 40 is updated. In the case of the state shown in Fig. 8, the information on the newly connected digital switchboards 53, 54 is stored, and the information on the removed analog switchboards 23, 24 is erased. In addition, for data transmission with the digital switchboards 53, 54, communication is possible using a communication protocol conforming to IEC61850, so the management table of the GW 40 is set so that data transmission is performed without going through the protocol conversion unit 48.

[0056] 8, some of the analog switchboards 23, 24 of the multiple analog switchboards 21-24 have been replaced with digital switchboards 53, 54, and the analog switchboards 23, 24 and the digital switchboards 53, 54 coexist in the substation 100. Data transmission between the TC master station 220 and the analog switchboards 23, 24 is performed by the data transmission control unit 47 of the GW 40 via the first communication interface unit 41, the protocol conversion unit 48, and the third communication interface unit 43, while data transmission between the TC master station 220 and the digital switchboards 53, 54 is performed by the data transmission control unit 47 of the GW 40 via the fourth communication interface unit 44 and the second communication interface unit 42 without passing through the protocol conversion unit 48. This state corresponds to the state in the second step of the second embodiment of the present invention, and a state in which the analog switchboards 23, 24 and the digital switchboards 53, 54 coexist is permitted.

[0057] Next, the process proceeds to step S16 in the flow shown in Fig. 2, and the procedures of steps S14 and S15 are repeated until all analog switchboards are replaced with digital switchboards. After step S16 is completed, the process proceeds to step S17, and the TC slave station 10 is removed. Fig. 5 is a diagram showing a state in which all analog switchboards have been replaced with digital switchboards in an example of a substation system migration method according to embodiment 2 of the present invention.

[0058] 5, data is transmitted between the TC master station 220 and the GW 40 using a protocol conforming to IEC61850, all the analog switchboards 21-24 are replaced with digital switchboards 51-54, and the main circuit devices 31-34 are provided with MUs 61-64, respectively, which are connected to the digital switchboards 51-54 by LAN via a process bus 80. All the digital switchboards 51-54 are connected to the second communication interface unit 42 of the GW 40 via a station bus 70. Communication is performed on the station bus 70 and the process bus 80 using a communication protocol conforming to IEC61850.

[0059] The state shown in Fig. 5 corresponds to the state in the third step of the second embodiment of the present invention, and many control cables connecting the analog switchboards 21-24 and the main circuit devices 31-34 in the existing substation 100 can be eliminated, and the cost of laying and maintaining the cables can be significantly reduced. The GW 40 is used as is even after the substation 100 is digitally networked, and similar to the GW 40 described in the first embodiment, the existing TC slave station 10 takes over the function. The GW 40 used in the second embodiment does not need to include the fourth communication interface unit 44, unlike the GW 40 used in the first embodiment. [Explanation of symbols]

[0060] 10 Monitoring and control device slave station (TC slave station) 11~13 Communication cable 21~24 Analog switchboard 31~34...Main circuit equipment 40 Gateway (GW) 41 First communication interface unit 42 Second communication interface unit 43 Third communication interface unit 44 Fourth communication interface unit 45 CPU 46...Storage section 47 Data transmission control section 48 Protocol conversion unit 51~54 Digital switchboard 70 Station bus 80 Process Bus 100 ··· Substation 200 Control Station 210...calculator 220 Monitoring and control device master station (TC master station)

Claims

1. A gateway for use in digital networking in a substation, comprising: a first communication interface unit for transmitting data between the monitoring and control device and the master station using a communication protocol conforming to the international standard IEC 61850; A second communication interface unit that transmits data between the digital switchboard and the second communication interface unit using a communication protocol conforming to the international standard IEC 61850; a third communication interface unit for transmitting data between the monitoring control device and a slave station using a communication protocol other than the international standard IEC 61850; a protocol conversion unit that converts between a communication protocol conforming to the international standard IEC 61850 and a communication protocol other than the international standard IEC 61850; 13. A gateway comprising:

2. The present invention is characterized in that it further comprises a fourth communication interface unit for transmitting data between the monitoring control device and the parent station using a communication protocol other than the international standard IEC 61850. The gateway of claim 1 .

