ABB Adding New Digital Maintenance Manager to Help Cut Electrical Servicing Costs

ABB’s expansion of the cloud-based ABB Ability Electrical Distribution Control System is reportedly designed to deliver optimum service intervals, easy-to-action information and greater scalability, making power assets more reliable and simpler to manage via the new Digital Maintenance Manager.

ABB’s Electrical Distribution Control System is a cloud-based manager for electrical power systems that reportedly makes operations up to 30 percent more efficient and productive, maximizing uptime for key processes.  With plug-and-play modules that provide sensing and a direct connection to the cloud, ABB’s solution is fully scalable, enabling customers with multi-site operations to manage and supervise remote locations from anywhere.

A plug-and-play module links the intelligence and sensors embedded in ABB’s air circuit breakers with cloud-based data-processing software.  Users can already allocate energy consumption and costs to specific assets, and the ABB Ability Electrical Distribution Control System helps them optimize power use, receiving data-driven insights and alerts via smartphone, tablet or PC that are easy to action.

ABB servicing experts helped develop the new algorithms that will make maintenance smarter, quicker, and less expensive.  The software will enable users to remotely monitor the health of their power system – accurately predicting maintenance requirements and scheduling servicing only when needed.

The new function will optimize service intervals, replacing routine maintenance with intelligent servicing that matches real-world requirements based on the circuit breaker’s real utilization.  Factors include the number of mechanical operations; nominal current, overloads and short circuits; and environmental conditions, such as humidity, temperature, vibration and corrosion.  For mission-critical processes, the cloud-based solution will significantly reduce the risk of unplanned shutdowns.  Installations in harsh operating environments will have the clarity needed for effective asset management.

Air circuit breakers are among the most important safety devices in any large building or industrial facility.  When a fault occurs, devices such as the Emax 2 air circuit breaker protect people, plants and processes.  Servicing is essential – and by giving customers the right information at the right time, this new ABB solution will help make facilities better equipped and more productive.