Previously, standalone equipment was installed in many power substations, using proprietary communications protocols, to monitor remote terminal units and to collect power data for the control centre. The drawback of such proprietary communication is compatibility issues and high maintenance costs.

Many field devices such as, Remote Terminal Units (RTU), power metres and Intelligent Electronic Devices (IED) use serial communications interfaces. Etherwan’s Serial Device Servers (Serial to Ethernet) SE5300 series and Fiber Media Converters (100TX to 100FX) EL1141 series, allow these devices to connect to Ethernet and still use DNP 3.0 & IEC103/104 protocols.

Etherwan’s Serial Device Servers are successfully running with leading IED brands including ABB, Areva, GE, SEL and Siemens, in field deployments, today. Etherwan’s hardened managed rack-mount Ethernet switch, IEC61850-3 compatible EX87000 series, combined with the SE5300 Serial Device Server and EL1141 Fiber Media Converter to create a complete network solution to transmit data from field to control centre. The EX87000 series Ethernet switch can be configured with 8, 12, 16 or 24 ports of 100BASE fibre connections in single-mode, multi-mode with SC, ST or LC connectors and 4 sets of combo Gigabit connections (fiber optic Plus RJ45). The EX87000 has been tested and certified by KEMA to meet the environmental requirements of IEC61850.

The edge of the network consists of multiple IEC61850-3 compliant EX83000 hardened managed Ethernet switches. Etherwan’s proprietary Alpha-ring, is featured in the EX83000 which provides network redundancy with recovery time <15ms guarantee and zero packet loss. Etherwan’s Alpha-ring can provide <15ms recovery time for a network with as many as 134 switches in one ring. The EX83000 may be configured with up to 4 100FX fibre optic ports in multi-mode or single mode with SC or ST connectors plus 2 sets of combo Gigabit ports (fibre optic plus RJ45) in multi-mode or single mode with SC, ST or LC connectors.

Etherwan showcased a complete power grid application simulating in their booth during Computex (June 4 - 9, 2012 in Taipei, Taiwan). This field-proven system is a turn-key solution for system integrators or solution providers. Axiomtek provides a SCADA gateway for data collection and HMI touch panel for the control centre. Elipse’s E3 software integrates the whole process management and monitoring. Etherwan’s IEC61850-3 compliant Ethernet connectivity equipment plays a crucial role for network communication and data transmission. Most importantly, the solution is tested, approved and installed in real power substations.