ABB REF615 Feeder Protection Relay

REF615 Feeder Protection Relay Overview

The ABB REF615 is a dedicated feeder protection and control relay engineered to deliver comprehensive protection, control, measurement, and supervision of overhead lines and cable feeders. As a member of ABB's Relion® product family and the 615 protection and control series, the REF615 is purpose-built for utility and industrial power distribution systems, including radial, looped, and meshed distribution networks with or without distributed power generation.

Atomic Answer: The ABB REF615 Feeder Protection Relay is an IEC 61850-compliant device from the Relion® 615 series that provides directional and non-directional overcurrent, earth-fault, voltage, frequency, and power-based protection for overhead lines and cable feeders in utility and industrial distribution networks, featuring multi-frequency admittance-based earth-fault detection.

Key Features and Capabilities

• Comprehensive Protection Functions: Directional and non-directional overcurrent protection, earth-fault protection, voltage-based, frequency-based, and power-based protection and measurement functionality.
• Multi-Frequency Admittance Earth-Fault Protection: Unique algorithm delivering higher sensitivity and selectivity for detecting earth faults in compensated and isolated networks.
• Withdrawable Plug-In Design: Enables swift installation, removal, and testing without disturbing wiring, reducing maintenance downtime.
• Web-Browser-Based HMI: Large graphical display for customizable single-line diagrams (SLDs), accessible locally or remotely through a standard web browser.
• IEC 61850 Compliance: Supports Editions 1 and 2, including HSR and PRP redundancy, GOOSE messaging, and IEC 61850-9-2 LE process bus for reduced wiring.
• IEEE 1588 V2 Time Synchronization: High-accuracy time stamping for event records and synchronized substation-level Ethernet communication.
• Sensor and Conventional CT/VT Compatibility: Works with both conventional instrument transformers and modern sensor technology.
• Optional Advanced Features: Fast fault location for short circuits and earth faults, arc protection, and high-speed binary outputs.

Practical Applications and How It Works

The ABB REF615 Feeder Protection Relay is designed for deployment in:

• Utility Distribution Substations: Protection and control of outgoing feeders in primary and secondary distribution substations, including radial, looped, and meshed network configurations.
• Industrial Power Distribution: Reliable feeder management in manufacturing plants, process industries, and large commercial facilities.
• Networks with Distributed Generation: Suitable for grids with embedded renewable energy sources such as solar or wind, where bidirectional power flow must be properly managed.
• Modern and Retrofitted Substations: With full IEC 61850 support, the REF615 is ideal for digital substations as well as for retrofitting older installations.

How It Works: The relay continuously samples current and voltage signals from instrument transformers or sensors, evaluating them against configurable protection thresholds. When a fault is detected (overcurrent, earth fault, arc flash, under/over voltage, or abnormal frequency), the REF615 issues trip commands to the circuit breaker within milliseconds. All event data, disturbance records, and measurements are time-stamped using IEEE 1588 V2 and made available through the local HMI or remote SCADA systems via IEC 61850.

About Spare Parts Map

Spare Parts Map is a global supplier of industrial spare parts, primarily serving customers across Europe. With over 20 years of experience in the power distribution and industrial automation sectors, we respond to quotation requests quickly and ensure your products reach you without any problems. We supply genuine OEM components including ABB Relion® protection relays, with full documentation, traceable sourcing, and worldwide delivery options.

How to Request a Quote

Pricing for the ABB REF615 depends on the selected configuration and optional features. To receive an accurate quotation including current availability, lead time, condition, and shipping options to your location, please submit a request with your required configuration code.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: What is the ABB REF615 used for? A: The ABB REF615 is a feeder protection and control relay used to protect, control, measure, and supervise overhead lines and cable feeders in utility substations and industrial power distribution networks. It is suitable for radial, looped, and meshed distribution systems, including those with distributed power generation.

Q: Does the REF615 support IEC 61850? A: Yes, the REF615 fully supports IEC 61850 Editions 1 and 2, including HSR (High-availability Seamless Redundancy) and PRP (Parallel Redundancy Protocol), GOOSE messaging for fast peer-to-peer communication, and IEC 61850-9-2 LE for sampled values over the process bus.

Q: Can the REF615 work with Rogowski coil sensors or only conventional CTs? A: The REF615 supports both conventional current and voltage instrument transformers as well as ABB sensor technology, including Rogowski coil current sensors, giving flexibility for new installations and retrofits.

Q: How do I obtain a quotation for the ABB REF615? A: Contact Spare Parts Map with your required configuration code or application details. We respond to inquiries quickly and provide pricing, lead time, condition, and worldwide delivery options.