OMICRON electronics

For IEC 61850 field devices communicating with GOOSE (Generic Object Oriented Substation Event) messages, OMICRON now offers a unique testing solution: The NET-1 option for the CMC 256 test set providing the required Ethernet interfaces and a new software module for handling of GOOSE messages.

GOOSE messages exchanged over the substation network are used for fast communication between field devices, thus replacing the conventional wiring. For testing protection relays using this technology, a new way to "hook up" to these signals is needed.

With OMICRON´s testing solution, received GOOSES are used to activate the binary inputs of the test set. Simulated GOOSE messages on behalf of other devices are actuated by binary outputs. The software module comes with a comprehensive example document that explains the application with a typical protection relay.

To introduce the testing personnel into the complex matter of IEC 61850 and GOOSE, training courses are offered in OMICRON´s seminar program.

OMICRON electronics recently held its first International Protection Testing Symposium at the World Trade Centre in Amsterdam. The event was designed to bring together engineers in the field of protection testing from around the world, to discuss the topic and to hear of the latest testing practices.

The subjects of the day covered many aspects of testing from practical experiences of testing through to the future of testing in the digital substation environment.

Over 50 engineers attended the event from 24 different countries in the Middle East, Far East, Africa, Europe and the USA. Presentations were made by representatives from Siemens, AREVA T&D, ABB and TNB Malaysia. Many of the presenters were users of OMICRON test equipment and shared their experience with the attendees.

The symposium was concluded with an evening program at the World famous Madame Tussauds where delegates came face to face with celebrities.

Following the success of this year's IPTS, OMICRON intends to host future events at different venues around the world.

High precision transformer test equipment for field application

OMICRON, a leading manufacturer of test equipment for the electrical power industry, now offers a multiple application testing and diagnosis solution for power transformers. The new CP TD1 capacitance and dissipation factor measuring instrument works together with the CPC 100, providing a multifunctional solution for primary testing applications.

Standard tests include the measurement of winding resistance, ratio measurement, short-circuit reactance, the on-load tap changer test and insulation diagnosis (capacitance / tangent delta / power factor). The combination of rugged, light-weight design, high precision, and automated testing and reporting capabilities speed up testing tremendously. Highest safety standards ensure safe operation.

Test plans can be prepared ahead of time in the office resulting in very short testing time on site. Automatically generated reports reduce errors and save time for post processing.

This innovative measurement technique provides excellent line-frequency suppression in the presence of electrical and magnetic fields of interference. High precision components are used for measuring voltages and currents. As reference for C / Tan-delta measurements, a high precision gas insulated capacitor is used.

The entire transformer test equipment can be moved by a single person – the heaviest component weighing 29kg /64lbs. A custom-built trolley allows for easy and quick break-down into single components for practical handling on and off site.

OMICRON electronics, a leading manufacturer of primary and secondary test equipment for the electric power industry, widens its spectrum by moving into solutions for substation communication. OMICRON now offers PTS 103, a protocol test system for the IEC 60870-5-103 protection protocol.

Typical applications are protection testing while simultaneously recording the protocol, troubleshooting IEC 60870-5-103 connections, and uploading of fault recordings from protection relays.

The PTS 103 performs either monitoring or simulation of master and slave stations. Configurable filters support focussed recording and monitoring. All message codes - public and private - can be interpreted in plain text. The text interpretations can be loaded from files and edited without special tools or skills.

When monitoring, the PTS 103 records messages between a primary and a secondary station. Messages from both directions can be recorded simultaneously.

In simulation mode, the PTS 103 actively takes on the role of a primary or a secondary station. This is important for commissioning data links, or for testing with the protection relay only. Standard tasks such as polling or sending measurements are built in, and custom commands and messages can be user-defined.

The protocol tests can be integrated in OMICRON Control Center test plans by starting the PTS 103 from the test plan and including the protocol log in the report. In such a configuration PTS 103 can be used to check the coordination of the protection functions and the messages produced by the relay. The protocol IEC 61850-5-101 can be tested with the PTS 103 as well. A complementing interface adapter hardware (PTS DP1) establishes an easy connection to the optical communication path.

OMICRON electronics, manufacturer of test equipment, has released new software to speed up secondary testing of modern protection relays.

The configuration of test sequences for the automatic reclosure (ARC) function is very easy. Test conditions for the successful and the unsuccessful sequence are automatically set up. Essential criteria like the three-phase final trip at the end of an unsuccessful sequence are automatically evaluated. The ARC function of overcurrent, distance or line differential relays can be tested.

A program for automated testing of the voltage dependent overcurrent starting characteristic also allows for the testing of many overcurrent and undervoltage functions. For any specified test point, pick-up and drop-off values, and the ratio, are found.

The determination of pick-up values of, for example, an I>> overcurrent, is done without disabling associated functions (Trip is the only contact required). A pulsed ramp is used for pick-up testing of relays with multiple functions or overlapping elements, generator or motor protection, or rate of change relays.

Online harmonic analysis and full Windows XP support round off the package.