ABB unveils industrial-scale wireless condition monitoring solution
02/09/2020
ABB has unveiled a scalable, high-performance wireless condition monitoring solution for large industrial applications.Customers with large sites, such as automotive manufacturing facilities, processing plants or airport baggage handling systems, can now utilise ABB Ability Smart Sensor technology together with Aruba WiFi infrastructure to capture valuable health and performance data from their rotating equipment. It is then possible to access this information via a web portal, a cloud interface, a tablet or a mobile phone application for further analysis that will provide useful insights into their operations.
The use of wireless sensors eliminates the cost and complexity associated with the installation, wiring and connection of sensors. It will now be easier for customers to deploy condition monitoring across their entire operation, potentially covering hundreds or even thousands of individual motors, pumps, bearings and gearing. Furthermore, with ABB’s Smart Sensor for hazardous areas, the scope of the technology will be extended to include oil, gas and chemical processing plants.
One of the pilot installations of ABB Ability Smart Sensors operating over Aruba infrastructure is being commissioned at Axpo, one of Switzerland’s largest producers of renewable energy and an international leader in energy trading. Commercial installations are currently under discussion with a number of customers.
Meanwhile, based on its analysis of the global transfer switch market, Frost & Sullivan has awarded ABB the 2019 Global New Product Innovation Award for its TruONE automatic transfer switch (ATS).
The award recognises the value-added features/benefits of the product and the increased return on investment (ROI) it gives customers, which, in turn, raises customer acquisition and overall market penetration potential.
ABB claims that its TruONE ATS is the first device of its kind to integrate sensors, controllers, switches and operator interfaces into a single seamless unit. The integration enables the TruONE ATS to offer predictive analytics and condition monitoring capabilities that improve the reliability, safety and efficiency of operations. TruONE also makes configuration and maintenance easier by replacing complex wiring and connections with a single self-contained design.
Giampiero Frisio, Managing Director of ABB Smart Power, said: “ABB innovates to solve real-world problems for our customers. By integrating everything that critical power applications need into one seamless unit, the TruONE ATS is designed to make critical power simpler and more reliable. To receive recognition from the experts at Frost & Sullivan for this innovation is a fantastic achievement for the teams of engineers and designers behind the TruONE ATS.”
The TruONE ATS features several design and engineering improvements over conventional ATS devices, including more efficient load transfer due to an innovative contact construction using new materials and geometries. Its unprecedented flexibility in configuration enables future expansion, while its compact, lightweight form reduces the number of interconnects down to one. Elimination of relay-based accessories and the pre-assembled design of the TruONE allows for faster installation and commissioning.
This state-of-the-art ATS device has multiple communication protocols, along with software-based solutions from the ABB Ability digital platform, which enables remote diagnostics and cloud-based monitoring of critical power systems. Furthermore, the TruONE ATS’s built-in predictive maintenance and condition monitoring features reduce the cost of operation and maintenance of the equipment. Owing to its wide voltage range of 200 to 480 VAC (±20% tolerance), original equipment manufacturers and distributors can simplify stocking, installation and service while guaranteeing high reliability of the equipment.
The Frost & Sullivan Best Practices awards recognise companies in a variety of regional and global markets for demonstrating outstanding achievement and superior performance in areas such as leadership, technological innovation, customer service and strategic product development. Industry analysts compare market participants and measure performance through in-depth interviews, analysis and extensive secondary research to identify best practices in the industry.
