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H I G H VO LTAG E P R O D U C T S | I N S T R U M E N T T R A N S FO R M E R S

Fiber Optics Current Sensor- Free Standing

(FOCS-FS)
Enabling smart grids and digital substations
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Fiber Optics Current Sensor- Free Standing
(FOCS-FS)

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ABB is a global leader in power and automation technologies that enable utility and
industry customers to improve performance while lowering environmental impact.
The ABB Group of companies operate in around 100 countries.
ABB has been producing instrument transformers for more than 70 years.

Their main applications include revenue metering, control,

indication and relay protection.
All instrument transformers supplied by ABB are tailormade
to meet the needs of our customers.

Background
Current measurement is one of the key functions in the
control and protection of electric power grids.
Conventional current transformers use the principle of
electro-magnetic induction to generate a small secondary
current, typically 1 A or 5 A at rated primary current, which
then serves as an input for protection relays or energy
meters. Such transformers have been commonly seen for
many decades now and can operate reliably under the harsh
conditions in an outdoor substation.
ABB, the leading power and automation technology group,
has also developed since 1990s non-conventional current
sensors, based on the Faraday effect principle, whereby
light is used to deduce the precise magnitude of current that
is creating the magnetic field.
The latest generation of fiber optic current sensors has
been adopted in the free-standing application, to cover the
demand for non-conventional current transformers having
digital output and suitable for current measurement
applications up to 800 kV substations.

Enabling digital substations and smart grids

ABB’s newly developed product family of Fiber Optics
Current Sensor- Free Standing (FOCS-FS) offers significant
improvements over conventional CTs and facilitates direct
introduction of digital process bus in HV substations. This
new design exceeds magnetic CT technology in safety of
operation, current measurement and frequency response,
footprint/weight savings and environmental friendliness.
The fast response of FOCS and precise measurement of
both ac and transient dc results in improved substation
protection and monitoring functions. The digital interface
of FOCS-FS is designed for IEC 61850-9-2LE communication
for integration into digital substation automation systems.
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Product overview
Designed for digital substations

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ABB’s latest innovations, the FOCS-FS is a free-standing Fig. 1 Three-phase
sensor system for high voltage substations up to 800 kV, and FOCS kit (redundant)

is designed as a redundant 3-phase sensor (Fig. 1) consisting

of two optoelectronic (OE) modules, three sensor heads, and
the fiber cables in between. The OE module houses the
opto-electronics to interrogate the fiber coils (3 phases).
Each sensor head contains two fiber coils in order to enable
redundancy on the system level.

The opto-electronic modules are mounted in a cubicle

attached to the support frame of one of the three insulator
poles (Fig. 2). —
Fig. 2 Three-phase FOCS-FS installation setup

The opto-electronic module performs the following tasks

(Fig. 3):
• sends polarized light to the sensor coil
• receives the reflecting polarized light from the sensor coil
• compares in close-loop control the phase displacement in
the polarized light in proportion to the magnetic field and
the primary current
• converts the result into an optical IEC 61850 Ethernet output.

The opto-electronic module sends the optical output through

a standard Ethernet cable to secondary equipment like
protection relays or to SAM600 stand-alone merging units.
The secondary equipment, manufactured by ABB or other
vendors, needs to comply with IEC 61850-9-2LE, a protocol
widely used for smart grid and digital substation application.

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Fig. 3 Operating Principle of Optical Current Sensor

Birefringent
3x3 Photo Fiber phase PM
coupler diodes Couplers polarizers modulators fiber Orthogonal linearly 1310 nm fiber
polarized light waves retarder

1310 nm sensing fiber Fiber coil

Source
Current
conductor
Current III
conductor
Current II Left and right
conductor circular polarized
I light waves
Signal ΔΦ = k ' I
processing

Different
Output (IEC61850-9-2) speeds in
magnetic field
Optoelectronic data -processing unit FOCS sensors
4 F I B E R O P T I C S C U R R E N T S E N S O R - F R E E S TA N D I N G ( F O C S - F S )

