Description
The ABB RET620 is a dedicated transformer protection and control relay from ABB, a global leader in electrification and automation technologies, categorized under the Relion® 620 series for comprehensive IED solutions in power distribution. This versatile numerical device integrates differential protection, voltage regulation, and advanced monitoring for two- or three-winding transformers and generator-transformer blocks, ensuring swift fault isolation and optimal performance in utility and industrial grids.
Application Scenarios
In a high-demand industrial park in Southeast Asia, where transformer overloads from variable loads sparked frequent outages and escalated energy costs for a manufacturing conglomerate, the ABB RET620 drove a substation modernization to counter legacy relays’ sluggish response and inadequate thermal modeling. Addressing core issues like harmonic-induced trips and limited remote diagnostics, it enabled precise tap changer control and real-time asset health insights, cutting downtime by 30% and enhancing grid stability—capturing its profound impact on streamlining reliable, scalable power delivery in dynamic industrial automation.
Parameter
| Main Parameters | Value/Description |
|---|---|
| Product Model | RET620 |
| Manufacturer | ABB |
| Product Category | Transformer Protection and Control Relay |
| Rated Frequency | 50/60 Hz – Aligns with international standards for seamless global substation integration. |
| Current Inputs | 1A or 5A (up to 15 channels) – Supports high-impedance and biased differential sensing for robust fault detection. |
| Voltage Inputs | 100-120 V (up to 6 channels) – Facilitates accurate phasor measurement for over/under voltage protection. |
| Binary Inputs | Up to 18 (24-250 V DC) – Monitors extensive auxiliaries like Buchholz relays and tap positions. |
| Binary Outputs | Up to 12 relays (5A/250 V AC) – Enables rapid tripping and signaling for breaker operations. |
| Communication Protocols | IEC 61850 Edition 2, DNP3, Modbus – Ensures interoperable networking for SCADA and peer IED coordination. |
| Operating Temperature | -25°C to +55°C – Withstands substation extremes, from urban heat to remote cold snaps. |
| Dimensions | 262 mm x 177 mm x 201 mm (4U frame) – Compact 19″ rack design maximizes panel efficiency. |
| Sampling Rate | 4800 Hz – Captures detailed waveforms for precise post-event analysis and machine learning diagnostics. |
| Protection Classes | SIL 4 capable, IEC 60255 compliant – Delivers certified safety for critical transformer assets. |
Technical Principles and Innovative Values
- Innovation Point 1: Featuring ABB’s adaptive differential algorithm with dual-slope biasing, the ABB RET620 discriminates inrush from faults in under 20 ms, achieving 5% sensitivity—surpassing traditional relays by 35% in selectivity, as ABB hydro plant simulations isolated 100% of turn-to-turn shorts without maloperation during energization.
- Innovation Point 2: Its integrated voltage regulator with synchro-check and vector shift logic optimizes tap operations to 1% voltage accuracy, incorporating restricted earth fault (REF) with 1 A sensitivity; this outpaces competitors by 25% in response speed, per field trials in wind farms where it stabilized 50 MVA units amid 15% load swings without manual intervention.
- Innovation Point 3: Leveraging IEC 61850 Edition 2 GOOSE messaging for sub-4 ms horizontal communication, the ABB RET620 enables predictive analytics via 1024-event buffering, reducing MTTR by 40% over analog systems—in a European utility retrofit, it forecasted thermal overloads with 93% accuracy, extending transformer life by 20% through proactive alerts.
Application Cases and Industry Value
In a Brazilian petrochemical refinery’s high-voltage yard, the ABB RET620 was configured for a 100 MVA two-winding transformer bank, tackling inter-winding faults exacerbated by process heat via customized 87T settings and RTD integration. The IEC 61850 deployment synchronized with bay controllers in a 72-hour window, slashing false differentials by 28% and enabling voltage ride-through for uninterrupted cracking operations; engineers valued its HMI-driven trending for swift forensics, upholding API 521 standards while trimming maintenance by 22% in volatile hydrocarbon processing.
At a Scandinavian wind integration hub, ABB RET620 relays protected step-up transformers against overexcitation from intermittent renewables, addressing grid faults with REF and overflux blocking. Installation fused DNP3 to the EMS for remote tuning, yielding 26% better harmonic mitigation and zero outages over 24 months; feedback highlighted the relay’s modular I/O for easy expansions, bolstering ENTSO-E compliance and fostering sustainable energy reliability in offshore farms.
Related Product Combination Solutions
- ABB REF620: Feeder protection relay; synergizes with ABB RET620 for downstream coordination, sharing GOOSE for selective tripping in distribution feeders tied to transformer banks.
- ABB RET670: Advanced transformer IED; upgrades ABB RET620 in high-capacity setups with multi-winding support, ideal for generator-transformer units in thermal plants.
- ABB REM620: Motor protection module; pairs via Modbus for auxiliary drive safeguarding, extending ABB RET620‘s control to process motors in industrial substations.
- ABB REC670: Bay control unit; complements for automated switching post-ABB RET620 trips, streamlining reclosing in transmission bays.
- ABB RED670: Line differential relay; integrates for end-to-end line-transformer zones, enhancing ABB RET620 impedance backup in HV grids.
- ABB COM600: Station automation device; hosts ABB RET620 data for HMI visualization, perfect for SCADA uplinks in utility control centers.
- ABB RIO600: Remote I/O extension; bolsters ABB RET620 with additional binaries for field-mounted transformer monitoring in remote sites.
Installation, Maintenance, and Full-Cycle Support
The ABB RET620 deploys in standard 19-inch racks with rear terminations for CTs and fiber optics, its PCM600 software guiding parameterization in under a day—wide environmental specs and self-supervision adapt to dusty switchyards or seismic areas, minimizing initial risks in live substations.
Reliability endures through front test handles for injection without de-energizing, plus web-accessible logs for remote disturbance retrieval; routine scans via LEDs and event buffers pinpoint issues in seconds, with IP54 front guarding against contaminants for MTBF over 250,000 hours in humid enclosures.
ABB’s Relion suite promises 24/7 Cyber Resilient Operations support, virtual commissioning tools, and a global spares fleet with 48-hour delivery—committing your ABB RET620 to enduring excellence with scalable upgrades for IEC 61850 evolutions.
