EcoStruxure

EcoStruxure is a Schneider Electric platform based on the Internet of Things technology and provides interoperability of various components. Open, information technology and operational architecture for buildings, electrical networks, data centers, and industry.

The term EcoStruxure is intended to reflect the creation of a common architecture that allows you to "package" the technologies of various Schneider group companies, which provide the opportunity to offer single solutions and optimize energy costs at all levels of enterprise activity within the framework of the OneSchneider concept. One of the first steps in implementing this concept in our country was the formation of the Schneider Electric Datacenter Solution Team from the employees of the Schneider Electric offices and the included APC.

As of October 2019, the components of the EcoStruxure platform are:

• Connected Products,
• Edge Control
• Apps, Analytics & Services.

These, in turn, are supported ON by Customer Lifecycle Software.

Typical example of implementing a solution EcoStruxure

• Automate data center resource control and management processes
• Building Regional IT Infrastructure
• Increase reliability and speed of launch of new services
• Implementation of Building resource control and management processes
• Effectively manage resources and reduce infrastructure costs
• Improving Staff Efficiency and Comfort of End Customers
• Implement predictive diagnostic tools
• Improving the Reliability of Infrastructure Services

2019

EcoStruxture Machine Advisor

On May 8, 2019, Schneider Electric introduced a cloud platform for remote access to and maintenance of industrial machines - EcoStruxture Machine Advisor.

According to the developer, ready for the challenges of the future solutions in the field of equipment and smart automation technology EcoStruxure Machine will allow you to produce safer and more flexible equipment, as well as minimize the cost of servicing machines and achieve high operational efficiency of production.

As noted in Schneider Electric, EcoStruxture Machine Advisor consists of three main modules that are designed to provide optimal conditions for the reliable and safe operation of industrial machines:

• Visualization Service. Web access to all connected machines in real time. The visualization service allows you to find the necessary technical documentation, diagrams, specifications, log and maintenance rules in one click. At the same time, an intuitive interface provides a good user experience for enterprise employees.
• Analytics Service. Remote monitoring and analysis of machine status and performance. The analytical service allows you to track online key performance indicators using ready-made graphical widgets - the analytics toolbar, trend monitoring, alerts and other tools.
• Remote maintenance. Fix hardware problems anywhere in the world. Remote maintenance with the ability to use the service, augmented reality provides connection programming of the industrial controllers line of M2xx and operator panels Magelis through - Internetbrowser stationary or PERSONAL COMPUTER mobile device, regardless of the actual location of the employee.

Together, these three elements, according to the developer, allow Schneider Electric partners to provide their customers with service for any industrial plant anywhere in the world, providing them with a complete picture of everything that happens in production. Connecting industrial machines and configuring the Machine Advisor interface is simple and intuitive. According to May 2019, the service can already be tested for free by connecting your car to it.

Launch the EcoStruxure IT Advisor Cloud Platform

On April 10, 2019, it became known that Schneider Electric launched a cloud platform for managing data centers called EcoStruxure IT Advisor. It uses IoT sensors and analytics to improve operational efficiency, provide a set time for continuous operation, and reduce power consumption. The platform was deployed in April 2019 in more than 480 thousand points and is connected to 1.6 million assets.

EcoStruxure IT Advisor performs the following functions:

• Asset management for accurate accounting. Displays data information about the physical placement of devices and other assets in the data center, details about them are given;
• Risk planning for incident management and IT infrastructure changes
• change management for moving and changing assets, the workflow being automated;
• Provide a data center plan with areas, enclosures, racks, and IT assets to collate and report on rack usage.

To manage data centers, Schneider Electric also has the platforms EcoStruxure IT Expert and EcoStruxure Asset Advisor^[1].

EcoStruxure Field Device Expert

On January 15, 2019, Schneider Electric introduced the EcoStruxure Field Device Expert application, which simplifies the configuration, debugging and maintenance processes of field device engineers throughout the life cycle of the production plant.

The Intelligent Commissioning Wizard in Field Device Expert fully automates the discovery, configuration, commissioning, and testing of field devices running on, to the protocol HART connected to control system to the Distributed Control System (DCS) distributed EcoStruxure. Tests have shown that automatic binding and configuration of HART devices reduces the commissioning time by more than 75%, this contributes to a faster payback, say Schneider Electric.

