Evaluation of Precision Time synchronisation methods for substation applications

Ingram, David, Schaub, Pascal, Campbell, Duncan, & Taylor, Richard (2012) Evaluation of Precision Time synchronisation methods for substation applications. In Lee, K & Sankar, K (Eds.) Proceedings of the 2012 International IEEE Symposium on Precision Clock Synchronization for Measurement, Control and Communication. Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc., United States, pp. 37-42.

Accepted Version
ispcs_2012
(Hosted at QUT ePrints)

Conference Presentation
ispcs_2012_conf

Abstract

Many substation applications require accurate time-stamping. The performance of systems such as Network Time Protocol (NTP), IRIG-B and one pulse per second (1-PPS) have been sufficient to date. However, new applications, including IEC 61850-9-2 process bus and phasor measurement, require accuracy of one microsecond or better. Furthermore, process bus applications are taking time synchronisation out into high voltage switchyards where cable lengths may have an impact on timing accuracy. IEEE Std 1588, Precision Time Protocol (PTP), is the means preferred by the smart grid standardisation roadmaps (from both the IEC and US National Institute of Standards and Technology) of achieving this higher level of performance, and integrates well into Ethernet based substation automation systems. Significant benefits of PTP include automatic path length compensation, support for redundant time sources and the cabling efficiency of a shared network. This paper benchmarks the performance of established IRIG-B and 1-PPS synchronisation methods over a range of path lengths representative of a transmission substation. The performance of PTP using the same distribution system is then evaluated and compared to the existing methods to determine if the performance justifies the additional complexity. Experimental results show that a PTP timing system maintains the synchronising performance of 1-PPS and IRIG-B timing systems, when using the same fibre optic cables, and further meets the needs of process buses in large substations.

  • Keywords: Ethernet networks, IEC 61850, IEEE 1588, Precision Time Protocol, performance evaluation, power transmission, protective relaying, smart grids, time measurement
  • Item Type: Conference Contribution
  • DOI: 10.1109/ISPCS.2012.6336630
  • ISBN: 978-1-4577-1714-7
  • Pure ID: 32288559
  • QUT ePrints
  • Google Scholar