Smart Substation Industrial Ethernet Communication Solution

Project Overview

A digital/smart substation is built upon intelligent primary equipment and networked secondary devices, leveraging the IEC61850 communication protocol. The IEC61850 standard divides the substation’s communication architecture into three distinct layers: the Process Layer, the Bay Layer, and the Station Control Layer. Within each layer—and between layers—high-speed network communication is employed. The substation’s overall communication network is further segmented into two key components: the Station Control Network, linking the Station Control Layer with the Bay Layer, and the Process Network, connecting the Bay Layer to the Process Layer. This advanced infrastructure enables seamless information sharing and interoperability among smart electrical devices within the substation, paving the way for a modern, highly efficient power grid operation.

A reliable and intelligent communication network is a key factor in the successful operation of substations when transmitting and distributing electricity across large areas.

Due to the unique environment of substations and the requirements of automation systems, the communication network within substation automation systems must feature rapid real-time responsiveness, exceptional reliability, superior electromagnetic compatibility, and robust security.

To address the potential information bottleneck caused by the large number of monitoring sites and vast amounts of data in the smart substation automation system, this solution employs high-performance industrial Ethernet switches at the network access layer.

Technical Solution

Due to the continuity and critical importance of power generation, the reliability of the station's communication network is paramount—ensuring that a single device or switch failure does not lead to a complete breakdown in internal communications. Therefore, for smart substations, it is recommended to use industrial Ethernet switches compliant with the IEC61850 standard when networking the substation control layer and process layer equipment. Taking this smart substation as an example, the process-level network achieves a converged infrastructure, integrating three key networks into one: the "GOOSE" network, the SMV network, and the clock synchronization network—all sharing the same communication platform.

The WITNET IAS3028 industrial Ethernet switch, supporting IEC 61850 through layered deployment, delivers precise synchronization and offers dual-network, dual-redundant connectivity for merging units, intelligent interfaces, and PCL metering system units. The process-level backbone network exclusively uses fiber-optic connections, also configured as a redundant setup to ensure rapid self-healing in case of network link failures, thereby enhancing overall network reliability.

An SNMP-supported WITNET IAS3028 industrial Ethernet switch is installed between the station control layer and the bay level, delivering nanosecond-level synchronization accuracy. It features a dual-network redundancy connection mode to ensure seamless network operation and enable real-time monitoring.

Network Topology Diagram

Scheme Advantages

1. By adopting a dual-star industrial-grade redundant network, we ensure both the real-time performance and the reliability of data transmission.
2. Industrial-grade chips, industrial-grade power modules, and a low-power design ensure the high reliability of the industrial Ethernet switch system.
3. Industrial Ethernet switches have passed Level 4 industrial electromagnetic compatibility testing, ensuring excellent resistance to electromagnetic interference.
4. Industrial Ethernet switches are fully interconnected with merging units and intelligent interface units via fiber optics, ensuring zero electromagnetic interference and reliable data communication.

Equipment parameters and functional features

Product Features

• Excellent device features & flexible installation options, with wide-temperature, dustproof, and moisture-resistant designs.

Operating temperature: -40 to 85°C, storage temperature: -45 to 85°C, operating humidity: 0–95% (no condensation); metal enclosure with fanless cooling technology, offering IP40 or higher protection rating; customizable for rack, rail, or wall-mount installations.

• Operating reliably and stably in harsh electromagnetic environments

Through industrial-grade electromagnetic compatibility testing, it effectively defends against industrial interference—including high-voltage AC electric fields, electrostatic fields, arcs, and thyristors—as well as natural disturbances like lightning strikes, various forms of electrostatic discharge, and geomagnetic storms.

• The equipment boasts an average mean time between failures exceeding 300,000 hours and consistently provides spare parts year-round.
• Fast redundancy:

Supports the IEC62439 MRP international standard ring network redundancy protocol, with redundancy protection time less than 20ms, and supports tangent-coupled ring network configurations.

Supports RSTP/STP (IEEE 802.1w/d) redundancy protocols and features advanced loop prevention capabilities, effectively mitigating network storm issues in ring topologies.

• Security advantages;

Supports VLAN (Virtual Local Area Network) technology

VLAN is an essential feature of secure switches. VLANs can span one or more switches, regardless of their physical locations, making devices appear as if they’re communicating within the same network. On a switch, VLANs enable isolation of broadcast domains, effectively dividing the network into independent, discrete areas—and even allowing you to control whether these areas are allowed to communicate with each other.

Traffic control feature

Traffic control in switches can prevent abnormal bandwidth overload caused by excessive traffic from broadcast packets, multicast packets, and unicast packets with incorrect destination addresses, while also enhancing the overall system performance and ensuring secure, stable network operations.

Supports port aggregation

Multiple port aggregation not only increases the bandwidth of the link but also provides redundancy protection for the transmission path, while simultaneously helping to distribute bandwidth more evenly.

IEEE 802.1x Authentication Mechanism

The IEEE 802 protocol suite's Local Area Network Access Control Protocol is a port-based access control mechanism. It leverages the advantages of IEEE 802 LANs to provide a robust method for authenticating and authorizing users connecting to the network, ensuring that only legitimate users gain access while blocking unauthorized attempts—thereby safeguarding network security.

QoS mechanism

Bovia's industrial Ethernet switches utilize the IEEE 802.p QoS CoS/TOS/DSCP prioritization scheme, ensuring real-time and reliable transmission of time-critical data.

Supports broadcast storm suppression and IGMP-Snooping multicast protocol to enhance network transmission efficiency.

System Logs

The switch's logging feature can transmit system errors, configuration details, status changes, periodic status reports, and other information to the log server. Network administrators use this data to monitor device performance, detect potential issues early, promptly adjust configurations, and resolve problems—ensuring the network operates securely and reliably.

Unified Network Management

In addition to providing web-based access, it also supports multiple network management methods such as CLI, TELNET, SNMP V1/V2, and OPC.

Flexible configuration options for power input levels, with dual-power redundancy functionality.