ABB 1KHL000003R0002 IEPAS02 | Substation Gateway for IEC 61850 & DNP3

Application Scenarios:

Inside a modern 230/66 kV utility substation, dozens of protection relays, meters, and bay controllers from various vendors communicate using different protocols like IEC 61850. IEC 60870-5-103. and Modbus. The network control center, however, requires a unified, secure data stream via DNP3 or IEC 60870-5-104 over a wide-area network (WAN). The ABB IEPAS02​ is deployed as the central “translator and traffic controller” to solve this critical integration challenge. It polls data from all connected IEDs, creates a comprehensive real-time database of the entire substation, and serves it securely to multiple clients simultaneously. For the system integrator, the IEPAS02​ eliminates the need for multiple, disparate gateways, drastically reducing engineering and maintenance complexity. For the network operator, it provides a single, reliable source of truth for substation status, enabling faster fault diagnosis and improved grid management. Its robust, fan-less design ensures continuous operation in the electrically noisy and temperature-variable environment of a substation control house.

Key Parameters

Technical Principles and Innovative Values

The ABB IEPAS02​ is built on principles of openness, security, and centralized intelligence, moving beyond simple protocol conversion.

Innovation Point 1: Unified Data Modeling and Concentrated Intelligence.​ The gateway creates a unified, vendor-agnostic data model of the entire substation. It doesn’t just pass messages; it intelligently maps points from different IED protocols (like IEC 61850. DNP3) into its internal database. This allows for advanced functions like data quality tagging, cross-protocol interlocking logic, and the creation of virtual composite points (e.g., total substation load) that are not available from any single device, providing superior situational awareness to grid operators.

Innovation Point 2: Advanced Cybersecurity as a Core Architecture.​ Security is not an add-on but is foundational. The IEPAS02​ supports robust cybersecurity features including role-based access control (RBAC), audit logging, communication encryption (TLS/SSL), and firewall capabilities. It can act as a secure “demilitarized zone” (DMZ) gateway, securely segregating the mission-critical substation process network from the corporate IT/SCADA network, which is a critical requirement per IEC 62351 and NERC CIP standards.

Innovation Point 3: High Availability and Scalable Redundancy.​ Designed for 24/7/365 operation, the platform supports high-availability configurations. Two IEPAS02​ units can be configured in a hot-standby redundancy scheme with automatic, bumpless failover. Furthermore, its processing power and licensed capacity allow it to scale from managing a small distribution substation to acting as the central gateway for a large transmission station with hundreds of IEDs, future-proofing the utility’s investment.

Application Cases and Industry Value

Case Study: Legacy SCADA Modernization for a Regional Distribution Utility

A regional electric cooperative was challenged with integrating new IEC 61850-capable reclosers and fault indicators into its legacy DNP3-based SCADA system. The cost of upgrading the entire SCADA was prohibitive. The solution was to deploy ABB IEPAS02​ gateways at key feeder substations.

The IEPAS02​ was installed in each substation, where it connected via Ethernet to the new IEC 61850 devices and via serial links to remaining legacy equipment. It was configured as a DNP3 outstation to the existing master station and as an IEC 61850 client to the new devices. The gateway performed protocol translation, data concentration, and even implemented simple line logic (like block reclosing based on fault indicator status). The utility avoided a multi-million dollar SCADA replacement, extended the life of its existing control system, and gained modern grid automation capabilities. The system integrator reported a 40% reduction in engineering time for IED integration compared to the old method, thanks to the IEPAS02’s unified configuration tools.

Related Product Combination Solutions

The IEPAS02​ is the centerpiece of a complete substation communication architecture, interfacing with:

IEPAS03:​ The next-generation COM600 gateway with enhanced processing power, more interfaces, and support for later software versions, serving as a direct upgrade or replacement path.

RET670. REF615. REC670:​ ABB’s Relion® series protection and control IEDs. The IEPAS02​ seamlessly integrates these devices using native IEC 61850. collecting fault records, events, and measurements.

PCM600:​ The universal engineering tool for configuring not only the IEPAS02​ gateway itself but also all connected ABB IEDs, ensuring consistency and efficiency.

DigiVis:​ ABB’s substation HMI software. The IEPAS02​ can serve as the data server for a DigiVis​ station HMI, providing local control room visualization.

SYS-600/600T:​ ABB’s substation automation controllers. The IEPAS02​ gateway can exchange data with these for wider area control schemes.

Network Switches (e.g., RuggedCom):​ Managed Ethernet switches that create the redundant station LAN to which the IEPAS02​ and all IEDs connect.

GPS Clock:​ A time synchronization source (IRIG-B, PTP). The IEPAS02​ can distribute precise time to IEDs or timestamp events for sequence-of-event (SOE) recording.

Installation, Maintenance, and Full-Cycle Support

Installation involves rack-mounting the robust IEPAS02​ unit, connecting redundant power supplies, and establishing network and serial cables to the substation LAN and devices. The critical phase is software configuration using PCM600. which involves defining the communication channels, importing IED descriptions (ICD/CID files for IEC 61850), mapping data points, and configuring security policies. A rigorous testing procedure, simulating communications and failover scenarios, is essential before cut-over.

Routine maintenance is primarily software-based, involving monitoring system logs, performance metrics, and applying cybersecurity patches. The appliance-based design minimizes hardware maintenance. We provide comprehensive lifecycle support, from initial architecture design and configuration services to supplying genuine hardware and software licenses. Our support includes migration services from older gateways and troubleshooting assistance to ensure your IEPAS02​ gateway remains the secure and reliable nerve center of your substation.