You seek to understand industrial electrical cabinets to equip your factory's electrical systems, machinery, and production lines. You are unsure about selecting the right type of industrial electrical cabinet that is reliable, safe, and fits your budget. Let FERMENTUM address your concerns about industrial electrical cabinets through the following article:
Depending on the application and user requirements, there are various ways to classify industrial electrical cabinets. Manufacturers provide different types of electrical cabinets such as distribution cabinets, control cabinets, indoor cabinets, outdoor cabinets, etc...
Here, FERMENTUM introduces some of the most common types of industrial electrical cabinets:
The Main Distribution Switchboard (MSB) serves as the primary distribution cabinet, also known as the main switchboard or main distribution panel. It acts as the input cabinet for a facility's entire low-voltage electrical system. Typically installed after low-voltage transformers and before distribution cabinets (MDB/DB).
The MSB is designed with multiple compartments, each serving specific functions such as housing main circuit breakers (ACB), main MCCB/MCB, load output MCCB/MCB, compensating capacitors, ATS compartments, etc.
The Distribution Board (DB), or the Distribution Cabinet, is an electrical cabinet used to distribute and control electrical power to various devices, machinery, and systems within a building or area. Installed after the MSB or MDB (if present).
The Motor Control Center (MCC) is a specialized type of electrical cabinet used for controlling and protecting electric motors (against short circuits, overloads, phase loss, overvoltage, or undervoltage).
MCC cabinets are utilized in industrial applications such as manufacturing plants, processing facilities, transformer stations, large buildings, continuous running systems, and other power applications. They are designed and installed at control centers of motor systems.
The common methods of starting and controlling depend on the type of motor and the requirements of the facility:
Direct On Line (DOL) Starting: Motors are directly connected to the power supply without any additional starting devices.
- Star-Delta Starting: This method involves initially connecting the motor windings in a star configuration to reduce the starting current and then switching to a delta configuration for normal operation.
- Soft Starter: Soft starters gradually ramp up the voltage supplied to the motor, reducing the starting current and mechanical stress on the motor and connected equipment.
- Variable Frequency Drive (VFD): VFDs control the speed and torque of AC motors by varying the frequency and voltage of the power supplied to the motor, allowing for precise control and energy savings.
PLC cabinets are typically designed to be compact and space-efficient. The main components of a PLC electrical cabinet include the PLC device itself, power supply, fuses, relays, protective devices, etc. An indispensable component is the software, which is programmed and loaded onto the PLC to enable it to operate and control the connected devices.
Another characteristic of PLC cabinets is their flexibility. Suppose a business needs to expand its device cluster or scale up its factory in the future. In that case, it only requires investing in additional supplementary components and can easily modify, update, or change the program without needing to purchase a new PLC cabinet. This flexibility is a significant strength and advantage of PLC systems.
The Local Operating Panel (LOP) serves as an intermediary between the PLC cabinet and field devices.
- Cost-saving on wiring: LOP cabinets are typically installed close to clusters of field devices (sensors, valves, etc.), serving as a management point to collect signals from all these devices and send them to the central control PLC cabinet through communication networks for processing.
- Simplified signal management: LOP cabinets facilitate easy signal management and processing for the management team, enabling efficient monitoring and control of signals from peripheral devices.
- Time-saving and enhanced accuracy in maintenance and troubleshooting processes.
The Automatic Transfer Switch (ATS) is a type of electrical cabinet used to switch power sources between the main power supply and backup power supply automatically in case of a failure.
ATS cabinets are employed in backup power supply systems to ensure continuous power supply to critical equipment in the event of a main power loss. They are used in crucial applications such as factories, hospitals, data centers, large buildings, and other applications requiring high reliability in power supply. Utilizing ATS cabinets ensures that critical equipment always receives power, while minimizing risks and downtime in system operations.
Key components of an ATS cabinet include:
- Selector switch: This can be set to automatic or manual mode.
- LCD
- Green and red indicator lights.
- Cabinet enclosure.
- Electrical control panel, automatic switching devices.
The smart lighting control cabinet uses real-time controllers based on daily or weekly schedules to manage the switching of lights. At the plant-wide management level, the lighting cabinet can be designed to connect with the SCADA system, allowing the plant to manage, monitor, and control the entire lighting system of the organization.
Common Operating Modes:
- Centralized Control Mode: Centralized control from the center with automatic error reporting back to the control center.
- Automatic Control Mode: Operation times can be customized as desired.
- Manual Control Mode: Used in cases requiring direct control.
In addition to the industrial control cabinets listed above by FERMENTUM, there are many other specialized control cabinets, such as capacitor cabinets, medium voltage switchgear (RMU), uninterruptible power supplies (UPS)... We will discuss these with you in the next article.
- Appropriate Calculation and Design: The control cabinet must be calculated, selected, and designed to meet specific requirements. This requires thorough and careful calculation and design. The technical specifications of the devices must meet and be compatible with the predefined criteria.
- Quality Devices: The devices within the control cabinet must be high quality and sourced from reputable manufacturers. A good device ensures the stability and protection of the organization's electrical system. Additionally, these devices should come with full CO/CQ certificates and test reports. Some leading industrial equipment manufacturers today include Siemens, Schneider, Eaton, Mitsubishi, LS, etc.
- Robust Cabinet Enclosure: The industrial control cabinet should have a thick and sturdy enclosure. The enclosure protects the devices inside the cabinet from external factors, contributing to increased longevity and durability of the internal components.
- Aesthetic and Logical Design: An aesthetically pleasing and logically designed control cabinet with comprehensive information and a logical arrangement of device tiers will provide operators with comfort and job satisfaction. This also helps reduce operation time and increase efficiency in operation and maintenance.
- Cost-Effective: The industrial control cabinet should be reasonably priced to fit the budget.
With a team of highly specialized and dedicated engineers, we have extensive experience in designing, supplying, and installing for major corporations and companies both domestically and internationally. We are always at the forefront of researching and updating new technologies to bring more profound value to our customers.
- Professional, Sincere, and Thorough Work Ethic: We maintain a professional and genuine approach in our work, ensuring meticulous attention to detail.
- Systematic and Professional Work Processes: Our procedures are methodical and professional, ensuring efficiency and quality in every project.
- Strategic Partnerships with Leading Manufacturers: As strategic partners of leading industrial equipment manufacturers, our products are competitively priced in the market.
- Safety, Reliability, and Information Security: We prioritize safety, reliability, and the confidentiality of information above all.
Therefore, if your business requires industrial control cabinets, please do not hesitate to contact us for consultation and quotations. We are always ready to listen and are honored to serve you.
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