AC/DC rocks the world

"More and more of our customers require systems that combine speed with a high degree of flexibility. That is the common thread running through all the different applications,” says Raphael Görner, Head of the Energy & Power Solutions division at Rittal, “To achieve this, we need to go beyond our own in-house development. “Achieving speed through standardisation and an increased diversity of innovation requires cross-company collaboration.” That is why Rittal designed the new platform from the very beginning as an open ecosystem where innovative manufacturers can develop and market “Ready for RiLineX” components that connect directly to the 60 mm busbar system.

AC/DC and partners rock the world

Rittal has its roots in the AC sector, while E-T-A specialises in DC power systems. “This means we have proven experts in direct current (DC) and alternating current (AC) on board for our customers,” explains Raphael Görner. The partners anticipate a snowball effect because of RiLineX’s widespread international adoption. “With the suggestions from the Eplan Data Portal and the RiPower configuration software, designers and engineers can more easily discover the benefits of these smart components, even though they may not yet be widely available in their markets,” predicts Raphael Görner. 

direct current for industrial automation of the future

Direct current is not only distributed in battery storage systems and solar power installations. IPower is already supplied to the machine via stable DC networks in an increasing number of industrial applications. Losses due to conversion are eliminated, and battery storage systems and PV installations can be better integrated into the energy flow. 

As a protection specialist and global market leader in circuit breakers and overcurrent protection, E-T-A brings many years of DC experience to the technology ecosystem. “DC systems place different demands on switchgear and components, for example when it comes to arc suppression,” explains Richard Mehl, Head of the Communication & Systems Division at E-T-A. 

“Consistently accounting for DC and, above all, enabling easy retrofitting was important to us both in the partner network and in the product development of the electromechanical platform,” emphasises Raphael Görner. “E-T-A provides customers a high degree of technological flexibility, ensuring that their solutions are future-proof.” "Depending on the specific application, E-T-A protects expensive equipment in the mechanical engineering and process industries using conventional electromechanical solutions or smart, selective protection systems."

One example is the 8365-F hydraulic-magnetic circuit breaker, whose precise switching mechanism ensures reliable tripping even in the event of low overcurrents. It is a globally unique circuit breaker for voltages of DC 400 V per chamber.