'Maintaining the status quo' approach no longer fit for purpose

ELECTRIFICATION AND digitalisation are delivering value way beyond emissions reduction and decarbonisation. They are also optimising processes, providing real time data insights and control for better decision making, lowering maintenance and inspection costs, plus reducing downtime.

However, as unexplained outages continue to disrupt operations and rack up costs and expenses, the norm for many companies is still to let their electrical equipment run for a few years before shutting down for one or two weeks to check for any issues. 

Taking a preventative approach

Power supply malfunction is a particular concern in medium and low voltage switchgear projects and operations - with maintenance budgets generally decreasing and a lack of experienced technicians - so it is all about reducing the pain points whilst remaining sustainable and accountable. 

Granted, with condition-based maintenance, the equipment itself can identify if something is outside of normal parameters, so issues can be addressed before they become failures, but savvy operators are taking a more advanced and preventative approach and replacing non-digital, older circuit breakers with smarter AI-driven breakers linked to cloud-computing platforms. 

Indeed, original equipment manufacturers and panel builders are taking advantage of digitally enhanced and integrated MV circuit breakers like our new VD4 evo - complete with Industry 4.0 level sensing technology - without having to completely change installations, make substantial investments or transform operations. 

A plug and play approach

In today's increasingly challenging times though, it must be about plug and play solutions that make that switch to digital operations seamless, simple and cost effective - and facilitate easy and accurate energy monitoring, whether locally or remotely.   

With key information delivered via a simple, intuitive dashboard, this approach enables improved visibility of equipment data, status and condition from anywhere in the world - and is completed with mechanical, thermal and dynamic temperature diagnostics reports and alarm notifications. 

Alongside this, through technological enhancements it becomes easier to predict wear and tear and increase overall lifespan and output, helping to save thousands of dollars per solution when compared to traditional MV switchgear. 

This all adds up to significant operational and financial benefits for end users, because detecting issues ahead of time reduces the risk of power outages by over 30%. It also increases operation and maintenance efficiency by as much as 60%, thereby minimising Opex expenses.   

Equally, the ability to make better decisions in all aspects of installation and repair work ensures advanced safety and protection for personnel and maintenance staff.  

A combined energy and asset management solution

Monitoring at the digital circuit breaker level can support energy management through predictive electrical system maintenance, which eliminates constant and expensive reviewing of otherwise healthy breakers.

They are available as a standalone solution, but can soon be integrated with a combined energy and asset management solution like ABB's Ability Asset Manager platform, which provides in-depth analysis, trends reporting and predictive maintenance on multiple devices and systems, 24-7, remotely and via a mobile device.

This in turn provides a newly improved user experience and is fully optimised to deliver improved safety and reliability, higher levels of protection, plus a more complete understanding of how to optimise maintenance practices and energy efficiencies. 

The devil is in the increased data detail, collected via the advanced sensors, and being able to accurately predict a fault, loose connection or specific downtime situation is absolutely key when it comes to saving valuable time, money and resource.

Sami Raitakoski is global head of ABB's control and protection products division

For more information: 

global.abb

Tel: 0808 258 2000