Open the Getting Started with IEC 61850 DLL PDF file in another window.

Introduction

The DLL code example can be used on one machine (localhost) or on two machines with a network between the two. The SCL files are already prepared for both cases.

The files for the localhost are in the folder “Debug_localhost”; the others are in “De-bug_2Computers-on-Network”. The only difference is in the IP-addresses of the “Cli-entDemo61850.ICD” and “ServerDemo61850.ICD”.

For the localhost example you can start the server and the client and use them. Always start the server first and then the client.


Basics of IEC 61850 related to the Example

The standard series IEC 61850 provides a uniform framework for the specification, exchange and configuration of information. It applies to the Process level (actuators, sensors of any type), level of Control and Protection and higher levels as Station level, e.g., in substations (HMI and remote control link).

The standard comprises:

1. General rules (project management, environmental and EMC requirements, etc.)
2. Common and domain specific information for functions and devices (measured values, status and switching information, etc.),
3. Information of and about primary devices (switches, transformers and instrument trans-formers)
4. Information exchange for protection, monitoring, control, measurement and metering; and
5. A configuration language.

Interoperability between devices and between engineering (configuration) tools is the main goal of IEC 61850. It is intended to enable two or more IEDs (Intelligent Electronic Devices) from one or more suppliers to exchange information which is defined in the IEC 61850 stan-dard and to unambiguously interpret and use the information in order to implement the func-tionality required by the application.

The main parts of the IEC 61850 standard

The standard covers general requirements relating to substations, engineering, data models, communications solutions and conformity testing. The original scope (substations) has been extended to power utility automation. It may be used in any application domain with similar re-quirements.

The first 16 parts of the standard series have been issued as official IEC standards. It is a tool-kit that can be used to design open automation systems. In addition to describing the informa-tion flow between functions of automation devices, IEC 61850 provides communications mechanisms between the functions. It leaves a significant amount of freedom to implement communications, so that manufacturers can adapt their functions and system platform to a va-riety of markets and user requirements.

Parts 1 to 4 contain the introduction and all of the general requirements. Part 5 describes the basic requirements for substation automation functions. The substation configuration language is defined in Part 6. Based on Part 5, Parts 7-1, 7-2, 7-3, 7-4, 7-410, 7-420, and IEC 61400-25-2 contain commu-nication definitions for a variety of functions (data models and communications services). Parts 8 and 9 define mappings of the definitions contained in Part 7 to real communications networks. Part 10 defines the basics for conformance tests.