Uncooled DC charging cables for realizing a wide range of charging solutions
With reliable DC charging infrastructure, charging electric cars on medium and long-distance journeys at semi-public and public stations is now practical for everyday use. Long charging times are a thing of the past.
Even with uncooled DC charging cables, charging currents up to 375 A and short charging times are achievable. Power transmission requirements vary by location and application, so optimizing the charging infrastructure makes sense for many operators. The robust Charx connect DC charging cables offer future-proof features and power versions from 150 A to 375 A.
Single Pair Ethernet (SPE) enhances modern communication infrastructures. Phoenix Contact offers a comprehensive SPE product portfolio, providing technical solutions and cross-industry expertise.
Unlike conventional Ethernet, Single Pair Ethernet (SPE) uses just one wire pair to transmit data and power. It supports transmission rates from 10 Mbps over 1,000 m to 1 Gbps over 40 m, making it ideal for demanding applications like networked sensors and camera systems. SPE overcomes previous limitations in data rates, ranges, and seamless communication.
As telecommunications connections speed up and the active technology (e.g., router) is now moving into meter cabinets, protecting these devices from surge voltage is crucial for stable operation even during thunderstorms. The surge protection should be easy to install and not impair transmission.
Green electricity from wind and solar power can be abundant or scarce. Power-to-X technologies store this energy as electrochemically produced hydrogen, which is converted back into electricity in fuel cells. A modular solution with AC/DC converters supports various topologies for supplying electrolysis cells with direct current, simplifying maintenance and enhancing the availability and service life of electrolysis stacks.
Single Pair Ethernet: Lean communication through to the field level of automation
Single Pair Ethernet (SPE) enables smarter, more sustainable connections, making it ideal for long-distance communication. Sensor manufacturer Jumo trusts SPE for its measurement technology, using connection solutions from Phoenix Contact, developed through close project collaboration.
“Single Pair Ethernet (SPE) enhances the use of intelligent sensors by transmitting more data, enabling profitable insights,” says Manfred Walter, product manager at Jumo. He highlights the seamless distribution of sensor information across system levels and the consistency it brings. SPE also saves cables by routing data and power via Power over Data Line (PoDL), allowing end-to-end communication from ERP to field level without media disruptions.
Safe and reliable operation with lower energy costs
A reliable power supply from renewable sources requires storing surpluses for times of low sunlight or wind. At the All Electric Society Park in Blomberg, Phoenix Contact demonstrates sector coupling for the electrification of society.
Climate change and geopolitical crises are accelerating the integration of wind and solar power into electrical power systems. However, these sources are intermittent. Battery energy storage systems (BESS) can store generated energy and supply it when needed. In Blomberg, a 1.2 MWh BESS ensures reliable operation and energy cost savings. Phoenix Contact uses its own electronic components to control the BESS, emphasizing quality, reliability, and safety. In addition, the company continues to expand its BESS portfolio, prioritizing these high standards.
Explosion protection and functional safety included
Power-to-X technologies are becoming increasingly important for the All Electric Society. Compact Ex i signal conditioners with SIL 3 are vital for their safe use.
Technically, the All Electric Society offers a solution to the climate crisis and sustainable development. This vision involves using renewable electrical energy as the main, inexpensive, and abundant energy source. Achieving this requires comprehensive electrification, networking, and automation across all sectors—industry, mobility, infrastructure, buildings, and energy. Sector coupling integrates power generation, distribution, storage, and consumption into a holistic system, allowing energy exchange and optimal control through data evaluation.
Cost-effective and comprehensive inspection based on machine learning
Automating quality control with AI-based image processing requires a suitable network and automation concept. Phoenix Contact supports system evaluation and component selection, as shown in this example from an international automobile manufacturer.
