Content for  TR 22.867  Word version:  18.2.0

The Smart Distribution Transformer Terminal is usually deployed in the distribution transformer area. It could support multiple energy applications simultaneously. Multiple kinds of energy data are collected firstly by the terminal and then delivered to related energy application platform. Some kind of data could be analysed, or even the terminal itself can make decision to perform real-time action. Figure 5.8.1-1 illustrates a work flow example of Smart Distribution Transformer Terminal.

With the assistance of 5G system, it could report massive energy data separately to multiple energy application platforms according to their requirements. And data from energy application platforms could also be sent to terminal through 5G network, no matter it is business data or management data. Typical interactive data includes fault / alarming events, switch state variation, device abnormal changes, remote control operation, electrical analog data, meter reading data, topology relationship, decision-making information, edge computing conclusion, equipment OA&M data, remote upgrading, scheduled communication, etc. Some of this data is event triggered and requires a high priority for real-time communication while others may need a regular latency but broad bandwidth channel to fit their demands. The energy application platform could be connection management platform (a.k.a. IoT platform), master station of distribution automation system and master station of electric energy data acquire system. In the future, there might be more platforms that need to transfer data through the 5G network. In general, the connections between the Smart Distribution Transformer Terminal and application platform are provided by 5G system, while the connections between energy end equipment and Smart Distribution Transformer Terminal may be provided by 5G system either. When they are 5G connections, about 300 ~ 500 energy end equipment are connected to a Smart Distribution Transformer Terminal. The average application layer packet data rate for one kind of Smart Grid application between the Smart Distribution Transformer Terminal and energy end equipment is more than 2 Mbit/s in uplink e.g. smart metering, while the communication range is from 100m to 500m. In some cases, the data delivered to the Smart Distribution Transformer Terminal can be locally processed by the Terminal directly to improve working efficiency with the authorization of application platform. These energy applications and different data flows in one application require different communication services and different safety & isolation protection according to the Industry regulation. So, the Smart Distribution Transformer Terminal is required to isolate these energy data according to different application demands.

The energy company EE has a contract with Tele-Operator TT. TT will provide 5G communication service for EE's energy services. EE has deployed a lot of Smart Distribution Transformer Terminals which could utilize 5G communication links to connect with multiple energy application platforms. In general, one Smart Distribution Transformer Terminal is deployed in one distribution transformer area. The energy application platform could be connection management platform (AKA IoT platform), master station of distribution automation system and master station of electric energy data acquire system. In future, there might be more platforms that need to transfer data through this network. EE configures different communication services demands and safety & isolation demands for different energy applications. EE also deploys a management platform to operate and manage its Smart Distributed Transformer Terminals which may be up to millions in the platform management scope. The connections between them also can be supplied by 5G system and are required as permanent links once they are established. The heart-beat information is transmitted when there is no management data.

The energy application platforms receive the collected data in time and with required isolation protection. The communication links status also can be monitored by energy company EE.

Clause 6.5.2 of TS 22.261, there is a related requirement: The 5G system shall be able to provide suitable APIs for the energy application platform to monitor the quality of the communication link. The 5G system shall be able to supply end to end unified quality of communication service for Smart Distribution Transformer Terminal, i.e. from the energy end equipment to energy application platforms. The 5G system shall be able to support millions of communication links between Smart Distributed Transformer Terminals management platform and Smart Distributed Transformer Terminals under its management scope. When required by regulatory requirement, the 5G system shall be able to simultaneously supply multiple different isolation communication services for different energy applications. The 5G system shall be able to support up to 500 communication links between the Smart Distribution Transformer Terminal and energy end equipments with the communication distance from 100m to 500m in one distribution transformer area. The 5G system shall be able to support routing of data traffic between the Smart Distribution Transformer Terminal in the network and an application processing the data in a service hosting environment. The 5G system shall be able to supply a method for the application layer to authenticate and authorize communication network element used for the Smart Distribution Transformer Terminal.

[PR.5.8-001]

According to the regulation of China Grid industry, the power grid business is mainly divided into two working categories: production control and information management. The production control can be further divided into safety zone I and safety zone II. All the real-time monitoring, detection, and controlling energy production applications belong to safety zone I. And other non-controlling energy production applications belong to the safety zone II. The information management also can be further divided into safety zone III and safety zone IV. The applications belong to the safety zone III are information systems for power production, while the internal information services for the energy enterprises belong to safety zone IV. Following Table 5.9.1-1 lists the typical applications belong to different safety zones.

According to, different kinds of safety isolation requirements are applied to different safety zones:

1. The energy applications belong to production control category i.e. safety zone I and II need to be physically isolated from other applications which don't belong to production control working category.
2. The energy applications belong to information management working category i.e. safety zone III and IV can be logically isolation from other applications including non-energy applications.
3. The energy applications belong to a same working category can be logically isolated each other.
4. The energy applications belong to a same safety zone can be logically isolated each other

Typically, the physical isolation requires the traditional wired communication link utilizing different time slots, wavelengths, and physical media to guarantee the safety demand. And the logical isolation may be supported by shared communication resource. With 5G system is utilized to support Smart Grid applications, the different isolation modes will also be supported by 5G system. Not only core network, but also radio network and UE are involved. For 5G system, the physical isolation communication service means dedicated core network element and dedicated radio resource e.g. PRB pool, spectrum etc. The logical isolation communication service on the other hand may be supported by shared network element or shared network resource.

The energy company EE utilizes 5G system to support multiple energy applications with different isolation communication services. Among them, the PMU belongs to safety isolation I, the electricity information collection belongs to safety isolation II, power line on-site patrol belongs to safety isolation III, Office Automation System (OA) belongs to safety isolation IV.

The 5G system deploys several communication links to support multiple energy applications. One link is used to support PMU application and the dedicated core network element and dedicated radio resource have been configured in this link to guarantee the physical isolation demand. One link is used to support electricity information collection application. It also belongs to safety isolation II which can be logical isolation with applications belong to safety isolation I and physical isolation with applications belong to safety isolation III and IV. So, it also can share network resource e.g. core network element and dedicated resource with PMU application. One link is used to support power line on-site patrol application. It belongs to safety isolation III which require logical isolation. Considering applications belong to safety isolation I & II require physical isolation with applications belong to safety isolation III and IV, it can't share the network resource e.g. core network element and dedicated resource with PMU, differential protection and electricity information collection applications. But it can share network resource with other applications belong to safety isolation III and IV, even other internet applications. One link is used to support Office Automation System (OA). It also requires logical isolation. So, it can share network resource with power line on-site patrol application. The energy company EE also can monitor the above communication resource usage and communication link quality.

The energy applications can be work well and fulfil the isolation requirements with the assistance of 5G system. The communication resource usage status and communication link quality also can be monitored by energy company EE.

When required by regulations, the 5G system shall be able to provide suitable mechanism for the energy application to monitor the communication link quality and network resource usage. When required by regulations, the 5G system shall be able to utilize dedicated communication resource including core network and radio network to support physical isolation communication service for energy applications. When required by regulations, the 5G system shall be able to utilize shared communication resource including core network and radio network to support logical isolation communication service for energy applications. The 5G system shall be able to simultaneously support multiple communication links with different isolation requirements according to energy management regulation.

None.