Virtualized Intelligent Electronic Device for Substation Automation
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing substation automation systems require significant capital investments and are overly complex due to the need for multiple intelligent electronic devices to perform control and protection functions across individual bays, leading to increased complexity and redundancy in control architecture.
Innovation Solution
A novel architecture for intelligent electronic devices that utilizes a multi-device interface, device façade, and processing module to instantiate a master device and multiple proxy devices, allowing a single device to provide control and protection functions for multiple bays, leveraging the IEC 61850 communication standard to reduce the number of devices needed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple intelligent electronic devices are deployed in individual bays to perform control and protection functions, then reliability and functional coverage are improved, but capital investment cost and system complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The intelligent electronic device is segmented into multiple virtual devices through virtualization technology. Each virtual device can independently perform control and protection functions for specific bays, while physically residing in a single device. This segmentation allows one physical device to replace multiple traditional devices, reducing system complexity while maintaining functional reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The intelligent electronic device is designed with multi-functional capabilities to perform control and protection functions across multiple bays simultaneously. By integrating multiple functions into a single device and using virtualization to create isolated functional environments, the system reduces the number of physical devices needed while ensuring each function operates reliably as if it were in a dedicated device.
2Reliability
If dedicated intelligent electronic devices are assigned to individual bays, then functional independence and bay-level reliability are improved, but capital investment and device quantity increase
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple traditional intelligent electronic devices that were previously distributed across different bays are merged into a single physical device. Virtualization technology creates isolated virtual environments within this unified device, ensuring that each bay's control and protection functions remain independent and reliable while reducing the total number of physical devices required.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of deploying physical copies of intelligent electronic devices in each bay, the system creates virtual copies (virtual devices) within a single physical device. Each virtual device is a software-based replica that emulates the functionality of a traditional device, providing the same bay-level reliability without requiring additional physical hardware.
3Quantity of substance
If a single intelligent electronic device serves multiple bays, then capital investment and device quantity are reduced, but device complexity and processing workload increase
Solution Approach 1:
The intelligent electronic device employs a nested architecture where virtual devices are embedded within the physical device structure. Each virtual device contains its own virtualized components and processing environments, creating a hierarchical organization that manages complexity by encapsulating functional units within isolated virtual boundaries while maintaining a unified physical presence.
Data Source
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AI summary
An intelligent electronic device (104) suitable for use in substation automation system (100) and a method of operating the same is disclosed. A plurality of virtual machines is operated and each virtual machine instantiates a proxy device (202). Each of these proxy devices (202) is assigned a unique device identity. Further, a master device (210) is instantiated, wherein the master device (210) includes a set of functions and/or a set of attributes, and at least one the set of functions and/or set of attributes is referenced to in at least one of the proxy devices (202). The measurement data generated from at least one sensing devices is received and routed to a corresponding proxy device (202), and/or control data from one of the proxy devices (202) is transmitted to at least one actuating device corresponding to the proxy device (202).