DS-JAN23-PG10_Layout 1 05/01/2023 17:01 Page 1


FEATURE


POWER


a dIgItal ‘breakerthrough’ The humble circuit breaker is often taken for


granted, yet today it has taken a quantum leap into the 21st century through digitalisation, as Sami Raitakoski, global head of ABB’s Control & Protection Products, explains


R


e-imagining power systems has never been more relevant as we face up to a global climate crisis and need to


tackle energy security and reliability in such challenging times. However, we can always rely on an unassuming, yet highly adaptable, component – the circuit breaker – which has long played a critical role in energy distribution networks globally. Mainly used in utilities, power generation


and renewables applications, or substations in cities, it protects electrical systems from damage by interrupting and safely re- establishing a disrupted current flow. If a power interruption occurs, a circuit breaker isolates the section of the network at risk within milliseconds – which is ten times faster than the blink of an eye – to safeguard the energy flow. With demand for


resilient and constant power accelerating at breakneck speed, however, even the small but perfectly formed circuit breaker has some limits in today’s world.


tacklIng outages and shutdowns


As demand for resilient power around the clock accelerates, outages and supply shutdowns are still a concern for switchgear operators. These scenarios are not only financially costly, but are also potentially damaging to corporate reputation. Often, the origins are unknown. This is where circuit breaker technology has


taken a quantum leap into the 21st century through digitalisation, assisting end users and system integrators to unlock the value of their assets through intelligent insight and data. Digitalisation helps to optimise processes


and control for better decision making, lower maintenance and inspection costs, plus reduce downtime – while the real time analytical data it delivers also drives new levels of energy management and efficiency to save valuable time, money and resource. Indeed, original equipment manufacturers


(OEMs) and panel builders can now take advantage of smarter integrated and digitally enhanced MV circuit breakers – complete with


Industry 4.0 level sensing technology – without having to completely change installations, make substantial investments or transform operations.


sImple and cost effectIve


In today’s increasingly challenging times, though, it must be about plug and play solutions that make that switch to digital operations seamless, simple and cost effective – and facilitate easy and accurate energy monitoring, whether locally or remotely. Embedded solutions allow OEMs and panel


builders to significantly speed up the engineering time. The sensors and concentrator unit come directly integrated within the circuit breaker frame, without additional wiring or connections – and the analytics running in the software are set up in each unit, so that it comes fully configured and ready to be put into service. Additionally,


the built-in communications found in intelligent circuit breakers allows users to accurately measure energy consumption without additional meters or equipment, delivering critical data


about power distribution system and energy. These parameters can be remotely accessed to analyse user-defined energy consumption metrics, such as consumption patterns, peak demand costs, peak power usage times and overall energy costs, segmented by each piece of equipment. With key information delivered via a simple,


intuitive dashboard, this approach enables improved visibility of equipment data, status and condition from anywhere in the world – and is completed with diagnostics reports and alarm notifications. Alongside this, through technological


enhancements, it becomes easier to predict wear and tear and increase overall lifespan and output, helping to save thousands of dollars per solution when compared to traditional MV switchgear.


Increase operatIon and maIntenance effIcIency


This all adds up to significant operational and financial benefits for end users, such as utilities and industries. Thanks to the ability to detect and detect issues signals ahead of time, which reduces the risk of power outages by 30%, it is possible to achieve savings in the range of 100k USD, depending on the application¹. It also increases operation and maintenance efficiency by as much as 60%², minimising Opex expenses. The accelerating demand for 24/7 energy


requires constant monitoring to provide real- time or near-real-time analysis of power performance. Digital circuit breakers help via electrical, mechanical, thermal and dynamic temperature diagnostics, but can further be integrated with a combined energy and asset management solution to give full remote system visibility and a more complete understanding of how to drive energy efficiencies. So, the humble but constantly evolving circuit


breaker is now unlocking a more resilient, efficient, safer and environmentally sustainable power distribution network – by facilitating the transition to a brighter digital future. In the wake of an exponential growth in


demand that will only continue its upward trajectory, design engineers must now push new frontiers too, building digital connectivity and intelligence into their solutions to achieve ever greater energy management and operational efficiency.


ABB www.abb.com


To discover more about the digital evolution of ABB’s leading edge circuit breaker technology visit: https://new.abb.com/medium-voltage/apparatus/circuit-breakers/indoor-CB/iec-primary-vacuum-cb-vd4/vd4-


evo 1


Based on average of three outages in a switchgear lifetime calculated for a high duty industry according to


data in “IEEE 493-2007 Annex A. End customer survey summary” and full optional configuration 2


Independently from site condition, for more info see ABB Service SWAP program. Optimal conditions (such as Monitoring & Diagnostics in VD4 evo) can extend interval times between maintenance according to NFPA


10 DESIGN SOLUTIONS DECEMBER/JANUARY 2023


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60