"According to the report of the analytical company, EY almost two-thirds of large multibillion-dollar projects go beyond their budgets, and 73% of projects do not fit within the established deadlines. By automating the commissioning process, Field Device Expert reduces the start-up time and costs, which directly affects the overall profitability of the project. So, in the framework of one of the projects, calculations on investment profitability showed savings of 96 days, which is equivalent to the production of additional products worth $24 million. "

As noted in Schneider Electric, the traditional manual commissioning of the device is time-consuming work, the result of which can depend on personnel errors and specialist experience. By automating the process of device configuration and commissioning, Field Device Expert changes the process of implementing the automation project, minimizes dependence on the type of equipment and the need for user engineering expertise, and provides greater flexibility in design, start-up time, and sequence of actions. For example, traditional commissioning may take up to 50 minutes to set up each asset. The Intelligent Commissioning Wizard in Field Device Expert reduces this time to 15 minutes, that is, 70%. After the production plant is put into operation, Schneider Electric simplifies the configuration and monitoring of field devices throughout the life cycle of the facility. This means that restarting and starting the device after repair, maintenance, or shutdown will also be faster and easier.

According to the developer, Field Device Expert opens up great opportunities for operators at the production facility.

• EcoStruxure Maintenance Advisor - Schneider Electric's predictive maintenance platform that reduces configuration time and error probability - can use field device data available in Field Device Expert.
• Intelligent Commissioning Wizard allows engineers to run devices in 24/7 mode at no additional cost.
• The Device Replacement Wizard accelerates and simplifies startup by automating HART device replacement, both individual and group. Even when you replace a device with another type of device, the software automatically performs this procedure, which reduces downtime.
• A single information repository improves reliability and security by eliminating costly errors. The unified database eliminates the duplication and inconsistencies that typically occur when using independent DCS databases and assets. This reduces labor and allows you to create single, standard backups.
• Permissions access to devices associated safety with comply with -1, IEC61511 the main industry standard that sets the requirements for the design of systems to ensure industrial process safety.
• The included HART device description library allows you to start devices faster, eliminates version mismatch and cyber risks. Engineers do not need to search and download files from the Internet.
• FDT 2.0 compliant application frames use technology (.NET over ActiveX/COM) and support digital signatures to prevent unauthorized access.
• Field Device Expert from Schneider Electric guarantees the compatibility of any device from any supplier with any protocol. Thanks to the functionality of Foxboro DCS and the support of all field buses, users can save settings, the system in turn adapts to this choice.
• Advanced Diagnostic Support for vendor-embedded Device Type Manager (DTM) enables technicians to access advanced diagnostics written for the appropriate device by its manufacturer. Field Device Tool (FDT )/device type manager has a flexible user interface, rich graphics and provides comprehensive diagnostics of field devices - even complex ones such as positioning devices, the developer emphasized.

Field Device Expert is a software part of the EcoStruxure architecture and platform developed by Schneider Electric.

2017: EcoStruxure Maintenance Advisor

On November 29, 2017, Schneider Electric offered a software solution - EcoStruxure Maintenance Advisor, with a built-in module EcoStruxure Condition Advisor.

Technology bridges the gap between operation and maintenance of production assets, providing advanced maintenance and decision support for the operation of all production assets of the enterprise. The process involves components of control systems EcoStruxure Foxboro DCS, EcoStruxure Hybrid DCS, intelligent field devices, drives, a range of other automation system equipment.

With mobile devices and workflow options available from the unified EcoStruxure Maintenance Advisor interface, enterprise personnel can respond quickly to events from anywhere on the production site.

The OPC DA-enabled EcoStruxure Condition Advisor software component enables real-time automatic monitoring of the status of any OPC DA-compliant equipment, such as intelligent electronics, starters, and motor drives. This feature complements the Condition Advisor modules and monitors the status of Fieldbus Foundation, HART, and Profibus field devices.

As of November 29, 2017, EcoStruxure Maintenance Advisor and EcoStruxure Control Advisor software are available for enterprises in the processing and hybrid industries.

Notes