IEEE 1613 Class 2 for Substations

Ethernet Switches, which carry information in frames or packets, need to perform flawlessly under high EMI stress in these heavy-duty environments. Such real-time mission critical control applications requires a level of immunity to EMI well beyond what is otherwise available from ordinary Ethernet networking products. In fact, even the EMI immunity requirements prescribed by IEC 61000-6-2 (Generic Standards – Immunity for Industrial Environments) are inadequate for substation environments.

The Magnum line of hardened managed Ethernet switches from GarrettCom has responded to this challenge by developing “no-frame-loss” technology to provide error-free communications for high EMI environments, especially power utility substations.

To address the reliability of the exchange of messages between IEDs in substations using a local area network (LAN), a task force (C2TF1) of the PES Substations Committee was formed. Their work resulted in the IEEE 1613 Standard. To read about their work, see the applicable IEEE proceedings and reports. To view their 3-page report “Developing IEEE 1613”, click here.

Both the IEC and IEEE have developed and issued new standards addressing EMI immunity requirements for communications networking equipment. Both groups borrowed heavily from the respective standards used for Protective Relaying devices which are critical devices used for protection and control of the power system. Since more and more protection relays are using frame-based Ethernet network connectivity for the purpose of Protection Relaying, it was only natural that the communications also be made to comply with the same EMI, ESD, and RFI immunity requirements.

     IEEE 1613 - IEEE Standard Environmental and Testing Requirements for
     Communications Networking Devices in Electric Power Substations

     IEC 61850-3 Communications Systems and Networks in Substations (Section 5.7)

In both cases the standards have a minimum requirement that the networking equipment operate without any physical damage, reset or latch-up during the application of a variety of normally-destructive EMI immunity type tests. Engineers from GarrettCom and Dymec were instrumental in developing these standards, and proffered equipment during the preliminary P1613 stages.

IEEE 1613 defines two classes of networking devices: Class 1 devices allow communications errors, while Class 2 devices allow no errors during the application of EMI type tests.

GarrettCom’s engineers developed technology which would withstand all of the EMI and ESD type tests required by IEEE 1613 Class 2 error-free networking devices.  This technology is designed to provide the same level of EMI and ESD immunity performance and reliability in substations as protective relaying devices.

IEEE 1613 Class 2 performance is tested by doing the following:

1.   A network simulator/analyzer such as XIXIA is used to generate communications traffic (IP frames) on all ports and at close to 100% frame rate.

2.  Industry standard transient and EMI generators are used to perform the IEEE 1613 destructive EMI tests which simulate the many types of EMI phenomena found in substation environments.

3.   As the tests are performed, the ingoing and outgoing IP communications frames are monitored.

4.   To be "no-frame-loss" capable, the device must experience no communications errors, delays or losses during each EMI test.

These tests show that the Magnum line of Ethernet Switches meet or exceed the IEEE 1613 Class 2 Standard.

GarrettCom recommends Ethernet switches with fiber-built-in ports for substation networks where Protective Relaying is involved.  GarrettCom offers the greatest choice of fiber media port types and fiber ports-per-switch of any substation Ethernet switch supplier, making them the best choice for ultra-critical networks that handle protection-related time-critical data in substations.  For Protective Relaying, Magnum networking products from GarrettCom are the best-of-breed.