Why Integrate Operational Systems

With the considerable evolutions in IoT, capabilities of Power Management Systems (PMSs) have evolved to enable greater levels of analysis of power systems’ operations and maintenance. Thus, Power Management Systems such as EcoStruxure Power Monitoring Expert and Power Operation monitor, analyze, and report all types of data from the connected electrical distribution products.

Sometimes, to enhance operational intelligence and the efficiency of facility and maintenance teams, data can be exchanged between the Power Management System and some other systems like Building Management Systems (BMS; such as EcoStruxure Building Operation) or Industrial Automation platforms (IA; such as AVEVA System Platform or Citect SCADA).

For example:

• Environmental conditions provided by the Building Management System can be used in the Power Management System to make correlations with the energy consumption.

• Electrical data from the Power Management System can be used in the Building Management Systems for consolidation of global building information.

• Information about process conditions, provided to the Power Management System by the Industrial Automation platform, can help identify the origin of a power event that affects the industrial process.

Traditionally, Power Management Systems, Building Management Systems, and Industrial Automation platforms are specified, designed, and commissioned separately, sometimes by specialized design consultants and through dedicated trade contractors (mechanical and electrical contractors). Each project stakeholder should consider the best way to deliver the end users’ outcomes with the most optimal technical solution.

Integration of such systems with the user’s outcomes in mind provides multiple advantages:

• Take advantage of the specialized capabilities of each platform such as acquisition of specialized data types like electrical waveforms.

• Improve user experience

• Help the project phase stakeholders deliver high quality systems at an optimized cost

• Take advantage of IP communications to optimize wiring between products and/or wiring from products to the automation controllers or enterprise server.