System Monitoring
Function
Centric Design SCADA systems collect operational data and status information
about monitored systems; electrical, gas, steam, water, etc.
Users can view real time condition of key system parameters and equipment. Centric Design systems
include graphic screens and menu driven control to provide easy use and clear understanding of
system conditions.
Systems automatically collect abnormal conditions based on user controlled set-points.
When abnormal condition exists the system reports alarm conditions. Alarms are held for review/action
and are saved in a history file for later analysis.
System Monitoring
Benefits
Operators and management can see real time and historical information on system operation and abnormalities.
Energy Consumption
Function
Centric Design SCADA systems collect consumption data (i.e. electrical energy, gas c.f., etc.)
Consumption per meter and for collections of meters are tracked. Consumption is collected for
month-to-date and monthly values are saved for later analysis. Typically several years of monthly
consumption data are saved.
Consumption data can be converted to cost data based on the applicable rates.
Energy Consumption
Benefits
Operators, management, and financial personnel are able to track consumption and associated costs.
Demand Monitoring
Function
Centric Design SCADA systems calculate demand based on time interval consumption. Demand is
calculated for each metered point and for combinations of meter points to allow consistent
demand tracking and evaluation at the meter, building, area, and site levels. Demand is calculated
based on appropriate time intervals through each day. Peak demand is tracked at each level. Peak
demand can be converted to demand costs through use of the applicable rates.
Calculating demand at the system level allows correlation of area demands with utility billing demand.
Demand Monitoring
Benefits
Operators, management and financial personnel can track and evaluate demand cost for different areas
and cost centers.
Energy Budgeting
Function
Collection of month-to-date consumption can facilitate creation of daily energy budget tracking.
Centric Design SCADA budget tracking systems produce a daily budget for consumption based on a
monthly limit. Daily consumption is tracked and reported along with visual indicators of actual
use compared to budget.
Energy Budgeting
Benefits
Operators and management are able to see how daily use will impact monthly results before the
daily use reaches a point where the consequences in increased costs are unrecoverable.
Predictive Demand
Function
Predictive demand calculation tracks use in each demand interval as the interval progresses.
A predicted demand for the current interval is provided and compared to the month-to-date peak
demand to provide an early warning of a pending new peak before it occurs.
Centric Design’s predictive demand calculation methodology will always exactly match the utility
demand value at the end of each interval. This ensures that demand levels and their associated
costs can be controlled.
Predictive Demand
Benefits
Operators can see the immediate impacts of operating decisions on peak use and therefore demand
costs associated with their energy consumption.
Consumption/Demand Control
Function
Centric Design SCADA systems can track the operation of key equipment that can impact consumption
and demand.
This product uses the consumption and demand calculation products and adds monitoring and control
of key equipment in the facility. Monitoring of equipment allows correlation between equipment
operation and consumption/demand values in real time. The impacts of equipment status on consumption
and demand are presented graphically and through alarms.
Consumption/Demand Control
Benefits
Operators and management are able to see the correlation between equipment operation and cost and
take appropriate control actions to limit or control costs. Control actions may be either automated
or warnings can be presented to operators to alert them to control action need.
Equipment Monitoring
Function
Key pieces of equipment often are subject to manufacturers’ specified operating limitations. Running
equipment outside recommended conditions can result in shortened life and unexpected failures;
unplanned outages often result.
Centric Design SCADA systems can collect status and operational information on key equipment and track
those parameters in real-time and provide historical records of those parameters. Manufacturers
recommendations can be included in the system to provide operational alarms when equipment operation
is nearing or exceeding recommended operation.
Equipment Monitoring
Benefits
Operators can track key equipment and have real-time indication of possible equipment damage due to
operational requirements. As a result, equipment can be operated and maintained to maximize life and
production.
Support & Maintenance
Function
A major concern in any energy system is the availability of technical support after the system is operational.
Centric Design provides technical support by telephone and the Internet to ensure that your system
continues to operate to your satisfaction. Centric Design is committed to provide timely and accurate technical
support. Our deeply rooted commitment to client satisfaction ensures that you will always have access to system design professionals.
Our software upgrade service ensures that your system software is always current. This allows you to
take advantage of new features and to ensure that your system is always running on the most recent version.
Centric Design system maintenance services are available either on site or by remote access. Our maintenance
products allow us to connect to your system from our office to apply patches or to resolve operations
difficulties which may arise. We offer a variety of connection options to ensure that your network is not
compromised and that we meet any security requirements of your Information Systems group.
Support & Maintenance
Benefits
Centric Design support and maintenance services ensure that your investment is always current and that any
operational issues which may arise can be addressed almost immediately. Our systems are designed to allow
remote maintenance. When remote support and maintenance services are selected, you are always confident
that your system needs can be resolved quickly without delays that may be imposed by travel restrictions.
Experience
Our clients know by experience that Centric Design provides innovative, user-friendly SCADA solutions to
their monitoring and control requirements. With over 10 years of experience in energy system design and over 30 years
of experience in the energy industry, you can be confident when you choose Centric Energy Systems.
Core Software
Centric Design chooses Schneider Electric software to power Centric Energy Systems. Citect SCADA, Vijeo Historian, and Ampla
software products provide versatility in Centric solutions that can range from simple monitoring to complex multi-tiered
solutions that include historical databases, web-based analysis of energy use patterns and multi-level information
presentation enabled by custom dashboards.
Scaleability
Centric Design clients often need to start their SCADA systems out small due to budget constraints or other business realities.
We recommend this approach so that system users can grow with their systems. This eliminates massive investments in systems
that are not used. Scaleability is a key feature in enabling this design and implementation approach.
Every Centric Energy System is fully scaleable.
With Centric Energy Systems you know your system can grow to any size with no financial penalty. With a Centric Design
system there is no software replacement, no system replacement, no expensive retraining of facility operators; the entire
initial investment is safe no matter how big the system may become.
Redundancy
In mission-critical systems, redundancy is a critical requirement. When energy data has a high value, it
is critical to provide true redundancy in the Data Collection layer of the system.
Many vendors achieve so-called redundancy by adding computers, complex hardware switches, and custom code
to detect a computer failure. Such a solution adds complexity and additional failure
points to a critical system.
Centric Energy Systems provide built-in redundancy.
They can be configured to run with redundant computers for any or all data collection and calculation processes.
Redundancy is built-in to the software engine.
Centric Energy Systems can recognize failure and transfer system operation without any external action.
When the primary server is restored, the system automatically recognizes the restored server and transfers
operation and all historical trend and alarm data back to the primary server.
Centric Energy Systems can also provide complete redundancy in communication channels and I/O devices.
Centric Design clients know that if they need it, redundancy is built in without any complex tricks or additional failures points.
Partial Client List
Caterpillar
Northwestern University - Chicago
Wheaton college
Apollo Gold
Mittal Steel
US Forest Service
Dowagiac Public Utilities
Centric Design System Products
Centric Design has worked with a number of clients including manufacturers, institutions, service companies and process facilities.
Our systems include a range of products specifically designed to assist our clients
in understanding, operating, and controlling key elements of their facilities
Select an item from the features list on the left for more information.
