Electricity and Control November 2024

DRIVES, MOTORS + SWITCHGEAR : PRODUCTS + SERVICES

Drive-based solutions enhance operational efficiency

BMG’s NORD predictive maintenance solutions offer fast, efficient and comprehensive evaluation of analogue and digital data, to enhance the operational efficiency and safety of machines. This intelligence is collated via the PLC in NORD drive technology, which forms the ba sis for condition monitoring and predictive maintenance. NORD DRIVESYSTEMS – developed by Getriebebau Nord and assembled locally by BMG – bring together op timum drive configurations to ensure high performance of mechanical speed control for specific applications, in almost every industry. Local assembly at BMG World in Johannesburg supports prompt delivery of drive systems and the quick availability of spare parts. “BMG specialists use predictive maintenance as a methodical continuation of condition maintenance, with the prime objective of proactively maintaining machin ery and equipment by detecting operational changes,” says Deon Crous, National Sales Manager – Gears, for BMG’s Electromechanical Drives division. “Our NORD status-oriented maintenance system replaces traditional time-based maintenance to enhance the performance of the gear unit, electric motor and frequency inverter, for increased efficiency of the entire plant and reduced downtime,” he adds. “Digitalisation in drive technology boosts the value our customers derive from drive data. This is especially so in drive systems in demanding production environ ments, where industrial gear unit installations are usually used in critical applications and their failure could cause severe damage. They are used, for example, in mining, wastewater, intralogistics and the food industry, as well as in general heavy-duty applications.” Crous explains that BMG’s NORD drives for condition monitoring use intelligent algorithms and software. In an Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) environment, net worked drive units collect condition data in the inverter’s

The intelligent PLC in NORD drive technology forms the basis for condition monitoring and predictive maintenance. integrated Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) and pre-process it, together with data of connected sensors and actuators. “An important advantage of the system is that it offers our customers dependable data analysis, rather than just reading the data. Results of pre-processing or complete data can be optionally transmitted to an edge device, from which the data of all subsystems is managed and evaluated. This information is then available as pre selected and edited smart data for further use and clear visualisation,” says Crous. A common application, for example, is the determina tion of the optimum oil change time, without needing to use sensors and based on the oil temperature – which is the key indicator of oil ageing in gear units. This informa tion is assessed together with gear unit parameters and specific operational parameters, to calculate the appro priate oil change time. BMG’s electromechanical specialists can extend and adjust NORD drive equipment to serve specific automation tasks, including drive monitoring, drive control and pro cess control. The team can also advise customers about the correct PLC software architecture for each application.

For more information visit: www.bmgworld.net

New solar-powered VSD for agri applications

Industry Automation Marketing Manager at Schneider Electric South Africa says, “This product is part of our Access to Energy portfolio, so it is designed for use in remote areas or areas without access to grid electricity. However, it can also reduce energy costs if used in applications where there is electricity, because it is solar powered. When it is not connected to solar panels, the drive can be connected to the grid,” he explains. The Altivar Solar ATV320 VSD is suitable for use with different types of pumps, including submersible, surface mounted and water storage tank pumps. It is designed for both residential and agricultural applications.

Schneider Electric South Africa has launched its Altivar Solar ATV320 variable speed drive (VSD), a solar-powered drive solution that is compatible with a wide range of water pumps. It helps to ensure consistent water supply and supports the decarbonisation of irrigation pumping and agri-processing machinery. The Altivar Solar ATV320

is Schneider Electric’s re placement offer for the Altivar Solar 312 model, which will no longer be produced. The Altivar Solar ATV320 drive is robust, simple to commis sion and easy to integrate for pumping applications. Luthando Makiwane,

Agricultural applications “The Altivar Solar variable speed drive has seen significant

The Altivar Solar ATV320 variable speed drive harvests maximum solar energy to run the pump for the maximum duration in a day.

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12 Electricity + Control NOVEMBER 2024