Documentation Home Page ◇ RT-LAB Home Page
Pour la documentation en FRANÇAIS, utilisez l'outil de traduction de votre navigateur Chrome, Edge ou Safari. Voir un exemple.
IEC 61850 interface converter
- 1 Description
- 2 Parameters
- 3 Special conversion situations
- 4 Exploring the possible combinations
- 4.1 If you want to have the converted configuration but want to start fresh with the connections
- 4.2 If you want to perform a quick conversion test without changing connections
- 4.3 If you want to perform the complete conversion
- 4.4 If you want to perform the conversion but are not ready to delete the legacy interface
Description
RT-LAB 2022.1 introduced a redesigned IEC 61850 solution, with added support for the Manufacturing Message Specification (MMS) feature. Due to the nature of this change, it was not possible to build upon the previously existing IEC 61850 solution and therefore a completely new interface was created.
In order to facilitate the migration from the legacy solution to the new one, a converter tool was also made. It permits porting the configuration of the interface along with its created connections. The goal of this document is to describe in detail the functioning of this tool.
The converter can be reached by clicking on the legacy interface's Convert to new I/O interface button, as seen in the image below:
NOTE: Support for the legacy interface will be dropped in version 2024.1. Please ensure to have done the migration to the new interface by that point.
Parameters
I/O interface name | The name to give to the converted interface. The name cannot be empty and it must be unique in the project. |
|---|---|
Replace the legacy I/O interface's data points with those of the new I/O interface | This option is enabled by default. When this option is enabled, the OpInputs and OpOutputs of the model that were previously linked with the legacy data points will be linked to their equivalent data points of the new interface. The exceptions are:
For more details on the differences and how the converter handles them, please refer to the Special conversion situations section below. |
After conversion, keep legacy I/O interface's configuration in the project | This option is disabled by default. When this option is enabled, the legacy interface will be kept in the project at the end of a conversion. Once the legacy interface is deleted, no other conversion can take place. It is advised to backup the work project before proceeding with a conversion involving this option. |
Test the conversion without altering the project (dry run) | This option is disabled by default. When this option is enabled, the configuration and connections will be converted "silently", i.e. without making any modifications to the project. This mode permits checking for any possible errors in order to fix them before running the actual conversion. |
Special conversion situations
NOTE: The conversion can be done before or after the compilation of the model.
Attention must be paid, however, if the connection conversion is requested before the model compilation. In this scenario, it is very important to not close the project or RT-LAB until the model has been compiled.
Doing otherwise will lead to losing all connection conversion information.
The sections below detail information about situations where a direct conversion is not possible.
Enabling of services
Legacy implementation: option Enable all SV and GOOSE services by default as soon as the simulation starts found in the General section. This parameter is combined with each GOOSE and Sampled Values (publisher and subscriber) item's Enable connection point.
Current implementation: transmission and/or reception of all GOOSE and Sampled Values (and Reports as well) items that are enabled in the configuration will start automatically when the simulation starts. A new data point is used to stop transmission and/or reception, named Pause.
The table below shows how the converter handles this scenario:
Legacy implementation | Result of conversion | Notes |
|---|---|---|
Enable all SV and GOOSE services by default as soon as the simulation starts does not matter or | No impact on the converted configuration. | All items that are enabled in the new interface's configuration are started by default. Therefore, this parameter does not have any impact on the resulting converted configuration or connections. |
Enable connections used for GOOSE or Sampled Values (publisher or subscriber) items | No impact on the converted connections. | This row is applicable only if the connection conversion is requested. As mentioned above, all items that are enabled in the new interface's configuration are started by default. A Pause data point can be used if it is required to suspend transmission or reception at any time during the simulation. Due to Enable and Pause essentially having opposite meanings, it was not possible to convert the Enable data points without a meaningful impact on the simulation. |
Synchronization
Legacy implementation: option Auto-connect to external synchronization if present found in the General section. This parameter is combined with each GOOSE and Sampled Values publisher item's Clock (possible values: INTERNAL or EXTERNAL). In the situation when auto-connection is not requested, every GOOSE or Sampled Values item configured with an EXTERNAL clock will have a set of clock connection points.
Current implementation: the drop-down menu Time synchronization found in the General section is now the only place to configure the synchronization. This parameter will be applied to all GOOSE and Sampled Values published. In case this parameter is set to Use connection in model, a single set of clock connection points are made available.
The table below shows how the converter handles all the possible combinations.
Legacy implementation | Result of conversion | Notes |
|---|---|---|
Auto-connect to external synchronization if present enabled Clock parameters of publisher items do not matter | Time synchronization = Poll synchronization hardware | Configuration: All publisher items that were previously using the INTERNAL clock setting are therefore upgraded to use the clock provided by an external synchronization hardware. Connections: If connection conversion is requested, any clock connections between the legacy interface and the model will be ignored, ensuring that the only clock source is the external synchronization hardware. |
Auto-connect to external synchronization if present disabled Clock settings of publisher items are a mix of INTERNAL and EXTERNAL (GOOSE used as example) | Time synchronization = Use connection in model | Configuration: All publisher items that were previously using the INTERNAL clock setting will therefore use the clock provided through connections. Connections: If connection conversion is requested the following will happen: → To resolve the complexity of choosing which set of clock connections from the legacy interface gets ported to the new interface, the converter uses a 'best-of' algorithm. → A set of legacy connections is considered best if it has all 3 data points necessary: Seconds, Microseconds and Sync. → If no such set is found, then the algorithm will connect each new clock data point to the OpOutput used by the first equivalent legacy point. → In case no suitable legacy point is found, the new data point is left unconnected. |
Auto-connect to external synchronization if present disabled Clock settings of all publisher items are EXTERNAL (GOOSE used as example) | Time synchronization = Use connection in model | Configuration: The conversion of the configuration is straight forward in this case, as all publishing items in the legacy interface use an EXTERNAL clock. This translates directly to the new interface using the Use connection in model option. Connections: If connection conversion is requested the following will happen (same as above): → To resolve the complexity of choosing which set of clock connections from the legacy interface gets ported to the new interface, the converter uses a 'best-of' algorithm. → A set of legacy connections is considered best if it has all 3 data points necessary: Seconds, Microseconds and Sync. → If no such set is found, then the algorithm will connect each new clock data point to the OpOutput used by the first equivalent legacy point. → In case no suitable legacy point is found, the new data point is left unconnected. |
Auto-connect to external synchronization if present disabled Clock settings of all publisher items are INTERNAL (GOOSE used as example) | Time synchronization = Poll CPU clock | Configuration: The conversion of the configuration is straight forward in this case, as all publishing items in the legacy interface use an INTERNAL clock. This translates directly to the new interface using the Poll CPU clock option. Connections: This mode does not have any implications in case the connection conversion is requested. |
OPAL-RT TECHNOLOGIES, Inc. | 1751, rue Richardson, bureau 1060 | Montréal, Québec Canada H3K 1G6 | opal-rt.com | +1 514-935-2323
Follow OPAL-RT: LinkedIn | Facebook | YouTube | X/Twitter