Improved SoftPLC functions on IEC61850-3 certified RSAPC

STRATON AUTOMATION has successfully tested its industrial automation software on the IEC61850-3 certified Welotec RSAPC. Together with Welotec, the desire arose to improve the experience of TSO market participants and solution providers by offering them additional softPLC functionalities (control, logic and communication).

About STRATON AUTOMATION

STRATON AUTOMATION is the editor of the straton® software designed to cover all areas of Industry and automation control, from embedded solutions to virtualized logic.

Founded in 2002 and subsidiary of the COPA-DATA group, the French company STRATON AUTOMATION is made up of experts who have been working in this domain for more than 30 years to propose today a complete and competitive solution. More than 400 000 licenses have been sold worldwide.

Initial situation

Competitors who want to stand out in the energy market need to offer products that are certified, for example to IEC61850-3. Performance must be proven under extreme conditions, and the addition of softPLC features by third party partners with integrated IEC61850 communication capabilities is a significant advantage. This is the most complete solution Welotec can bring to the market.

The straton software has several advantages like the support of communication protocols based on the most important communication and energy standards such as IEC61850, IEC60870, DNP3, the possibility to secure data exchange, as well as various tools including an SCL Editor, among others.

Solution for substation automation with IEC61850

Solution providers and TSOs (Transmission System Operators) are looking to modernize network management through substation virtualization. The IEC61850 standard is the driving force behind this. The Welotec RSAPC products being already certified for the IEC61850-3 standard, the speed of integration of the straton software allows the coupling in a few clicks of an already certified hardware with a software integrating 61850 stacks already certified on other hardware. The objective to have a complete solution is then easily reachable. 

It is also interesting to underline that the solution has also been successfully tested on the Welotec DIN-Rail PCs of the Arrakis series, dedicated to the industrial area.  Thanks to straton, the Welotec solution can handle protocols like IEC101/104, DNP3, OPC-UA, MQTT or Profinet.  

Welotec Rugged Substation Automation PC

The Welotec Substation Server (RSAPC) is a state-of-the-art, rugged automation computer designed specifically for use in substations. The industrial computer is IEC 61850-3 and IEEE 1613 certified and features a fanless design for 19 inch 3U rackmount installations. With an operating temperature range of -40 to +75°C, the Welotec Substation Server is built to withstand even the harshest environments.

The computer is powered by an Intel Xeon CPU with four cores and eight threads and up to 64 GB RAM. Additionally, it includes a TPM 2.0 module for enhanced security and reliability. It can be extended with HSR and PRP Network ports for redundancy. This combination of advanced hardware and certifications make the Welotec Substation Server an ideal choice for those looking for a highly dependable and secure solution for their substation automation needs.