GE GridBeats™ APS Automation and Protection System

GridBeats™ APS Automation and Protection System

GridBeats™ APS represents a new approach to protection and control devices for transmission,

primary distribution, generation and large industrial applications. It supports standard P&C

schemes like conventional (copper wiring), digital (with and without process bus), centralized

protection and control, and enables Virtual Protection Relays (VPR). GridBeats™ APS builds on

the proven digital technology and algorithms of the renowned UR (Universal Relay) and MiCOM

Agile platforms ensuring the highest levels of security, selectivity, performance, adaptability and

dependability. GridBeatsTM APS redefines the management of P&C devices by introducing GE

Vernova-patented functionalities such as Hardware Abstraction (unbundling hardware from

application) and Independent Firmware (separating core P&C from Platform firmware). These

technologies streamline management with greater flexibility enabling significant cost savings.

An intuitive IED configuration tool (ICT) completes the package making GridBeats™ APS ideal

to combat cybersecurity threats, help with aging infrastructure and capacity expansion, and

ease operational complexity. In other words, it helps customers tackle the P&C challenges of the

digital age.

GridBeats™ APS can protect a wide range of power assets from MV to EHV on a single device.

This ranges from generation all the way to line differential and distance, including Digital Fault

recorder (DFR) applications responding to conventional, digital, and centralized protection and

control (CPC) applications.

27 P&C packages plus 26 support and M&D packages will be available for all main P&C

applications. The packages can be used one at a time to protect a specific asset, or they can be

combined to protect multiple assets (Hardware Abstraction). Similarly, packages for Centralized

Protection and Control (CPC) schemes are also supported. Dedicated P&C and platform firmware

(FW)versions can be independently updated to prevent revalidation of P&C schemes due to

cybersecurity patching or communication upgrades (independent FW management).

Feeder Package

Advanced Feeder Protection, featuring incipient fault detection, pilot schemes,wattmetric ground

fault protection, and load encroachment, is designed for sub transmission and primary distribution

systems — whether conventional or digital.

The Advanced Feeder package delivers comprehensive feeder protection, control, advanced

communications, monitoring, and metering in an integrated, compact solution The basic feeder

package provides cost effective and basic feeder capabilities, that can be grouped to protect

several feeders.

DFR Package

Centralized, single-box or distributed digital fault recorder (DFR) options are available in a full

19-inch rack or a smaller half rack form factor.

Intended for recording electrical events in systems of any voltage level, as a central unit it can

use AC inputs and multiple types of I/O module when in a conventional scheme.

It can also use sample values (SV) and GOOSE messages when in a digital scheme.

GridBeats™ APS Platform can connect to peripheral units (RA331. 332 and 333) and become

part of a distributed scheme.

Platform Package

This package provides a complimentary set of functionalities that comes with any P&C or DFR

package.

The platform package provides the elements required to configure the physical device and extend

the application capabilities, such as Flexlogic, contact I/O, trip bus, etc.