Application Scenarios
At a Tier-III data center in Singapore requiring ultra-high reliability, engineers deployed the ABB REF615 across all 22 kV incoming and outgoing feeders. During a simulated internal arc fault in a switchgear compartment, the REF615’s optional fiber-optic arc flash detection triggered a trip command within 4 milliseconds, clearing the fault before pressure buildup could damage equipment. Simultaneously, its IEC 61850 GOOSE messaging instantly blocked downstream reclosers—preventing backfeed and ensuring personnel safety. The entire event was captured by the built-in disturbance recorder and automatically uploaded to the central SCADA system. This level of speed, coordination, and diagnostics—delivered by the REF615—enabled the facility to achieve its stringent uptime SLA while reducing arc flash risk by over 90%.
Parameter
Technical Principles and Innovative Values
Innovation Point 1: True IEC 61850 Native from Silicon to Software
The REF615 implements IEC 61850 at the firmware level—not as an add-on—enabling automatic device discovery, peer-to-peer GOOSE interlocking, and seamless integration into System 800xA or third-party SAS without protocol converters.
Innovation Point 2: Integrated Arc Flash Mitigation (Optional)
When equipped with fiber-optic sensors, the REF615 detects light from an arc within <1 ms and issues a trip in <4 ms, drastically reducing incident energy—making it one of the fastest arc protection solutions in its class.
Innovation Point 3: Embedded Automation Logic & RTU Capabilities
Beyond protection, the REF615 includes programmable logic (PLC-like) and remote terminal unit (RTU) functions, allowing local automation (e.g., auto-transfer schemes) without external controllers—reducing cost and footprint.
Innovation Point 4: Defense-in-Depth Cybersecurity
From secure boot to encrypted configuration backups, the REF615 meets NERC CIP, ISO 27001. and IEC 62351 requirements, ensuring protection integrity even in IT/OT converged networks.
Application Cases and Industry Value
In a North American municipal utility upgrading its 13.8 kV urban feeders, the ABB REF615 replaced electromechanical and early digital relays across 200+ locations. The utility leveraged the relay’s disturbance recording and sequence-of-event logging to identify recurring transient faults caused by aging cable joints—enabling targeted cable replacement that reduced SAIDI by 28%. Remote configuration via PCM600 allowed rapid deployment during storm seasons, cutting truck rolls by 65%. Operators particularly valued the intuitive front-panel HMI for local status checks during outages.
At a Middle Eastern petrochemical plant, the REF615 was installed on critical motor feeders driving compressors. Its thermal overload modeling accurately tracked motor heating during frequent startups, eliminating nuisance trips while preventing insulation damage. Over 18 months, the plant reported zero motor failures on protected circuits—a significant improvement over previous systems. Additionally, IEC 61850 GOOSE enabled instantaneous tripping coordination between upstream and downstream relays during internal faults, minimizing process disruption.
Related Product Combination Solutions
ABB PCM600: Primary engineering tool for configuring, testing, and diagnosing REF615 and the full Relion portfolio.
ABB REU615E_D: Complementary feeder relay with enhanced cybersecurity and Ethernet redundancy features.
ABB RED615: Line differential protection variant for applications requiring zone-based security (e.g., ring mains).
ABB Fiber-Optic Arc Sensors (e.g., FOSA-1): Directly interface with REF615 for ultra-fast arc flash detection.
ABB NS2050: Substation HMI that visualizes REF615 data with single-line diagrams and alarm management.
Hitachi Energy MicroSCADA SYS600: Central platform for monitoring hundreds of REF615 units across a utility network.
ABB SPA-ZC 302: Protocol gateway for integrating REF615 into legacy SCADA systems using Modbus or DNP3.
ABB 615 Series Test Switches (e.g., TSW615): Enable safe secondary injection testing without disconnecting CTs/VTs.
Installation, Maintenance, and Full-Cycle Support
Installing the ABB REF615 uses standard 615-series panel cutouts, enabling direct replacement of older ABB relays like REF543 or REL551 with minimal rewiring. Commissioning is accelerated through pre-engineered IEC 61850 CID files and auto-detection of CT/VT ratios. For cybersecurity compliance, hardened configuration templates aligned with industry standards are available upon request.
Maintenance is largely predictive: the REF615 continuously monitors its own health and logs all operations. Its high-resolution disturbance recorder captures pre-fault waveforms for root-cause analysis—often eliminating the need for external recorders. Firmware updates are delivered securely over HTTPS with rollback capability, ensuring long-term supportability.
We supply every REF615 as factory-new, fully tested, with complete traceability and pre-loaded certified firmware. All units come with a 36-month warranty and are backed by our team of ex-ABB protection engineers who provide remote support for IEC 61850 mapping, arc flash studies, SIL2 validation, and migration planning. With global inventory hubs, we ensure rapid delivery—even for emergency grid resilience projects.
Contact us for a customized solution—whether you’re modernizing a distribution substation, securing an industrial microgrid, or deploying next-generation protection across your network, the ABB REF615 delivers intelligence, safety, and reliability in one proven platform.
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