Controlling and alarming DC power plants via the INTERNET

Abstract

For many years DC power plants reported failures using Form "C" relays. Later alarms were reported remotely using links such as POTS lines by way of a modem. Today the whole world is connected: from the school child who is connected by a 56k modem at a home computer to a large multinational telecommunication company that builds and maintains its own internal network (intranet). The next logical progression in reporting DC power plant information is clearly to adapt the existing interfaces to report real time information to customers via such intranets or even the Internet.The first step in reaching this goal is to adapt a DC power plant with its battery chargers and ancillary panels to communicate alarm and control functions via a local area control network (LACN). Once the information is available on the LACN, an Internet Gateway is used to interconnect to any EthernetTM network running TCPAP Protocol. An IP address is assigned to the Gateway and the customer is able to access status, control, and configuration data at their site through standard Internet Browsers such as Internet ExplorerTM or Netscape NavigatorTM.This solution employs our Internet Gateway that is based on proven open system technology and that provides high reliability through the same mission critical hardware utilized in the medical and aerospace industries. A UnixTMlike operating system (OS) that is small enough to run without a hard drive ensures long operational life.