Sparks Electrical News May 2020

DBS, SWITCHES, SOCKETS AND PROTECTION

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Voltage optimisation – the solution to maximise energy savings J ust as you wouldn’t use a sledgehammer to crack a nut, using more energy than required to run various equipment is also a no-brainer. Everyone in the energy industry is aware that voltage optimisation has been used to reduce energy consumption in buildings but what is little-known is the unquantifiable costs caused by over-voltage. Any voltage in excess of 230 V can have a long-term effect on the on- going maintenance of that piece of equipment thus shortening its operating life or adding to maintenance costs. Extracts from the 16th Edition of the Electricians Guide – The Institute of Electrical Engineers IEE: • “A filament lamp rated at 230 V used at 240 V will achieve only 55% of its rated life (it will fail after about 550 hours instead of the average 1000 hours)”. • “Rechargeable batteries rated at 230 V will overheat and suffer drastic life reductions when fed with 240 V”. However, merely dropping the voltage is not the solution and certainly does not provide a risk-free option. Voltage needs to be controlled using ‘intel- ligent’ devices so that over-voltage can be controlled but site continuity can always be maintained. Only solid-state devices can provide risk and main- tenance free solutions that are equipped for the future of smart grids. All electrical equipment used in South Africa or Europe will work just as well at 220 V. If the incoming mains supply is > 242 V (which is the national average at most times), it is costing you more to do the same work as at 220 V. That is where an iVolt® (Intelligent Voltage Optimiser) could maxim- ise your energy savings. Voltage optimisation reduces your electricity bill by dropping the voltage from high levels to 220 V. Traditionally a step-down transformer may have been used to step the voltage down (buck the voltage) by a fixed percentage. This can cause a different problem where voltages are continually fluctuating, a fixed non- intelligent 10% step down can cause significant brown outs if the incoming mains supply drops to around 220 V or lower, damaging loads such as motors. The iVolt® is a state-of-the-art electronic voltage stabiliser. Taking meas- urements over 3 000 times per second, the iVolt® maximises energy sav- ings by using unique microprocessor, thyristor and transformer technology to ensure that the output power to your facilities is stable and optimised for maximum energy saving. Being solid state with no moving parts, there is no maintenance required for years of reliable service.

Speed up documentation and design process

Optimum dosage and fluid media monitoring KOBOLD’S ZED-D electronic dosage devices from Instrotech are ideally suited for dosing and monitoring fluid media. They process the signals from separately installed flow sensors and are mostly freely-configurable. The devices are suitable for panel mounting, for robust aluminium field housing (IP 65), for wall mounting or pipe mounting, and for direct fit- ting. For integration into standard industrial automation and monitoring systems, the intelligent electronics have two con- trol inputs, one dosage output, another switch output and one analogue output. Two relays are provided for dosage and monitoring. Whether for pump control, flow monitoring or filling and fine dosages, a large variety of possible settings provides the best possible ad- justment for the task at hand. This includes free scaling and a choice of engineering units. A password protects any settings made against operating errors. A well-arranged, easily readable two-line display indicates the current flow and the dosage quan- tity. The devices are operated by using menus and four keys. Key features of the ZED-D electronic dosage devices:

T he ConnectIT planning and design tool from ABB speeds up your project and saves valuable time when it comes to planning, documenta- tion and design processes. It is a free software that enables you to design efficient solutions based on ABB Kabeldon’s offering. Design solutions and obtain de- tails of its components as follows: • Enclosures and accessories. • Switching devices and bus- bar connections. • Busbar system. • Generate structured infor- mation for ordering, planning

and documentation • Single-line diagram, to which addresses, cable data and other details can be added. • Front panel sketch which can be used as a basis for com- ponent mounting. • Bill of material list of the complete system. ConnectIT is easy to use and lets you to freely create any desired combination of switching devices and enclosures. The design is done quickly and simply, with the aid of pictures and text.

