Energy monitoring software cuts costs
13 Nov 2002
WinEnergy from Siemens Automaton and Drives is a software package for gathering, monitoring, reporting and archiving energy usage information.
Based on the Simatic WinCC Scada package, WinEnergy is designed to be a low-cost, entry-level monitoring system rather than a comprehensive energy management system - it will not shut down plant automatically, for example.
A typical installation will use distributed Siemens SIMEAS P meters to measure current, voltage, active power, power factor and harmonics. This data is transmitted via a Profibus DP fieldbus for monitoring by WinEnergy and storing in the Simatic WinCC database.
Siemens says that even a relatively small organisation will benefit from a WinEnergy package. Systems can be installed for around £10,000, which includes a desktop or industrialised PC, Simatic WinCC and WinEnergy software, meters and cabling.
