IDM | Technology/IT Complete lifecycle efficiency Industry 4.0 solutions Authors: Dipl.-Ing. (FH) Erwin Ruppelt, Head Project Engineer, Dipl. Betriebswirtin Daniela Koehler, both of Kaeser Kompressoren SE, Postfach 21 43, 96410 Coburg, Germany; phone +49 9561 6400, web: kaeser.com What was once simply a dream is now becoming reality: new products and services in the compressed air production sector are bringing Industry 4.0 to life. When it comes to compressed air production, intelligent contracting model-based solutions, such as Sigma Air Utility, have been 12 · 4-5 2016 | international-dairy.com available for quite some time now. These so-called hybrid service bundles combine highly efficient, innovative products with intelligent services in the fields of engineering and predictive maintenance. In essence, it is these solutions that laid the foundation for Industry 4.0 in the compressed air production sector. Now, thanks to new communications technologies and services, these compressed air contracting models are being further refined and improved. On the one hand, these solutions include the components of the compressed air station itself, which are responsible for the actual production and treatment of the compressed air itself; specifically the compressors, dryers, filters, etc. as well as peripheral equipment such as ventilation louvres. On the other, they also include the many services that can be rendered throughout the entire lifecycle of the compressed air station. These encompass precision air demand analysis, optimal design for compressed air supply systems and regular maintenance and servicing; not to mention energy management options, as well as planning of new systems, expansion of existing ones and investment in replacement equipment. Let’s first examine the components. To take full advantage of their Industry 4.0 capabilities, components must meet two sets of requirements: they must support efficient control when utilised in combination with other machines and also provide realtime operating data for monitoring purposes and be able to forward all relevant data to master control systems. Modern compressors and compressed air treatment components are therefore equipped with internal controllers based on industrial PC technology which are able to pass data to a master control system via convenient interfaces, such as Ethernet. The Industry 4.0 concept offers solutions for all lifecycle phases of compressed air systems.
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