EC: Energy Efficiency Module MSE6-E2M
Motion control, motors: The Festo energy efficiency module MS6-E2M is a completely new, intelligent combination of service units, sensors and fieldbus technology. It fully automatically monitors and regulates the compressed air supply. This is a Control Engineering 2017 Engineers’ Choice Awards Finalist.
The Festo MS6-E2M is the first-of-its-kind intelligent service unit that automatically puts compressed air on standby when a machine stands idle, thus reducing energy consumption. These units also alert plant personnel to wasted energy when air leaks from a machine’s pneumatic system. The new Festo MSE6-E2M, or E2M for short, can pay for itself in less than a year.
Based on user defined parameters, the E2M module detects when a machine is idle and automatically shuts off compressed air thereby saving energy. When the unit receives a startup signal from an operator, the E2M resupplies compressed air. In the case of a particularly complex production process, automatic standby detection can be deactivated in favor of manual operation.
The E2M features a solenoid valve integrated with a pressure and a flow sensor in one compact package. A Profibus node provides communication between the E2M and a PLC. Festo plans to introduce Ethernet/IP and Profinet communication options in 2016. The E2M flows up to 5,000 L of compressed air per minute, programs easily, and offers fast connection to Festo MS series air preparation units.
The E2M actively monitors the condition of the pneumatic system in real time. This feature gives plant operators access to up-to-the-minute energy- and process-related data as well as comparative data over time. Values for flow rate, air consumption, and pressure are available. Data can help personnel determine historical trends on consumption, the amount of air consumed per product batch, and pressure and flow at the time of a malfunction or bad batch of product. Not only is this module suitable for new machines, but it also, thanks to the simple connections, offers an easy retrofit on older machines
Festo Corp., www.festo.us
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