IEN: What are the major power and energy concerns facing industry in the next few years? How can they be addressed?
Dudici: Capacity overloading (see the latest blackout) and simultaneous terrorist acts against remote HV distribution lines.
We can''t prevent this from happening but at least we can be ready for it. Both can be addressed by building redundant distribution systems and on-site power generation.
IEN: What innovations in systems, equipment & components, software, and services can help reduce energy consumption and increase efficiency in plant operations?
Dudici: The introduction of cost-effective power and energy analyzers with harmonic analysis and load profiling capability, and also with alarms management software.
The WM24-96 from Carlo Gavazzi, pictured, is a class 1 modular utility meter that allows the user to continuously monitor energy consumption, directly measuring voltages up to 660 Vac (phase-phase) and up to 20 KV through PTs. It can monitor currents up to 5 KA through standard CTs. The WM24 can be equipped with up to 2 digital outputs, which can be used as alarms or as energy pulses, and up to 3 digital inputs. The digital inputs can be used for external selection of tariffs or for inputs from gas or water meters, allowing the WM24 to be used as a main energy display.