Digital power supply for ceramic presses
Transparent DC 24 V protection with the REX12D
In industrial ceramic production, the demands on production facilities are constantly increasing. Larger formats, higher outputs and increasing digitisation require a reliable and transparent power supply, particularly at the DC 24 V control level.
A leading international supplier of process systems for the ceramics industry has developed a new type of pressing plant to produce large-format ceramic tiles. The material, in the form of finely ground ceramic powder, is evenly spread onto a conveyor belt and compacted. As the pressing process takes place without a fixed mould, the material is free to expand during compaction. This results in minimal material stress, and the tiles are uniform and free from dimensional errors.
To ensure the reliable system operation, many different control and I/O components must constantly be supplied and protected against electrical faults. This is where E-T-A’s REX12D electronic protection system comes into play.
The modular system combines power supply modules, electronic circuit breakers and potential expansion modules in a compact 24 V power distribution solution for the mechanical engineering industry. The modules are only 12.5 mm wide and can flexibly be arranged side by side. Thanks to the adjustable rated current, different loads can be protected in a targeted manner.
Installation is also simplified: Thanks to push-in technology, wiring can be accomplished quickly and without tools. No additional accessories are needed to complete the electrical or mechanical connection of the modules.
In addition to its protective function, the system also provides valuable status information and measuring values. Status and diagnostic data of the circuits can be read out via communication interfaces such as IO link or Modbus-RTU and integrated into visualisation systems. This gives operators a constant overview of the plant’s power supply and allows them to respond quickly in the event of a fault. This increases plant availability and supports modern Industry 4.0 concepts.
