Digital Substation Network Failover via Pre-configured Redundant Frames
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional digital substations face challenges in maintaining reliable and secure communication networks due to the need for physical security measures and complex configuration processes, which are time-consuming and costly, and are prone to failure modes associated with packet switching techniques.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a configuration-less process bus system with architectural redundancy, utilizing pre-configured communication ports and intelligent electronic devices (IEDs) that can receive and process data streams with redundancy protocols, allowing for network failover mechanisms to identify and utilize redundant frames in case of failures, thereby eliminating the need for physical security and reducing engineering efforts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If physical security measures are implemented for equipment in the switchyard, then security of equipment is improved, but device complexity and engineering time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces physical security measures (mechanical/protection systems) with cybersecurity mechanisms implemented through software and communication protocols. The process bus and IEDs use digital authentication, encryption, and security protocols to protect equipment, eliminating the need for physical security infrastructure while maintaining security requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates virtual representations and digital models of physical equipment through the process bus communication system. IEDs communicate with virtual models of transformers, circuit breakers, and other equipment, allowing security and monitoring functions to be performed in the digital domain rather than requiring physical security measures for each component.
2Reliability
If configuration processes are performed for IEDs and process bus to meet security requirements, then security compliance is improved, but loss of time and engineering cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
Security configurations, authentication credentials, encryption keys, and communication parameters are pre-configured in the IEDs and process bus components during manufacturing or initial setup. This preliminary configuration eliminates the need for time-consuming on-site security setup and allows rapid deployment while ensuring compliance with security requirements from the start.
Solution Approach 2:
The IEDs and process bus components automatically perform security configurations, authentication handshakes, and security protocol implementations without requiring extensive manual engineering intervention. The system self-configures security parameters and maintains compliance automatically, reducing engineering time and costs.
3Ease of repair
If reconfiguration or maintenance of equipment is performed, then system maintenance is improved, but loss of time and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent maintains virtual copies and digital models of physical equipment through the process bus communication system. These digital twins allow engineers to perform maintenance, testing, and configuration changes in the virtual domain before applying them to physical equipment, enabling non-intrusive maintenance and reducing downtime.
Solution Approach 2:
Physical maintenance activities are replaced with digital diagnostics, configuration updates, and software-based repairs through the process bus. IEDs can be reconfigured, updated, and maintained remotely through communication protocols, eliminating the need for physical access to equipment and reducing maintenance time and costs.
4Reliability
If parallel redundancy protocols (PRP or HSR) are used for communication reliability, then communication reliability is improved, but device complexity increases due to similar failure modes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the communication network into multiple independent process buses rather than using complex redundancy protocols within a single network. Each process bus operates independently with its own physical pathways, eliminating common failure modes and reducing the complexity of redundancy management by dividing the system into simpler, isolated segments.
Data Source
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AI summary
A system for network failover includes receiving, by an intelligent electronic device (IED) (145) from a process interface unit (PIU) (135), in parallel a pre-configured data stream via a point-to-point connection (240) and one or more other data streams via an Ethernet network (230). The method further includes determining that at least one of the following failure conditions is satisfied: a frame in the pre-configured data stream is lost or delayed, quality of the data in the frame in the data stream is below a first threshold, period of the time associated with the data in the frame in the data stream is below a second threshold, or a health indicator associated with the PIU (135) is below a third threshold. The method further allows identifying at least one redundant frame in the one or more other data streams. If the quality of data in redundant frame is satisfactory, the method proceeds to use the redundant frame for further processing.