Category: Industry Trends

GridBeats™ APS

The GridBeats™ APS is a family of hardware and software products that

redefine management of protection and control devices.

Through hardware abstraction and independent firmware, GridBeats™

APS delivers unmatched flexibility when managing devices and

removes unnecessary rework end-users are forced to do when

upgrading firmware of existing devices. Independent firmware also

enables remote firmware upgrade and patching of communication,

cybersecurity and other platform services.

The GridBeats™ APS devices build on a fully modular design that allows

users to individually replace specific hardware components when

needed, which drastically reduces downtime when having to upgrade,

retrofit or repair.

The GridBeats™ APS will be available in two form factors, 80TE (19”

rack) and 40TE, and will provide multiple front panel options: Graphical

front panel, standard front panel and LED front panel.

The GridBeats™ APS is designed to meet the latest communication,

application and cybersecurity requirements as well as compliance to

standards needed to fit existing and new Protection and Control schemes.

Applications

• The GridBeats™ APS Platform supports all main P&C applications, 27 P&C Packages covering

generators, transformers, busbar, transmission line (distance and differential), multi-terminal line

differential, feeders, bay and other controllers, network stability capacitor banks, motor and

DFR applications.

• Other packages enable communications, cybersecurity levels and power asset monitoring and

diagnostics for breakers, transformers, motors and power quality.

• Digital substations are a natural fit for GridBeats™ APS devices. They deliver multiple options

on a number of ports, networkarchitectures (redundancy), bandwidths and supports both IEC

61850-9-2LE, IEC 61869 and IEC 61850 Ed 2.1. Additionally, cybersecurity is fully based on

IEC62443 and IEC62351.

• Designed to meet the challenges of Centralized Protection and Control (CPC) schemes.

• Utility substation and industrial plant automation.

Key Benefits

• Hardware Abstraction: Instead of application specific devices, GridBeats™ APS works on

a software modular platform where users choose the P&C package needed at the time of

purchase and/or afterwards. This simplifies procurement, saves time and helps manage the

need for spare and lab/revalidation devices.

• Independent FW Management: Enables independent platform (comms, cybersecurity, etc.)

firmware updates without affecting the P&C algorithms and logic. This removes the need of

revalidation of P&C schemes when cybersecurity patches are needed.

• Centralized protection and control: A single GridBeats™ APS device with CPC package can

potentially replace all P&C devices in a substation (Transformer, Feeder, Bus, etc.), which

significantly reduces the number of devices, panels and deployment time.

• Fault Analysis: DFR requirements for sampling rate and memory are met through accurate

fault analysis with fault reports, events and disturbance records.

• Easy Retrofit: Easy retrofit of UR relays with the same form factor and terminal blocks allow

existing UR users to upgrade to the latest platform at a fraction of the cost. Upcoming

releases include compact form factor 40TE and P40 MiCOM retrofit.

Feeder Package

Advanced Feeder Protection, featuring incipient fault detection, pilot schemes,wattmetric ground

fault protection, and load encroachment, is designed for sub transmission and primary distribution

systems — whether conventional or digital.

The Advanced Feeder package delivers comprehensive feeder protection, control, advanced

communications, monitoring, and metering in an integrated, compact solution The basic feeder

package provides cost effective and basic feeder capabilities, that can be grouped to protect

several feeders.

DFR Package

Centralized, single-box or distributed digital fault recorder (DFR) options are available in a full

19-inch rack or a smaller half rack form factor.

Intended for recording electrical events in systems of any voltage level, as a central unit it can

use AC inputs and multiple types of I/O module when in a conventional scheme.

It can also use sample values (SV) and GOOSE messages when in a digital scheme.

GridBeats™ APS Platform can connect to peripheral units (RA331. 332 and 333) and become

part of a distributed scheme.

Platform Package

This package provides a complimentary set of functionalities that comes with any P&C or DFR

package.

The platform package provides the elements required to configure the physical device and extend

the application capabilities, such as Flexlogic, contact I/O, trip bus, etc.

GridBeats™ APS can protect a wide range of power assets from MV to EHV on a single device.

