The solution also records temperature values for switching elements and plug contacts, allowing Evonik to prevent thermal losses and premature mechanical wear. The ABB system ensures that Essen’s production-critical power distribution system benefits from an extended service life and significantly increased availability.
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Unlocking energy efficiency: The crucial role of real-time transparency
“Electrical energy has never been as valuable as today,” says Carsten Liedtke, Head of Operations at Evonik Technology & Infrastructure in Essen, responsible for the measurement, control, and management of its energy supply. For Liedtke, energy efficiency has one fundamental requirement: maximum transparency for the site’s complex supply network in terms of real-time consumption and availability. "Only with valid real-time information can we optimize our production’s energy requirements in a targeted way. This is extremely important for our costs and for the CO2 footprint of our production."
Carsten Liedtke aimed to pursue and expand the real-time digital monitoring of the site’s production-critical supply infrastructure. The upcoming replacement of a low voltage switchgear with a modern ABB MNS provided a welcome opportunity to advance his digitization plans.
Valid real-time information enables Evonik to optimize its energy requirements in a targeted way 
With ABB Ability™ CMES, Evonik has temperatures under control 
Evonik
Centralized database management for technical status information
In addition to standard multimeters and energy meters, the ABB team also installed temperature sensors at critical connection points within the switchgear. Each sensor feeds data into the central ABB Ability™Condition Monitoring for Electrical System (CMES). “CMES gives Evonik real-time transparency about the current status of each individual switching component,” says Thorsten Volz, Global Product Manager for Low Voltage Switchgear Digital Systems at ABB.
Like all ABB Ability™ digitization solutions, ABB Ability™ CMES is available as either a multi-site cloud solution or an on-premise system. Evonik opted for an on-premise installation, which logs information in the central CMES database regarding both consumption and the status of switching elements within the new power supply infrastructure. The contact temperatures of plug, busbar, and cable connections are of particular focus.
“Conventional infrared measurements only provide snapshots: the CMES analyses a permanent record of the values along with the actual electrical current, enabling analysis at selected points and long-term evaluations,” explains Volz.
Reduced thermal loss, wear, and maintenance expenses
Temperature fluctuations at contact points are indicators of loose connections or material fatigue. They can increase the contact’s electrical resistance, thereby increasing thermal losses and the risk of arcing faults. Both factors reduce energy efficiency and threaten system availability. “With ABB’s CMES, we are able to identify potential weak points in advance and address them in good time –before the power supply fails,” says Liedtke.
With real-time transparency of the plant’s complete electrical supply platform, the ABB Ability™ CMES enables Evonik to implement flexible maintenance concepts. Maintenance can be performed based on the actual condition of components, rather than rigid intervals. This predictive maintenance approach helps identify wear and tear, thereby avoiding unnecessary work.
“The digitization of our power distribution with ABB Ability™ CMES is significantly improving energy efficiency, increasing the stability of the production-critical power supply and, thanks to predictive maintenance, is extending the service life of the switchgear,” says Liedtke. “All three fit perfectly with Evonik’s sustainability strategy.”
