New ABB digital maintenance manager cuts electrical servicing costs and boosts reliability by up to 30 percent

ABB industrial customers will soon be able to receive alerts for predictive maintenance of their facility's electrical distribution system. The company is adding new connectivity functions to its ABB Ability^TM Electrical Distribution Control System that make power assets more reliable and simpler to manage.

Valeria Cornelli, Global Service Product Manager for ABB's Protection and Connection business, said: "The more people and companies digitize their work and processes, the more important reliable power supplies become. That is why ABB's latest advance in low-voltage power aims to eliminate a common cause of preventable disruptions. This new cloud-based software application for air circuit breakers makes predictive maintenance even easier - it's a unique solution that will save ABB's industrial customers time and money."

ABB's Electrical Distribution Control System is a unique cloud-based manager for electrical power systems that 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 unique 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's digital maintenance manager makes servicing for circuit breakers as smart as in modern cars," continued Cornelli. "On-board diagnostics determine how soon the next service event should be by monitoring operating conditions and identifying any emerging maintenance requirements before they become an issue. ABB's predictive maintenance algorithm takes into account all the factors that could affect the circuit breaker's performance and durability to help customers take the right preventive actions at the right time."

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.

"Simplicity is what makes ABB innovations so powerful," said Nicola Scarpelli, Global Product Manager for ABB's Connectivity & System Solutions business. "ABB Ability Electrical Distribution Control System gives you predictive maintenance without an overload of information. Users determine how often to receive updates on the health of key components, in addition to proactive alerts when action is required. A web app answers everything they need to know quickly and intuitively."

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 make facilities better equipped and more productive.

ABB (ABBN: SIX Swiss Ex) is a pioneering technology leader in electrification products, robotics and motion, industrial automation and power grids, serving customers in utilities, industry and transport & infrastructure globally. Continuing a history of innovation spanning more than 130 years, ABB today is writing the future of industrial digitalization with two clear value propositions: bringing electricity from any power plant to any plug and automating industries from natural resources to finished products. As title partner of Formula E, the fully electric international FIA motorsport class, ABB is pushing the boundaries of e-mobility to contribute to a sustainable future. ABB operates in more than 100 countries with about 135,000 employees. www.abb.com