Introduction to Digital Substation concept and industrial application

By Indranil Pal & Mr. Debasish Raha, Siemens Limited

Email: Indranil.pal@siemens.com
debasish.raha@siemens.com
Abstract : This article describes the development of the detailed conceptual model of digital substation and to
a research of opportunities of digital substation and its application in modern industries and utilities. This
article will mainly focus on how to conceptualize a digital substation, its benefits over traditional conventional
substation , key component of digital substation and Siemens portfolio offerings .

1. Introduction
A well-known fact is increasing the production of electricity from year to year, which leads to an increase in the load
on the energy system. The existing energy infrastructure, in most cases is overloaded, which exacerbates the problem
of ensuring the reliability of energy supply. In addition to this, the term of operation of the equipment used to date has
long since expired, which indicates a high probability of failure of the equipment operated. From the economic and
technical point of view, it is impossible to replace equipment at the same time, which aggravates the problem of the
normal functioning of the energy sector.
Based on the above, it is necessary to build new substations, and considering the development of modern technologies,
the new substations are digital substations. Digital substations have several advantages and differences in comparison
with traditional substations. According to the November conference "Digital Network", transition to digital substation
is inevitable.
Moreover, Prime Minister Narendra Modi presented his "5-I" vision to maximize digital technology for social benefit
in his intervention at the G20 Summit on digital economy and artificial intelligence (AI). The 5 'I's are --
Inclusiveness, Indigenization, Innovation, Investment in infrastructure & International cooperation,"

The government has clearly underlined their focus to develop digital infrastructure and economy which will transform
the life of millions of citizens. In the next five years, Government target is to make India a five-trillion-dollar economy.
Digitalization will contribute maximum in making our information sources more digital and billions of investments is
planned in power sector in making utilities more efficient via implementing digital substation concept and ensuring
safety and cyber security to avoid grid failure conditions in future.
2.0 Digital Substation 4.0 – The next big step forward

Electrical substations are at the core of power transmission and distribution grids, serving to connect grid sections of
differing voltage levels. Substations each constitute a system comprised of primary equipment (such as gas- and air-
insulated switchgear, transformers), secondary equipment (such as grid protection, automation and remote-control
systems, voltage regulator controller, energy meters, and communications equipment), and the necessary infrastructure
such as buildings. The basic functionalities on the station level for digital substations are:
• Protection and bay control
• Substation automation and remote operation
• Reliable communication based on IEC 61850

3.0 Substation automation and protection

Most important components of digital substations are the protection devices systems and the substation automation
system. As the connecting link between the primary equipment – for instance the switchgear – and the grid
instrumentation substation automation system and control center system, these components ensure optimum use of all
systems involved.
The diagram above shows a typical example of Digitalization at Process level where all control and power cables are
being replaced by fiber optic cables through a Merging Units which serves as a link between GIS, Transformers and
process level SCADA system. This not only reduces the huge cost of cables but also enhances system reliability and
data transferability.
Value Proposition in Process Bus

