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Communications for the DA Network
Enabling robust communications for next-generation Distribution Automation
The Silver Spring Bridge family provides robust, two-way RF communications to support Distribution Automation applications. Utilities can deploy Bridges for standards-based communications in support of asset management, Volt/VAR control, self-healing circuits, FCI communications, and distributed generation. The Bridges can connect to a wide variety of DA devices including reclosers, sectionalizers, feeder switches, capacitor banks and controllers, transformers, and voltage regulators.
The Bridge family leverages the same RF platform and firmware as all other Silver Spring endpoints and infrastructure and can employ parts of the Advanced Metering network, such as Silver Spring Relays, to cost effectively support DA communications. In such mixed-mode deployments, Silver Spring configures the network to prioritize DA traffic and minimize latency, and utilities can maintain logical separation in network operations. Alternatively, utilities can deploy both Advanced Metering and DA networks totally separately, with no common use of Silver Spring network devices.
The eBridge supports serial and Ethernet connections, and the sBridge offers two serial connections. The Silver Spring DA-Network Element Manager software provides configuration and on-going management for the Bridges, and the devices automatically discover any Silver Spring network in range.
- Real-time and secure two-way RF data connectivity linking RTUs to the utility network
- Standards-based connectivity for serial DNP3, DNP3/IP over Ethernet, or mixed serial/Ethernet communications
- Remote connectivity to the RTU management port – over Ethernet or serial
- Proven interoperability with a variety of RTU and SCADA vendors
- Security via embedded firewall and RF-only IPsec tunneling or RTU-to-SCADA IPsec tunneling
- Interference-avoiding Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum and per-device spectrum scanning to ensure message delivery
- Flexible deployment options for dedicated DA communications network or prioritized traffic on a multi-application smart grid
- Redundancy options for mesh connectivity, network management, take-out points, and power supplies
- Routing control to match application requirements including designating latency levels, battery-backed routes, and best or fixed take-out points
- Hardened form factor to satisfy requirements for electrical substations and enclosure installations
- Evolvable architecture that scales from two units to tens of thousands, with the ability to gracefully migrate from serial DNP3 to IPv4 to IPv6 as needed
