Increased Complexity Challenges Circuit Protection Solutions
How you can recude Co2 emission by choosing a right type of circuit protection device
When working in the field of industrial automation, staying ahead requires not only efficiency and reliability but also a commitment to sustainability. Many companies many different type of sustainability goals they work towards, such as Agenda 2020 goals.
By future-proofing you industrial automation systems are one of the important parts to reach those goals. Industrial automation has come a long way from the early days of mechanical automation to todays sophisticated and interconnected systems. However, this evolution does come with new challenges, especially in term of circuit protection solutions.
Benefits of choosing a right type of circuit protection solutions
- Preventing Downtime:
Circuit protection solutions, such as circuit breakers and surge protectors, play a crucial role in preventing downtime by quickly isolating faulty components and preventing damage to the entire system. - Enhancing System Reliability
Reliability is a cornerstone of industrial automation. Circuit protection devices safeguard sensitive electronic components from overcurrents and short circuits, ensuring the longevity and reliable operation of the system. - Control energy consumption
Opting for energy-efficient circuit protection solutions, such as smart circuit breakers with power monitoring capabilities, helps reduce overall energy consumption. These solutions enable precise management of power distribution, contributing to sustainable operations. - Adapting to Changing Technologies
Future-proofing industrial automation systems requires the ability to adapt to evolving technologies. Circuit protection solutions need to be versatile enough to accommodate new components, communication protocols, and emerging standards.With modular solutions and parts that are easily replace, you will also decrease amount of waste since your application will get a longer lifetime.
Reduce Co2 Emission with right type of circuit protection solution
When designing industrial application, you have possibility to make small decision about the components that will have a huge effect on the finished product. Here are some examples, how choosing the right type of circuit protection device, you can for example reduce Co2 emission.
Solid State Relays
Conventional, electromechanical relays use a hold-on coil which must be permanently energized. This energy must be provided by the battery or the generator through fuel. The efficiency factors of the generator and motor must be taken into consideration.
A diesel motor has an efficiency factor of approximately 40 %. The generator has an efficiency factor of approximately 50 %. This leads to a loss of approximately 80 % of the energy provided in the diesel fuel (overall efficiency factor 40 % x 50 % = 20 %) which is transformed into electrical power. This makes it worth-while to optimise even the smallest electrical loads.
For switching elements, it means the holding current and power loss via the internal resistance should be as small as possible. These requirements can only be met with a different technology: solid state relays. These relays do not have any moving parts or electrical switching contacts.
They also have a longer life-span compared with electro-mechanical relays because of the low internal resistance of only 1 mOhm and they are also subjected to significantly less temperature changes. All this requires much lower switching energy. Typically, the holding current of an electro-mechanical relay is 30 mA to up to 200 mA. A solid state relay, by contrast, only requires a control current of 10 mA.
When replacing five electromechanical relays with solid state relays you can save almost 1 A of energy. This corresponds to approximately 0.3 g CO₂/km. If CO₂ values exceed the limit, this emission would correspond to a penalty of € 28.50, € 5.70 per relay. Five solid state relays correspond only to 0.015 g CO₂/km. The potential savings when using solid state relays are tremendous.
Circuit breakers and power relays for DC 48 V On-Board Electrical Systems
The rising number of electrical loads will have conventional on-board electrical systems soon reach their limits. Alternatively, modern DC 48 V systems allow substantial weight savings by using smaller cable cross sections. Suitable for this equipment, E–T–A offers a wide range of circuit breakers and power relays for DC 48 V on-board electrical systems in passenger cars and utility vehicles.
48V technology achieves documented fuel savings of approximately 21 percent in real world urban driving.
The higher operating voltage compared to a 12V/24V vehicle electrical system reduces resistance losses during energy transmission. Secondly, the higher on-board voltage enables more powerful electric motors and generators. Thirdly, 48 V is below the 60 VDC safety threshold, above which, standardization bodies require greater shielding and physical protection for electrical systems.
Electrification C02 Reduction stair:
- 12V Micro Hybrid 3-4% CO2 Reduction
- 48V Mild Hybrid 13-21% CO2 Reduction
- Full Hybrid 20-30% CO2 Reduction
- Plug-in Hybrid 50-75% CO2 Reduction
- Electric Vehicle 100% CO2 Reduction
Changing Fuses to Circuit Breakers
Fuses need to be replaced from time to time manually and easy access is necessary. The disadvantage is excessed cable sizes and lengths and also limitation in placement of the fuse unit.
By replacing fuses with auto-resettable circuit breakers you can achieve following benefits:
- Fuse does not need to be accessed manually
- Potential to optimize the overall system (e.g. cable size and lengths)
- Potential to optimize the overall system (e.g. cable size and lengths)
- Save space by installing at non accessible location