Three major trends in the development of intelligent terminal distribution industry and technology

In recent years, the distribution industry in China has developed rapidly. In addition to strictly adhering to engineering standards, designers also need to continuously deepen their understanding and mastery of new trends in intelligent equipment and technology in order to ensure that they can provide high-quality products while meeting the increasingly strict needs of customers to a large extent. Based on my over 20 years of professional design experience in the distribution industry, intelligent terminal distribution systems can only become a benchmark product in the industry and lead the development direction of the future distribution industry by making breakthroughs in safety, diversity, and innovation.

Firstly, the development of terminal distribution systems needs to address the contradiction between simplicity, efficiency, and safety and reliability. The terminal distribution industry must provide reliable quality assurance, which is also an important determining factor when selecting products. Reliable quality generally includes two layers of connotation: firstly, the product's functionality meets or even exceeds customer expectations; Secondly, the product has a low failure rate and a low repair rate.

At present, some domestic advanced manufacturers, such as Schneider Electric, have made technological breakthroughs in this field, which will surely lead the development of the industry. For example, around the safe and reliable development idea, Schneider Electric developed a full series of Acti9 products with an indication window of fault tripping. When the equipment is tripped due to a fault, this window will give a red indication. Customers can quickly identify faults and improve the efficiency of maintenance without additional investment.

On the basis of safety and reliability, making the terminal distribution system of originally complex commercial buildings and industrial facilities simpler and more efficient, and designing and operating more user-friendly is the best product development model. Schneider Electric's fast wiring system, 18mm leakage circuit breaker, intuitive product code, clear product logo and other functions enable users to quickly master the operation and maintenance, save design and installation time, and realize unique advantages such as less downtime, better power supply continuity, unattended automatic operation, better readability, and openness to any PLC and BMS system.

Secondly, the development of terminal distribution systems needs to address the contradiction between product diversity and system compatibility. The Multi9 series products launched by Schneider Electric at the beginning of the 21st century can be regarded as a complete product series in the terminal power distribution industry. They have everything from circuit breakers, leakage and surge protectors to distribution boxes, industrial sockets, various current levels, various tripping curves, and various materials to help customers improve the performance of the terminal power distribution system and meet the different needs of vertical upstream and downstream industries.

In addition to meeting customers' needs for product diversity, Schneider Electric also pays close attention to the concept of systems and solutions. Based on the concept of the overall solution of Acti9, Schneider Electric has successfully established a perfect coordination ability between the products of Acti9. Taking the coordination work between circuit breakers and leakage switches as an example, if the circuit breaker is used in combination with leakage switches, it is necessary to ensure that the circuit breaker protects the leakage switch from being damaged by overload or short circuit faults on the line. However, we have always lacked relevant technical data to confirm the reliability of this protection. Schneider Electric Acti9 provided a detailed technical cooperation table for the first time, and promised that when the leakage switch is used together with the circuit breaker, the resistance of the leakage switch to the impulse current will reach the breaking capacity of the circuit breaker used together. This provides a reliable technical basis for our design work.

In the future, the development of terminal distribution systems still needs to incorporate breakthrough innovative concepts, which should not be limited to the development of innovative functions for individual products. In fact, the concept of "communication" has been introduced into the product series by Schneider Electric. Communication is like a neural network for a control system, and only the distribution system that achieves communication functions can be called a true "intelligent system".

Recently, Schneider Electric launched the fifth generation of intelligent terminal power distribution system Acti9, realizing the communication function in the terminal power distribution field for the first time. Through the communication interface, on the screen of PLC or Building management system, the user can see the status of the circuit breaker and receive the alarm signal. PLC or Building management system can even remotely control the connection and disconnection of the circuit breaker according to the program. This will help us achieve intelligent control of terminal distribution systems, achieve the goal of energy conservation and environmental protection, and will greatly improve users' maintenance and management capabilities for terminals.

The 12th Five Year Plan period will be a critical period for China to transform its power development mode, and it will also promote significant innovation in power technology. Flexibility, reliability, agility, and intelligence will gradually dominate the development direction of the future distribution equipment market. How to better adapt to the trend of the times and meet the needs of distribution system design more appropriately will become the key to determining the success or failure of major distribution field manufacturers. The concept of Schneider intelligent terminal distribution system will become another milestone in the development of terminal electrical.