· Electronic management and high excellence enable Total to cover the operations of its High-Performance Computer (HPC) data center
Paris, November 26, 2018 -
Battery leader Saft and industrial group Socomec have produced a high-performance UPS featuring lithium-ion data batteries for Total’s HPC data center which hosts one of the world’s biggest industrial supercomputers.
Total’s supercomputer is a unique decision-support system used for oil & gas investigation and field management. It allows to improve the accuracy of subsurface imaging, optimize the development and production of Total’s fields as well as save time, by shortening the duration of studies.
To protect critical information and calculations for the supercomputer Total required a high-performance UPS and battery system. The main criteria were low Total Cost of Ownership (TCO), hot-swappability and integration with its monitoring systems. The scope also included the enhancement of the environmental performance of the data center through increased energy efficiency and the ability to re-inject power from the UPS into the grid or to support other loads.
To meet these requirements, Saft and Socomec worked collectively to integrate a Saft Flex’ion battery system into Socomec’s DELPHYS XTEND GP UPS. Both components are modular and energy efficient so that the UPS can be scaled to meet new additional power and energy requirements over time. A program of functional testing and certification demonstrated the electrical performance of the system as well as the electronic control interface between the battery and Socomec’s UPS.
Made in Europe, the lithium-ion battery system is sized to deliver 550 kW for up to seven minutes within the voltage window required by the UPS after an operational life of 15 years.
François Danet, Saft’s global business development manager for data centers said: “As a critical component of the UPS for Total’s data center supercomputer, Saft’s Flex’ion battery systems are supporting Total’s drive towards technological innovation and environmental sustainability.”
Socomec’s technology is hot-swappable to enable extension or maintenance without interrupting data center operations. The UPS system was installed on a turnkey basis in October 2018 at Total’s Centre Scientifique et Technique Jean Féger (CSTJF) in Pau, France and can be extended by up to 2,400 kW with additional 200 kW modules.
The partners integrated two identical UPS with Flex’ion Li-ion batteries for redundancy. The battery system is based on Saft’s proprietary Super Lithium Iron Phosphate (SLFPTM) technology and was developed specifically for data centers and other mission-critical industries. Saft’s lithium-ion battery technology offers the benefits of low maintenance, safety, and high power density, as well as a long life at elevated temperatures, which reduces the need for cooling and ventilation.
A major reward is that Flex’ion’s electronic battery management can be integrated with control and management, such as building management and SCADA systems, to enable smart monitoring and free up data center operators to focus on their servers.
Note to editors: François Danet, Saft’s global business development manager for data centers, and Xavier Mercier, Socomec’s market segment director, will share insight into the state-of-the-art technology at the Equipment, energy efficiency and DCIM conference room, at Data Center World Paris on 27th November at 11:20.
Requirements for welding are all the time rising and one of the solutions allowing for high quality and high repeatability of the system is robotised welding. The use of industrial robots allows high flexibility of spot and arc welding process.
The use of an industrial robot together with specialized welding equipment accomplishes a high extent of automation of the welding process. Some of the benefits of automating this process are increasing the quality of the welding seam and productivity and improving efficiency.
The robotized welding cell is a ready set system that consist of an industrial robot, specialized welding equipment, peripherals and safety devices. The cell is a pre-designed and pre-integrated which helps the welding process to start immediately after the mechanical positioning of the cell.
There are different variants for implementation of a welding cell and selecting the right configuration for a particular application is essential for achieving efficiency and faster ROI.
The welding process is performed on a pre-programmed trajectory, which is set by the operator. The operator prepares the parts for welding and provides constant supervision of the system.
TOKYO, January 10, 2019 – Mitsubishi Electric Corporation (TOKYO: 6503) revealed today its development of the world's first ultra-wideband digitally controlled gallium nitride (GaN) amplifier, which is suitable with a world-leading range of sub-6GHz bands focused on fifth-generation (5G) mobile communication systems. With a power efficiency rating of above 40%, the amplifier is expected to contribute to large-capacity communication and reduce the power consumption of mobile base stations.
* According to Mitsubishi Electric research as of January 10, 2019
** Output power level equivalent to 6.5dB Peak-to-Average Power Ratio (PAPR) modulated signal.
Key functions
1) Novel load modulation achieves wideband operation and brings to large-capacity communication
- Mitsubishi Electric’s novel ultra-wideband digitally controlled GaN amplifier uses an advanced load modulation circuit with two parallel GaN transistors. The circuit expands the bandwidth of load modulation, a key factor for the amplifier’s high-efficiency operation, for wideband (1.4–4.8GHz) operation.