3. The communication protocol other than the international standard IEC 61850 is an HDLC communication protocol, a CDT communication protocol, or a PMCN communication protocol. A gateway according to claim 1 or 2.

4. A substation system migration method for replacing a plurality of analog switchboards connected to a monitoring and control device slave station in a substation that transmits data between the monitoring and control device slave station and a monitoring and control device master station using a communication protocol other than the international standard IEC 61850, with digital switchboards, comprising: a first step of installing a gateway between the monitoring and control device parent station and the monitoring and control device child station, the gateway having a first communication interface unit that transmits data with the monitoring and control device parent station using a communication protocol conforming to the international standard IEC 61850, a second communication interface unit that transmits data with the digital switchboard using the communication protocol conforming to the international standard IEC 61850, a third communication interface unit that transmits data with the monitoring and control device child station using a communication protocol other than the international standard IEC 61850, a fourth communication interface unit that transmits data with the monitoring and control device parent station using a communication protocol other than the international standard IEC 61850, and a protocol conversion unit that converts between the communication protocol conforming to the international standard IEC 61850 and the communication protocol other than the international standard IEC 61850, and performing data transmission between the monitoring and control device parent station and the monitoring and control device child station via the fourth communication interface unit and the third communication interface unit without passing through the protocol conversion unit; a second step of replacing a part of the plurality of analog switchboards with the digital switchboards, and transmitting data between the monitoring and control device parent station and the digital switchboards via the fourth communication interface unit, the protocol conversion unit, and the second communication interface unit without passing through the monitoring and control device child station; a third step of replacing all of the plurality of analog switchboards with the digital switchboards, removing the monitoring and control device slave stations, and transmitting data between the monitoring and control device master station and the digital switchboards via the fourth communication interface unit, the protocol conversion unit, and the second communication interface unit; A substation system transition method comprising:

5. a fourth step of converting data transmission from the monitoring and control device parent station into a communication protocol conforming to the international standard IEC 61850, and transmitting data between the monitoring and control device parent station and the digital switchboard via the first communication interface unit and the second communication interface unit without passing through the protocol conversion unit; The method of claim 4, further comprising:

6. A substation system migration method for replacing a plurality of analog switchboards connected to a monitoring and control device slave station in a substation that transmits data between the monitoring and control device slave station and a monitoring and control device master station using a communication protocol other than the international standard IEC 61850, with digital switchboards, comprising: a first step of installing a gateway between the monitoring and control device parent station and the monitoring and control device child station, the gateway having a first communication interface unit that transmits data with the monitoring and control device parent station using a communication protocol conforming to the international standard IEC 61850, a second communication interface unit that transmits data with a digital switchboard using the communication protocol conforming to the international standard IEC 61850, a third communication interface unit that transmits data with the monitoring and control device child station using a communication protocol other than the international standard IEC 61850, and a protocol conversion unit that converts between the communication protocol conforming to the international standard IEC 61850 and the communication protocol other than the international standard IEC 61850, and changing data transmission from the monitoring and control device parent station to a communication protocol conforming to the international standard IEC 61850, and transmitting data between the monitoring and control device parent station and the monitoring and control device child station via the first communication interface unit, the protocol conversion unit, and the third communication interface unit; a second step of replacing a part of the plurality of analog switchboards with the digital switchboards, and transmitting data between the monitoring and control device parent station and the digital switchboards via the first communication interface unit and the second communication interface unit without passing through the protocol conversion unit; a third step of replacing all of the plurality of analog switchboards with the digital switchboards, removing the monitoring and control device slave station, and transmitting data between the monitoring and control device master station and the digital switchboards via the first communication interface unit and the second communication interface unit; A substation system transition method comprising:

7. The communication protocol other than the international standard IEC 61850 is an HDLC communication protocol, a CDT communication protocol, or a PMCN communication protocol. The substation system migration method according to any one of claims 4 to 6.

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