Tropos Networks, a provider of wireless IP networks, has introduced the Tropos 1310 Distribution Automation (DA) mesh router for communications to DA devices.
The new router can be connected with different vendors’ DA devices and is a part of Tropos’ GridCom 2.0 standards-based architecture for smart grids and economically extends mesh connectivity for DA applications.
The company said that the network management for the Tropos 1310 is via Tropos Control, a server-based wireless network management system.
The DA mesh router enables utilities to build a private wireless network with the needed low latency and high performance that can support a wide range and number of DA devices.
In addition, for latency sensitive DA applications, it supports under 3 millisecond link latency allowing for sub-cycle response times needed by DA protection and control systems.
The new offering supports the DNP3 protocol over serial and Ethernet ports, providing communications for an array of DA devices such as reclosers, switches, voltage regulators sectionalisers and capacitor banks.
Further, the new offering supports QoS, which allows utilities to prioritise critical applications over less critical ones, reducing operational risk.
The Tropos 1310 is managed by Tropos Control which unifies wireless network management and visibility aggregating and simplifying configuration, performance, software upgrades and network fault management.
Tropos Networks president and CEO Tom Ayers said the company sees utilities accelerating rollout of distribution automation driven by the significant impact these applications are expected to have in terms of improvements to power quality and reliability, energy conservation and asset utilisation.
"Our new DA mesh router is unprecedented in providing utilities with an economical high performance offering that meets the challenging network requirements for distribution automation applications while significantly reducing operational costs and simplifying operations," Ayers said.
