Sharply rising energy costs increasingly make energy a cost driver. The first step in dodging the cost trap in building facility management is to precisely record all energy data, electrical and power quality parameters. Modern energy meters and power analysers ensure the required transparency in building power supply. Based on detailed data, concepts, for instance for electric energy reduction, can be developed and concrete measures can be introduced. With power analysers, the improvements can be monitored and logged on top of that.

Take note
o To measure is to know.
o Modern power analysers can provide information anywhere, any time.
o Modern power analyses offer a variety of critical functions in a single device.

About the author
Rudolf Müller is the sales director export of Janitza electronics GmbH. He was previously vice-president of the Power Capacitor Product Division of the German Electrical and Electronic Manufacturers’ Association. He holds numerous technical training courses for utilities, consultants and customers. Local representative for Janitza electronics is Ferrotech. Enquiries: Marco da Silva. Ferrotech. Tel. 011 746 6800 or email marco.daSilva@ferrotech.co.za

Quick, easy and all-in-one
Updated analyser for nitrogen and carbon in steel
Oxygen analysis probe
Low concentration H2S analyser

New environmental policies focus specifically on the global development of regenerative energies, in particular wind and solar-based power generation and the improvement of energy efficiency. Both aims have a considerable impact on power electronics, the original purpose of which is the efficient control and conversion of electrical energy. As a result, power semiconductor components have to meet new demands in terms of efficiency, service life and compactness. Manufacturers are striving to meet these very demands by developing new assembly and connection technology, offering higher current densities and reliable chip temperatures, as well as using new semiconductor materials.
Take note

• New environmental policies focus specifically on the global development of regenerative energy solutions.
• Global primary energy demand is expected to grow by 2% per annum for the next twenty years.
• It is unlikely that the renewable energy sector will continue to show growth irrespective of the prevailing economic climate.

About the author
Aseem Wahi is head of strategic marketing at Semikron International. Enquiries: Karen-Lee Schutte. Tel. 012 345 6060 or email karen.schutte@semikron.com.

Why we should all become EnviroFicient
National 'green' award for Cape Town's electricity department
Green and sustainable
Switch to solar water heating with help from Eskom

In potentially explosive environments human lives depend upon the integrity of Cable Gland seals. This is particularly true in the case of Flameproof Cable Glands. We have attempted to quantify explosive gas transport mechanisms and we describe some interesting new research involving cutting edge barrier materials.

Take note
• The primary function of a cable gland is to mechanically anchor a cable to an apparatus.
• A cable gland must also perform other functions – particularly in the case of a flameproof cable gland.
• A recently developed Pratley barrier material can now guarantee the formation of a diffusion barrier within a cable gland.

About the author
Kim Pratley is a Professional Engineer with a Masters Degree in Mechanical Engineering. He is the Managing Director of the Pratley Group and also heads up the Group R&D activities. He has been active in the fields of cable glanding in hazardous locations and high performance adhesives for 30 years. Enquiries: Eldon Kruger. Tel. 011 955 2190 or pratley@pratley.com.

If a cable fails, it can be quite an undertaking to remove it, replace it, and refit it with connectors. That is why specially insulated cable that resists damaging spikes is useful in demanding variable frequency drive applications.

Take note
• VSDs introduce spikes and harmonics on the supply system.
• Special cables have been designed to be used with VSDs and to control interference.
• Ensure that your motor and drive system has proper cables that are correctly bonded and installed.

About the author Grant Joyce started his career as an instrumentation technician at AECI in Modderfontein. He then spent 15 years in the process control and automation field, two years in the connection solution industry and five years in product management. For the last ten years, Grant has worked in marketing and sales management and is currently with LappKabel. For more information on this article, contact Grant on 011 201 3200.

SABS certification for electrical cable
The robust powerchain cable for higher operating temperatures
Innovative socket design

Lightning can cause catastrophic damage to electrical and electronic equipment as well as structural damage to buildings. The lightning season is upon us and the basic principles of lightning protection must be followed to ensure that your building and equipment are sufficiently protected.

Take note
• The average lightning strike does not exceed 40 kA.
• Lightning protection systems are there to reduce the risk of failure to acceptable levels.
• The initial cost of an LPS is quickly recovered by the reduction in the cost of losses.

