Electricity + Control February 2019

CONTROL SYSTEMS + AUTOMATION

Recognising optimisation potential in electrical engineering Article supplied by Siemens

Planning and design of machine control panels are essential steps in the production of a new machine. As in all other engineering disciplines, the procedures and meth- ods are subject to constant change.

Electrical planning is re- sponsible for engineering the electrical equipment of the machine. Take Note!

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Engineering costs must not increase The principle of keeping costs as low as possible remains in force – even in the face of ever increas- ing requirements. This represents a contradiction that increasingly poses a problem. Ultimately, more and more control panels have to be designed and built in the same amount of time. The total costs in- curred for this, i.e. the total cost of ownership, can be subdivided into the following cost items: • Engineering: Costs that arise during electrical design (around 45% on average). • Devices and materials: Costs for integrated products, cables/wires and control panel ma- terials such as metal sheets and rail systems (around 45% on average). • Assembly and wiring: Costs for labour and ma- terials that arise during assembly and wiring of a control panel (around 10% on average). The engineering costs for a control panel account for a significant portion of the overall costs and yet they must decrease in order to remain competi- tive. This is what is behind today's growing cost pressure, and requires greater efficiency and opti- misation to counteract.

Digitalization and Industry 4.0 are often mentioned when a new software solution is introduced or processes are modified. But what is driving this change and what opportunities exist to further op- timise engineering to meet the growing demands? Time is always the problem Electrical planning – An important compo- nent of every machine planning In addition to the mechanical design and devel- opment of the automation concept, planning the electrical power supply and distribution is the third engineering discipline involved in production of a new machine. Electrical planning ensures that all components in a machine are supplied reliably and safely with power. In most cases, it provides the framework for the automation engineer; spec- ifying things like communication, topology and control concept. The documentation created in the process is, in effect, a certificate of insurance and serves as proof that the electrical equipment of the machine is designed in conformance with applicable guidelines and standards and that the required protection goals are met. All switching, contacting and controlling components find their place in the control and machine panels. Electrical planning is responsible for engineering the electri- cal equipment of the machine.

Reasons for the growing cost pressure Reasons for the increasing cost pressure are var-

12 Electricity + Control

FEBRUARY 2019