Energy costs can rise for a variety of different reasons, including increased demand, changes in government policies and regulations, fluctuations in the cost of fuel and factors such as natural disasters and more recently geopolitical tensions. Energy management is becoming increasingly important as we look to reduce energy consumption, lower costs, and decrease the environmental impact. IoT (Internet of Things) technology can play a significant role in energy management by providing real-time monitoring and control.

One way IoT can help with energy management is through the use of power clamps, which are devices placed around the wires of electrical systems to monitor current flow. Power clamps can measure the current flow in real-time and then transmit this data wirelessly through an IoT gateway to a central hub or cloud-based platform for analysis and control. This allows for the identification of patterns and anomalies in energy usage, which can be used to optimize energy consumption and reduce costs.

For example, in a commercial building, power clamps can be used to monitor the energy consumption of different systems and devices, such as heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, lighting, and appliances. By analysing the data provided building managers can identify areas of energy waste and take steps to improve efficiency.

IoT technology can also help to address unbalanced power usage in industrial settings by monitoring the energy consumption of industrial machines and processes, enabling the identification of inefficiencies and the optimization of energy usage helping to reduce energy costs, improving production efficiency and reducing the environmental impact. 

Unbalance power usage in industrial settings can occur when different pieces of equipment or systems within a facility are drawing unequal amounts of power. This can happen due to a variety of factors, such as malfunctioning equipment, poor maintenance, or incorrect installation. Unbalanced power usage can lead to several problems, including:

• Reduced efficiency: Unbalanced power usage can cause equipment to work harder than necessary, leading to increased wear and tear and reduced efficiency.
• Increased energy costs: Unbalanced power usage can result in higher energy consumption and increased costs.
• Power quality issues: Unbalanced power usage can cause voltage fluctuations and harmonic distortion, which can damage equipment and cause power quality issues.

By identifying machines or processes that are consuming more power than others, facility managers can take steps to improve efficiency and reduce energy consumption. Unbalanced power usage in industrial settings can lead to reduced efficiency, increased energy costs, power quality issues and safety hazards. IoT technology can help to address the problem through the use of current monitoring and control systems which can detect and correct unbalanced usage.

WiTTRA offers a market-ready solution – A split core current clamp connected to the WiTTRA Current Meter that measures up to 400 Amps AC current on the primary centre conductor. The clamp can be fitted around existing electrical wiring, rapidly reducing the installation time. By harvesting energy from the current clamp, the Current Meter can run without any external power source. The Current Meter connects to a WiTTRA TrakSense360 which posts measurement data to the cloud via the WiTTRA Gateway.

Ready…

• Small, rugged mechanics sealed to IP4X (IP67 with optional Protection Box)
• Certified for EU/NA/UK, ready for field deployment
• Easy to set up, easy to use
• Simple installation, click the clamp over the existing electrical wiring
• No permanent power source is required when harvesting from the current clamp 
• Rechargeable battery for low-duty cycle applications provides up to 1 month of life (usage dependent)

SET…

• Tag automatically recognizes the device on the initial connection
• Power meter parameters can be set on the portal

GO…

• Monitor RMS (root mean square) current – optimize factory operations to save energy
• Monitor machinery usage – count the active events and flag inactivity
• Predictive maintenance – detects when the current consumption profile changes

In summary, energy management is important for reducing energy consumption, lowering costs, and decreasing the environmental impact. IoT technology can play a significant role in energy management by providing real-time monitoring and control of energy usage. It can help to identify patterns and anomalies in energy usage, which can be used to optimize energy consumption and reduce costs.

To find out more about the WiTTRA Solution why not book an IoT consultation https://www.wittra.io/iot-consultation-2/.