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Energy monitoring and energy management system ensure the industry's competitiveness and future viability

An energy management system in combination with an energy measurement case can both ensure the competitiveness and future viability of a company and support its sustainable actions. It also improves operational efficiency.

Energy is a valuable resource that has become one of the biggest cost factors, and not just for industry. In addition, the legislator imposes special requirements that must be met, both for subsidies and for various relief options (e.g. repayment of energy/electricity taxes). Efficient and economical use of energy, detailed energy monitoring and effective energy management are therefore the most important factors in ensuring competitiveness and future viability. An energy management system contributes to this: Reducing costs, protecting the environment, living sustainably and economically, improving the corporate image and being able to take advantage of subsidies as well as legal relief.

Current situations in the companies

The reality in many companies is still very different: Energy consumption and distribution are still managed in confusing, endless tables, lists or individual documents. There is no complete overview. These rather makeshift solutions only provide a snapshot of the energy situation in the company. These approaches offer no high-resolution online values and therefore no peak consumption. In addition, the visualization of automatically calculated key figures is often not available. This makes it almost impossible to identify potential energy savings. This is precisely where an energy management system comes in.

Solution approaches

In order to reduce energy costs and at the same time operate more economically, more and more companies are now turning to energy management. This involves a combination of different measures designed to ensure the lowest possible energy consumption for a required output. Energy management relates to existing processes and systems, structural conditions and human behavior. The aim of all energy management measures is clearly defined: to reduce energy consumption and costs.

Energy is needed in all areas of every company. Whether in production, the warehouse or administration, many individual consumers ultimately make up the total energy requirement. Real interface specialists are needed to combine the individual data sources for the purposes of efficient energy management. Regardless of whether the company is still at the very beginning and would first like to carry out an inventory, or whether systems for energy data acquisition are already installed and only the software for central monitoring and analysis is required - Delphin supports and accompanies the customer through all the necessary steps. With scalable products, Delphin implements the tasks individually and develops an optimal solution for an eligible energy management system.

Energy is needed in all areas of every company. Whether in production, the warehouse or administration, many individual consumers ultimately make up the total energy requirement. Real interface specialists are needed to combine the individual data sources for the purposes of efficient energy management. Regardless of whether the company is still at the very beginning and would first like to carry out an inventory, or whether systems for energy data acquisition are already installed and only the software for central monitoring and analysis is required - Delphin supports and accompanies the customer through all the necessary steps. With scalable products, Delphin implements the tasks individually and develops an optimal solution for an eligible energy management system.

The measuring case can be used to synchronize several three-phase power measuring points
which means that time-consuming multiple measurements
at various stations
become superfluous.

Energy management software

The Delphin software solution, which is eligible for BAFA funding in accordance with ISO 50001, offers a complete package with versatile interfaces as well as visualization and analysis options. All of the company's energy and process data can be automatically recorded, managed and made available centrally. If measurement hardware or energy meters are already installed, these can be integrated into the Delphin software and processed. The necessary information and all relevant data are available at all levels of the company. This saves time, significantly shortens response times and noticeably reduces administrative work.

Energy management hardware

The hardware systems required for recording and monitoring the individual consumers are also available in the Delphin portfolio. With the help of flexible analog and digital signal inputs as well as versatile interfaces, such as OPC UA and Modbus TCP, all energy and process data can be combined in one system. The hardware is also eligible for BAFA funding if it contributes to the development of the energy management system. This combination of hardware and software ensures seamless interaction from data collection in the field through to reporting and successful auditing of the energy management system in accordance with ISO 50001.

Energy consumers must be identified and their energy efficiency analyzed during both the set-up and operating phases of an energy management system. However, it is often uneconomical to install a permanent energy monitoring system for each of these consumers. Instead, a mobile solution that can be taken from consumer to consumer is required as a supplement. This is where the special energy measurement case from Delphin comes into play. It is used for this purpose:

  • energy parameters (both analog and digital),
  • analyze and document measurement data,
  • uncover potential savings.

An I&C device from the Delphin measurement technology hardware series serves as the heart of the measurement data acquisition and analysis system. All relevant and additional electrical parameters required by ISO 50001, such as electrical power, active power, reactive power components and current consumption, can be recorded using an integrated three-phase power meter. The electrical parameters are processed and linked together in the measuring case. The digital input channels record the pulse values of various energy and quantity meters such as electricity, gas and water meters. Temperatures, pressures and other measurement data can also be recorded via the analog inputs. All channels can be linked together within the device and processed for further analysis. The fieldbus interfaces, such as Profibus and Modbus, can also be used to record relevant energy data from a PLC, a machine control system or a higher-level control system. The case can be used to register several 3-phase power measuring points synchronously, eliminating the need for time-consuming multiple measurements at different stations, for example. Difficult-to-access or remote measuring points can be recorded and analyzed wirelessly with WLAN current clamps. This enables holistic monitoring of all relevant energy parameters.

Self-sufficient, independent and safe with the measuring case

Each measured value is given a unique and tamper-proof time and date stamp and is securely stored in the internal data memory. Depending on the design, this can store up to 360 million measured values. This enables either long-term, self-sufficient measurements or measurements with high sampling rates, in which many measured values are stored at short intervals. The data memory is designed as a ring memory and can be configured to suit the measurement task. This makes it easy to meet the verification requirements of DIN EN ISO 50001.

As soon as the measuring case is configured, it works completely autonomously. Various configurations can be saved and loaded as required, which saves time. If the power fails during a measurement task, the logger restarts automatically and continues recording and saving measurement data. The measurement data recorded up to this point is safely stored in the internal memory and no measurement values are lost. The configuration of the data logger also remains securely stored in the device.

In combination with the measurement technology software from Delphin, it is possible to comprehensively analyze the measurement data recorded by the measurement case: Meter readings and energy flows are clearly displayed in diagram form. Another plus point: the software is so easy to use that even longer periods of time can be analyzed at a glance. Whether connected online to the measuring case or offline on the PC in the office, potential savings and correlations become immediately clear.

Author
Sven Jodlauk, Product Manager

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