Object models of multifunctional distance relays

The electric power industry is in the process of intensive integration of intelligent electronic devices in substations and power systems. The success of this effort is to a great extent a function of the development of a universal platform that will allow microprocessor based protection and control devices to interoperate over the substation local area network or the utility wide area network. Microprocessor based multifunctional protective relays are the preferred intelligent electronic device (IED) in today´s substation integration or substation automation systems. However, the process of relay integration is slowed down by the fad, that each relay manufacturer typically uses a proprietary communications protocol and user interface software. The paper discusses the aspects of UCA (Utilities Communications Architecture) related to the Integration of multifunctional microprocessor based relays. It presents the basic concepts of GOMSFE (Generic Object Model for Substation and Feeder Equipment). Object models with different levels of complexity are used to build the model of a multifunctional distance protection relay.