ABB’s REF615 IEC Feeder Protection and Measurement and Control unit is an advanced device designed for the protection, control, measurement and monitoring of public and industrial power distribution systems. The device is suitable not only for power grids with ungrounded neutrals, but also for power grids with grounded neutrals through resistance or impedance, and can serve the protection needs of ring mesh or radiant distribution networks.
The REF615 units are available in 12 standard configurations to accommodate common feeder protection and measurement and control applications. It is designed with the substation IEC61850 communication standard in mind and supports Parallel Redundancy Protocol (PRP) and High Availability Seamless Redundancy Protocol (HSR), including IEC 61850-9-2 LE. In addition, the REF615 supports DNP3, IEC 60870-5-103 and Modbus® communication protocols, as well as the Profitbus DPV1 protocol via the SPA-ZC 302 protocol adapter.
The main advantage of the REF615 unit is that it integrates protection, control, monitoring and management functions to provide a compact and versatile solution for public and industrial power distribution systems. It has a wide range of protection and control functions and can be used with sensors or traditional CT, PT. The REF615’s pre-configured standard configuration allows for faster and easier combinations to meet the application needs of different users. In addition, the REF615 features a pluggable design for quick installation and testing, with a large LCD screen and a single line chart display that can be accessed locally or remotely via HMI, providing thoughtful product life cycle service.
The REF615 unit also features directional overcurrent, non-directional overcurrent, ground protection, and voltage, frequency, and power quality protection and measurement. It features a highly sensitive and selective combination of multi-frequency admittance ground protection, as well as selectable advanced and fast short-circuit and ground fault location functions. The REF615 supports IEC61850 1st and 2nd editions, including redundant HSR and PRP, GOOSE, and IEC61850-9-2. It also supports the IEEE 1588 v2 high-precision time protocol, as well as Modbus, DNP3, and IEC 60870-5-103 communication protocols.
With the update of 5.1 version 615 products, customers have questions about the orders and technical parameters of the new versions of products, especially the changes in the order numbers of 4.1 and 5.1 versions. For example, the order number of REF615 regular version K in version 4.1 is HCFKAEADABC2BAA11E, while in version 5.1, version K is upgraded to version Z and the order number is updated to HCFZAEADABCZDAA11G. The REF615Z version can completely replace the 4.1 REF615K version in terms of technical parameters, but the 5.1 version does not have an English language option.
The REF615 feeder protection measurement and control unit offers a variety of protection features, including directional/non-directional overcurrent protection, thermal overload protection, ground protection, and overvoltage and low voltage protection. It also offers an optional multiple automatic reclosing function for overhead line feeders. In addition, the device integrates a flexible arc protection channel for fast protection of the metal-clad switchgear. The REF615 supports both local and remote control, and the circuit breaker can be operated through the device panel or background monitoring system (SCADA). To ensure safe operation, the REF615 has four levels of operation permissions.
The REF615 feeder protection measurement and control device is suitable for power substations, power plants and other power industries, as well as industrial users such as cement, metallurgy, petrochemical, automobile, semiconductor, paper, tobacco, etc., and can also be used in municipal, airport, port, real estate and other industries. It is available in 7 standard configurations, with protection logic and related functions specifically optimized for the Chinese market. With optional accessories, the REF615 can also be directly integrated with three arc protection channels to provide arc detection and quick protection of switchgear circuit breakers, cables and bus rooms.
Shenzhen Xinhai Industry successfully provided four REF615 and four REX521RRP installation and commissioning services for Xinli Semiconductor, and completed the renewal project, which won high praise from customers.
The REF615 is a member of ABB’s Relion® product family, part of the 615 protection and control family. This range of intelligent electronic devices (IEDs) is characterized by its compact and withdrawable design. REF615 has been redesigned from the ground up with the aim of realizing the full potential of the IEC 61850 standard for interoperability between communications and substation automation equipment. The unit provides overhead lines and cable feeders for primary protection and can also be used as backup protection where independent and redundant protection systems are required. According to the selected standard configuration, the device is suitable for protecting overhead lines and cable feeders in neutral ungrounded, resistance grounded, compensation and direct grounded networks. Once a standard-configured device has been given application-specific Settings, it can be put directly into use. REF615 supports a range of communication protocols including IEC 61850 (with GOOSE messages), IEC 60870-5-103, Modbus® and DNP3.
