Electrical and automation data management

Electrical and automation design means the design and implementation of electrical systems in various buildings, equipment, or industrial environments.

In many companies, electrical and automation data are managed in several Excel files and CAD images in personal folders or on network drives. Data management is person-dependent.

If data are not updated efficiently in a company, this will quickly cause problems. If data are maintained manually, without IT systems, human errors are unfortunately common.

You can shift from the initial structural and dependency-governing documentation management to versatile and database-based design.

Even entry-level ALMA solutions allow you to develop data management and significantly reduce electricity and automation solutions-related risks.

The features of FieldALMA

Electrical design

Electrical design focuses on the design of various electrical systems, for example, power trains and the connections of motor and electrical resistance trace heating circuits. Its objective is the implementation of safe, efficient and functional electrical systems.

Comprehensive libraries and automated functions for examination and creation of connections are at the designers’ disposal.

Electrical design covers all switchboards of the facility, as well as electrical circuit and board output design for the control of motors and electrical resistance trace heating, for example. The constituents of electrical circuits and outputs are determined based on the selected types (circuit type, selection table), so that their electrical characteristics correspond to the power class chosen. This reduces the possibility of design errors, improves safety and enhances efficiency.

The electricity distribution network can also be modelled into the system. The modelling may include, for example, documentation, power transformers, medium voltage switchboards and cells, transformers, compensation units, ballasts, cables, etc.

After the modelling, estimating the impact of various possible failures on the electricity grid, switchboards, and production equipment is facilitated. The model also enables reality centred maintenance (RCM) criticality classification related to the electricity distribution network and helps to prioritise maintenance tasks accordingly.

With FieldALMA, an electrical designer can:

● control the facility’s power supply
● create standard motor circuits; power and RPM from minimum to maximum
● create conceptual products, actual products and drawings
● utilise product and cable libraries alongside automatic choices
● create motor lists with the help of standard solutions
● connect the motor to the MCC and reserve the necessary I/O-s
● share completed design data in the form of drawings and diagrams
● reserve a bus/IP address and connect a frequency converter or motor controller to a bus/switch
● create different types of motor circuits (e.g., VFD, DOL, REV-DOL, ELTR) using design and base types or solution models created in advance

Field instrumentation

Automation design focuses on systems that automatically control and manage, for example, various processes. In industrial automation, electrical systems and automation systems often interact in the control and monitoring of production processes.

FieldALMA covers all circuits, devices, connection spaces, and field data.

Automation design data can be used to generate reports that can be modified or used as layouts for subsequent design.

With FieldALMA, an automation designer can:

• select circuit components from component library
• check and update installation type images
• create connection network and enclosures easily with the help of registers
• produce installation documentation
• create equipment connections and connection diagrams
• define I/O positioning
• upkeep cross connection data
• conveniently create all the reports required for final documentation
• use comprehensive database import/export functions

Application and system design

FieldALMA includes sophisticated functions for supplier-independent system engineering, which allow connection of design data to the automation suppliers’ tools through parameterised links.

When the field instrumentation design is completed, the data for system design are ready as well, such as alarm groups and starting sequence.

Documents and lists typically output from ALMA:

• Circuit and wiring diagram
• Board output lists
• Board main diagrams
• Equipment inquiry reports
• Cable lists
• Identification plate lists
• Circuit lists
• Equipment lists
• Document lists
• Installation type lists
• Cabinet lists
• Connection lists
• I/O lists
• IT cabinet layouts

IT design & data network connection features

FieldALMA can also be extended to cover IT design.

With FieldALMA’s IT design feature, an IT designer:

• Manages IT data changes, connections, and image and list updates through the database to avoid the need for updating the same change at several locations. This way, the data are more error-free, reliable and up-to-date.
• Employs automation to create IT cabinet images (e.g., 22U, 42U) using CAD symbols assigned to components, switches and panels.
• Employs automation to create connections from devices (e.g., surveillance cameras and access control devices) through RJ45 boxes all the way to switches, fibre optic panels, trunk switches, and routers.
• Outputs the necessary reports from ALMA, such as cabinet, equipment, cable, and connection lists.
• Checks the network connections made using ALMA’s navigator function.