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Data-driven condition-based maintenance

Published:  01 September, 2016

MyRemoteCare enables users and maintenance teams to continuously supervise circuit-breaker condition and performance trends, and to constantly manage any warnings and faults. ABB service engineers are then able to suggest the right sort of maintenance
at the best time for each asset by analysing the acquired data. This allows failures to be prevented as well as accurate planning of maintenance when it is needed, rather than relying only on purely schedule-based servicing activities.

MyRemoteCare acquires diagnostic information from many sources: intelligent electronic devices, smart circuit breakers, sensors and integrated diagnostic systems. When these devices are not available, ABB can provide MySiteCare: a universal circuit-breaker monitoring and diagnosis device, which acquires various types of typical circuit breaker data and converts them into diagnostic information to assess its condition and allow maintenance work to be planned. One MySiteCare unit must be installed for each circuit-breaker. It monitors the following variables:

• Operation of the mechanical part: opening and closing times, spring charging time, 
slipping and failed spring loading attempts, number of operations, idle time.

• Remaining life estimation and contact wear.

• Monitoring of temperature inside the circuit breaker compartment and the auxiliary 
voltage


MySiteCare implements predictive diagnostic algorithms and provides indications concerning the mechanical, electrical and operating conditions of the circuit-breaker. 
It has a user-friendly interface that displays faults by means of a traffic light: red, yellow and green. This signal indicates how serious the fault is and therefore the probability of failure or impaired reliability and safety of the monitored equipment. 
When the circuit breaker is already in operation it is usual practice to inspect and/or service the device before installing MySiteCare for the purpose of: 


• Checking the state of the circuit-breaker and restoring, as far as possible, the original conditions .

• Preventing failures or impaired performance of the circuit-breaker by replacing excessively worn components and by installing the specific upgrade kits for each circuit breaker.

• Assessing the real conditions of the circuit-breaker so as to configure MySiteCare in the appropriate way.

ABB explains that it also offers an easy service for remote display and analysis of the condition of the equipment installed to facilitate technical support and optimal maintenance planning. MyRemoteCare stores diagnostic information about the individual apparatus and uses it to generate reports and warning messages. In addition, it allows historical data to be analysed, thereby making it easier to detect typical deviations from standard behaviour over the years. 
ABB service engineers analyse the diagnostic data of the circuit-breakers in the remote mode and ensure that events are signalled. They also assess the causes and whether or not to take action in the short- or long-term. 


The information processed by each MySiteCare diagnostic unit is transmitted via RS485 link to a concentrator (Gateway). The concentrator has a SIM card allowing the data to be transmitted to the ABB Data Centre via a mobile phone network (2G/3G), through a secure private channel that is dedicated to the MyRemoteCare system only.

The frequency with which information is transmitted depends on the event and the concentrator sends an update to the system whenever an important change occurs.

In the absence of important changes or events, the status of the installation is updated every 24 hours. In addition, MyRemoteCare has a system for frequently checking the connection to the installation, thereby ensuring a high degree of reliability and data quality.

For further information please visit: www.abb.com