Project overview
- Client: Song Ba Ha Hydropower Company.
- Scope of the project: Supply of materials, equipment and technical services to replace, upgrade the distance protection relay system REL670, line 273 from Song Ba Ha Power Plant to Hoa Hoi Solar Plant.
- Solution: Replace, upgrade relay REL670 version 1.1 with relay REL670 version 2.2.5.
- Implementation time: 1/2023.

REL670 . Line Distance Protection Relay Upgrade Project
Song Ba Ha hydropower plant with 2 units, with a total installed capacity of 220MW. The whole thing is boosted, put on the substation and on the 220kV transmission grid with the lines: 272 220kV Song Ba Ha Line – Tuy Hoa 220kV Station, 273 220kV Song Ba Ha transmission line – Hoa Hoi Solar Power Plant . After a long time being put into operation, REL670 at line 273 has shown signs of deterioration and needs to be upgraded, replaced and repaired.
Current status of relay system to protect line 273 from Song Ba Ha Power Plant – Hoa Hoi Solar Power Plant
Before implementing the project, the relay system to protect the line distance 273 from Ba Ha River Hydropower Plant – Hoa Hoi Solar Power Plant had the following status:
- Relay protection system 220kV Song Ba Ha – Hoa Hoi Solar Power Plant equipped for distance protection is ABB’s REL670 relay. However, the relay belongs to version 1.1, manufactured since 2007, is no longer in production, does not meet the needs of operation as well as repair and replacement, so it needs to be improved and upgraded to the latest version 2.2. .5.
- After a long time of use, the keys are no longer sensitive, moreover, the HMI screen of the existing relay is of a small size, making it difficult for the operator to access and change parameters. install and retrieve information when something goes wrong.
- The existing relay system communicates to the DCS via IEC-103 which is the old communication protocol, while the new protection relay now communicates to the DCS via the IEC-61850 protocol.
- Configuration software for existing relays is PCM600 version 1.5 with many limitations, which cannot be installed on new generation computers with Windows 10 trelayn operating system.
- After more than 10 years of continuous operation, the electronic components in the relay are no longer working well, it is easy to fail, especially the power supply of the relay, besides the product version 1.1 of REL670 is no longer in production, so it cannot be purchased. Reserve supplies.
The solution S5T offers to solve factory problems
Faced with that situation, S5T Vietnam Technology and Solution Joint Stock Company, the authorized agent of ABB Group’s products and services in the field of protective relays (currently under Hitachi Energy), conducted a survey. existing system, make a technical plan to upgrade the distance protection relay system by relay system REL670 version 2.2.5 (latest relay). At the same time, upgrade the NSD570 version 1.4 transmitter with NSD570 version 1.50 to transmit the F85 transmission channel with POTT cutting acceleration for distance protection.
With an in-depth technical team and good experts, S5T company participated in the bid and was trusted by customers to choose to implement the bidding package “Supplying materials, equipment and alternative technical services, upgrade the relay system to protect the distance REL670, line 273 from Song Ba Ha Power Plant to Hoa Hoi Solar Power Plant”.
With an in-depth technical team and good experts, S5T company participated in the bid and was trusted by customers to choose to implement the bidding package “Supplying materials, equipment and alternative technical services, upgrade the relay system to protect the distance REL670, line 273 from Song Ba Ha Power Plant to Hoa Hoi Solar Power Plant”.

Image of REL670 version 1.1
Results, evaluation after upgrading relay system REL670
In January 2023, S5T company cooperated with Song Ba Ha hydroelectric power plant, Central electrical testing company ETC3 to successfully carry out disassembly, configuration, testing, commissioning and relay REL670 version. 2.2.5 and 02 sets of NSD570 version 1.50 to operate safely and reliably. With the new system, the upgraded REL670 relay achieves outstanding advantages:
- The upgraded REL670 ensures compatibility with existing factory equipment.
- Relay after upgrade is configured and tested to ensure correct operation according to the issued A3 regulation sheet.
- The relay is synchronized in real time according to the SNTP protocol.
- The relay is connected to the DCS according to the new communication protocol IEC61850.
- The large HMI screen clearly shows the SLD diagram, simulating the actual state of the 273, 274 circuit breakers; The measurement parameters of current, voltage, phase angle, power, frequency … are shown in detail to help operators easily access and view information.
- The system of 15 LEDs is arranged on 03 groups, allowing up to 45 LED signals to be configured, helping operators to collect information easily and intuitively, so that the breakdown process is quick and easy. favorable.
- Easy connection to protection relays via conventional Ethernet network cable and PCM600 software.
- Technology transfer training is carried out in detail by experts of S5T company, helping operators to be autonomous in accessing and exploiting information to get event logs and disturbance logs. when an accident occurs.
REL670 version 2.2.5 after upgrade
To receive information about a similar solution/service, please send an inquiry to our mailbox, or contact us at the address below.
- Address: S5T Vietnam Technology and Solution Joint Stock Company.
- Lot B15, Duong Noi Resettlement Area, Duong Noi, Ha Dong, Hanoi.
- Tel: 0243 540 1858 – Fax: 0243 540 1859
- Email: info@s5t.com.vn