The automobile manufacturer maintains high quality standards by inspecting and optimizing all car components. Automated quality inspection is crucial for cost-effective control, using sensors (like ultrasonic sensors or cameras) to detect defects, which are then evaluated and corrected by robots. In the body shop, weld quality is a major focus, as proper welding ensures vehicle stability and durability. Additionally, removing weld spatter is essential to prevent damage to cables laid later.
Fewer emissions with a higher overall equipment effectiveness
More countries are committing to net-zero emissions, aiming to limit global temperature rise to 1.5 °C. With the PLCnext Technology ecosystem and MLnext software solution, Phoenix Contact is helping tp reduce emissions.
The EU aims for net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2025, as part of the European Green Deal and the 2015 Paris Agreement. This transition to a climate-neutral society is both a challenge and an opportunity, involving all societal and economic sectors, from energy and industry to buildings, agriculture, and forestry.
Edge computing is closely tied to cloud computing, with the latter gaining importance in Industry 4.0 projects. Though relatively new, edge computing’s potential is exemplified by the EPC 1502 edge device.
A user needs an Internet connection to link systems to a cloud for data evaluation and storage. However, for applications requiring quick data processing, public cloud solutions are unsuitable due to Internet latency. Users are increasingly using Edge computing for these smart applications. Phoenix Contact’s edge devices, based on the PLCnext Technology ecosystem, combine robust industrial PCs with an open automation platform. This approach enables intelligent IoT edge concepts and optimizes the entire value chain by processing and analyzing large data volumes locally.
Easy to integrate box for collecting local data
Edge devices have broad applications, where data needs to be analyzed or is already being analyzed in the cloud. When developing edge applications, users often ask how to centrally accumulate data. Creating autonomous vehicles, traffic light systems, or intelligent thermostats that benefit from edge computing can be complex. The edge device must be flexible and able to collect large amounts of data from various sensors and manufacturers. Additionally, field devices use different industry protocols, and much of the data is analog, making accumulation challenging.
The tailor-made Edge Collection Box from Phoenix Contact is ideal for collecting local data. It gathers digital, analog, and temperature signals via connected sensors and integrates easily into existing production environments. Furthermore, Data collection takes place in parallel, preserving the CE marking of machines. The main component, the EPC 1502 PLCnext Control with an IIoT framework, facilitates easy collection of energy and process data using industry-standard communication protocols.
Secure Data Box as a secure interface to higher-level IT systems
Once data is collected and analyzed locally via the edge device, it often serves as an intermediate layer to the cloud. Transferring summarized data, evaluated alarms, and analyses securely to the cloud can be challenging. Moreover, Phoenix Contact’s Secure Data Box, used with the Data Collection Box, provides a secure interface between the production network and higher-level IT networks, external service providers, and cloud systems. The integrated FL mGuard security router’s firewall blocks unauthorized access, allowing only necessary data traffic. Via the mGuard Secure Cloud app, one can access the EPC 1502 edge device for remote maintenance information.
Reliable operation of automated guided vehicle systems
Additionally, using an edge device in an automated guided vehicle system (AGVS) bridges the gap between classic control functions and AGVS navigation. It offers a plug-and-play interface for the Robot Operating System (ROS) and supports high-level language programming, the ROS interface, and Docker software, allowing users to implement their own approaches. The PLCnext Technology online store provides apps for sending firmware and application updates to all controllers.
Furthermore, the edge device provides a secure entry point for remote maintenance and displays collected data via dashboards. AI algorithms analyze data to detect anomalies, enabling predictive maintenance and minimizing downtime. With atypical interfaces, data can be forwarded via WLAN, saving on cables. The large internal storage allows for long-term local data storage. Edge devices are essential for the reliable operation, efficiency, and flexibility of automated guided vehicle systems.
Wide range of possible uses in large and small applications
There are various applications for Edge computing. Ready-to-install edge boxes simplify implementing large systems that collect data using different protocols. Moreover, existing systems can be easily converted to edge computing with integration-capable solutions installed outside machines, retaining their CE marking. In smaller systems, edge devices must support many protocols and apps to provide added value with simple installation.
