IED Communication Stack Performance Analysis in Substation Automation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Substation Automation systems face challenges in predicting and ensuring deterministic communication performance, especially under high load conditions, due to the limitations of existing protocols like IEC 61850, which can lead to unpredictable communication times and potential bottlenecks in Ethernet-based systems with many Intelligent Electronic Devices (IEDs).
Innovation Solution
A method and tool for analyzing communication performance by identifying and processing network messages, determining specific protocol elements, and calculating processing time models for Intelligent Electronic Devices (IEDs) in Substation Automation systems, allowing for the evaluation of communication stack performance and parameter calculation across various scenarios, including high load situations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the number of IEDs and communication load increase in the SA system, then the system functionality and coverage are improved, but the communication performance becomes unpredictable and bottlenecks occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by measuring and analyzing communication performance under various load conditions before actual operation, building statistical models that predict future performance. The system pre-characterizes the IED communication stack behavior across different scenario types (normal operation, fault conditions, high load) so that performance can be predicted without real-time measurement, avoiding bottlenecks before they occur.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback by continuously monitoring actual communication performance against predicted values from statistical models. When deviations are detected, the system can adjust configuration parameters or alert operators to potential issues. The measurement data feeds back into refining the statistical models, improving prediction accuracy over time.
2Adaptability or versatility
If IEC 61850 protocols are used for communication, then standardization and interoperability are improved, but deterministic communication time cannot be guaranteed under high load
Solution Approach 1:
The patent measures communication performance under various load conditions beforehand to build statistical models that predict communication times for different message types (MMS, GOOSE, SV) and scenario types. This preliminary characterization allows the system to predict whether deterministic timing will be met before actual communication occurs, enabling proactive configuration adjustments.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes communication parameters such as message rates, priorities, and configuration settings based on predicted load conditions and scenario types. By adjusting these parameters proactively, the system can maintain deterministic communication timing even when using standardized IEC 61850 protocols that don't inherently guarantee fixed timing under all conditions.
3Adaptability or versatility
If communication load is increased to handle more scenarios, then system functionality is improved, but processing time and performance prediction become more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the communication analysis into distinct scenario types (normal operation, fault conditions, high load situations) and message types (MMS, GOOSE, SV). By categorizing and analyzing each segment separately, the system can build specialized statistical models for each category, making the overall complex system manageable through modular analysis of its components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes analysis parameters based on scenario type, applying different measurement and modeling approaches for different communication conditions. This allows the system to handle increased scenario coverage efficiently by adapting the analysis methodology to each specific scenario rather than using a single complex approach for all cases.
Data Source
AI summary
A communication stack performance of an Intelligent Electronic Device (IED) is analyzed in a communication network of a Substation Automation (SA) system. The IED processes network messages that are transferred with, or belonging to, a specific configurable SA communication service. A plurality of application level scenarios corresponding to a high communication load is executed. Among all network messages captured or intercepted during the scenario, the network messages destined to the IED and sent by the IED in response are identified. A number of the identified messages, a number of specific communication protocol elements or data items related to a service-specific property, and a number of changed protocol elements, which are indicative of an SA event, for which the value of the data item has changed compared to the value of the same data item in a previous message, are determined. An IED-intrinsic processing time of the identified messages is likewise determined, based on which parameter values of a service specific processing time model are calculated.