Signature System Applications

Process/Production Management

Prevent problems — and down time

Analyze data in real time to prevent problems and make effective supply and cost decisions.

Power disturbances have consequences — in costs, compromised product quality, process downtime and dissatisfied customers. The Signature System gives process/production managers the tools to prevent system failure. It gives you information — not just raw data — to identify, locate and fix problems before they cause system downtime.

Unlike other power information systems, the Signature System is both a power quality and cost-control tool. It lets you “see” your power use, minute by minute, day by day, month by month. For cost control, that real-time view lets you quickly adjust your power use and shift loads without sacrificing the integrity of your power supply. And, it lets you perform activity-based costing by allocating electrical costs to individual product lines, buildings or processes.

The same real-time view gives you practical information to identify the cause of power quality problems and whether they are produced by internal loads or by the electric supply. It lets you quickly determine energy efficiency and peak-shaving needs. And, it gives you the power to correlate product-line and process performance with the quality of the electrical supply.

View Duke Energy Case Study (pdf format)

Energy Management

Perform sophisticated analysis of your power systems — and your energy costs

Energy powers your operation — but efficient energy management drives your profitability. Facility managers shoulder dual responsibilities: ensure optimal power quality and control energy costs. The Signature System gives you the tools to reduce energy use, prevent peak demand and avoid power-factor penalty charges.

•Power quality is ensured by the Signature System’s comprehensive, real-time picture of your energy use. Immediate notification of power disturbances allows you to respond quickly, no matter where you are. Tailored historical trends of power use and equipment performance allow you to find and correct problems, anticipate loads efficiencies, and optimize power supply contracts. And, the Signature System’s customized AnswerModules give you the tools you need to identify the source and time of power quality phenomena such as sags, swells, transients and harmonics. Then, the System documents the source of the problem, whether inside your facility or in the supply from your power supplier.

•Cost control efforts are supported by the Signature System’s unique capabilities. Real-time data pinpoints opportunities for you to shed loads and control costs without endangering critical systems or equipment. Specialized viewing options let you plot energy use over time for better management and cost-control. The Signature System lets you allocate electrical costs through sub-metering to individual processes, facilities or tenants — and it lets you match generation capacity to changing load requirements in real time.

View NREL Case Study (pdf format)

Electric Supply

Integrate a network of power management systems into a single, enterprise-wide resource

In today’s deregulated environment, customer service defines who is competitive — and who is not.

The Signature System gives you unparalleled support in serving your customers responsibly and cost-effectively. It is the only system to deliver a complete power quality picture, complete with system-specific signatures and thresholds that are recognized automatically. That complete picture, in turn, arms you with the knowledge to fulfill key responsibilities including:

•Managing the quality and demand of your power supply delivery

•Protecting your power infrastructure

• Identifying sources of power disturbances as they happen — and allowing you to resolve customer issues before they become problems

• Optimizing O&M budgets with condition-based maintenance

• Managing asset utilization

• Comparing baseline performance against baseline studies

• Making critical troubleshooting decisions

• Planning for the future

A scalable system capable of supporting many customers across a wide geographic area, the Signature System uses industry-standard protocols and formats, allowing it to interface with other analysis and visualization tools.

View TVA Case Study (pdf format)

Data Centers

Manage your power strategy from anywhere, anytime — using just a web-browser

There is no room for power disturbances in mission-critical operations, be they stock exchanges, Internet service providers, factories or hospitals. The Signature System was developed specifically to address the needs of mission-critical operations:

• Power quality information is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

• Power quality information is available from any computer with Internet access — no matter where that computer is located.

• AnswerModules deliver specialized answers to key power management questions, including the location and root cause of power disturbances.

• Instant notification of critical events allows you to restore system operation from any location at any time.

• Real-time data can be viewed simultaneously from multiple locations, letting you share information with colleagues and customers.

A scalable system, the Signature System facilitates monitoring at individual locations, campus-wide facilities or global organizations. And, it is easily integrated into existing communications networks at critical monitoring locations — including SCADA, HMS, and building maintenance systems.

View DHL Case Study (pdf format)

|| Dranetz-BMI || Electrotek Concepts ||