We are currently witnessing the rise of a new chapter in power distribution . After all , today ’ s digital age is going to impact our lives and business as much as the introduction of electricity did at the end of the 19th century . This is going to bring with it a wave of innovations in power that will blur the lines between the energy and digital space . The traditional centralised model is giving way to new economic models and opportunities , which redefine the core basics of power distribution ; efficiency , reliability , safety , security and performance . Many of us know the inconvenience of experiencing a blackout at home , but the impact is much more far reaching when it occurs in your corporate facility – from lost revenue and unhappy tenants , to more extreme scenarios like the loss
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of life . Recently , tourists and shoppers in central London were plunged into darkness after an underground electric cable fault on a high voltage network caused an area-wide power cut . Theatre shows were cancelled and shops were closed , leaving shoppers and store owners frustrated and disappointed . |
One of the biggest challenges facing facility managers today is the need to maintain existing equipment performance . |
A call to get smart
How can such outages be prevented ? At the core of smart power distribution systems are smart devices that enable facility managers to take preventive measures to mitigate potential risks . These devices have become more than just responsible for controlling a single mechanism . They now measure and collect data , and provide control functions . Furthermore , they enable facility and maintenance personnel to access the power distribution network .
In many places throughout the power network the existing intelligence can be embedded inside other equipment , such as the smart trip units of circuit breakers . These smart breakers can provide power and energy data , as well as information on their performance , including breaker status , contact wear , alerts , and alarms . In addition to core protection functions , many devices are also capable of autonomous and coordinated control , without any need for user intervention .
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March 2017 | 45 |