Switches for smart grid and energy distribution

The new PRP redundancy modules enable parallel network redundancy without switchover times and thereby increase the fault tolerance in energy networks.

The modules enable the easy design of a parallel, high-availability network, without any configuration at all. At startup, the components must be connected according to the color designation on the device. Diagnostic functions via LEDs as well as a potential-free signal contact also support the design and operation of the parallel network. In order to be used in energy systems, components must be able to meet the demands of extreme electromagnetic, electrostatic, and climatic conditions. These are described in the IEC 61850-3 and IEEE 1613 standards, which the redundancy modules also fulfill.

A power supply with a wide supply range ensures reliable operation even in the event of a fluctuating supply voltage in the system.

Up to now, high system availability was either achieved using conventional processes with RSTP or by using proprietary processes with reconfiguration times of just a few milliseconds. For applications in the energy field, however, not even short switch-over times are sufficient – here, network availability is required completely without switch-over times. Thanks to the Parallel Redundancy Protocol (PRP), a standardised process according to IEC 62439-3, a correspondingly high network availability can be achieved.