ABB RED670 Differential Protection Relay for High-Voltage Systems

Description

Product Model: RED670
Product Brand: ABB
Product Series: Relion 670 Protection & Control IEDs

Product Features:

• Advanced line differential protection with distance backup
• IEC 61850-compliant with high-speed GOOSE messaging
• Reliable for transmission lines, cables, and HV network applications
• Scalable hardware with modular configuration flexibility

Applications & Industry Context

Transmission systems form the backbone of the global power grid, carrying electricity over long distances at high voltages. Protecting these critical assets requires intelligent and reliable devices capable of detecting faults quickly and accurately. The ABB RED670 is built specifically for this role.

It is widely deployed in high-voltage and extra-high-voltage transmission lines, whether overhead or underground cables. Utilities rely on it to provide dependable line differential protection, ensuring that any fault is isolated within milliseconds to prevent cascading failures. The device also includes distance protection as a backup function, enhancing security in case of communication issues.

In practical use, a utility operating 400 kV interconnections between two regions may configure ABB RED670 units at each end of the line. Through redundant communication channels, the devices continuously compare current measurements. If a discrepancy indicating a fault is detected, the relay isolates the line instantly. This reduces damage, minimizes outage areas, and helps maintain system stability — an essential feature in today’s interconnected grids where blackouts can affect millions.

Industrial facilities with dedicated transmission links, such as steel plants or large chemical complexes, also benefit from the RED670, as it provides the same level of protection typically found in utility-grade systems.

Technical Features & Benefits

The ABB RED670 combines cutting-edge protection algorithms with robust hardware, making it one of the most trusted devices in ABB’s Relion 670 series. Its primary feature is line differential protection, which compares current values from both ends of a protected line via redundant communication links. This ensures fast and selective fault clearance, critical for maintaining system stability.

Key benefits include:

• Backup distance protection: Provides secondary coverage if communication fails, ensuring faults are still detected.
• Communication flexibility: Supports IEC 61850 with GOOSE messaging, as well as traditional protocols for backward compatibility.
• Modularity: Scalable I/O and communication modules allow customization for specific project requirements.
• High-speed operation: Millisecond-level response times protect expensive equipment and prevent wide-area disturbances.
• Integrated monitoring and control: In addition to protection, the RED670 offers breaker control, event recording, disturbance recording, and condition monitoring.

Field engineers often highlight its dependability in harsh environments, where redundant communication and hardware design ensure continuous operation.

Technical Specifications

Product Role & System Fit

The ABB RED670 is more than a protection relay — it is a multifunctional IED designed to be the cornerstone of modern substation automation systems. By combining differential protection, distance backup, and breaker control in a single unit, it simplifies system architecture while maintaining high reliability.

Its compliance with IEC 61850 ensures seamless integration into digital substations, where high-speed GOOSE messages can be exchanged with other IEDs to coordinate protection and control actions. At the same time, it maintains interoperability with traditional communication standards, allowing gradual modernization of substations.

The device fits naturally into ABB’s Relion family, which is recognized globally for its reliability and adaptability. Utilities upgrading to digital substations often standardize on the 670 series for consistency, and the RED670 serves as the key line protection device in this strategy.

Installation & Maintenance Insights

Deploying the ABB RED670 requires careful engineering, particularly in defining communication links between line ends. Optical fiber is often used to provide fast and secure channels, though the device also supports other options. ABB’s configuration tools make setting up the differential scheme straightforward, with graphical interfaces that simplify parameter adjustments.

During installation, attention should be given to grounding and shielding practices, as high-voltage substations are prone to electromagnetic interference. ABB’s guidelines recommend maintaining separation between control wiring and power conductors, ensuring accurate current transformer signals are delivered to the IED.

Maintenance needs are minimal, as the device is designed for continuous service over decades. Firmware updates enhance cybersecurity and functionality, while built-in self-monitoring alerts operators to any internal issues. Many utilities schedule periodic secondary injection testing to verify protection performance, and the RED670 is designed to accommodate such checks without difficulty.

Related Models

• ABB REL670 – Distance protection and control relay for transmission lines
• ABB REB670 – Busbar protection IED within the Relion 670 family
• ABB RET670 – Transformer protection and control IED
• ABB REC670 – Bay control IED for substation automation
• ABB REL650 – Compact distance protection relay, mid-range option
• ABB RED615 – Line differential protection relay for distribution networks