ABB REM620 Motor Protection and Control Intelligent Electronic Device (IED)
ABB REM620 Motor Protection and Control Intelligent Electronic Device (IED)
Introduction
The ABB REM620 is a highly sophisticated, dedicated motor management relay belonging to ABB’s globally recognized Relion® product family and part of its 620 series.
Specifically engineered for utility distribution and the demanding manufacturing and process industries, the REM620 offers complete protection, control, measurement, and supervision for medium- to large-sized asynchronous (induction) and synchronous motors.
Designed from the ground up to utilize the full potential of native communication standards, it serves as the ultimate defensive line for heavy-duty motor drives powering pumps, conveyors, crushers, fans, and compressors.
Unique Product Description
What distinguishes the ABB REM620 from baseline motor protectors is its scalability, functional depth, and withdrawable plug-in unit design.
It bridges raw field measurements with digital substation automation networks by natively integrating IEC 61850 (Editions 1 & 2).
The REM620 manages complex operational curves including thermal overload, frequent motor starts, and long-acceleration cycles, alongside critical motor differential protection.
This ensures that internal winding insulation faults or phase-to-phase short circuits are isolated in milliseconds, keeping multi-million dollar high-voltage machines running smoothly while avoiding catastrophic failure.
Technical Parameter Table
Parameter Specification / Value
Brand / Manufacturer ABB (Asea Brown Boveri)
Product Series Relion® 620 Series
Model Designation REM620 (IEC and ANSI variants available)
Primary Application Medium and large asynchronous & synchronous motor protection
Core Functions Differential, thermal overload, start-up supervision, locked-rotor, arc-flash
Communication Protocols IEC 61850 (Ed. 1 & 2), Modbus®, DNP3. IEC 60870-5-103. Profibus (via adapter)
Network Redundancy HSR (High-availability Seamless Redundancy), PRP (Parallel Redundancy Protocol), RSTP
Hardware Interfacing Up to 14 RTD (Resistance Temperature Detector) inputs, Up to 5 mA inputs
Human Machine Interface Large graphical LCD with customizable Single-Line Diagrams (SLD) & Web HMI
Physical Form Factor Drawout / Withdrawable plug-in design with ring-lug terminals
Engineering Software PCM600 (Protection and Control IED Manager)
Product Advantages and Features
Advanced Differential Protection: Offers comprehensive phase-segregated motor differential protection to quickly isolate faults occurring internally within the stator windings.
Intelligent Thermal Management: Incorporates dedicated machine-run-time timers and inputs for up to 14 RTDs, modifying the thermal model dynamically based on real-time bearing and stator winding temperatures to prevent premature aging.
Substation Communication Mastery: Supports high-speed GOOSE messaging and process bus sample values (IEC 61850-9-2 LE), drastically reducing physical copper wiring and cross-panel installation complexities.
Ultra-Fast Arc Flash Detection (AFD): Can be optionally equipped with high-speed optical sensor inputs to trigger a trip circuit within 1 to 2 milliseconds of an internal arc event, safeguarding maintenance personnel and switchgear housings.
Minimized Downtime Structure: The withdrawable plug-in chassis permits rapid physical relay replacements or testing procedures without disturbing the underlying panel wiring harness.
Application Cases
1. Heavy Conveyor & Crusher Automation in Mining
In severe mining setups utilizing large high-voltage induction motors to run ore crushers, the REM620 protects motors from stalling under sudden heavy blockages. Its locked-rotor protection and thermal overload algorithms accurately track high-current startup phases without causing nuisance trips.
2. High-Reliability Pumping Stations in Petrochemical Plants
A major petrochemical facility deployed REM620 relays on synchronous pump motors to ensure continuous process loops.
Leveraging PRP/HSR network redundancy, the relays communicate fault and power quality diagnostics to a central SCADA network without packet loss, even during physical fiber-optic line disruptions.
Related Models & Other Models in the Same Series
The REM620 resides inside the Relion 620 tier, working side-by-side with sister protection systems targeting separate substation nodes:
REF620 (Feeder Protection and Control): Geared specifically for overhead lines, radial networks, and incoming/outgoing feeder protection.
RET620 (Transformer Protection and Control): Dedicated to two-winding power transformers, block transformers, and back-up power management.
REX615 / REX640: ABB’s modular, next-generation ecosystem components designed to transition older 615 and 620 legacy footprints into cloud-ready digital substations.
Installation and Maintenance
Installation Guidelines
Rack Separation: Utilize the drawout chassis design effectively. Ensure the outer housing case is rigidly mounted into the switchgear panel cutout and properly grounded before sliding the active relay assembly inside.
Terminal Integrity: Secure external current transformers (CTs) and voltage transformers (VTs) using the heavy-duty ring-lug terminals to prevent open-circuit CT hazards under heavy fault loads.
Configuration Loading: Use ABB’s PCM600 software to map the specific logic configurations, current transformer ratios, and protective limits into the IED before connecting it to operational breaker trip coils.
Maintenance Recommendations
Routine Self-Diagnostic Audits: Monitor the local HMI for active green ‘Ready’ LED conditions. The internal watchdog mechanism automatically flags RAM, flash memory, or secondary power supply degradation.
Chassis Extraction Maintenance: During secondary injection testing cycles, smoothly extract the internal mechanism. The self-shorting CT contacts integrated into the case guarantee upstream transformer safety during removal.