The application of the concept of smart grid in the field of transmission and distribution mainly means power automation and substation digitization. At present, the design of digital substation is mainly based on the international standard IEC61850.

Smart grid is a kind of power grid that uses information and communication technology to collect information in the power grid, and can automatically coordinate based on the collected information. Through the high automation of power system, smart grid can improve the efficiency, reliability and economy of power generation and distribution to ensure the sustainable development of power network. The power equipment in Smart Substation is the basic element of smart grid, which provides the monitoring, measurement, protection and control functions required by the system.

In the digital substation, all equipment will communicate in accordance with IEC61850 standard.

IEC61850 puts forward a common communication standard. Through a series of standardization of equipment, it forms a standard output and realizes the seamless connection of the system. In the market, many devices use different communication interfaces, such as RS-232, RS-485 and network. Due to the incompatibility of various communication protocols, it is difficult to operate and exchange information between heterogeneous networks. If these devices want to conform to IEC61850 standard and can be used in digital intelligent substation, IEC61850 protocol converter module can be added to the devices.

Equipment manufacturers do not need to do any module development work, only need to provide their own equipment communication interface and protocol converter conversion interface is consistent, can achieve IEC61850 communication protocol.