IT in Manufacturing


Principles for effective systems engineering and integration

September 2024 IT in Manufacturing


Jaco du Plooy, product marketing manager at Eaton Africa.

Eaton has introduced the ‘Power of Six,’ a set of principles forming the foundation of its systematic approach to data centre design. This holistic perspective aligns with South Africa’s power infrastructure needs, advancing the country towards self-aware and self-optimised data centres. “In this article, we explore how using these systems engineering principles allows us to de-risk the design, reduce complexity, and optimise the performance of data centres,” says Jaco du Plooy, product marketing manager at Eaton Africa.

The approach includes a digital layer such as Eaton’s Brightlayer Data Centres suite to manage complex ecosystems of IT and OT assets, while providing full system visibility.

Design of critical power system components: The first principle focuses on understanding the characteristics, behaviours and impacts of critical components within power systems. By doing so, performance can be optimised, energy efficiency enhanced, and IT needs effectively met. This involves using data analytics in the operational phase to improve efficiency, maximise utilisation, and anticipate problems, making the implementation crucial.

Asset management and condition-based monitoring: This principle emphasises incorporating a digital layer into power management systems for asset monitoring and management, allowing proactive measures to increase lifespan and optimise performance. Continuous monitoring and maintenance ensure peak efficiency and identify potential risks. Using digital twinning, AI, and machine learning, performance can be optimised from the design stage by identifying potential equipment issues, and tracking energy efficiency through consumption monitoring.

System design: This principle encourages a broader system design approach, considering interdependencies beyond the power train. Properly integrated components minimise energy wastage and ensure efficient use of high-power loads like cooling, reducing demand on the power train. A well-designed, integrated system reduces component failure, optimises usage, and prolongs lifespan, contributing to operational and sustainability goals. Improved communication between system components can reduce data latency and optimise system performance.

Energy efficiency: A systems engineering approach helps achieve sustainability goals and reduce operational costs, by minimising power losses and optimising system efficiency. Selecting the right equipment, such as using copper busbars in low-voltage systems, can significantly improve efficiency. A digital software platform can monitor and manage energy efficiency through machine learning and AI, identifying and preventing power distribution losses. This approach enables significant energy savings and drives overall system performance.

Integration with renewables: Integrating renewable energy sources into the power ecosystem is essential. Proper integration provides resilient and reliable power, reducing the likelihood of outages. The reduced rotating mass and inertia in renewables affect power flow quality due to less frequency control and more volatility. Managing the variability of supply, and ensuring grid stability, require a comprehensive approach, considering the impacts on harmonics and voltage fluctuations from inverter-based power sources.

Flexible and dynamic design: A flexible and dynamic design approach accommodates changing demands and emerging technologies like AI. Staying adaptable ensures solutions remain relevant and effective in rapidly evolving environments. Eaton’s products address the challenges of variable loads due to fluctuations in demand and generation, optimising system operation, voltage levels and power losses.

“To achieve a self-aware and self-optimised data centre, the industry must shift towards a systems-based design. Embracing a set of principles and adopting a systems mindset is essential, and the Power of Six enables this transition. This approach facilitates driving operational value and leveraging intelligent, actionable insights from your data. In these uncertain times, adapting to evolving power and environmental demands requires a new way of thinking,” concludes du Plooy.

For more information contact Eaton, +27 11 824 7400, [email protected], www.eaton.co.za




Share this article:
Share via emailShare via LinkedInPrint this page

Further reading:

Sustainable energy management
Siemens South Africa IT in Manufacturing
Utilising its innovative ONE approach technology, Siemens provides complete transparency on resource consumption and offers data-driven optimisation recommendations for sustainable energy management.

Read more...
Paving the way for a carbon-neutral future in South Africa
IT in Manufacturing
At ABB Electrification, we believe the infrastructure of the future must do more than support daily operations, it must anticipate them. We are committed to building intelligent systems that connect and optimise infrastructure across sectors.

Read more...
Africa’s hidden AI advantage
IT in Manufacturing
Through my work implementing AI systems across three continents, I’ve become convinced that Africa’s unique context demands urgent AI adoption. Successful implementation requires local expertise to understand resource constraints as design parameters to create the innovations that make technology truly work under real-world conditions.

Read more...
Siemens Xcelerator empowers space-tech pioneer, Skyroot Aerospace
Siemens South Africa IT in Manufacturing
Siemens Digital Industries Software has announced that Skyroot Aerospace, a leading private space launch service company in India, has adopted Polarion software from the Siemens Xcelerator portfolio to digitally transform its software development processes and enhance efficiency as it aims to accelerate access to space for its customers worldwide.

Read more...
Water is running out, is your ESG strategy ready?
IT in Manufacturing
Water is one of the most critical yet undervalued resources in modern business. Water stewardship asks businesses to understand their water footprint across the entire value chain and to engage with others who share the same water resources.

Read more...
Cybersecurity in 2025: Six trends to watch
Rockwell Automation IT in Manufacturing
Rockwell Automation’s 10th State of Smart Manufacturing report finds that cybersecurity risks are a major, ever-present obstacle, and are now the third-largest impediment to growth in the next 12 months.

Read more...
The state of the smart buildings market in 2025
IT in Manufacturing
Smart buildings are entering a transformative phase, driven by sustainability goals, technological innovation and evolving user expectations. According to ABI Research’s latest whitepaper, the sector is undergoing a strategic overhaul across key areas like retrofitting, energy efficiency, data-driven operations and smart campus development.

Read more...
Digital twin for Bavaria’s National Theatre
Siemens South Africa IT in Manufacturing
Siemens and the Bavarian State Opera are digitalising the acoustics in Bavaria’s National Theatre in Munich, Germany. The result is a digital twin that simulates sound effects, orchestral setups and venue configurations in a realistic 3D acoustic model so that musicians, the director and conductors can assess a concert hall’s acoustics even before the first rehearsal.

Read more...
How AI can help solve South Africa’s water crisis
IT in Manufacturing
Climate change, ageing infrastructure, pollution and unequal access are putting intense pressure on the country’s water systems. A powerful question arises: “Can artificial intelligence help us change course?”

Read more...
Backup has evolved, but has your strategy?
IT in Manufacturing
With cyber threats rising and compliance standards tightening, South African organisations are under growing pressure to revisit their data protection strategies. The era of treating backups as a box-ticking exercise is over.

Read more...









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.




© Technews Publishing (Pty) Ltd | All Rights Reserved