Electricity + Control June 2017

PLANT MAINTENANCE, TEST + MEASUREMENT

ROUND UP

AbilityTM Smart Sensor now available for the European market

The ABB Ability Smart Sensor is a remote conditionmonitoring solu- tion that enables users to check the status of their LV motors from a smartphone or dedicated web portal.The compact sensor of the size of a smartphone can be attached to motors of many manufacturers to pick up operating and performance data.The data are transmitted to the cloud and processed to produce useful information on motor health and performance. This information is supplied to the user in an easy-to-understand format. The solution enables predictive analytics that can boost uptime while reducing energy consumption. “We are extremely proud to announce that the ABB Ability Smart Sensor is now entering the European market, and will soon be avail- able in the US. It has been successfully trialled with many of our customers around the world.This solution is truly a quantum leap for millions of LV motors”, said Otto Preiss, Managing Director of ABB's Motors and Generators business unit. “It enables plant operators to do effective maintenance planning for their motors, assess the efficiency of their operation and prevent costly downtime. We are confident that this solution will not only transformmaintenance ap-

proaches but also create added operational value for our customers.” “Our pilot testers reported very positive results with the smart sensors”, said Jonas Spoorendonk, Global Product Manager of ABB Ability Smart Sensor. “In a typical example, a sensor at a chemical plant in Germany indicated that a pump motor was running in over- load every time it started.The problem turned out to be the incorrect operation of a valve.This was causing high pressure in the system and a great deal of stress on the pump and seals – a situation that the plant’s regular maintenance had no way to detect. In many other cases sensors have provided early warnings of bearing problems, enabling motors to be replaced well before they failed.” It is estimated that predictive maintenance based on data from the solution can help to reduce downtime by up to 70%, extend motor lifetime by as much as 30% and cut energy consumption by up to 10%.The sensor units can be factory fitted on new motors or retrofitted on installed motors within minutes.They are available for both ABB and non-ABB motors. Enquiries: Shivani Chetram. Email shivani.chetram@za.abb.com Containerised substations are incredibly useful in remote areas. Civil construction costs are high, and converting a standard marine specification container into a substation is significantly less expen- sive than arranging for on-site construction of switchgear housing. Another huge benefit of containerised substations is that they are fully equipped and assembled at the manufacturer’s premises, and can comprise bespoke combinations of distribution equipment, control gear and PLC equipment. All this equipment undergoes full function testing before being dispatched, which translates to huge time savings on site.They can even be pre-commissioned. Once on site, the containers are easily mounted on plinths, columns or skids. If mounted on columns, cable entry is possible through openings in the floor at the base of the container. If this is no possible, then exterior cable entry boxes, mounted to the exterior of the container, provide cable entry through the side.These boxes are removed during transport of the container. Some switchgear (such as ring main units) also need arcing ducts out of the sides or bottom of the container. In this instance, special modification to the container is needed to prevent an arc from af- fecting the interior environment. Containerised substations are most commonly used in more extreme environments, such as mines and open-air construction sites, among others. Containers are, by nature, well-sealed, meaning they offer an effective way of keeping dirt, dust and other pollutants out. Ventila- tion systems with filters can be fitted to maintain positive pressure within the container. Each system can be customdesigned to suit individual site require- ments, including high pollution environments. Marine containers vary in size, with the average size being about 10 metres long, five metres wide and four metres high.This means they can easily be transported on a standard low-loader and lowered into position using a crane. Enquiries: Johan Basson.Tel. +27 (0) 11 027 5804 or email info@jbswitchgear.co.za

Containerised substations – thinking inside the box

More than ever before, businesses are under pressure to reduce their operational costs and maximise their profits. One key area where big industries can make significant cost savings is by using purpose- made, containerised substations.These repurposedmarine shipping containers arrive on-site pre-installed with fully tested switchgear, ready for immediate cable connection.

Electricity+Control June ‘17

44