- Wide-band operation of amplifier assists several frequency bands. 2) Digital control knows high-efficiency operation and reduces power consumption of mobile base stations
- Digitally controlled input signals for amplifier realize high-efficiency load modulation of above 40% over 110% of the fractional bandwidth. Digital control employs learning function based on Maisart®***.
- Improved efficiency of amplifier helps to reduce power consumption in mobile base stations.
System solution with KEB C6, G6 and H6 items
The KEB system solution starts at the top of the machine and concludes in up to 41 axes with a cycle time of one millisecond. State-of-the-art technology for household and industrial brush machines – manufactured by Borghi and automated with KEB.
A IPC C6 ECON BM2 with motion control software takes over the complete machine control, which controls over 40 drive axes in a cycle time of one millisecond with complete configuration, the latest controls C6 P34 BM will double the exact performance. The drive centerpiece of the brush machines from Modena, Italy, is the multi-axis system COMBIVERT H6, supplemented with the sensorless spindle inverters COMBIVERT G6.
This is applied in Borghi machines for the production of brooms, brushes, strip brushes and mops in a range from guidebook and semi-automatic to 'robotized workstations'.
Versatile and space-preserving
The primary feature of the KEB solution: Relying on the task, the number of axes can be adapted completely flexibly and asynchronous or synchronous motors can be used. Thanks to the H6 double-axis modules, the multi-axis design is particularly space-saving. The small size enables stretched automation within the machine base area.
The DC bus coupling of the on their own protected H6 modules creates operational reliability through energy exchange, which implies higher productivity. Successive communication via EtherCAT also allows the system flexibly adaptable and minimises wiring, test, commissioning and assembly times, thus reducing fees.
Complete engineering down to the individual drive is maintained out via the COMBIVIS studio 6 software as the central automation platform. The special movements in the variable kinematics, formerly executed via cam gears, were improved with the newly developed 'Non Linear Inertia' function - a high-performance control of the cam function, which is one of the special features of Borghi machines.
Recap:
Borghi and KEB have been successfully working with each other since 2010, with full customer pleasure. Both companies are looking forward to maintaining this long and profitable collaboration with both parties working in increasing the number of Borghi machines with KEB’s technology giving a complete automation solution inside.
Advantages of the KEB solution:
.The KEB multi axis drive solution offers a space saving feature thanks to the H6 double axis modules, therefore the decreased cabinet space and size save cost to the customer and enables enlarged machine automation within the existing space envelop.
The H6 has a common DC bus configuration which provides another advantage in terms of power regenerating, leading to higher efficiency (since no brake resistors are required) whilst the compactness of the solution saves costs in cabinet size it also saves time in assembly with reduced cabling and components involved (One set of fuses for the whole drive rather than individual ones for each drive).
All the KEB Generation 6 products can have an integrated EtherCAT fieldbus slave, so a special network is created with a quicker data exchange achieved. The whole of the KEB C6 Controls range use a single platform with simple, clear software providing a scalable environment that reduces set up and integration time but also provides tools to help reduce service time and development when widening a machines portfolio.
KEB’s strength is to find the right solution to all requirements especially “special” ones in machine and installation production. This is why a “Non Linear Inertia function” was developed, which permits a high performance loop control without noise. A feature that Borghi have utilised on their machines
FANUC and Worldskills encourage the improvement of talented staff - First international championship for robot programmers scheduled
The equipment specialist FANUC and the international skills competitor organization WorldSkills will jointly advertise young robot programmers in the future. In 2019 the two partners will co-host a world wide attributes match for robot system integrators in Kazan, Russia.
WorldSkills has been dedicated to the attention of professional skills since 1947. Through skills competitions in 80 Member countries and regions, as well as through the global championships of skills, WorldSkills boosts skills excellence near the world. WorldSkills develops confidence in young people, encourages communities, and helps to fuel economies through talents progress.
The next WorldSkills Competition will be held in the Russian city of Kazan in 2019. For the first time Kazan will offer an international event in the discipline of robotic programming. While this championship is a pilot, FANUC and WorldSkills expect to develop it as a traditional overseas competition in the later. In total, Kazan is anticipated to attract individuals from over 60 countries and regions as well as 250,000 visitors at all venues.
