New technology that helps the latest generation Airbus jetliners to fly safely on intercontinental routes is being introduced to ease the problems posed by the national engineering skills shortage.
Fans and pumps essential for driving pneumatic and hydraulic systems can now be monitored automatically over the Internet. This enables experienced engineers, including the designers of new generation fans and pumps, to be directly involved in routine installation and maintenance, and to deal with emergency situations that may arise at even the most remote installations in southern Africa.
"Many countries, particularly developing nations, face a crisis over the shortage of trained and experienced electrical engineers," says Schneider Electric South Africa's marketing manager, Derain Pillay. "That is why Schneider has made it a priority to apply new technologies to South African needs. For example we are already introducing the Telemecanique pump and fan systems developed for the giant Airbus aeroplanes that are only now starting to go into service with leading airlines."
"Because a high degree of engineering know-how has been built into the new Telemecanique Altivar 61, new generation fans and pumps are far more reliable than older technology and any problems can be identified and dealt with promptly by skilled Schneider Electric engineers in Africa and back at our research and manufacturing facilities in France which operate 24/7 and are only an Internet link away."
Schneider has adopted the philosophy of integrating engineering skills into products and services and this is typified by the 'Simply Start' menu concept which enables Telemecanique equipment to be installed easily with a reduced requirement for engineering expertise. Electronic smartcards are available and easily programmed to extend the capabilities of the fans and pumps in much the same way as a home computer user can install plug-and-play devices to increase the functionality of a desktop computer.
The Altivar 61 range of fan and pump variable speed drives (VSDs) now being introduced to South Africa has been developed directly from units and technologies Schneider Electric pioneered in aerospace projects such as the Airbus. One of the leading global suppliers of electrical engineering products and services, the French company has now developed VSDs and control systems for fans and pumps well-suited to African conditions. Driving 3-phase asynchronous motors from 0,75 to 630 kW operating on standard high voltage AC these VSDs are capable of operating under the most demanding conditions.
All Altivar products incorporate energy saving principles in their design, so that over their long operating lives they ensure substantial economies in running costs by consuming less electrical power for any given task, coupled with a lesser load on human resources in terms of their reduced maintenance and monitoring requirements. At 80% of nominal flow, a fan equipped with a drive that performs flow regulation consumes 50% of nominal power. The Telemecanique Altivar VSDs deliver energy savings of between 20 and 50% on fan and pump applications over traditional drives, enabling 'just necessary' electrical power consumption.
For more information contact Derain Pillay, Schneider Electric South Africa, +27 (0)11 254 6400, [email protected], www.schneider-electric.co.za
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