The growing complexity of digital protection & automation
has given rise to many challenges for electrical network owners
/ operators. There have been a number of well-reported
problems associated with management & control of digital
relay parameterization, leading to significant supply interruptions
[4]. Utilities and industrial power users are challenged to
deliver more reliable & safe networks whilst managing major
increases in asset replacement associated with life expired
plant. Grid strategies abound, yet fundamental
procedures associated with verification of substation protection
& automation systems remains a potential weak point.
With substantial economic growth linked to the development
of the power sector, & specifically the growth of the transmission
& distribution infrastructure, both developed & developing
nations are facing the fact that new Intelligent Electronic
Devices (IEDs) now implemented in power networks create
ever increasing amounts of data and exhibit an exponentially
increasing complexity in setting, adjustment & recording. The
slide from "Data Complexity" to "Data Chaos" is recognized
in many places where traditional approaches to substation data
management are no longer able to cope adequately. The newest
generation of power system protection devices enables
extended possibilities regarding protection function definition
that requires the Network Protection Manager to handle a
wide range of protection data. At the same time, they need to
manage a multi-generation legacy of protection & automation
products.