The IEC61850 Standard

The IEC 61850 standard is a comprehensive framework for the design and operation of automated systems in electrical substations. It is developed by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) and aims to support the interoperability and reliable operation of electrical substations through a standardized approach to communication, system design, and data management. The standard encompasses various aspects of substation automation and is divided into multiple parts, each addressing specific areas of the system. Here's an overview of the different parts of the IEC 61850 standard:

  1. General Principles (Part 1): This part provides an introduction to the standard, including its scope, objectives, and general principles. It sets the foundation for understanding the subsequent sections.
  2. System and Project Management (Part 2): Focuses on the requirements for system and project management, including definitions, documentation, and quality assurance processes.
  3. General Requirements (Part 3): Outlines the general requirements for the system, including definitions, modeling concepts, and services.
  4. System and Project Management (Part 4): Provides guidance on system and project management aspects specific to IEC 61850 implementations.
  5. Communication Requirements for Functions and Device Models (Part 5-6): These parts detail the communication requirements for specific functions and device models within the substation. They describe how devices should communicate and the data models they should use.
  6. Basic Communication Structure for Substation and Feeder Equipment (Part 7): This part is divided into several sub-parts (7-1, 7-2, 7-3, 7-4, etc.) and describes the basic communication structure, including common data classes, logical nodes, and services used in the communication between IEDs (Intelligent Electronic Devices).
  7. Specific Communication Service Mapping (Part 8): Divided into sub-parts (8-1, 8-2, etc.), this section describes how the abstract communication services defined in the standard are mapped onto specific network protocols (e.g., MMS, GOOSE, and SV).
  8. Sampled Values over ISO/IEC 8802-3 (Part 9): Specifies the use of sampled values, which are digitized measurements of electrical quantities, and how they are transmitted over Ethernet networks.
  9. Configuration Description Language for Communication in Electrical Substations Related to IEDs (Part 10): Describes the use of a specific XML-based language for configuring the devices and systems according to the IEC 61850 standard.

The IEC 61850 standard also includes guidelines for testing and conformance assessment to ensure that implementations are consistent with the standard's requirements. Over the years, the standard has evolved to include aspects of cybersecurity and integration with other systems in the smart grid, making it a cornerstone for modern substation automation projects.

More general information about the standard.