Protection of electricity networks have developed to incorporate communications, referred to as protection signalling. Due to the evolution of the electricity supply system, there are many developments pending within the scope of protection signalling and protection engineering in general. This project investigates the use of current and emerging communications technologies (i.e. packetised networks) being applied and incorporated into current protection signalling schemes and technologies.
The purpose of the project is to provide a more cost-effective solution to protection schemes running obsolescent hardware. While the medium-term goal of the industry is to move entirely to IEC 61850 communications, legacy teleprotection relays using non-IP communications will still exist for many years to come. For companies to be ready for an IEC 61850 rollout a fully deployed IP/MPLS network will be necessary and it can be seen that various companies worldwide are readying themselves in this way. However, in the short-term for these companies, this means maintaining their existing TDM network (which runs current teleprotection schemes) and IP/MPLS network. This is a costly business outcome that can be minimised with the migration of services from and decommissioning of TDM networks.
Network channel testing was the primary testing focus of the project. The testing proved that teleprotection traffic with correct QoS markings assured the system met latency and stability requirements. Furthermore, MPLS resiliency features (secondary LSPs & Fast-reroute) were tested and proved automatic path failover was possible under fault conditions at sub-30ms speeds
