• ABB has entered into a Joint Development Agreement with Energy Control Technologies (ECT) to integrate turbomachinery controls into the ABB Ability™ System 800xA® distributed control system (DCS).
• This innovative solution enables customers to quickly and economically bring industrial plants and assets online through a unified interface.
• The Integrated Compressor Controls (ICC) enhance energy efficiency, minimize system footprint, and can lead to automation and electrical capital expenditure reductions of up to 20% for integrated projects, according to estimates by ABB.

Under this agreement, ABB and ECT will co-develop a comprehensive turbomachinery controls solution that can be configured, operated, and maintained within the ABB Ability™ System 800xA® DCS.

The ABB-ECT ICC, which includes an Integrated Control Safety System (ICSS), provides clients with a versatile option designed to decrease the complexity and size of their plant control systems. This integrated approach has the potential to lower automation and electrical capital expenses significantly for integrated projects.

Turbomachinery is commonly used across various sectors, such as hydrogen production, biofuels, carbon capture and storage, power generation, and oil and gas, where it typically consumes substantial amounts of energy. Integrated controls enhance visibility, facilitating better management of equipment performance, thereby increasing energy efficiency while reducing costs and risks.

The ABB-ECT ICC solution eliminates the need for conventional black box controls within the system architecture by consolidating controls within the same 800xA ICSS System. This integration removes the requirement for separate operator workstations, I/O networks, servers, switches, and other auxiliary systems, resulting in quicker startups and improved machine protection, safety, and stability.

Previously, installing turbomachinery controls involved multiple systems, often from various suppliers requiring integration. Now, operators can take advantage of a single platform for both compressor and DCS controls, enabling them to monitor their plants’ most critical and costly assets, including turbines, compressors, pumps, and generators.

Paul Fisher, President of ECT, stated, “We are pleased to collaborate with ABB on this innovative solution which will further help customers solve their most complex control issues across many sectors relying on turbomachinery. ECT’s superior compressor control algorithms and technology integrated into the ABB Ability™ System 800xA® DCS will allow customers to run their turbomachinery control system in automatic all the time, providing users with increased production, energy efficiency, and machine protection.”

Per Erik Holsten, President of ABB Energy Industries, remarked, “This collaboration marks a significant development within the integrated turbomachinery control solutions market, and we’re excited to already see uptake from some major US customers, with plans to roll out worldwide. Turbomachinery is essential to industry, but ongoing innovation is necessary to enhance energy efficiency. Leveraging ABB’s technology presents an immediate opportunity to achieve our goal of helping customers to reduce energy demand by optimizing industrial processes.”

According to the agreement, ABB will supply the hardware, software, and technical assistance for ECT to develop the turbomachinery solution for the 800xA platform, while ECT will provide the turbomachinery control algorithm and engineering design, among other resources.

ABB’s Process Automation division is dedicated to automating, electrifying, and digitalizing industrial operations that meet a broad spectrum of essential needs—from energy supply to goods production and transportation. With approximately 20,000 employees and leading technological and service expertise, ABB Process Automation aids customers across process, hybrid, and maritime industries in enhancing operational performance and safety, promoting a more sustainable and resource-efficient future.

As a leader in electrification and automation, ABB is committed to fostering a more sustainable and resource-efficient future. The company’s solutions merge engineering expertise and software to optimize manufacturing, transportation, power management, and operational processes. Building on over 140 years of excellence, ABB’s workforce of more than 105,000 is dedicated to driving innovations that propel industrial transformation.

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