The REF615 comes in eight different standard configurations. The standard signal configuration can be changed through the Graph signal Matrix or the optional graph application function that protects and controls the Smart Device Manager PCM600. The application configuration capabilities of the PCM600 enable the creation of multiple layers of logical functionality using various logical elements, including timers and triggers. By combining the protection function with the logical function block, it can adapt to the specific application requirements of users.
The REF615 device provides directional and non-directional overcurrent protection and thermal overload protection, as well as directional and non-directional ground protection. Based on the standard configuration, admittance type ground protection is also available as an alternative to directional ground protection. In addition, the device has sensitive ground protection, phase interrupt protection, instantaneous/intermittent ground protection, overvoltage and low voltage protection, residual overvoltage protection, positive sequence low voltage protection and negative sequence overvoltage protection. Devices with standard configuration H also provide frequency protection including overfrequency, low frequency, and rate of frequency change protection. In addition, the device provides a three-phase multi-beat automatic reclosing function for overhead line feeders. With optional hardware and software enhancements, the unit also has three arc detection channels for arc protection in the circuit breaker room, bus room and cable room of the metal enclosed switchgear. The arc protection sensor interface is available on an optional communication module. In the event of arc failure, arc protection can act quickly, improve personnel safety, and reduce switchgear damage.
The REF615 Feeder Protection Smart Electronics (IEDs) provide ground protection with or without direction. Directional grounding protection is mainly used in neutral ungrounded or compensating networks, while non-directional grounding protection is suitable for direct or low-impedance grounding networks. The device can also be used to protect ring and mesh distribution networks, as well as radiant networks containing distributed power sources. Standard configurations A and B provide directional grounding protection if the outlet feeder is equipped with a phase current transformer, magnetic balance current transformer, and residual voltage measurement. The residual current calculated from the phase current can be used for dual (transnational) ground protection. The device also provides instantaneous/intermittent ground protection. Standard configurations C and D provide directionless grounding protection for terminals equipped with phase current transformers. The zero sequence current for ground protection is calculated from the phase current. In specific applications, especially when sensitive ground protection is required, a magnetic balanced current transformer can be used to measure zero-sequence current. Standard configurations E and F provide directional grounding protection with phase voltage and residual voltage measurements. In addition, standard configurations E and F include current loop monitoring and fuse fault monitoring for incoming feeders equipped with bus voltage measurement. In addition to the features of Standard configuration E, standard Configuration F provides directional overcurrent protection, overvoltage and undervoltage protection, positive sequence undervoltage and negative sequence overvoltage protection, and residual voltage protection. The standard configuration G includes A conventional residual current (Io 0.2/1 A) input and three sensor inputs for connecting three combined sensors with RJ-45 connectors. The sensor input allows IED to be used in compact medium-voltage switchgear, which has limited space and cannot use traditional measuring transformers, so sensor technology is required. Examples include ABB’s SafeRing and SafePlus compact medium voltage switchgear, which are suitable for applications such as compact secondary substations, wind turbines, small industrial installations and large buildings. As an alternative to combined sensors, separate current and voltage sensors can also be used, using an adapter. In addition, the adapter supports sensors using Twin-BNC connectors.
The REF615 unit supports ABB’s COM600 Station Automation equipment and constitutes a reliable power distribution solution based on IEC 61850 standards for utility and industrial power systems. With the Web-based HMI of the COM600, a customized graphic display can be provided for visualizing a single line diagram simulation diagram, which is useful for using 615 series smart electronic devices without the optional single line diagram feature. The COM600’s Web HMI also provides an overview of the entire substation, including smart electronic device-specific single-line diagrams, facilitating access to information. To enhance personnel safety, the Web HMI also allows remote access to substation equipment and processes. In addition, the COM600 can act as a local data warehouse for substation technical documents and collect network data collected by smart electronics. The collected network data facilitates extensive reporting and analysis of network failure situations using the COM600’s data logger and event processing capabilities. Data loggers can be used through real-time and