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Solution Note
Low Voltage Transformation Site
Communications with Distributed Security
in an Evolving Smart-Grid Network
Target Market
Summary description
• Electricity distribution companies
The customer is an electricity distribution system operator that deploys a new smart-grid
network, including smart-meters and distributed grid automation.
deploying smart grid networks
RAD Products Included
• RADiflow 3080
Emerging electricity smart grid solutions optimize the electricity network by adding
distributed mini-generators, enhancing the distributed automation of the grid and
dynamically adjusting the power consumption of the consumers. The resulting smart grid
introduces additional elements into the distributed medium/low voltage transformation
sites such as smart meter concentrators, grid automation monitoring and control devices.
As a result, they evolve into intelligent secondary sub-stations with online communication
with the control center.
The RADiFlow 3080 industrial Ethernet switch available from RAD Data Communications is
deployed at every secondary sub-station to connect local devices to the aggregation
network via an external PLC and/or WiMAX modems with RSTP topology for redundancy. In
addition, the switch provides a service-aware firewall for the IEC 104 protocol to secure
the distributed automation arriving to the controllers at each site.
Main benefits
· Optimized networking solution for secondary sub-stations using the compact yet highly
integrated functions in the ruggedized switch include Ethernet switching and IP routing,
encrypted IPSec tunnels, a variety of interfaces, including Ethernet, copper and fiber, and
an integrated cellular modem.
· Advanced security solution protecting distributed automation devices from malicious
access by attackers who already have gained access to the internal network. This is
achieved using the service-aware firewall integrated into the switch, which continuously
analyzes the grid automation communication protocols that reach every secondary substation over Ethernet/MPLS.
Solution Note
Low Voltage Transformation Site Communications with
Distributed Security in an Evolving Smart-Grid Network
Detailed description
As the smart grid evolves, the secondary sub-stations of the distribution network now
include, in addition to the traditional MV/LV transformers, smart-meter concentrators and grid
automation monitoring and control functions.
· Such intelligent functionality requires online communications, which presents several
challenges for the electricity distribution system operator
· Fitness for harsh environmental conditions
· Support for various wireline and wireless backbone connections
· Securing sensitive information when using a public network
· Securing the critical distributed automation application
· Connecting legacy equipment to the IP-based network
RADiFlow 3080
Industrial Ethernet Switch
The RADiflow 3080 is uniquely optimized to meet all of these requirements by providing:
· A ruggedized system compliant to IEC 61850-3/IEEE 1613 requirements
· Copper and fiber Ethernet ports and integrated 2G/3G cellular modem
· GRE over IPSec tunnels for use over the public backbone
· Application security using a distributed service-aware firewall for the specific industrial
automation protocols used in the smart-grid network (i.e. IEC 104)
· Application convergence, using Ethernet and serial user ports, with an application gateway
for serial-based devices to the Ethernet network (i.e. IEC 101 to IEC 104 gateway)
Corporate Headquarters
RAD Data Communications Ltd.
24 Raoul Wallenberg Street
Tel Aviv 69719, Israel
Tel: 972-3-6458181
Fax: 972-3-6498250
email: [email protected]
US Headquarters
RAD Data Communications Inc.
900 Corporate Drive
Mahwah, NJ 07430, USA
Tel: (201) 529-1100
Toll free: (800) 444-7234
Fax: (201) 529-5777
email: [email protected]
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