Electricity + Control July 2019

round up

DRIVES, MOTORS + SWITCHGEAR

Smart sensor for condition monitoring in LV motors

There are also opportunities to optimise motors’ energy consumption. By combining data on the energy consumption levels of individual motors with plant operating information, it is possible to select the most appropriate motors to cut energy costs. This supports operators’ efforts to reduce their overall cost of motor ownership. ABB Ability™ connects users to the power of the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT). It can combine data collected by the motor sensor with data from other connected equipment, such as variable- speed drives and pumps. This data can be accessed and analysed remotely, providing deeper insight into the health of the entire process. ABB offers a digital advantage by combining connectivity and data analytics with its industrial expertise to make operations more efficient, predictable and safe. Enquiries: ABB South Africa. Tel. +27 (0)10 202 5000, or visit: https://new.abb.com/africa

Users can check the status of motors at any time with their smartphones via the ABB Ability™ Smart Sensor app. The interface includes a ‘traffic light’ display to give a quick overview of all the motors being monitored. Users also receive clear recommendations on how to optimise maintenance and save costs. - Red indicates a critical issue – failure likely soon. Take action as soon as possible. - Yellow – operation can continue but the motor should be watched closely and serviced at the next possible opportunity. - Green – the motor is fine – operation can continue. ABB Ability™ Smart Sensor converts machines into smart, wirelessly connected devices. It providesmeaningful information on motor condition and performance, enabling users to put intelligence into their maintenance. Plant management teams can plan maintenance according to actual needs rather than only on the basis of time intervals or operating hours. This cuts maintenance costs and reduces or potentially eliminates unplanned stops.

ABB Ability™ Smart Sensor is a condition monitoring solution that enables predictive maintenance for low voltage (LV) motors. By monitoring and analysing data on motor operating parameters, motor users can avoid unexpected downtime, optimise efficiency and improve safety. In the past, permanently installed condition monitoring was generally too expensive to use with most LV motors. As a result, many of these motors were run until they failed. ABB’s new cost-efficient solution changes that.With a payback time estimated at less than a year, it makes remote monitoring possible for almost all LV motors. Industrial companies can further implement condition monitoring for the entire LV motor fleet in their plants. Condition monitoring means that maintenance activities can be planned in advance. This reduces downtime and supports longer motor lifetimes. At the same time, the smart sensor solution generates ‘big data’ on the status of large numbers of motors, providing the basis for predictive maintenance and plant-wide optimisation of operations and energy consumption. A compact sensor unit that can be easily attached to motors without wiring is at the heart of the solution. As an option, selected ranges of ABB LV motors can be factory-fitted with the sensors. For already installed motors, retrofit kits are available providing for motors to be field upgraded with sensors. Mounting and configuring the sensors is quick. They are compatible with almost all LV motors, new or old, from ABB or other vendors. The sensor monitors signals from the motor, accurately measuring key parameters at regular intervals. It transfers the data, using built-in Bluetooth ® low- energy technology, to a smartphone or gateway and to a secure cloud-based server. Data communications use industry standard encryption protocols and all data is stored in the cloud in encrypted form. Advanced algorithms based on ABB’s extensive know-how analyse the data to produce meaningful information. The server sends this information directly to the user’s smartphone and to a dedicated ABB Ability™ Smart Sensor portal. Data is also tracked over time for trend analysis.

The ABB Ability™ Smart Sensor provides a condition monitoring solution for LV motors.

34 Electricity + Control

JULY 2019