Advanced Substation Gateway

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Multi-function Controller Platform

GE’s G500 is part of the advanced Multi-function Controller Platform (MCP). This platform offers a high-capacity, secure, substation-hardened set of modular and expandable hardware and software components designed to simplify deployment, operation and maintenance of automation systems.

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The MCP makes it possible for a single device to host multiple functions and applications such as Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) Concentrator, Remote terminal Unit (RTU), Human Machine Interface, Advanced Cyber Security Features, Non-Operational Data Storage among others. Consolidation of functions reduces the cost of deployment and operation while increasing system reliability through a reduced number of devices in the system.

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Overview

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The G500 is designed to provide a reliable and accurate collection of data (metering, status, events and faults) from serial or LAN based intelligent substation devices to master applications such as SCADA, EMS, DMS or other enterprise applications. With its modern and robust Cyber Security features, the G500 is designed for smooth integration into NERC CIP and Cyber Security environments while consolidating functions such as Ethernet communications, time synchronization, HMI and SCADA applications.

 

Key Benefits

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• Standard Substation Architectures with a cost-effective IEC 61850-3 compliant platform capable of handling small to large systems with up to 200,000 data points

• Simplify engineering and operations through consolidation of functions

• Reduce equipment cost by eliminating dedicated HMI computers, external Ethernet switches and leveraging the built-in configurable PRP (up to 3xPRP)

• Optimize Cyber Security management with hardened Linux based operating system and container technologies enabling modular updates instead of single image updates

• Improve Cyber Security protection with state of the art Trusted Platform Module (TPM) technologies for data encryption

• Improve time synchronization performance with Precision Time Protocol (PTP/IEEE1588)

• Expand serial connectivity to up to 20 physical ports with the three PCIe expansion modules and up to 120 virtual ports

 

Applications

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• Transmission and primary distribution centralized automation

• Asset performance management

• Distribution automation and microgrid

• Secure substation automation systems

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Advanced Gateway Connectivity

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The G500 collects data from substation protection, control, monitoring, RTU, and intelligent devices, pre-processes the data and moves it up to EMS and DMS SCADA systems providing centralized substation management.

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Gateway features include:

• Data collection, concentration and visualization

• IEC 61850 Gateway

• Device Redundancy

• Built in Media Support

• File retrieval capabilities

• Built-in HMI

• IEC 62351-14 Syslog collection, storage, and relaying

 

Advanced Gateway Connectivity

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Advanced Automation

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The G500 provides the computing platform necessary to automate substation procedures, such that intricate processes are carried out safely and efficiently by creating advanced custom automation programs using IEC 61131 compliant tools, and perform basic math functions on data points using the built-in calculator tool.

Automation features include:

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• HMI, One Line Viewer and Annunciator

• Mathematical Control Logic

• Programmable Logic using LogicLinx

• Accumulator Freeze

• Analog Value Selection

• Control Lockout

• Double Point Association

• Input Point Suppression

• Redundant I/O

• Alarm Management

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Fault Recording/Data Logging

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The G500 can automatically retrieve event and oscillography files from devices such as Multilin UR Protective Relays, GE’s D25 Controllers, and IEC 61850 server devices. Using IEEE file naming standards, these event files are renamed and can be stored locally or securely sent to corporate servers using RSYNC, FTP or SFTP.

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Using pass-through connections, users can extract valuable non-operational data such as digital fault recording (DFR) records, event and oscillography files. The user can also access the historical log files and upload the archived data for trending and analysis.

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Fault recording features include:

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• Data Logger: The Analog Data Logger provides a variety of means to monitor and record analog input point value changes into data files that can be retrieved by the user.

• Trend Viewer: All data recorded by the Analog/Digital Data Logger can be viewed by the Digital event recorder using the built in web-based Trend Viewer. Users can select the range of data to be used by time and date, alternately a real time streaming view can be displayed.

• Database Exporter: The Database Exporter tool allows users to save Analog Data Logger and Digital event recorder points from the G500 to your local PC, using the WEB interface, in comma-separated values (CSV) format.

• Automatic Record Retrieval: The Automated Record Retrieval Manager (ARRM) retrieves and stores record files from devices connected to the G500.

 

File Retrieval

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Parallel Redundancy Protocol

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IEC 62439-3 (Edition 2), Parallel Redundancy Protocol

Substation LAN redundancy has been traditionally accomplished by reconfiguring the active network topology in case of failure. Regardless of the type of LAN architecture (tree, mesh, etc.), reconfiguring the active LAN requires time to switchover, during which the LAN is unavailable.

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Parallel Redundancy Protocol is an IEC 62439-3 data communication network standard which is often used to overcome single network failure without affecting the data transmission. PRP is independent of the communication protocols and provides no packet loss (“zero recovery time”) availability by using connected nodes which transmit and receive over two independent network active paths. Under PRP, each network node has two Ethernet ports attached to two different local area networks, using standard bridges, and similar topology.

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The G500 can communicate simultaneously to devices connected to a common network, carrying mixed traffic: single LAN, legacy redundant or dual LAN, and PRP. This aids in implementing PRP in brown field installations, taking advantage of possible spare ports on existing managed switches LAN infrastructure.

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Secure Access

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Secure Remote Access

G500 provides robust security environment, providing seamless integration with existing IT department policies. Role based Access Control, Secure Web Interface, Secure File Transfer, and extensive user activity logging provide a complete security toolkit required to achieve NERC-CIP compliance.

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Secure remote access features include:

• Access to Operational and Non-operational Data

• Pass-through/Terminal Server

• Role Based Access Control

• Virtual Serial Ports

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Software

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Online-based Configuration

The G500 can be configured remotely through the use of a simple user pre-defined drop down lists of device point maps.

Offline-based Configuration

Alternatively, the G500 can be configured using an excel-based bulk editor. This offline configuration capability improves the flexibility and increases productivity for users configuring large number of database points.

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IEC 61850 Substation Device Loader

A key benefit to using IEC 61850 based communications is the reduction in deployment costs for modern substation automation systems. The G500 IEC 61850 loader application guides users through a structured 4-step workflow to configure the IEC 61850 client application, reducing system configuration time.

 

Device Configuration

Configuring the G500 to communicate with substation devices is simple and straightforward. Thanks to pre-configured map files, adding devices to the system only takes a few mouse clicks. Point maps can be customized to meet your specific needs, then applied for all devices requiring the modifications. 

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