Features of constructing single and accurate time systems in electric power communication networks

The electric power industry uses a large number of different automated technological systems - relay protection controllers, control systems, quality control systems and electricity metering, etc. As computing technology develops, the complexity of the problems that are solved using automation tools for technological processes also increases. Analysis of a large amount of data on the parameters and operating modes of equipment is impossible without correct information on the points in time when these events were recorded. Thus, the basis for the operation of automated technological systems is a single and accurate time system that establishes the unity of time scales in all controllers and data collection systems. Depending on the goals and purposes of automated systems, they put forward various requirements for discreteness and, accordingly, the accuracy of the time scale reading in slave clocks - from 1 s to 1 μs, which determines the technologies for constructing a network of time systems. This leads to the need to create a universal single time system that can meet the requirements of various consumers. In addition to technological versatility, the single time system must also ensure high reliability, including in conditions of interference or disruption of the channel for receiving information on the exact time. Thus, there is a need to create a redundant complex of master clocks of the enterprise, which, in addition to the internal redundancy of highly stable frequency sources, have several independent channels for receiving data on a single and accurate time scale. In addition, the system for distributing time signals in the power enterprise network must also provide for the possibility of reserving station clocks of power substations, as well as communication directions between master and station clocks. This article examines the features of constructing a single and accurate time system for power industry networks, taking into account the requirements of consumers of different generations, as well as the need to ensure high reliability and fault tolerance of the time synchronization system.