South Africa’s water infrastructure woes are well documented; however, it has also become increasingly vulnerable to cybersecurity attacks which could lead to devastating consequences. In some instances, service outages could result in operational malfunction and worse – contaminated water.
To this end, the recently launched Schneider Electric ATS480 soft starter, which has been designed to optimise the entire lifecycle leading to a digitalised, efficient environment, also offers sophisticated cybersecurity features. Its embedded security meets the requirements of IEC 61443, protecting equipment against causal or coincidental violations.
“The Schneider Electric ATS480 soft starter, in essence, represents the next evolution in soft starters, optimised for digital environments while meeting rigid cybersecurity standards,” says Jaque Mare, product manager: VSD & Soft Starters at Schneider Electric.
Looking specifically at the water and wastewater industry, the ATS480 offers the following important benefits:
• Secure operations and pumpstations – the soft starter protects water and wastewater infrastructure against cyber threats.
• Reduced engineering time – it offers digital tools and selections, which enable faster decisions and procurement.
• Moisture repellent – the soft starter features conformal coating as standard on its internal printed circuit board, which prevents corrosion – a major plus at water and wastewater facilities.
• Motor protection – it slowly starts the motor until it reaches its full load and current/speed.
• Digital environment – the soft starter features an embedded digital QR code which assists installers with code fault-finding and other important material.
Prevention of water hammering
While leaking or burst water pipes are often attributed to age or extreme temperatures, water hammering is a major culprit of pipe damage and degradation.
Water hammering occurs when water flow is suddenly reduced at the end of a pipeline system, leading to pressure waves in the pipe. In essence, it creates shockwaves in the piping systems, which impacts mechanical equipment like pumps and pipes. This in turn can lead to pipe bursts and water leaks, which leave communities without water.
“The Altivar ATS480 reduces water hammering by gradually starting and shutting down motors, protecting our pipeline system and drastically reducing maintenance,” explains Mare.
The technical specifications of the soft starter include:
• Power range: 4 to 900 kW.
• Operational voltage range: 208 to 690 V.
• Operational current range: 17 to 1200 A.
• Operating cycle: Normal duty and heavy duty.
• Motor type: Asynchronous motors, IE2/IE3/IE4.
• Motor control: Torque control (TCS), voltage control.
• Current limitation: 500% current rating (up to 700% of the rated motor current).
• Cybersecure by design.
• Compatible with its predecessor, the ATS48, improving on initial expenditure and ROI.
All eyes on the modern DCS platform Schneider Electric South Africa
PLCs, DCSs & Controllers
Modernised DCS platforms are no longer confined to hardware-dependent architectures. These systems have evolved to combine the strengths of both PLCs and DCS while adding capabilities that make them more open, resilient and collaborative.
Read more...Why choose between Capex and Opex if you can Totex? Schneider Electric South Africa
IT in Manufacturing
In a sector marked by cyclical demand, high capital intensity, and increasing regulatory and sustainability pressures, mining, minerals and metals (MMM) companies are re-evaluating how they approach procurement and investment.
Read more...Novel bearing steel next generation of aeroengines SKF South Africa
Motion Control & Drives
SKF continues to re-imagine intelligent and clean rotation with the development of an innovative temperature-resistant, corrosion-tolerant steel called ARCTIC15 designed for aeroengine bearings.
Read more...AI and the smart factory Schneider Electric South Africa
IT in Manufacturing
Imagine walking into a factory where machines can think ahead, predict problems before they happen and automatically make adjustments to realise peak performance. This isn’t science fiction, it’s happening right now as AI continues to transform how we run industrial operations.
Read more...Why your supply chain should be a competitive advantage Schneider Electric South Africa
IT in Manufacturing
The last five years have placed unprecedented strain on global supply chains. Leading companies are turning the challenge into an opportunity to transform their supply chains into a competitive advantage.
Read more...Real-time modelling is the key to a resilient, bi-directional energy grid Schneider Electric South Africa
Electrical Power & Protection
Utilities and municipalities are facing a challenge as the country’s legacy power grid, engineered for one-way energy delivery from centralised suppliers to end-users, must rapidly evolve to meet a new paradigm.
Read more...Shielding data centre growth from the looming power crunch Schneider Electric South Africa
Electrical Power & Protection
Today’s digital economy is placing unprecedented strain on the power grid. The good news is that these challenges are not insurmountable. By adopting proactive strategies such as alternative power sources, infrastructure planning and software, operators can secure capacity, build resilient facilities and scale sustainably.
Read more...Circuit breaker innovations Schneider Electric South Africa
Electrical Power & Protection
Recent advancements in circuit breaker technology have seen a major step forward in setting new standards for efficiency and sustainability in data centres, industrial and commercial infrastructure.
Read more...Buildings and microgrids for a greener future Schneider Electric South Africa
IT in Manufacturing
Buildings are no longer passive consumers of power. Structures of almost every size are evolving into dynamic energy ecosystems capable of generating, storing and distributing their own electricity. Forming part of this exciting transformation are microgrids.
Read more...Africa’s brightest young battery innovators Schneider Electric South Africa
News
Schneider Electric and Enactus, the international NGO dedicated to inspiring students through entrepreneurial action, have announced the winners of the 2025 Energy Transition Battery Innovation Challenge, funded by the Schneider Electric Foundation. It empowers young innovators to design battery solutions addressing the region’s most pressing energy challenges.
While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained herein, the publisher and its agents cannot be held responsible for any errors contained, or any loss incurred as a result. Articles published do not necessarily reflect the views of the publishers. The editor reserves the right to alter or cut copy. Articles submitted are deemed to have been cleared for publication. Advertisements and company contact details are published as provided by the advertiser. Technews Publishing (Pty) Ltd cannot be held responsible for the accuracy or veracity of supplied material.
printer friendly version