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The rising digitization and subsequent use of IEC 61850 requires a flexible, network-based communication approach in the substations of electrical energy systems. However, the conventional process connection lacks flexibility and modularity when it comes to linking different devices. With the normal parallel-connected hardware a continuous engineering and consistent documentation in one tool is impossible. One of the resulting disadvantages is that modifications of hardware or communication must be handled in multiple documents. The digitization allows more flexibility by regarding the connection of primary equipment and measuring values by using an Ethernet process bus. This process bus is realized as a new standard by using the communication standard IEC 61850, which defines a continuous engineering and documentation. In particular, it presents different requirements of the physical process bus approach. The novel process connection has to be magnetically resistant, continuously documented, comprehensible and modular in its structure. This paper discusses different approaches that were developed in order to face the aforementioned challenges, while meeting present and future expectations and requirements. Furthermore, it describes a field-based star-topology process bus with different hardware approaches.

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