In this issue of Electricity + Control we look to the future of industry in terms of energy management and environmental engineering – and the real potential for green manufacturing – as well as the move towards mainstreaming of edge computing in Industry 4.0 and the Industrial Internet of Things. At the same time, taking care of existing assets, attending to plant maintenance, safety and appropriate technologies for high risk processes and hazardous areas, remain fundamental to plant longevity and industry efficiencies. In his comment, Ian Jandrell highlights the risks of neglecting maintenance – the evidence is clear for all of us to see. With regard to equipment and instrumentation we focus on drives, motors + switchgear and temperature measurement.
DRIVES, MOTORS + SWITCHGEAR
Advancing motor drive solutions
Control Techniques, part of the Nidec Group, looks at the challenges of selecting, operating, maintaining and upgrading drive control systems for different industry applications in the context of factory automation and requirements for IIoT connectivity.
ENERGY MANAGEMENT + ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING
Why green manufacturing is crucial for a low-carbon future
Jean-Pascal Tricoire, Chairman and CEO of Schneider Electric, argues for change in business and manufacturing mindset and processes to mitigate the industrial impact on climate change and other environmental concerns. He presents tangible ways to drive sustainable practices that can make green manufacturing an achievable goal.
ON THE COVER
Schneider Electric South Africa launches new Easergy P3 protection relay
Easergy P3 is described as the latest innovation in medium-voltage protection relay, designed to handle the challenges of modern electrical protection and distribution network management.
HAZARDOUS AREAS + SAFETY
New generation of safety controllers
Dr Martin Früchtl, Safety Technology, Beckhoff Automation, presents the new TwinSAFE system which offers increased options in modularity, scalability, openness and adaptability – for applications ranging from stand-alone custom machine solutions to distributed safety systems across complex networks.
K-class fluid and the prevention of fire in transformers
Roberto Ignacio da Silva of Cargill Brazil, reports on tests of dielectric liquids which demonstrate that K-class fluids – defined as fluids that have a fire point higher than 300°C – provide an increased margin of safety in transformers, mitigating fire and related risks associated with transformer failures.
INDUSTRY 4.0 + INDUSTRIAL INTERNET OF THINGS
Edge computing: the next wave of data centre modernisation
Dave Laurello, CEO of Stratus Technologies, a Rockwell Automation Encompass Partner, defines edge computing as computing infrastructure that exists close to the source of data and performs hosting, storage, computing and analysis to push aggregate data to a centralised plant. In this article, he looks at factors such as real-time access and data security that are pulling edge computing into the mainstream.
PLANT MAINTENANCE, TEST + MEASUREMENT
Inspecting steam systems to maintain optimum efficiencies
Steam is generally an efficient way to transport heat energy in industrial applications, but it comes at a cost and because it is typically transmitted at high temperature and high pressure, it can present a safety hazard. This Fluke application note on the use of thermal imagers in monitoring steam systems highlights the importance of regular inspection, monitoring and effective maintenance.
TEMPERATURE MEASUREMENT
Open-pit mining in diamond deposit
The Grib Mine in Russia’s icy Mezensky District, is one of the largest diamond deposits in the world. Keller, represented in South Africa by Instrotech, has supplied automatic water level monitoring systems that monitor underground water levels and temperatures in wells sunk within a 5km radius around the deposit area. The installation provides for savings on the special-purpose vehicles and staff that would otherwise be needed to conduct manual monitoring at the remote wells.
WRITE @ THE BACK
Global supply chain needs to step up cyber security
A study done on behalf of Inmarsat, the global, mobile satellite communications company, indicates that although enterprises across the global supply chain recognise that they need to strengthen their cyber security practices, most don’t have the skills or technologies in-house to do so. This is where specialist providers offering fully managed IIoT security solutions can assist.
