ABB claims low cost control advance

London -- The COM 610 communication gateway connects substations, protection relays and terminals to a control centre both reliably and cost-effectively, irrespective of the source of the individual devices. It is intended for smaller networks or existing installations for which DCS hardware would be too expensive.

The gateway’s communication architecture is based on proven protocol implementations, utilising OPC frameworks that provide open connectivity via open standards to guarantee flexible and extensive use of information.

Manufacturer ABB says there are no theoretical limits to the number of master/slave protocol lines or devices that can be connected to the gateway. It is delivered with pre-installed software so the installer just has to connect it and download the cross-connection configuration.

Information modelling within the gateway is based on the IEC 61850 standard and the intuitive configuration tool utilises pre-defined data templates for easy drag-and-drop operation. When configuration is completed it is downloaded to the gateway over a TCP/IP connection and the COM 610 is ready for use.

The gateway is open to any master system using de facto master protocols and is fully compatible with ABB’s MicroSCADA technology. Its enclosure is rated at IP50, so the device is suitable for use in harsh industrial environments.