This ranges from generation all the way to line differential and distance, including Digital Fault

recorder (DFR) applications responding to conventional, digital, and centralized protection and

control (CPC) applications.

27 P&C packages plus 26 support and M&D packages will be available for all main P&C

applications. The packages can be used one at a time to protect a specific asset, or they can be

combined to protect multiple assets (Hardware Abstraction). Similarly, packages for Centralized

Protection and Control (CPC) schemes are also supported. Dedicated P&C and platform firmware

(FW)versions can be independently updated to prevent revalidation of P&C schemes due to

cybersecurity patching or communication upgrades (independent FW management).

GridBeats™ APS Automation and Protection System

GridBeats™ APS represents a new approach to protection and control devices for transmission,

primary distribution, generation and large industrial applications. It supports standard P&C

schemes like conventional (copper wiring), digital (with and without process bus), centralized

protection and control, and enables Virtual Protection Relays (VPR). GridBeats™ APS builds on

the proven digital technology and algorithms of the renowned UR (Universal Relay) and MiCOM

Agile platforms ensuring the highest levels of security, selectivity, performance, adaptability and

dependability. GridBeatsTM APS redefines the management of P&C devices by introducing GE

Vernova-patented functionalities such as Hardware Abstraction (unbundling hardware from

application) and Independent Firmware (separating core P&C from Platform firmware). These

technologies streamline management with greater flexibility enabling significant cost savings.

An intuitive IED configuration tool (ICT) completes the package making GridBeats™ APS ideal

to combat cybersecurity threats, help with aging infrastructure and capacity expansion, and

ease operational complexity. In other words, it helps customers tackle the P&C challenges of the

digital age.

Feature Highlights

• Monitoring: A, V, VA, W, var, kWh, kvarh, kVAh, PF, Hz

• Demand metering: W, var, A, VA

• Setpoints for alarm or control from most measured values, including: unbalance,

frequency, power factor, voltage, and current

• four (4) output relays / four (4) switch inputs for flexible control configuration

• four (4) isolated analog outputs replace transducers for PLC interface

• one 4 to 20 mA analog input

• Modbus communications

• Three COM ports (two rear RS485 ports and one front RS232 port) for access by

process, electrical, maintenance, and instrument personnel

• Harmonic analysis for power quality review and problem correction

• 40-character display and keypad for local programming

• No-charge EnerVista PQMII Setup Software

• Simulation mode for testing and training

• Compact design for panel mount

• AC/DC control power

As a data gathering device for plant automation systems that integrate process,

instrument, and electrical requirements, all monitored values are available via one of two

RS485 communication ports running the Modbus protocol. If analog values are required

for direct interface to a PLC, any of the monitored values can output as a 4 to 20 mA (or 0

to 1 mA) signal to replace up to four (4) separate transducers. A third RS232

communication port connects to a PC from the front panel for simultaneous access of

information by other plant personnel.

With increasing use of electronic loads such as computers, ballasts, and variable

frequency drives, the quality of the power system is important. With the harmonic analysis

option, any phase current or voltage can be displayed and the harmonic content

calculated. Knowledge of the harmonic distribution allows action to be taken to prevent

overheated transformers, motors, capacitors, neutral wires, and nuisance breaker trips.

Redistribution of system loading can also be determined. The PQMII can also provide

waveform and data printouts to assist in problem diagnosis.

Applications of the PQMII

• Metering of distribution feeders, transformers, generators, capacitor banks, and

motors

• Medium and low voltage three-phase systems

• Commercial, industrial, utility

• Flexible control for demand load shedding, power factor, etc.

• Power quality analysis

• System debugging

Description

The GE Multilin PQMII Power Quality Meter is an ideal choice for continuous monitoring of a

single or three-phase system. It provides metering for current, voltage, real power, reactive

power, apparent power, energy use, cost of power, power factor, and frequency.

Programmable setpoints and four assignable output relays allow control functions to be

added for specific applications. This includes basic alarm on over/under current or voltage,

unbalance, demand-based load shedding, and capacitor power factor correction control.

More complex control is possible using the four switch inputs; these can also be used for

status information such as breaker open/closed and flow information.