What SCADA software would be suitable...

[georgeo 0]

Hi guys, I was wondering if any of you could help me with suggesting some appropriate software. I'm a University power system researcher (with little control/automation experience) trying to set up a power system closed loop test rig. The setup entails the following components: 1) A Real Time Digital Simulator providing data through it's GTNET card (http://www.rtds.com/hardware/gtnet/gtnet.html). This is acting as a DNP3 slave device as I want it to send status data out and take control signals in that I send it. 2) A Java application which houses my research algorithms for monitoring and controlling the power network in (1). I need to get the data flowing two-ways out between the RTDS (DNP slave device) and my Java application. I understand that I need to implement a DNP3 master station to obtain/send data from/to the RTDS, but it has to be one that can subsequently pass on the information to some sort of open system that I can somehow interface my application with it. So my application requirements/preferences are: 1) Has to be capable of polling a DNP3 slave device and sending it control signals. (There will likely be only one device for the foreseeable future). 2) Cannot be too expensive or open source or free in an ideal world. I have a budget of say up to $1000 max, this is potentially a one-off research project. 3) Has to have some capability of importing and exporting data in real time directly or indirectly from a third party application (my software). 4) Ideally will involve as few interfaces as possible (don't want to end up passing the data between 10 applications before it comes out to an system I can tap into). I have looked at a few applications, but the majority seem to be lacking any facility to send the data to any software system outside of the SCADA application. My understanding is that this is quite difficult to do due to the nature of SCADA, but there must be a solution, looking for the cleanest. Any pointers would be great, there's so much stuff out there its hard to know for someone not directly in the industry, where to look. Any guidance would be most appreciated.

[Mark- 17]

Hello, PeakHMI can perform the task listed. Contact sales@hmisys.com for an educational discount. Regards, Mark http://www.peakhmi.com/

[BobLfoot 301]

I had to do a little checking and self-teaching on the whole DNP3 thingy but the AB Micrologix 1400 can function as a DNP3 master. See this link for the start of the info http://www.ab.com/programmablecontrol/plc/micrologix1400/. Your java app could use OPC to pull data direct from the Micrologix 1400 over ethernet or serial depending on how you desire to hook yourm PC running java to the micrologix.

[Mark- 17]

Hello, The " GTNET" is an Ethernet card. The 1400 only does DNP via serial. Good luck, Mark http://www.peakhmi.com/

[georgeo 0]

Thank you both for the responses guys. I am looking for a software only solution which hosts DNP3 over TCP/IP, so something such as the PeakHMI application looks ideal. Thanks for the PLC idea though, I didn't realise some PLC's could act as SCADA masters (just thought slave). I would like the master and my application both on the localhost if possible though. I've been having a play this weekend with the PeakHMI demo software. It was easy to setup, have established some connectivity (sent some data) and found it easy to publish the data on the embedded OPC server. I'm now just checking I can incorporate something such as the JEasyOPC open source OPC client application into my java application to connect to the PeakHMI OPC server. If I can get this working, I think this solution will suit and will probably look into getting an Educational License. Thanks again for the help, regards, George

[Nathan 7]

You can try a free evaluation version of Ignition. One strong advantage is that you, as a Java programmer, can write your own native modules using whatever Java standard libraries and the Ignition platform. My big point of confusion is the DNP3 interface. I'm not sure if the free Modbus OPC-UA driver would work (without a gateway). You could certainly communicate fine with a gateway, OPC server, or using your own Java DNP3 driver like Dexter or DNP34J. What does your Java application currently do?

[automationtechie 0]

Hi all, Please feel free to try our free demo version of King View or King SCADA. We offer free tech support. If you have any questions, please feel free to email or call us. King View is for Small to Medium projects http://www.icpdas-usa.com/king_view.php King SCADA is for larger projects and those in which you would like enhanced graphics. http://www.icpdas-usa.com/king_scada.php