Power transmission and distribution for energy-intensive industries is controlled by a computer network ranging from the control functions of remote intelligent field level devices via the process and plant control level to the management level with its HMI clients.

3U CompactPCI® systems are used as the computing heart of a station master system on the plant control level. As these systems need to be modular for an optimum adaptation to the different plant configuration needs, a modular 19" standard like CompactPCI®, CompactPCI® PlusIO or CompactPCI® Serial is the perfect solution. The same applies for the configuration of redundant station master units that are required to enhance the availability of the plant control level. The communication between all plant automation levels as well as between redundant station master units is based on Gigabit Ethernet LAN.

The 3U COTS single-board computer F15 inside the CompactPCI® system is based on Intel® Core™ Duo architecture and state-of-the-art PC interfaces. It comes with an F603 extension card with additional USB and COM interfaces. Using the ANSI standard mezzanine M-Modules™ M77, another 16 RS232 or RS485 can be added when required. A custom designed switch board supports the system's two redundant PSUs that are necessary to improve availability.