ABB REF615

ABB REF615

Product Brief:​ The REF615 is ABB’s most widely used medium-voltage (MV) feeder protection and bay control IED. It provides:

  • Main Protection:​ Non-directional / directional phase overcurrent (51/67), residual ground/earth fault (51N/67N — sensitive EF 10–100 %In), negative sequence (46 — unbalance), thermal overload (49)
  • Voltage Protection (if VT connected):​ Undervoltage / overvoltage (27/59), frequency (81O/U), voltage-restrained/-controlled O/C, VT fuse failure
  • Backup / Auxiliary:​ Breaker failure (50BF), auto-reclose (79 — single/multi-shot, synchro-check optional), circuit breaker monitoring (spring charged, trip coil minimum current)
  • Bay Control:​ Close / trip commands, local/remote selector, 2-wire/3-wire control, anti-pumping, test/block switches
  • Metering:​ 3-phase currents, voltages (if VT), P/Q/S/PF, energy (import/export), frequency
  • Disturbance Recorder:​ COMTRADE format, pre/post-fault waveform storage, sequence of events (SOE) with 1 ms timestamp
  • Communication:​ IEC 61850 Ed. 1/2 (MMS + GOOSE), IEC 60870-5-103/104, DNP3.0, Modbus RTU/TCP (protocol depends on type-code letter)

    It is used in utility distribution substations, industrial plant substations (11–33–66–132 kV feeders), and as transformer secondary (LV) protection.

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Category: SKU: ABB REF615

Description

ABB REF615

  • Technical Specifications (typical REF615 panel version — compact version similar electrically):
    • Current Inputs: 3 × phase CT (1 A / 5 A selectable, burden ≤0.1 VA @1A / ≤0.2 VA @5A), 1 × residual CT / core-balance CT (I0)
    • Voltage Inputs: 3 × phase VT (100 / 110 / 120 V L-L), 1 × Vn (4-wire optional); burden ≤0.2 VA
    • Protection Elements: 51/67, 51N/67N, 46, 49, 27/59, 81O/U, 79, 50BF, 25 (opt), VTFF
    • Binary Inputs: 8 / 12 / 16 (model dep.) — wet (110/220 V DC) or dry (24 V DC) — programmable function
    • Binary Outputs: 8 / 12 / 16 — SPDT/SPST; Trip ×2 (redundant), Close, Alarm, Healthy, Test
    • Trip Contact Rating: 5 A @ 250 V AC / 30 V DC (make & break — verify per label)
    • Display: Graphical LCD (320×240 monochrome or 640×480 color — model dep.) + keypad
    • Power Supply: 110/220 V DC ±20 % or 230 V AC ±15 % (dual redundant option)
    • Time Sync: IRIG-B, SNTP, PTP (IEEE 1588 v2 — option)
    • Disturbance Recorder: ≥50 records; pre-fault ½ cycle + post-fault; 4 kHz sampling
    • Case: 4U half-rack 19″ panel-mount (REF615 panel) OR DIN-rail compact (REF615 Compact — approx 105 × 175 × 145 mm)
    • Operating Temp.: –20 °C to +55 °C
    • Certifications: IEC 60255, IEC 61850-3/5-7, IEEE C37.90, KEMA type-tested, CE, UL, cUL
    • Engineering Tool: ABB PCM600 (Protection & Control Configuration Tool) — SCL import/export
  • Functional Features:
    • Dual setting groups (easy switch for radial ↔ looped or summer/winter CT ratio)
    • Local/Remote control with key-switch input
    • IEC 61850 GOOSE publish/subscribe — e.g., receive bus differential block signal, send breaker failure status
    • Thermal image with cold-load pick-up & reset
    • Password-protected multi-level access (Operator / Engineer / Service)
    • Integrated self-test & watchdog; PSU fail contact
  • Application Scenarios:
    • 11–33–66–132 kV radial or ring-main feeder OC & EF protection
    • Transformer LV side protection (OC + EF + thermal + inrush blocking from HV side differential)
    • Industrial substation outgoing feeder with integrated control & SCADA reporting
    • Retrofit of electromechanical OC-G / EF relays + separate ammeter/voltmeter + control switches — single device replacement
  • Material & Structure:
    • Panel version: Sheet steel / aluminum 4U case, gray (RAL 7035), transparent Lexan front window, plug-in rear terminal blocks (keyed)
    • Compact (DIN): Flame-retardant polycarbonate/ABS housing, DIN-rail clip (35 mm), front LEDs + mini-LCD (some versions text-only; full graphics via PCM600 or web interface)
    • Internal: 32-bit processor, 24-bit A/D front-end, RTC with supercap backup (≥10 yr), galvanic isolation CT/VT ≥2 kV
  • Working Principle (Protection Core):
    • Sampling:​ CT/VT analog inputs sampled @ ≥24 samples/cycle → DFT extracts fundamental RMS & phase angle.
    • Overcurrent (51/67):​ Compare RMS phase I to pick-up × time-dial curve (Std Inverse / Very Inv / Extremely Inv / Definite Time). If directional enabled → check angle between I & polarized V (or I0/E0 for EF) → only trip if inside characteristic sector.
    • Earth Fault (51N/67N):​ Residual I0 = Ia+Ib+Ic (or core-balance CT) → RMS compared to pick-up (can be 10–200 %In — sensitive for compensated networks). Directional EF uses V0 polarization.
    • Thermal (49):​ I²R heating integrated; cooling per exponential (τ = thermal time const); alarm @ e.g. 90 %, trip @ 100 % of thermal limit.
    • Auto-Reclose (79):​ On trip → dead-time timer → close cmd → if fault persists → lockout after N attempts; if successful → reset.
    • Trip decision → close Trip relay contact → breaker trips.
  • Installation Requirements:
    1. Mount panel version in 19″ cubicle (leave rear clearance); compact version on DIN rail in LV panel.
    2. Wire CT secondaries (polarity! S1→Ia+, S2→In/com) — short CTs before disconnecting relay.
    3. Wire VT secondaries (fused 0.5 A HRC) — verify polarity.
    4. Connect DC supply (+ / –) & PE.
    5. Wire BI (52a/b, ext trip/block, local/remote sel) & BO (Trip in series with breaker coil + sealing relay / anti-pump, Close, Alarm).
    6. Connect Ethernet (IEC 61850) or serial (103/104) to station bus.
    7. In PCM600: create REF615 project → enter CT/VT ratios, pick-up / TMS / direction / reclose params → download → perform secondary injection test (OC pick-up, EF pick-up, directional polar plot, reclose sequence) → verify.
    8. After test → authorize for service.
  • Precautions:
    • CT Secondaries:​ NEVER open energized CT — lethal HV & CT damage. Short CT secondaries with test link until relay connected & verified.
    • VT Polarity:​ Reversed VT → directional/voltage elements mis-operate — verify during secondary injection.
    • Settings:​ Must be reviewed by protection engineer; retain signed copy with relay serial # & FW version.
    • Test Before Live:​ After any setting change or replacement → secondary injection test BEFORE closing breaker onto live line.
    • Cyber (if Ethernet):​ Change default passwords; disable unused protocols; enable audit log per site policy.

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