REU615 HBUAEAADANB6ANN1XG ABB Relion Feeder Protection Relay

Description

Product Model: REU615 HBUAEAADANB6ANN1XG
Product Brand: ABB
Product Series: Relion 615 Series

Key Features:

• Comprehensive feeder protection for medium-voltage networks
• IEC 61850 communication support and flexible configuration
• Compact, modular design for switchgear integration
• Proven ABB reliability with advanced self-diagnostics

Technical Features & Benefits

The REU615 HBUAEAADANB6ANN1XG is part of ABB’s renowned Relion 615 series, designed to meet the evolving needs of smart distribution networks. It is a fully digital feeder protection relay built to safeguard medium-voltage feeders against overloads, short circuits, and earth faults. ABB’s engineering heritage is reflected in every detail — from its rugged hardware to its powerful firmware that supports advanced protection logic and seamless system integration.

One of the defining features of the REU615 HBUAEAADANB6ANN1XG is its support for IEC 61850, the global standard for substation communication. This allows the device to exchange data with other IEDs (Intelligent Electronic Devices) using GOOSE messaging, dramatically improving fault response times and coordination between network elements. The relay’s built-in Ethernet interface supports redundancy schemes like PRP and HSR, ensuring uninterrupted operation even in demanding grid environments.

From a design perspective, the REU615 relay offers a compact footprint, which is ideal for retrofits or space-constrained control panels. Despite its size, it delivers a wide range of protection functions — including overcurrent, earth fault, directional protection, and breaker failure logic. The internal event recorder and fault log make post-fault analysis straightforward, cutting downtime and improving maintenance planning.

The human–machine interface (HMI) on the front panel provides clear status indications and control buttons that feel intuitive even to first-time operators. ABB’s PCM600 configuration software allows engineers to customize logic diagrams, set parameters, and manage firmware updates efficiently. The combination of software flexibility and robust hardware gives this module a long service life, often exceeding 20 years under proper maintenance.

Installation & Maintenance Insights

Installing the REU615 HBUAEAADANB6ANN1XG typically requires minimal downtime in existing switchgear systems. The compact form factor fits into ABB UniGear and similar cubicles without mechanical modification. Before installation, technicians should verify CT and VT wiring accuracy, as precise scaling ensures protection accuracy. ABB provides preconfigured templates for common feeder schemes, simplifying parameterization during commissioning.

For wiring, shielded twisted pair cables are recommended for communication lines to minimize electromagnetic interference. Once powered up, the relay automatically runs a self-diagnostic routine, displaying health status on the HMI. Regular maintenance involves verifying time synchronization, reviewing event logs, and checking contact wear on external trip circuits. ABB recommends annual testing using secondary injection to confirm protection pickup levels and tripping times.

In harsh environments, engineers often appreciate that the REU615 relay’s conformal-coated PCB offers resistance to humidity and dust. This contributes to reduced service intervals and consistent reliability, even in tropical or coastal substations. Firmware updates can be safely executed over Ethernet while the device remains energized, thanks to ABB’s redundant communication architecture.

Applications & Industry Context

The REU615 HBUAEAADANB6ANN1XG is widely used across medium-voltage distribution systems in utilities, industrial plants, and renewable energy networks. Typical applications include protection of incoming and outgoing feeders, cable feeders, and motor control centers in 11 kV to 33 kV switchgear. In renewable installations such as wind farms and solar substations, the relay provides dependable fault isolation and synchronization with distributed energy resources.

In industrial environments—like cement plants, pulp and paper mills, or mining operations—the device plays a crucial role in maintaining electrical stability. A momentary short circuit in these facilities can cause massive production losses, and that’s precisely where the REU615 HBUAEAADANB6ANN1XG excels. Its instantaneous and inverse-time overcurrent elements react with precision, ensuring that faults are cleared locally without cascading into upstream feeders.

Power utilities also rely on this model for selective coordination between substations. By combining directional and non-directional protection logic, it distinguishes between downstream and upstream faults, enabling targeted disconnection. The built-in event recorder provides timestamps synchronized via SNTP, allowing detailed fault analysis to improve system reliability. With support for multiple communication protocols—IEC 60870-5-103, Modbus, and DNP3—the relay integrates smoothly into both modern and legacy SCADA systems.

Technical Specifications

Product Role & System Fit

Within ABB’s protection architecture, the REU615 HBUAEAADANB6ANN1XG functions as a dedicated feeder management IED. It forms part of a coordinated protection hierarchy, often paired with REF615 (for transformer protection) or REM615 (for motor feeders). In this ecosystem, each relay communicates through IEC 61850 peer-to-peer messaging, enabling fast tripping coordination without relying solely on the SCADA master.

This particular unit is engineered for both radial and ring network configurations, offering flexibility to engineers designing new substations. The protection elements—overcurrent, thermal overload, earth fault, and breaker failure—can be independently configured for each feeder, giving operators fine control over fault discrimination. With programmable logic blocks, the relay can perform interlocking, control commands, and even simple automation routines.

Compatibility extends beyond ABB equipment. The REU615 HBUAEAADANB6ANN1XG interfaces seamlessly with third-party systems via Modbus RTU/TCP or DNP3, allowing gradual modernization of mixed-brand switchgear. That interoperability makes it a practical choice for utilities transitioning from conventional relays to digital substation technology. Its small size and field-proven reliability make it equally suitable for greenfield installations and retrofit projects.