Product Description

Overview

The REF620 is a feeder protection and control Intelligent Electronic Device (IED) engineered to manage, monitor, and protect utility and industrial power distribution systems. It is a member of ABB's Relion® 620 series, providing a scalable, withdrawable design ideal for both traditional CT/PT-based feeders and modern sensor-based installations. The device supports radial, looped, and meshed networks, offering high versatility in distribution automation.

Key Features

Advanced Protection Functions

• Multi-stage overcurrent and earth-fault protection for directional and non-directional schemes.

• Admittance-based protection for compensated and isolated neutral networks.

• Short-circuit and earth-fault location algorithms for rapid fault identification.

• Optional modules for arc flash, motor, and capacitor bank protection.

Flexible Communication & Interoperability

• Native IEC 61850 support with GOOSE messaging and Sampled Values (IEC 61850-9-2 LE).

• Redundant network protocols including HSR (High-availability Seamless Redundancy) and PRP (Parallel Redundancy Protocol).

• Compatibility with Modbus, DNP3, and IEC 60870-5-103 for hybrid network environments.

Integrated Control & Monitoring

• Directly controls up to eight primary switching elements including breakers, disconnectors, and earthing switches.

• Continuous monitoring of breaker health and relay hardware status.

• Measures and logs power quality, including harmonics and total demand distortion.

Hardware Flexibility

• Supports both conventional CT/PT inputs and modern Rogowski coil or voltage divider sensors.

• High configurable I/O count enables complex interlocking and automation without additional modules.

• Withdrawable design for safe maintenance, including automatic CT shorting during removal.

Technical Specifications

Applications

• Protection and monitoring of overhead lines and cable feeders.

• Substation automation in utility and industrial distribution networks.

• Integration with renewable energy sources and distributed generation.

• Use in both radial and meshed network topologies for flexible deployment.

FAQ

Q: Can REF620 work with both traditional CT/PT and sensor-based inputs?
A: Yes, it supports conventional current/voltage transformers as well as Rogowski coils and voltage dividers.

Q: Is it possible to replace the REF620 without disconnecting field wiring?
A: Yes, its withdrawable design allows safe removal with automatic CT shorting.

Q: Which network protocols does REF620 support?
A: It supports IEC 61850, Modbus, DNP3, and IEC 60870-5-103, including redundancy protocols HSR and PRP.

Q: How customizable are the protection and control functions?
A: Highly configurable using ABB’s PCM600 software, including multi-layer logic, timers, and flip-flops for tailored feeder applications.