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Turku and Vaasa, Finland (June 21, 2006)
- ABB Distribution Automation introduces a new solution to more
efficient distribution management. A GPRS –based Arctic IEC-104
Gateway adds efficiency to fault restoration and maintenance at
utilities. The product is jointly specified with Viola Systems,
a leader in industrial-grade wireless M2M (Machine-to-Machine) connectivity
solutions.
Koillis-Satakunta Power Utility in Finland needed
to remotely control a large number of disconnector stations scattered
over a wide and challenging geographical area. The GSM data delivered
poor usability with high price tag. “Viola and ABB offered
us a total end-to-end solution that is both secure and always-on
yet easy to use,” says IT Manager Jari Hakala from
Koillis-Satakunta Power Utility.
Remote controlled disconnector stations divide
the network into smaller, more manageable sections. They disconnect
faults, re-route the power supply, and perform scheduled outages
controlled by a network control system, i.e. ABB MicroSCADA Pro
system. In case of a network failure, the fault is first located
by means of the ABB Open++ Opera DMS 600, a high-level distribution
management software that runs on top of MicroSCADA-technology.
“Also a section subject to scheduled maintenance and repair
can now be separated from the distribution network at minimum effort,
thanks to the disconnector stations remotely controlled via the
Arctic IEC-104 Gateway,” says Aimo Rinta-Opas,
Operations Manager of Koillis-Satakunta Power Utility.
The Arctic IEC-104 Gateway is an industrial-grade
serial-to-GPRS gateway featuring IEC-101 to IEC-104 protocol conversion,
a built-in firewall and VPN technology for secure communication.
The Arctic IEC-104 Gateways can be delivered preconfigured to make
the installation and deployment a lot easier.
The on-site installation at a disconnector station
takes less than 30 minutes. “First, a SIM card is inserted
into an appropriate SIM slot, then an external antenna is attached,
and finally 12 V power cables are connected. And that’s all,”
explains Hakala. The ABB DTU Control Cubicle holds all the required
equipment for retrofitting remote control capability the installed
disconnectors. This includes ABB’s REC523 Unit that actually
controls and monitors the disconnectors. After the installation
has been completed the Arctic IEC-104 Gateway automatically creates
a secure VPN tunnel to the Viola M2M Gateway located at the Network
Control Center.
The distribution network of Koillis-Satakunta
Power Utility covers a large area, over 100 km in diameter, in a
hilly terrain with numerous lakes and rivers. Substations, disconnectors
and transformers are scattered over the area and are often located
in difficult to reach places.
The related case study including a network
diagram and product images are available at http://www.violasystems.com/press.
About ABB
ABB (www.abb.com) is a
leader in power and automation technologies that enable utility
and industry customers to improve performance while lowering environmental
impact. The ABB Group of companies operates in around 100 countries
and employs about 105,000 people.
About Viola M2M Solution™
Unlike many competitors who deliver boxes, Viola delivers
a total secure end-to-end connectivity solution that seamlessly
integrates remote devices and sites to centralized management systems
such as SCADA or HP OpenView. No changes to existing systems are
needed. Viola M2M Solution™ is an install-and-forget-it, hassle-free
approach. In addition, Viola M2M Solution™ is operator-independent;
it allows customers to implement two-way data communications in
a similar manner all around the world.
About Viola Systems
Viola is specialized in advanced, industrial-grade M2M
(machine-to-machine) wireless connectivity solutions that seamlessly
link remote devices and sites together. Reliable remote access to
device information leads to increased productivity and enables new
maintenance business. Viola’s solutions are used in a wide
variety of applications from substations and distribution transformers
in electricity networks to base stations in telecommunications networks
to the transfer of video feed from remote surveillance cameras.
Viola’s solutions are sold through a global network of sales
partners. Viola’s customers include ABB, RFI – a division
of the Italian State Railways, Vattenfall, Freescale Semiconductor,
EBV Elektronik, Digita, and Finnish Road Administration. Viola’s
headquarters are located in Turku, Finland. For more information,
please visit www.violasystems.com.
Editor contact:
Viola Systems Ltd. / Worldwide Contact
Mr. Jyrki Penttonen
Chief Executive Officer
Tel. +358 (0) 40 570 5775
E-mail: jyrki.penttonen@violasystems.com
ABB Oy Distribution
Automation
Mr. Jarkko Holmlund
Product Manager, Feeder Automation
Tel. +358 (0) 50 334 2686
E-mail: jarkko.holmlund@fi.abb.com
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