FEATURE ENERGY MANAGEMENT BENEFITS OF SMART ATS
Len McGanity, product manager for ABB, answers a few questions about how the latest generation of Automatic Transfer Switch (ATS) is capable of digital monitoring and control, and what that means for industrial and commercial facilities
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n the case of a power outage, an ATS will switch between two supplies or start a backup generator to ensure a smooth transfer of power. ATS units are essential in industrial, commercial and some residential buildings because even highly reliable power supplies with ‘five nine’ reliability of 99.999 per cent will experience an outage. Multiple ATSs can be installed at
mission-critical equipment to maintain a constant power supply for servers, safety equipment and essential process kit. They are also installed in almost all
buildings higher than three stories, including residential towers, as well as commercial buildings like offices, retail centres and sports and entertainment venues. In buildings like these, ATSs power
sprinkler pumps, smoke extractors, emergency lighting and fire lifts and meet the BS 8519 fire safety standard of 2010. Such safety systems are a particular area of focus since the Grenfell Tower tragedy in 2017, with subsequent investigations showing the importance of fire safety equipment.
WHAT ARE THE IMPORTANT FEATURES OF AN ATS? High reliability is vital. In the past, some ATSs have been complex, requiring external sensors and control systems. Some ATS units have as many as 30 individual wires between the switch and its controller, with every connector being a potential source of failure. In comparison, the latest models, such as the new ABB TruOne ATS has a single wire between the switch and controller to give an inherently high level of reliability. The ability to manually operate the
switch under load is also important. It allows restoration of power immediately in the case of an equipment malfunction but is not straightforward for all ATS types. Simplicity of design is also helpful as it means ease of installation and
34 MAY 2018 | AUTOMATION
maintenance. This is enabled by reducing the number of external components, together with their wiring and cabling. Instead, plug-in modular accessories can be used. Not only does this save installation
time, but panel builders can use standard cabinets with no need to dedicate space in a cabinet for accessories. It also saves maintenance and down-time as operators can change modules quickly. As a safety-critical unit, an ATS should
also be able to operate reliably in unforeseen circumstances, even after exposure to a short circuit. Therefore, it’s worth checking that it can operate in extreme temperature and voltage conditions.
WHY IS DIGITAL COMMUNICATION IMPORTANT FOR AN ATS? The trend towards intelligent buildings means that facility owners now expect key equipment to integrate into building management systems, SCADA systems and cloud-based control systems. Built- in metering, diagnostics and communication modules enable the latest generation of ATSs to support this. One benefit is remote condition
monitoring and diagnostics, which enables facility managers to constantly track the health of equipment. This helps to make the most of operational budgets by carrying out maintenance only when it is needed.
Another advantage during installation
and commissioning is remote programming, configuration and testing. This is particularly helpful when working on multiple ATSs on a single project as
they can all be configured from a central point, rather than locally at each unit. A new capability is the integration of automatic load shedding into the ATS itself. This is important for some facilities where the backup generator is only sized to power essential loads. Previously, this would have required a system of load control devices, external meters, PLCs and controllers. These can be replaced by integrating an intelligent decision-making module into the ATS itself. This will automatically disconnect low priority loads as part of its process of powering up and switching over to the genset, before reversing this process automatically when power returns. However, this functionality can only be
achieved if the ATS is compatible with the facility’s communication protocol, such as Profibus, Modbus, DeviceNet, Profinet, Modbus TCP, EtherNet/IP, Open ADR or IEC 61850. Some ATS units are able to use any two of these at once.
WHY HAS ABB LAUNCHED THE TRUONE ATS? Existing ATSs are based on a combination of switches, controllers, sensors and communications interfaces. Feedback from the industry was that these can be time-consuming and complex to install and maintain. As a result, ABB developed the TruONE
ATS as the first device to integrate the switch and controller in a single package. Its goal was to enable straightforward and standardised installation, compatibility with worldwide standards and future- proofed communication capabilities. The single connector between switch
and controller is an important feature. Studies show that it can speed up installation by 80 per cent and reduce cabling and commissioning time by up to 90 per cent. It can also improve safety for operational staff. This is because the ATS can be switched manually without opening the panel door, which is isolated from line voltage.
ABB T: 0333 999 9900
new.abb.com/uk/power-distribution- solutions
/AUTOMATION
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