INTELLIGENT BRANDS // Software for Business
Transformers meet connectivity:
Siemens introduces Sensformer
at Hannover Messe
/////////////////////////////
S
iemens has launched the world’s first
comprehensive digital transformer
portfolio at Hannover Messe, Germany.
The new Sensformer merges physics and
information and ensures digital intelligence
for transformers regardless of their product
class, size and rating. As transformers are
placed at critical nodes of the power grid,
they are perfect sensors for grid conditions
containing full information on energy flow.
Sensformer provides the easy step-in to
digitalisation for all customers, turning the
‘voltage regulators’ into an info-hub. The
data will allow for conclusions on the status
of the assets as well as the power grid and
thus allow for enhanced flexibility and
optimised operation of the entire grid.
While currently available solutions are
imposing additional hurdles in terms of cost
and complexity to customers, Sensformer
will already be equipped per default with
easy-to-use digital intelligence. The basic
functionalities of Sensformer (including
hardware, software and cloud access) are
kept simple for ease-of-use. The Sensformer
also holds the advantage of offering highest
stability by limiting physical measurements
to the bare minimum as well as avoiding
unnecessary IT equipment at site.
“The current challenge of the transformer
industry is to enable connectivity for all
assets. With the launch of Sensformer,
we combine function and information in
one product with the focus on simplicity
and smart data,” said Beatrix Natter,
CEO Transformers at Siemens Energy
Management. “Like the smart phone has
replaced the cell phone, all transformers
will be Sensformer in the near future,”
Natter added.
All Sensformer will be equipped with
an IoT gateway to provide direct real-
88
INTELLIGENTCIO
time measurements of oil level, top oil
temperature, LV winding current and GPS
location. Every operator will get access
to a cloud-based platform application
that visualises the collected data and
provides insights on the assets’ status and
performance across voltage levels.
Cybersecurity is a critical factor for
the success of digitalisation
Knowing the exact status of their
transformers will enable grid operators to
face challenges like integrating a growing
amount of renewables and distributed
energy generation into the power
grid, while operating their networks as
economically as possible. Siemens introduces this product with best-
in-class cybersecurity features complying to
all the relevant standards today. With more
than one million devices already connected
to MindSphere, Siemens has first-hand
experience with cybersecurity challenges
in the age of the Industrial Internet of
Things (IIoT). With its unique combination
of technical expertise in cybersecurity and
domain knowledge, Siemens is ideally
positioned to be both a market and a
thought leader.
In a next step, the co-creation process with
customers will lead to different application
sets and apps tailor-made to customers’
needs. With MindSphere, Siemens offers
a cloud-based open operating system for
developing these applications. Currently, the company has about 1,275
cybersecurity experts worldwide, which
includes about 25 white-hat hackers who
continuously challenge the security of both
internal IT systems and products being
shipped to customers.
MindSphere is Siemens’ cloud-based, open
Internet of Things (IoT) platform that
connects physical assets to the digital world
and enables powerful applications and
digital services. Siemens’ experience in cybersecurity dates
back to 1986, when the first IT Security
team at Siemens was established at the
company’s central research department,
Corporate Technology. n
www.intelligentcio.com