Enhance Performance and Reduce Cost with Quatech's Serial Device Servers

Energy management systems serve many functions including production, distribution, exploration, curtailment and delivery. For most energy applications, success is defined not only in safety, but also in productivity, such as the ability to remotely control and manage devices in the field. Quatech's Serial Device Servers can help you:

• Network-enable serial devices to improve productivity
• Enable effective acquisition of data and control access across the network

While these energy management systems are implemented using a broad range of hardware and software platforms, they all have one thing in common--a need for a large number of RS-232, RS-422, or RS-485 serial ports to connect essential devices.

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APPLICATIONS

Energy Curtailment Management System

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Substation Monitoring and Control

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OTHER APPLICATION EXAMPLES

• Automated Meter Reading (AMR) system
• Natural gas well monitoring
• Mobile HVAC maintenance system

BACKGROUND

Energy management systems serve many functions including production, distribution, exploration, curtailment and delivery. These systems, whether implemented via SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) or another type of software solution, all require flawless performance in order to ensure that high quality power is consistently and reliably available.

While these energy management systems are implemented using a broad range of hardware and software platforms, they all have one thing in common--a need for a large number of RS-232, RS-422, or RS-485 serial ports to connect essential devices such as:

• Remote Terminal Units (RTUs)
• Master Terminal Units (MTUs)
• Automated Meter Readers (AMRs)
• Utility Meters
• Intelligent Electronic Devices (IEDs)
• Battery Monitors
• Energy Management Panels
• Gas Well Monitors
• System Safety Monitors

Traditionally these energy management systems are installed using costly, long shielded serial cable runs, computer gateways, and expensive dedicated phone lines. Device networking technology provides a fast and easy way to enhance performance of serial devices by permitting them to be remotely accessed for monitoring and maintenance from any computer on a wired or wireless network via Local or Wide Area Networks. In addition, by connecting mission-critical equipment such as Energy Management Panels to an always-on Ethernet link with a Master Data Center, power adjustments can be made instantaneously when the need arises--something not possible with the traditional dial-up connection. With serial tunneling technology two devices can communicate directly, even over extended distances (for example, a temperature sensor and a thermostat control) just as if they were connected by a serial cable.

What is the most reliable way to enhance performance for energy management systems?
Quatech Serial Device Servers lead the industry with the most powerful processor and the lowest latency available for device networking solutions. Easy to install and configure, our device networking product line is integrator friendly, offering easy to install and configure wired and wireless options with one to eight ports. Further, Quatech device servers function as standard COM ports, which means any system can be network-enabled without alteration to SCADA, Automatic Meter Reading, or other energy management software applications.