About the author
Lee-Anne Chapman, is the financial manager and co-founder, with Bertie Van Zyl, of Advanced Lightning Protection. She has been intimately involved in all aspects of the earthing and lightning protection industry for over 14 years. Lee-Anne was formally trained by Hans Slagter. Tel: 012 332 1361 or email chapmanl@advancedlp.co.za.

A high degree of availability of information and production-related systems is an important prerequisite for continuous production processes. To prevent production downtimes caused by the effects of lightning, the Zehnder GmbH company, which manufactures radiators and ventilation equipment in the Baden region (Germany), relies on a high-performance surge protection concept.

Take note
o Surge protection is an integral part of an holistic lightning protection strategy.
o Direct strikes are not the only danger – induced effects of a lightning strike can result in equipment damage.
o Always confirm that the surge protective devices used in your system comply with the appropriate standards.

About the author
Dipl. Ing. Ralf Hausmann is responsible for data and telecommunications marketing within the Trabtech product marketing department at Phoenix Contact GmbH & Co. KG, Blomberg, Germany. Enquiries: Tony Rayner (Product Manager for Trabtech in South Africa). Tel. 011 801 8200 or tonyr@phoenixcontact.co.za.

Foil copper thieves
Seminars not to miss: Best practices in earthing and lightning protection
Digital earth resistance and resistivity tester

The importance of a well designed, reliable and secure industrial control network is similar to that of other critical plant utilities. Interruptions to the network service can have serious impact in terms of control system downtime, production losses, damage to production equipment, environmental damage due to spillage and emissions and even injury to or loss of life of personnel. Poor planning, use of inappropriate components, incorrect installation, poor administration or inadequate support can cause failures in the industrial control system that are dependent on the reliable working of the network.

Take note
• Industrial plants are becoming more reliant on interconnected communications’ systems – from plant floor to boardroom.
• Reliable industrial communications’ networks are now complex and require planning, design and commissioning in five distinct stages.
• The convergence of industrial control networks with IT networks poses opportunities as well as challenges.

Since the boom of IT technologies, Industrial PCs are often used as the core component of a machine, producton line, SCADA Control centre, or data/logging system. This means they become a central part of the control system architecture with responsibility for all control tasks and must therefore be able to withstand rough, ambient conditions. Therefore an IPC has to meet a wide range of further requirements, which the author describes in more detail.

Take note
• Industrial PCs are not just PCs!
• IPCs need to handle the environment in terms of dust, shock, temperature and EMI.
• IPCs ensure reliable and high performance control of complex and critical processes.

About the author
Conrad Muller studied Electrical Engineering and Software at Port Elizabeth Technikon. He has a wealth of software development and automation experience in variety of fields, specifically in the automotive and pharmaceutical industries. He was product sales manager in control and automation at Jendamark Automation and is currently managing director of Beckhoff Automation South Africa.

Automated boiler control system cuts overheads
Communication module - affordable, efficient
Intelligence to enhance process performance

Device integration and life cycle management are the talk of the town these days, but not always in a positive sense. The keyword is compatibility. To guarantee the investment security of FDT (Field Device Tool) technology demanded by users, the associated device drivers or DTMs (Device Type Managers) must be both upward and downward compatible. This article will show why this is a successful strategy.

Take note
• DTMs must be upward and downward compatible.
• Such proper compatibility ensures the future-proofing of your platform.
• The key to good instrument design must be to make the user’s daily work easier.

About the author
An electronics technician early in his career, Dipl. Ing. (FH) Juan Garcia later studied telecommunications at the University of Applied Sciences in Mannheim, Germany. From 1990 - 2000 he worked as product manager for communication and interface devices at Pepperl+Fuchs. Since 2000, he has been product manager for communication and software at VEGA Grieshaber KG. His main professional interests are in device integration based on FDT/EDD technologies as well in new concepts for the process automation. Enquiries: John Groom. Vega Instruments. Tel. 011 958 1901 or email john.groom@vega.com.

Bio-compatible, hygienic, reliable
Viscosity meters - reliable on-land and off-board
Temperature controller with bargraph display
Accurate and flexible