'FANUC brings much more than 40 years of experience in creating manufacturing robots,' says Shinichi Tanzawa, President & CEO of FANUC Europe Corporation. The company has installed more than 550,000 robots in industrial facilities globally. 'We are very thrilled to be a WorldSkills Global Partner and to give younger people an chance to learn more about robot programming'. FANUC itself has established training centers at many of its worldwide facilities. There FANUC offers training for customer employees in the operation and programming of industrial robots. 'We hope that participants in the WorldSkills competition will be able to use their insight to develop their profession solutions,' adds Tanzawa.
'FANUC presents that the potential of specialized skills is shaped by invention and equipment,' says Alexander Amiri, Director of Sponsorship and Partnership at WorldSkills. 'FANUC's involvement as a WorldSkills Global Partner helps young people throughout the world to develop the skills and groundbreaking spirit that are needed to respond to changes in production'.
WorldSkills and FANUC have already worked with each other properly in the history on the national level. In France, for example, the two partners have prepared national manufacturing robotic tournaments.
Synchronous reluctance motors – or SRM for short – and IPM synchronous motors are being increasingly widespread. Their speed-controlled, encoderless operation is based on the software in KEB’s new COMBIVERT S6 and F6 drive controllers.
“Our S6 and F6 drives operate all of the IPMs and SRMs on the industry whether they have an encoder or not,” explains Helmut Fichtner, Head of Applications at KEB, in reference to this solutions are universal range of application.The difference:
Free motor choice
While many SRM systems are made up of fixed motor/converter combinations, KEB goes a step further with encoderless operation based on precise diagnosis of the rotor setting. The required insight is the current-dependent inductance in the d and q axes.
The performance of the drive system is essentially determined by the quality of the drive controller but also depends on the design of the motor. Working in close cooperation with motor manufacturers results in economically attractive attributes that were only possible before, with more expensive motors with encoder systems. In concrete terms, this means:
Efficient properties of the drive system:
Full torque from starting point at n = 0 rpm
Comparable overload or peak torques levels
Full control in field weakening mode
The field of application for the SRM consequences from its high level of efficiency and the resulting great energy balance. Examples are pump and fan applications or slowly rotating applications that do not require compelled air flow.
In addition to the traditional approach to electrical variables, the KEB solution also features an exact image of the magnetic path, which even takes the saturation behavior into consideration. The reluctance torque is established through appropriate knowledge of the saturation-dependent inductance sequences in the d and q axes of the motor as well as the resulting essential Id and Iq currents. This is how the system COMBIVERT S6 or F6 and the SRM facilitates particularly dynamic operation that was previously only seen in closed loop operation of synchronous and asynchronous machines.
A special identification method is integrated into the new Software for an easy commissioning process.
Up until pretty recently, mainstream industrial robots and people tended to maintain a safe distance within factory surroundings. They were limited to dedicated cells or kept behind real or virtual safety factors walls.
However, the development of the cooperative robot is redefining human-robot connections. No longer hemmed in by fences, this new breed of robots is safe and smart enough to work with or alongside humans across a variety of production environments.
Aside from the obvious floor-space savings, human-robot cooperation offers manufacturers many rewards. By taking over the laborious, repetitive and perhaps dangerous tasks, collaborative programs improve working conditions for humans and allow them to notice on higher-value tasks that need manual dexterity and human ingenuity. This opens up a whole new world of solutions for more productive and flexible working.
So how do collaborative robots keep human beings safe?
As opposed to regular commercial robots, collaborative robots are ready with innovative sensor tech that permits them to connect safely with humans. In addition to monitoring the robot’s position and rate, these sensors stop and withdraw the robot safely should touch occur with a human.
Further protective qualities prevent the robot from trapping body parts such as limbs and fingers, and allow the human to simply move the robot back should it get too close. Passive safety features come with no sharp ends and mellow covers on some models. All FANUC collaborative programs are qualified to ISO safety guidelines.
Secondary vendors also provide dedicated grippers for collective robotics that assure humans stays safe should they make contact with the gripper.
What about developing these?
Programming FANUC collaborative robots is just like educating any other FANUC robot and can be done effortlessly using the FANUC provide Pendant or offline device.
By using the FANUC Hand Guidance option, the agent can even plan the robot by leading it through and creating the mobility points or trajectory necessary to undertake the task.
Just how does human-robot venture favor your business?
Human-robot alliance can add perks your business in many ways. One of these is much better functioning situations for man. With collaborative robotics on the team, humans no longer wish to complete physically requiring tasks and are free to focus on more satisfying work. Because of this, humans stick physically healthy for lengthy and issues, such as frequent strain and other work-related injury, stop to be a problem. Human-robot collaboration also goes some way to easing the problems associated with ageing populations in commercial societies.
