ABB REG670

Description

Product Description

The ABB REG670 is a sophisticated, multifunctional numerical protection relay engineered specifically for the comprehensive protection, control, and monitoring of generators and generator-transformers. As part of ABB’s renowned Relion® 670 series, it represents a cornerstone of modern power generation asset management. The primary role of the ABB REG670 is to safeguard critical and expensive generation equipment from a wide array of electrical faults and abnormal operating conditions, ensuring grid stability and preventing catastrophic damage. This intelligent electronic device (IED) integrates dozens of protection functions, advanced metering, and extensive communication capabilities into a single unit. By deploying the REG670, power plant operators gain not only a robust protection system but also a powerful tool for condition monitoring, disturbance analysis, and seamless integration into the substation automation system.

Technical Parameters and Features

• Device Type: Numerical Generator and Generator-Transformer Protection Relay.
• Key Protection Functions:
  • Generator Differential Protection (87G): High-speed protection for internal generator winding faults.
  • Stator Earth-Fault Protection (64G1, 64G2): 100% stator ground fault protection using neutral voltage displacement and injection methods.
  • Loss of Excitation (40G): Protects against loss of field by monitoring impedance.
  • Negative Sequence / Unbalance Protection (46): Protects the rotor from overheating due to unbalanced stator currents.
  • Overexcitation/Volts per Hertz Protection (24): Protects the generator and transformer from excessive magnetic flux.
  • Out-of-Step Protection (78): Detects power swings and pole slipping.
  • Back-up Impedance Protection (21): Provides backup for external network faults.
• Additional Features:
  • Synchrocheck (25) and Automatic Synchronizer: For safe connection of the generator to the grid.
  • Multipurpose Protection (MAP) Functions: Programmable logic for custom protection and control schemes.
  • Measurement & Monitoring: Extensive phasor measurement, power/energy metering, and sequence-of-events (SOE) recording.
  • Disturbance Recorder: High-speed fault recording with oscillography for detailed post-event analysis.
• Communication: Multiple interfaces supporting IEC 61850 (Edition 2, including GOOSE and Sampled Values), IEC 60870-5-103/104, Modbus, and DNP3.0. Ethernet and optical ports are standard.
• Human-Machine Interface (HMI): Large graphical display with keypad or touchscreen for local access and control.

Advantages and Key Features

• Comprehensive All-in-One Protection: The ABB REG670 consolidates the functionality of numerous discrete relays into one device, drastically simplifying panel design, wiring, and testing while improving reliability.
• Advanced Adaptive Algorithms: Features like adaptive differential protection and waveform recognition in the REG670 enhance security (avoiding false trips) while maintaining high dependability (tripping for real faults), even during challenging conditions like CT saturation.
• IEC 61850 Ready: Native support for the latest edition of IEC 61850 facilitates easy integration into modern digital substations, enabling seamless communication with other IEDs and SCADA systems, and reducing copper wiring through GOOSE messaging.
• Powerful Condition Monitoring Tools: The relay’s continuous measurement and recording capabilities provide valuable data for trending generator performance, predicting maintenance needs, and analyzing disturbances.
• User-Friendly Engineering: Configuration is performed using ABB’s PCM600 software, which offers a structured, graphical environment for setting parameters, designing logic, and testing the REG670 relay.

Application Case Studies in Various Fields

• Large Hydroelectric Power Plant: Protects a 500 MVA hydro-generator. The ABB REG670 provides differential protection for the stator, 100% stator earth-fault protection, and out-of-step protection, while its synchrocheck function ensures safe grid reconnection after outages.
• Combined-Cycle Gas Turbine (CCGT) Plant: Used for the generator in a 300 MW gas turbine unit. It manages loss-of-excitation protection, negative sequence protection during unbalanced loads, and provides backup impedance protection. Its IEC 61850 interface communicates trip signals via GOOSE to the breaker.
• Industrial Cogeneration Plant: Protects a captive generator at a pulp and paper mill. The REG670 handles protection against overfluxing and also performs as a high-accuracy meter for energy billing between the plant and the utility grid.
• Wind Farm Substation: Applied as the main protection for a medium-voltage collector system generator-step-up transformer, providing differential, restricted earth-fault, and overcurrent protection, with data uploaded to the wind farm SCADA via Modbus TCP.

Comparison with Competing Products

When compared to protection relays from other manufacturers (e.g., Siemens SIPROTEC 7UM85, GE Multilin G60) or using multiple single-function relays, the ABB REG670 stands out:

1. Function Integration and Specialization: It is specifically architected for generator protection, offering a more complete and optimized suite of native functions for this application than a generic feeder or transformer relay that has been extended with optional features.
2. Adaptive Protection Philosophy: ABB’s emphasis on adaptive algorithms in the Relion platform, as seen in the REG670, can offer more sophisticated discrimination between internal faults and external disturbances compared to some competitors with more fixed-characteristic algorithms.
3. Ecosystem and Interoperability: For plants standardized on ABB or using a mix of vendors, the REG670‘s strong compliance with open standards like IEC 61850 can simplify multi-vendor integration compared to systems relying more on proprietary protocols.

Selection Advice and Important Notes

• Conduct a Detailed Protection Study: The selection and setting of the ABB REG670 must be based on a comprehensive study of the generator’s characteristics (impedance, saturation curves), the grounding system, and the grid connection. Incorrect settings can lead to maloperation.
• Carefully Plan CT and VT Connections: The performance of differential and impedance functions depends entirely on correct CT and VT connections and ratios. Use class X (PX) or similar high-performance CTs for differential protection. Always follow the relay’s specific wiring diagrams.
• Leverage the Adaptive Features: Do not simply copy settings from an old electromechanical relay. Take the time to understand and properly configure the REG670‘s advanced features (like adaptive differential slopes) to maximize its security and dependability.
• Implement Cyber Security Measures: When connected to station networks via IEC 61850 or other Ethernet protocols, implement recommended cybersecurity practices such as network segmentation, firewall rules, and disablement of unused services on the REG670.
• Prioritize Testing and Commissioning: Use modern secondary injection test sets and the relay’s own test mode to thoroughly verify every protection function, logics, and communication mapping before placing the ABB REG670 into service.

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