ABB REG670 | Relion 670 Generator Protection IED, IEC 61850

Description

Key Technical Specifications

ABB identifies as a generator-protection IED within the Relion protection and control family. The 670 family was designed for protection, control, measurement, and supervision applications, with IEC 61850 communication forming an important part of the system architecture.

One point matters during procurement: “” alone is not a complete hardware specification. The exact ordered configuration determines I/O, communication interfaces, auxiliary supply, CT/VT inputs, software functions, and other hardware details.

Product Introduction

ABB

The ABB is a numerical generator protection and control IED from the Relion 670 family. It is designed for protection, control, measurement, and supervision of generators and generator-transformer units, making it suitable for both hydroelectric and thermal generation applications.

The major engineering advantage is the breadth of protection functions in one configurable IED. can be integrated into an IEC 61850 substation architecture, including GOOSE communication for fast horizontal signal exchange. ABB has also documented applications using redundant generator-protection IEDs integrated with System 800xA through IEC 61850 GOOSE.

REG670

Application Scenarios & Field Pitfalls

Engineering Pain Point

Generator protection is one place where a “similar relay” is not necessarily a suitable replacement. A may be handling stator faults, rotor faults, loss of excitation, negative sequence, over/under-voltage, frequency, power, breaker control, and interlocking at the same time. Replacing it without recovering the actual application configuration can leave protection functions missing even though the new IED powers up normally.

Typical Applications

• Hydroelectric Generation — Generator protection, stator and rotor earth-fault protection, breaker control, and generator-transformer protection.
• Steam-Turbine Generators — Protection of large turbo-generators against electrical faults and abnormal operating conditions.
• Industrial Power Plants — Protection and control of captive generators and generator-transformer units.
• Pump-Storage Plants — Generator/motor protection and advanced stator/rotor earth-fault protection. ABB specifically documented applications for challenging hydro installations.

Technical Pitfalls to Avoid

1. Do not order by “” alone.
   This is the most important procurement warning. is a product family, not a complete ordering code. Check the full type designation, hardware configuration, application package, auxiliary supply, communication modules, and I/O arrangement.
2. Preserve the PCM600 configuration.
   The IED configuration is part of the protection system. Before replacement, obtain the latest approved PCM600 project and parameter backup. ABB identifies PCM600 as the engineering tool used across the Relion protection and control family.
3. Do not assume the replacement has identical protection functions.
   Two units can have different application configurations. Compare function blocks, parameters, binary I/O assignments, CT/VT ratios, trip logic, interlocking, and communication datasets.
4. Check IEC 61850 configuration separately.
   If the installation uses GOOSE, verify the complete communication configuration—not just the Ethernet connection. Dataset membership, GOOSE control blocks, VLAN settings, MAC addressing, and subscriber configuration can all affect operation.
5. Do not modify protection settings during communication troubleshooting.
   A failed GOOSE link does not necessarily indicate a protection-function problem. Keep protection parameters separate from station-network troubleshooting.
6. Verify CT and VT wiring carefully.
   Incorrect CT polarity, phase sequence, ratio, or VT connections can produce a protection system that appears healthy while calculating incorrect electrical quantities.
7. Check redundant protection schemes.
   Large generators frequently use redundant protection IEDs. ABB has documented installations using two redundant IEDs for generator protection.If replacing one relay, verify the independence and coordination of both protection channels.
8. Test earth-fault protection correctly.
   supports advanced generator earth-fault protection. ABB documented injection-based stator and rotor earth-fault protection capabilities for , including stator coverage extending to the machine star point in applicable configurations.These functions require the correct external injection equipment and configuration; they should not be assumed from the basic name alone.
9. Verify time synchronization.
   Generator protection records depend heavily on accurate event chronology. Check the actual station time-synchronization architecture and configuration after replacement.
10. Commission protection and control separately.
    A successful self-test is not a protection test. Perform the approved secondary-injection, binary-I/O, trip-circuit, interlocking, GOOSE, and control-function tests before returning the generator to service.

Related Products

• ABB RET670 — Generator-transformer/transformer protection IED from the same Relion 670 family. It is complementary to where transformer protection is treated separately from generator protection.
• ABB REL670 — Line distance protection IED from the Relion 670 family. It is typically used for high-voltage transmission-line protection rather than generator protection.
• ABB REB670 — Busbar protection IED. It protects the busbar zone associated with generator and transformer switchgear rather than the generator itself.
• ABB REC670 — Bay control IED for high-voltage switchgear. It provides control, interlocking, and bay-level functions rather than replacing ‘s generator protection role.
• ABB REF670 — Feeder protection IED in the Relion 670 family. It is appropriate for feeder applications and is not a direct generator-protection substitute.
• ABB RET670 + — A common complementary architecture where transformer and generator protection are separated into dedicated IEDs. The exact protection boundary depends on the generator-transformer arrangement.
• ABB redundant pair — Two independently configured IEDs can be used for redundant generator-protection schemes. ABB has documented this architecture in hydroelectric installations.
• ABB PCM600 — Engineering and configuration environment for ABB Relion protection and control IEDs. It is essential when transferring or validating an existing configuration.
• ABB System 800xA — Plant/substation automation environment that can integrate Relion IED information. ABB has documented integration with System 800xA using IEC 61850 GOOSE.
• ABB REX640 — Newer ABB protection and control platform with modular hardware/software and generator-protection capability. It may be relevant for modernization projects, but it is not a drop-in replacement for an existing ; the protection philosophy, hardware configuration, engineering, and testing must be redesigned and validated.

Procurement note: is a generator protection IED, not simply a generic protection relay. The exact ordering code is critical. Before purchasing a replacement, capture the complete type designation from the installed relay and compare hardware configuration, auxiliary supply, CT/VT inputs, binary I/O, communication modules, firmware, protection functions, PCM600 project, IEC 61850/GOOSE configuration, and parameter settings. For a generator protection system, the full configuration—not just the family name—is what determines whether the replacement is actually compatible.