Moreover, Human-robot collaboration provides firms with a much greater degree of flexibility. Not only are collaborative robots easy to integrate into existing production environments but they also occupy a smaller footprint versus traditional robot work cells.
In comparison to fully automated solutions, collaborative robots are very cost effective – something that makes them attractive to SMEs and other companies that might not have thought about spending in automation. On top of this, they allow businesses to make best use of human staff and, thanks to easy programming and fast setup times, provide a viable option on small production runs. Future-proofed, they are fully Industry 4.0 ready and make processes more transparent and sustainable.
What solutions are collaborative robots best suited to?
Collaborative robots are perfectly suited to a whole range of industrial solutions. Wherever they are used, their strength, precision and repeatability compliment human skills perfectly.
On machining and assembly lines, they counter humans from having to lift and position heavy components. They are also ideally suited to machine-tending applications that continuously require an operator’s presence. In addition, since they do not need safety fences, they can be moved easily between machine tools.
Reducing the need for an additional work place, collaborative robots also provide an efficient way to conduct seamless quality control checks as part of the overall handling process.
They are also great at carrying out dull, repetitive, dirty and dangerous handling tasks on packing and palletising lines that are unpopular with humans but cannot feasibly be done in a dedicated robot cell.
Whether they are used to apply sealants, adhesives, paints or other liquids, collaborative robots can also work safely next to humans across a range of dispensing processes.
Summary
Human-robot collaboration is opening up new chances for production industry. It converts to more flexibility and responsiveness for manufacturers, boosted productivity and competition as well as safer working situations for humans.
Introducing the fully fledged drive for high-frequency spindles: KEB Automation has broadened its ongoing portfolio with the launch of a compressed new drive for high-frequency spindles designed for DIN rails – the C6 Remote I/O EtherCAT drive module with CE and cULus accreditations.
The C6 drive module is capable of reaching a shaft speed of up to 200,000 revolutions per minute in particularly small motors for voltages varying from 24 to 72 volts (DC). The additional integration of output filter technology acts to increase compatibility with any chosen synchronous machines further still.
With its compact design and high performance in the low-voltage range, the remarkable C6 Drive Module stands out from the crowd in many applications where conventional servo amplifiers would not be proper. KEB works in close partnership with companies specializing in high-frequency spindles (0.75–900 kilowatts) on projects for machine tools – including milling, drilling and grinding technology – operating at speeds of over 120,000 revolutions per minute.
For many years Rosenheim-based Heinzinger electronic has been offering expert services in top quality-superior, high-preciseness DC power supply Units. As a consultant in batteries and power electronics, it is also an active player in the e-mobility sector and many times is based on active front end systems from KEB Automation.
All trustworthy car manufacturers and suppliers across the world now depend upon on the bidirectional and regenerative automotive test systems inside Heinzinger’s ERS series. What’s more, its DC origins and drops for test benches are essential to the development, top quality assurance and EOL (end-of-line) evaluation of batteries and power electronics within the e-mobility field.
Network performance
KEB assures mains-compliant energy sources and recovery that matches Heinzinger’s high-precision DC controls. The sinusoidal flow in the serving regen modes provide the top likely power quality, with active power element correction even included as standard.
The hottest COMBILINE Z1 AFE filters are used to confirm exceptional mains-side electromagnetic compatibility of the systems. Together with the system’s added common-mode rejection capability, these filters present a stable and adjustable intermediate circuit voltage that offers as an interface to consumer electronics.
KEB’s rapid DC-bus control in the millisecond range allows even +/-100 per cent sudden load variations and pulse loads to be changed reliably. What’s more, KEB also guarantees interference-free energy output on the hovering, short-circuit-proof DC output side with its COMBILINE EMC DC filters.
Heinzinger therefore enjoys the following benefits:
System solution for the universal DC energy supply
Sinusoidal currents for feeding and regen
Voltage stabilisation
Water cooling
Significant power range
Filters with common-mode rejection ability
EMC DC voltage filters
System solution
KEB grants power electronics and filter technology for the full performance range from 50 to 600 (1200) kilowatts. The key account here is water cooling capacity, as this avoids unnecessary ambient temperature increases and high priced air-conditioning systems – even in laboratory environments. Trusted water cooling solutions not only enhance process reliability but also result in significantly higher performance density.