Enquiries: www.abb.com

• 2 x 8-digit LC-display, backlit. • Frequency input: 0.2-2000Hz.

• 2 x relay outputs. • Analogue output. • Sensor supply. • Free scaling. • MIN/MAX memory. • Switchboard installation or field casing.

Enquiries: +27 (0)10 595 1831

New range of compact enclosures

A fter more than 50 years and 35 million enclo- sures sold, Rittal has introduced its small and compact enclosures in the form of the AX and KX series respectively. According to managing direc- tor of Rittal South Africa, Adrian Buddingh, digitalisation and automation in the era of Industry 4.0 are creating new enclosure challenges. “We have understood the new imperatives of digitalised industry and have developed a new generation of compact and small enclosures in re- sponse,” he says.

In conjunction with the introduction of the Blue e+ range and the VX25 large enclosure system, Rittal’s core offering has now been entirely redesigned and is fit to meet the requirements of Industry 4.0. “As the quantity of sensors and actuators installed in machines increases, so too does the number of components and cables to be accommodated within control systems and switchgear. Moreover, the digital age is increasingly making its pres- ence felt in switchgear workshops – with a growing need for automa- tion, greater flexibility and product availability,” he adds. Rittal provides effective support for the entire value chain, from en- gineering and ordering to automation. Its digital product twin delivers high quality data for the entire design, configuration and manufactur- ing process. QR codes allow all parts to be precisely identified and assigned. With the launch of the AX and KX, the new compact and small enclosures are now an integral part of this approach. “The Rittal Configuration System (RiCS), for example, allows the fast and simple configuration of enclosures, accessories and modifications. Moreover, an automatic plausibility check helps prevent erroneous choices,” Bud- dingh explains. Highly automated manufacturing The AX and KX series are manufactured in Haiger at the world’s most advanced manufacturing plant for compact and small enclosures, re- cently established in line with Industry 4.0 principles. In South Africa, stock is kept, ordered and serviced and can be modified to meet re- quirements. Simple, fast, flexible and safe The two latest additions to the Rittal enclosure portfolio offer custom- ers improved features and new opportunities for value creation. The AX and KX series offer: • 30% new functions • 30% less assembly time • 30% more space for cables The time savings begin with delivery to the customer. Panels can be removed individually; there is no need for the usual disassembly work. It is also easier to install doors and cam locks, typically without the need for tools. The wall mounting bracket can now be quickly screwed into place from the outside of the compact or small enclosure without

Enquiries: nick.allen@sollatek.co.za

impacting the protection rating. A further advantage is more ample space available in the AX and KX compared to their predecessors, the AE, CM, KL, EB and BG. “The increasing number of sensors and actuators being deployed in the switchgear industry is, in turn, raising the quantity of cables to be housed. The modular design, improved cut-outs and larger gland plates of these new enclosures create, on average, a third more space for cables,” Buddingh explains. In addition, integrated locators in the side panels enable simple, precise and time-saving incorporation of the interior installation rails. “These rails also make use of 25 mm spacing (pitch pattern); therefore it is possible to use accessories such as lights or terminal blocks from the VX25 portfolio,” he continues. Safety is a high priority with all Rittal enclosures. When components are installed in the AX and KX, their protection category is maintained without any restrictions. Overall, the new design features make the compact enclosures more robust and ensure greater resistance for dynamic loads. Suitable for many requirements The new product lines provide solutions for various customer re- quirements. KX small enclosures from 150 mm x 150 mm x 80 mm are suitable if only a few components are to be housed in terminal boxes and bus enclosures. AX compact enclosures are available with depths of between 120 mm and 400 mm, and in a maximum size of 1000 mm x 1400 mm. “For all models, there is a choice of spray- finished sheet steel or stainless steel. Despite the greater number of potential use cases, the total number of components and accessories and as a result the complexity, have been markedly reduced,” Bud- dingh concludes.

Enquiries: +27 (0)11 609 8294

SPARKS ELECTRICAL NEWS

MAY 2020