ABB, a pioneering technology leader, said it has successfully installed an intelligent predictive maintenance solution for power supplies that keep the world's tallest building and iconic landmark, Burj Khalifa, running 24/7.

Using the ABB Ability Electrical Distribution Control System, the tower’s facility management team can remotely monitor the power supply of each of the 400 electrical loads at the site, including the 57 elevators and a 24-MW air-conditioning system, among other loads.

One-click remote access via smartphone, tablet or PC allows employees to monitor and manage key assets in real time, said a statement from the Swiss technology giant.

The maintenance service installed at the Burj Khalifa can reduce operational costs by up to 30 per cent by using real-time sensor data and condition monitoring, replacing routine maintenance work, it stated.

However, the main benefit is the knowledge that everything is monitored in real-time by ABB Ability, it added.

The ABB Ability Energy and Asset Management system is being displayed at the Water, Energy, Technology, and Environment Exhibition (Wetex) event which opened today (October 21) in Dubai.

Loay Dajani, the lead business manager for electrification at ABB, said: "Our work at the Burj Khalifa demonstrates how predictive maintenance delivers the greatest benefits when managing identical, mission-critical assets with clearly defined failure modes."

"Our solution gives the Burj Khalifa’s existing air circuit breakers a digital upgrade with ABB Ekip UP plug & play devices," stated Dajani.

"These units connect the upgraded breakers directly to the ABB Ability Electrical Distribution Control System, providing managers and service teams with real time data to achieve exceptional reliability and truly intelligent energy management strategies," he added.

The ABB system provides managers and service teams with real-time data on energy, power, temperature, current, voltage, temperature, harmonic, and power quality plus backup safety protections.

Cloud-based algorithms use the data received from the digital units to assess the need for maintenance and provide early warnings of any potential failure.

"ABB is proud to be working with the team behind a landmark building, such as the Burj Khalifa," noted Dajani.

"The Burj Khalifa is more than just the world’s tallest building: it is an engineering marvel and monument to the can-do spirit of Dubai," he added.-TradeArabia News Service