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Product features

Customer benefits Design details

– Enabling smart grids and digital substations: Digital – Head: The same aluminum casting design covers all
interface, designed for IEC 61850-9-2LE communication voltage ratings and all currents ratings. The design allows
for integration into digital substation automation the installation of a second optical sensor head, in order
systems. to have an extended redundancy level for the system.
– “Plug & Play” solution: Exchangeable and hot-swappable – Primary terminals: Interchangeable, as per customer
merging units. specifications and applicable Standards. Possibility to
– Accurate: Meets key modern performance requirements have contactless application (no HV primary terminals).
for accuracy, in a wide temperature range. The design is Contacts are aluminum cased and present two
inherently free of magnetic saturation, therefore suitable passthrough holes that allow periodical calibration (if
for capturing fast transient currents, short circuit requested) without necessity to disconnect the main
currents, and alternating current (AC) with DC-offset. contacts.
– Reduced substation footprint: The compact design – Insulator: The design is based on hollow insulator
requires less space compared to traditional instrument technology.
transformers. – Basement: An aluminum casting basement is designed
– Eco-efficient: Using no oil or SF6 gas FOCS is an eco- for the whole family products (245-800 kV). Optical fibers
efficient solution. are winded and segregated in the basement during
– Reliable: Simple and robust design with self-diagnosis transport and erection.
and alarm functions; different levels of redundancy
available on request.
– Safe: As providing a low voltage digital output and filled
with nitrogen gas at ambient pressure, FOCS has zero
risk of electrocution and explosion.
– Compatible: Suitable for conventional Air Insulated
Substation layouts. The adopted IEC61850-9-2LE
protocol allows interoperability with other vendors’
equipment.
– Simplified engineering: Rated voltage and rated current
are the only parameters that need to be specified. As a
result, projects have simplified system engineering and
are delivered faster. Additionally, the impact of late
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changes in specifications is negligible. FOCS sensor
head and primary
– Easy to install: FOCS is light-weight, compact and flexible
terminals
with reduced installation costs. Deployment of fiber
cables in the substation does not require splicing with
dedicated fiber-optic equipment. The outdoor placement
of the opto-electronics modules near the insulators
reduces the length of sensor fiber cables to a minimum.

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FOCS free standing
base and optical
fiber exit
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FOCS - FS datasheet

FOCS-FS FOCS-FS FOCS-FS FOCS-FS FOCS-FS FOCS-FS FOCS-FS

FOCS - FS DATASHEET [unit] 72 145 170 245 420 550 800
System Voltage
Rated frequency [Hz] 50 / 60
Highest voltage for equipment [kVr.m.s.] 72 123 145 170 245 300 362 420 550 800
Rated power-frequency [kVr.m.s.] 140 230 275 325 460 510 575 630 680 975
withstand voltage [60 s]
Rated lightning impulse [kVpeak] 325 550 650 750 1050 1050 1300 1425 1550 2100
withstand voltage [1,2/50 µs]
Rated switching impulse [kVpeak] N/A N/A N/A N/A 850 975 1050 1175 1550
withstand voltage [250/2500 µs]
Current ratings
Max rated primary current [A] 4000
Max continuous thermal current [A] 4800
Rated short circuit current [kA - s] 63 - 1s 63 - 3s
40 - 3s
Rated dynamic current [kA] 164
Insulator
Material Composite - grey
Min nominal specific creepage distance mm/kV 31 31 31 31 25 31 31 31
Min flashover distance mm 824 1324 1544 2040 3580 4390 6440
Static withstand loads N Class II: Class II: Class II: Class II: Class II: Class II: Class II:
3000 3000 3000 4000 5000 5000 5000
Insulation fluid N2
Filling absolute pressure MPa ≈ ambient pressure
Accuracy
Protection accuracy IEC class 5P, 5TPE
IEEE class 10%
Metering accuracy IEC class 0.2s (for rated primary current ≥ 400 A)
IEEE class 0.15s (for rated primary current ≥ 400 A)
Interfaces
Primary terminals As per IEC 62271-301
As per ANSI/NEMA CC 1-2009
Other design available on request
Digital output Digital output (IEC 61850 9-2 LE)
Optical ethernet cable: Duplex MM 62.5/125 with ST connector
Optical 1PPS cable: Duplex (or Simplex) MM 62.5/125 with ST connector
Options
Outdoor cabinet N/A Available on request
Redundancy of electronics N/A Available on request
Merging unit for VT signals N/A Available on request
Environmental conditions
Outdoor equipment operating [°C] -40; +45
temperature (shade)
Air pollution [IEC 60815] Heavy - Very heavy
Corrosive environment C3 ÷ C5 (Medium ÷ Very high)
[ISO 12944-2]
Solar radiation [W/m^2] ≤1000
Ice load mm 20
Seismic level g 0,5
Control cabinet degree of protection IP 65
[IEC 60529]
Dimensions and weights
HV Column height [mm] 1340 1840 2060 2716 4256 5066 7116
HV Column net weight (one phase) [kg] 96 109 117 172 240 276 363
HV Column fixing points on pedestal #4 holes ø22 at 480 x 480 mm
Control Cabinet details non redundant system: 800 x 1000 x 300 mm - 120 kg
(width x height x depth - weight) single redundant system; 1000 x 1200 x 300 mm - 150 kg
6 F I B E R O P T I C S C U R R E N T S E N S O R - F R E E S TA N D I N G ( F O C S - F S )

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System architecture variants

