May 2003System Integration & Control Systems Design
Spectrum Communications recently completed a turnkey monitoring project for one of the large electricity users in the Western Cape comprising of nine substations (11 KV) and scada central station. The work involved creating a high speed communication backbone between the scada and all the RTUs as well as interfacing to the substation IEDs - these being ABB Reyrolle DCD protection relays, energy meters, quality of supply recorders and other standard sub-station digital and analog inputs. The master station scada software is Wonderware, with proprietary software packages for protection relays, QOS recorders and energy meters.
Spectrum's teleFLEX RTU
This was developed by Spectrum to enhance and complement its teleRANGER product range and ensure its place as a leader of South African produced telemetry products. Initially developed to provide Eskom substation with communications to various field IEDs on various protocols, it has now grown to be a market leader in multiple disciplines namely: telemetry (electrical, water and sewage), industrial I/O interface on existing backbones, data logging, PLC interface, building management, ocean going vessels (engine monitoring), etc.
Spectrum's R&D division's ongoing teleFLEX development is ensuring that the product will continue to cater for the expansive market needs.
Advantages
The teleFLEX communication backbone allows for high-speed communications to a variety of field IEDs. The backbone is a combination of various communication methods (from radio to optical fibre) and communication protocols (ie, Modbus, Modbus RTU, DNP3 protection relay, QOS, scada, energy meters, flowmeters) this compatibility allows for the optimal combination to be used to suite the site conditions and existing networks. Various advanced proprietary software packages may be used, which means that the implementation is not limited to scada software driver derivatives. Use of the IED's communications backbone, ie, DCD via fibre, so only one teleFLEX serial port is needed to connect to multiple DCDs. Remote switching can be performed as complete secure substation monitoring is in place.
The Spectrum projects sales manager, Kevin Clack, says, "The teleFLEX RTU has proved to be the leader in substation monitoring and therefore has been chosen for many similar applications where communications are required to various IEDs via various communication backbones." Spectrum is now also offering accredited training courses on all its telemetry hardware. The company has branches in Johannesburg, Port Elizabeth and East London.
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