GE The GridBeats™ APS is a family of hardware and software products

GridBeats™ APS

The GridBeats™ APS is a family of hardware and software products that

redefine management of protection and control devices.

Through hardware abstraction and independent firmware, GridBeats™

APS delivers unmatched flexibility when managing devices and

removes unnecessary rework end-users are forced to do when

upgrading firmware of existing devices. Independent firmware also

enables remote firmware upgrade and patching of communication,

cybersecurity and other platform services.

The GridBeats™ APS devices build on a fully modular design that allows

users to individually replace specific hardware components when

needed, which drastically reduces downtime when having to upgrade,

retrofit or repair.

The GridBeats™ APS will be available in two form factors, 80TE (19”

rack) and 40TE, and will provide multiple front panel options: Graphical

front panel, standard front panel and LED front panel.

The GridBeats™ APS is designed to meet the latest communication,

application and cybersecurity requirements as well as compliance to

standards needed to fit existing and new Protection and Control schemes.

Device Hardware

The GridBeats™ APS devices are fully modular, allowing easy

customization of inputs and outputs, minimum stock of spare parts

and reduced downtime when having to upgrade, retrofit or fix due

to a contingency (e.g. Failed trip/close coil that burned a contact

output).

The chassis of the device supports 10 slots for different types of

modules in the 80TE form factor. Rear terminal blocks could be pin

or ring terminal or fiber depending on the module variant.

Types of modules supported:

CPU Module

The capabilities within the GridBeats™ APS require a powerful

multicore processor with dedicated cybersecurity Trusted Platform

Module (TPM) and flexible communication interfaces.

The GridBeats™ APS CPU module supports multiple combinations of

communication interfaces including 2/4/6 Ethernet ports, Optional

serial copper ports and Inter Relay Communications (IRC) and

optional extended memory for the DFR package.

Power Supply Module

Responsible for powering up the GridBeats™ APS devices, this

module is designed for increased reliability by reducing the number

of components and removing the need for electrolytic capacitors

and batteries.

The module comes in two ranges (high and low) that fit voltage

levels from 24Vdc to 300Vdc or 88 to 265Vac. An optional redundant

power supply is available for customers when required.

AC Modules

Current and voltage inputs have been designed in alignment with

IEC61869-13 which standardize nominal values of the analog inputs

and their performance during fault conditions.

AC modules come in different variants including 4 voltages plus

4 currents, 8 currents, 8 voltages, 7 currents plus 1 voltage, with

optional sensitive current.

GridBeats™ APS supports up to three AC modules in one device,

which delivers 24 AC channels that fit eight 3-phase systems or six

3-phase with a ground input per system.  Other configurations are

also possible when combining current and voltage inputs.

Contact I/O Module

8 out of the 10 slots in the GridBeats™ APS support contact I/O

modules.  There are several I/O variants available allowing a multitude

of I/O configurations to suit the most demanding applications. Up

to 210 contact inputs, 126 contact outputs or a mix of them are

supported when using the 80TE chassis.

Different types of outputs are also available: trip rated form-A,

form-A with coil monitor, form C, mechanically latched relays, solid

state relay, Form-C and mechanically latched relays for normal

outputs. On the contact inputs side, multiple types are also available:

grouped 5/4/2 and independent, with or without battery bank

voltage monitoringand independent, with or without battery bank

voltage monitor.