Integrated load management systems, coupled with integrated safety and security solutions not only help firms to be competitive but also ensures workforce safety
Industrial load management systems
In this age of electric utility deregulation, power plants are more concerned than ever about providing high quality services, lowering operational costs and improving productivity. High productivity ensures continuous supply of power to the grid. Fortunately, by using industrial load management systems firms can improve reliability and equipment performance by integrating, centralising and monitoring plant-wide operations with a common goal to sustain reliability of an industrial power network.
Need for an industrial load management system
Most of the time generation and distribution of power are done in isolation, with the operator unaware about demand and generation. Essential factors such as load scheduling, forecasting electricity, steam and fuel consumption, managing electricity purchase, sales transactions, monitoring and controlling peak loads, balancing energy and efficiency would become difficult if information related to generation and distribution is not available to the operator. Therefore, an industrial load management system becomes a vital factor for reliability of power plants and electrical distribution networks.
Valuable benefits
Apart from efficiently managing power in the electrical network, the system boasts of the following benefits:
· One can easily forecast the demand of electricity and plan generation for the same accordingly
· Energy needs are met in a cost-effective manner with resource optimisation and production scheduling
· One can easily control the demand of peak loads through advanced planning
· The system enhances awareness about energy generation and its use and purchase
Integrated safety and security solutions
At present, safety and security are critical to an industrial facility as disruption due to natural calamities as well as external threats could result in loss of life and output. Sometimes this also results in huge monetary loses for the firm. Given these realities, automation technologies need to focus on providing effective safety and security solutions to industrial sites.
Integrated safety offerings need to focus on protecting plant, people and assets. Technologies like alarm management solutions help operators to take quick decisions when unforeseen situations occur, while boundary management solutions help to operate one’s plant within safe limits, while striving to exploit maximum profitability.
In the event of any untoward incident, a real-time location system comes in real handy. Such a system helps to track the exact location of people who are in danger. On the other hand, the emergency shut down system ensures that the plant is shut down safely, thereby reducing risk of life and property..
Advantages
An integrated safety solution offers the following benefits:
· Improves emergency response
· Reduces human error via alarm management solutions, operator training, procedural operations etc.
· Reduces unexpected equipment failure with asset management solutions and corrosion detection
· Maintains stable control of system equipment through advanced control regulatory systems
Amol Chaubal, product manager, wireless solutions at Honeywell Automation India Limited, a leading service provider of integrated automation and software solutions, headquartered in Pune |
