AC meets DC
How did the collaboration with E-T-A come about?
At Rittal, we are specialists in the AC sector. While AC (alternating current) dominates the main grid, DC (direct current) offers enormous advantages in the low-voltage sector. This is why there is growing interest in DC networks. More often industrial applications are powered via stable DC networks.
However, any conversion from AC to DC costs energy. Using DC directly – like feeding solar power into the battery storage system – avoids conversion losses and improves the system’s efficiency.
Therefore, we brought E-T-A on board: As specialist in circuit protectors and overcurrent protection, the company has many years of experience in the DC sector.
Today, most innovations are the result of cross-company partnerships, such as RiLineX, an open power distribution platform, which was developed in partnership with E-T-A.
What exactly is RiLineX?
RiLineX is a newly developed, open platform for power distribution systems. A click system combining boards and components simplifies the previously time-consuming process of setting up the power distribution in control cabinet construction. Compared to conventional busbar systems, our customers save up to 30 % on engineering time and 50 % on installation time.
The platform is also available as an open modular system for customised system configuration. It is suitable for both AC and DC applications, particularly in industry or in the renewable energy sector.
Even before the product launch, we already provided E-T-A with the necessary interface data. This allowed E-T-A to develop its own products to suit RiLineX, such as the 8365-T circuit breaker for industrial DC applications as an adapter solution and the 8365-F for infrastructure applications as a ‘hot-plug’ solution.
In which areas do you see the greatest potential for the future of Rittal and E-T-A’s HVDC technologies?
High-voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission is a highly efficient technology for transmitting large amounts of electricity over long distances with minimal losses. In a best-case scenario, the direct current generated is only converted into alternating current once it reaches its destination.
We see the greatest potential in the IT sector and in data centres as part of the critical infrastructure for telecommunications, rail and energy, where local HVDC 800 V systems are becoming the standard, particularly for modern AI data centres. They reduce voltage drops and thermal losses in massive megawatt loads. In building technologies, as well as in plant and mechanical engineering, direct current is also becoming increasingly widespread.
Our goal is to establish RiLineX across all sectors of industry setting a new global standard in power distribution. E-T-A’s solutions support this megatrend through its core expertise in protecting, switching and monitoring.