Primary Benefits of Process Bus system

In modern substations, substation automation systems with a digital station level – based on IEC 61850 – are
standard today
The chief advantages are:
• Simple substation structure: No more interface problems. With IEC 61850, protocol diversity and integration
problems are a thing of the past.
• Everything is simpler: From engineering to implementation, from operation to service. Save time and costs on
configuration, commissioning and maintenance.
• Reduction of costs: IEC 61850 replaces wiring between feeders, control switches, and signaling devices.
• In a typical GIS substation, the size of the CT can drastically be reduced as well as the burden since CT has to draw
a current through a much shorter length of cable due to the use of Merging unit.
4.0 Why there is a need for Digital Substation
Substations encompass what’s known as primary technology – such as switchgear and transformers – and secondary
technology related to protection, control and automation systems. They come in various shapes and sizes, some
operating as part of the high-voltage transmission grid and others controlling connections between the transmission
and distribution grids for residential or large-scale consumers such as commercial buildings or industrial facilities
Traditionally, the main role of a substation is to transform high-voltage electricity from a transmission system to a
lower voltage for consumption. But the traditional model of centralized generation in large power plants and
distribution to consumers has been making way for a more flexible system that can integrate decentralized generation,
prosumers and the latest power storage solutions
Digitalization towards a more Flexible system
Digitalization increases flexibility and allows utilities to prepare for the future as new technologies emerge. One
example of this is the digitalization of a substation’s process level by implementing a process bus and the use of
nonconventional instrument transformers (NCITs), which are a combination of low-power sensor technologies, and
stand-alone merging units (MUs), transforming the analog sensor signals into digital ones.as has been explained above
The MUs are placed close to the sensors and use fiber-optic network connections to protection devices, eliminating the
need for lots of hard-wired copper connections. It also increases operational safety by isolating the primary (high
voltage switching) from the secondary process (protection, automation, digitalization).
Digitalization is made easier with standard communication protocols, notably IEC 61850. (IEC stands for International
Electrotechnical Commission, a nonprofit quasi-governmental organization that oversees such things at a global level.)
The six most important benefits of a digital substation

• Digitalization of the substation level

The most important components of digital substations are the protection devices systems and the substation
automation system.

Reliable protection in case of critical grid conditions and faults due to environmental influences or faulty
operating equipment.

• Highest levels of security for personnel and investments.

• Seamless connection between primary technology and grid control technology.
• Communicates via Ethernet for optimally coordinated system performance with zero-time loss.
• Allows optimal deployment of operating resources

• Digitalization of the process level

New technologies like NCITs (non-conventional instrument transformers), for example, are employed in
conjunction with “merging units” and process bus communications technology, which allow the primary values to
be digitalized at process level and be communicated within the substation via Ethernet

Reliable protection in case of critical grid conditions and faults due to environmental influences or faulty
operating equipment.

• Cost savings, especially on cabling/copper wiring and installation

• Interoperable design enables vendor-neutral solutions through application of IEC 61850
• Extended functionality: integration of multiple data sources, independent signal distribution
 • Improves flexibility and scalability: simple add-on of intelligent field devices

• Cybersecurity

Cybersecurity protects industrial infrastructure and processes from malware and targeted attacks.

• Asset management

Asset management based on data collected digitally lowers a substation’s life cycle costs and enhances its
availability, safety, and security.

• Grid operation

Ensure availability of electricity anywhere, anytime .Efficient condition monitoring of extensive power
transmission grids

• Dynamic grid simulation for assessing grid stability

• Validates protection settings
• Validation of grid quality
• Prevents downtime, increases availability

• Integrated engineering

Integrated engineering is based on the digital data exchange between grid operators and suppliers but as well
throughout the supplier process, from systems planning, engineering, and parameterizing right through to testing
and commissioning.

5.0 Evolution of Substation

6.0 Digital Substation Solution from Siemens

This is a typical diagram showing data transfer mechanism in a typical automation and digital substation at
process level.
Bay level IED’s communicate with each other through Ethernet switch which in tur are connected through Gateway
servers and through router they are connected to SCADA network. The complete process is digital with application of
smart IEDS and Fiber optic communication channel with redundant network.
The platform is Ethernet-based communication on IEC 61850. In modern substations, substation automation systems
with a digital station level – based on IEC 61850 – are standard today
In the age of digitalization modularity and scalability of intelligent electronic devices (IEDs) throughout their lifetime
and a smart split of the device hardware and its firmware is important to enable agile adaptation to new requirements
in future. Major advantages of SIPROTEC and SICAM devices from Siemens portfolio for the digital age are

• Extension modules enable new communication features which can be plugged into existing devices even years
after commissioning.
• Flexibility of IEDs is needed to keep pace with the dynamic development especially in the field of cyber
security. \
6.0 Few Siemens product portfolio for Digital Substation