The level of redundancy than can be specified is given by the number of opto-electronics units integrated in the system.
Typically protection applications require a “single redundant” configuration, which consists of two opto-electronic units
operating independently and in parallel. Other redundancy levels, for example “non redundant” (one opto-electronic unit)
and “double redundant” (four opto-electronic units) are available.
All solutions can be equipped on request with SAM600 stand-alone merging units, which digitalize analog signals coming
from voltage transformers, synchronize those signals with the digital signal coming from FOCS and consolidate both signals
into a digital output stream complying with IEC61850-9-2 LE protocol.
System Architecture System Architecture
NR: Not redundantwithoutMergingunits NRM: Not redundantand Mergingunits

OCT Outdoor kiosk Relay house OCT Outdoor kiosk Relay house

FOCS A FOCS A

SAM600 A
Protection and Protection and
control A control A

Main A Main A

System Architecture System Architecture

SR: Single redundancywithoutMergingunits
Polarization maintaining (PM)M optical cable (proposed
is standard length of 30m, up to 300m possible)
SRM: Single redundancyand Mergingunits Polarization maintaining (PM)M optical cable (proposed
is standard length of 30m, up to 300m possible)
Standard multi-mode optical cable for IEC 61850-9-2 Standard multi-mode optical cable for IEC 61850-9-2
Ethernet and dedicated fiber for 1PPS time synch. Ethernet and dedicated fiber for 1PPS time synch.
Analogue electrical lines Analogue electrical lines
OCT Outdoor kiosk Relay house OCT Outdoor kiosk Relay house

FOCS A FOCS B FOCS A FOCS B

SAM600 A SAM600 B
Protection and Protection and
control A control A

Protection and Protection and

control B control B

Main A Main A

System Architecture
Main B
System Architecture
Main B

DR: Double redundancy without Merging units

Polarization maintaining (PM)M optical cable (proposed
is standard length of 30m, up to 300m possible)
DRM: Double redundancyand Mergingunits Polarization maintaining (PM)M optical cable (proposed
is standard length of 30m, up to 300m possible)
Standard multi-mode optical cable for IEC 61850-9-2 Standard multi-mode optical cable for IEC 61850-9-2
Ethernet and dedicated fiber for 1PPS time synch. Ethernet and dedicated fiber for 1PPS time synch.
Analogue electrical lines Analogue electrical lines
OCT Outdoor kiosk Relay house OCT Outdoor kiosk Relay house

FOCS A’ FOCS B’ FOCS A’ FOCS B’

SAM600 A’ SAM600 B’
Protection and Protection and
control A control A

Protection and Protection and

control B control B
SAM600 A’’ SAM600 B’’

FOCS A’’ FOCS B’’ FOCS A’’ FOCS B’’

Main A Main A

Main B Main B
Polarization maintaining (PM)M optical cable (proposed Polarization maintaining (PM)M optical cable (proposed
is standard length of 30m, up to 300m possible) is standard length of 30m, up to 300m possible)
Standard multi-mode optical cable for IEC 61850-9-2 Standard multi-mode optical cable for IEC 61850-9-2
Polarization maintaining (PM)M optical
Ethernet cable (proposed
and dedicated fiber for 1PPS time synch. Standard multi-mode optical cable for IEC 61850-9-2. Ethernet and Analogue
dedicated fiber for 1PPSlines
electrical time synch.
is standard length of 30m, upAnalogue
to 300m electrical lines
possible) Ethernet and dedicated fiber for 1PPS time synch Analogue electrical lines
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Applicable standards

FOCS-FS current transformers are designed to comply with the following Standards.

IEC 60044-8 (2002-07) Electronic current transformers

IEC 61869-1 (2007-10)
IEC 61869-2 (2012-09)
IEC 61462 (2007-02)
IEC 61850-9-2 (2011-09)
IEEE C57.13 (1993)
IEEE C57.13.6 (2005)
Instrument transformer – General requirements
Instrument transformer – Additional requirements for current transformers
Composite hollow insulators
Communication networks and systems for power utility automation
Standard Requirements for Instrument Transformers
Standard for High-Accuracy Instrument Transformers

Quality Assurance
FOCS-FS current transformers are manufactured in ABB’s state-of-the-art facility located in Lodi (Italy).
The facility is certified in accordance with the following Standards.

ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management Systems

ISO 14001:2004 Environment Management Systems
OHSAS 18001:2007 Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems
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ABB S.p.A.
Power Grids Division
Unità Operativa Adda-HV
Via dei Ceramisti, snc
I-26900 Lodi
Tel: +39 0371 452.1
Fax: +39 0371 452.222

www.abb.com/highvoltage

2GJA708628 – Rev. A, en – FOCS-FS Brochure – 2018.04 (mt)

© Copyright 2018 ABB. All rights reserved.

The data and illustrations are not binding. We reserve the right to make changes in the
course of technical development of the product.