As a manufacturer of compact, high-efficiency power supplies, RECOM supports the smart technologies that power a smart city.
Smart Cities
Mar 29, 2022
A smart city integrates Internet-of-Things (IoT) technology to interconnect buildings, resources, and data, creating an efficient, adaptive, and environmentally friendly ecosystem for its citizens. Many interrelated technologies contribute to a smart city, but the core sectors are as follows:
Table of contents
Smart Buildings
Smart buildings adaptively control and direct internal lighting and HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) systems to optimize air quality, temperature, and lighting levels. For example, if an office or meeting room is vacant, lighting automatically switches off, airflow reduces, and temperature control relaxes to save energy. To enhance worker comfort, individual workspaces can be adjusted for ambient lighting and temperature. Studies suggest that temperature preferences vary, making individual control beneficial. Additionally, lighting color and intensity can synchronize with natural daylight cycles to reduce artificiality and enhance productivity. Ventilation levels can be optimized to minimize drafts in quiet areas or increase airflow in crowded spaces to reduce odors and airborne infections.
The Building Management System (BMS) functions as the central control unit, integrating occupancy, temperature, airflow, ambient light, and volatile organic compound (VOC) sensor data to manage actuators, fans, vents, and lighting. The BMS also coordinates access control, security, communications, and smart energy distribution.
RECOM provides a comprehensive selection of a vast range of both DC/DC and AC/DC converters to power smart systems, actuators, and gateways, ranging from a few watts to kilowatts. BMS power supplies must meet the IEC/EN 60335-1 “Household and Similar Appliances” safety standard, comply with EN 55014-1/-2 electromagnetic compatibility limits, and adhere to the EN 62233 electromagnetic field exposure standard. Not all commercially available power supplies meet these criteria, so careful certification checks are essential.
Large buildings typically use three-phase power, with supply variations based on regional electrical standards. Lighting systems in large buildings often run on 277VAC (from 480VAC phases), requiring auxiliary power supplies certified for up to 305VAC. RECOM offers “/277”-certified power supplies that handle peak input voltage while supporting 85V–277VAC operation. Additionally, RECOM’s “/480” AC/DC converters support 85–528VAC, accommodating a wide range of supply voltages. A smart building’s effectiveness depends on accurate data collection, requiring multiple sensors, controls, and information displays in each room. Various communication protocols, including WLAN, KNX, DALI, Zigbee, and BACnet, ensure seamless data exchange across networks.
RECOM provides a range of compact, efficient board-mounted switching regulator modules with nominal inputs of 5V, 12V, 24V, or 48VDC, as well as isolated DC/DC converters for bus and signal isolation to prevent system-wide failures. RECOM also offers the RHV2/RHV3 series with 20kVDC isolation, ideal for high-voltage electrostatic HVAC air filter monitoring.
The Building Management System (BMS) functions as the central control unit, integrating occupancy, temperature, airflow, ambient light, and volatile organic compound (VOC) sensor data to manage actuators, fans, vents, and lighting. The BMS also coordinates access control, security, communications, and smart energy distribution.
RECOM provides a comprehensive selection of a vast range of both DC/DC and AC/DC converters to power smart systems, actuators, and gateways, ranging from a few watts to kilowatts. BMS power supplies must meet the IEC/EN 60335-1 “Household and Similar Appliances” safety standard, comply with EN 55014-1/-2 electromagnetic compatibility limits, and adhere to the EN 62233 electromagnetic field exposure standard. Not all commercially available power supplies meet these criteria, so careful certification checks are essential.
Large buildings typically use three-phase power, with supply variations based on regional electrical standards. Lighting systems in large buildings often run on 277VAC (from 480VAC phases), requiring auxiliary power supplies certified for up to 305VAC. RECOM offers “/277”-certified power supplies that handle peak input voltage while supporting 85V–277VAC operation. Additionally, RECOM’s “/480” AC/DC converters support 85–528VAC, accommodating a wide range of supply voltages. A smart building’s effectiveness depends on accurate data collection, requiring multiple sensors, controls, and information displays in each room. Various communication protocols, including WLAN, KNX, DALI, Zigbee, and BACnet, ensure seamless data exchange across networks.
RECOM provides a range of compact, efficient board-mounted switching regulator modules with nominal inputs of 5V, 12V, 24V, or 48VDC, as well as isolated DC/DC converters for bus and signal isolation to prevent system-wide failures. RECOM also offers the RHV2/RHV3 series with 20kVDC isolation, ideal for high-voltage electrostatic HVAC air filter monitoring.
Smart Energy
Similar to smart buildings, smart energy optimizes energy distribution to enhance efficiency and reduce waste. A smart city utilizes multiple energy sources, including solar, wind, hydrogen, and geothermal, alongside traditional power grids. Smart buildings can incorporate rooftop solar panels and wind generators, reducing grid dependency by feeding surplus energy back into the system. A smart energy grid utilizes real-time monitoring, smart meters, and automated outage detection to optimize distribution. Dynamic energy pricing allows users to defer high-power consumption to lower-cost periods.
RECOM provides AC/DC and DC/DC converter families for smart grid applications, complying with UL/IEC/EN 61010-1 safety standards. These converters isolate power supplies for current, voltage, and phase sensors, as well as support photovoltaic inverters for solar energy conversion. For grid-connected AC/DC converters, over-voltage category (OVC) ratings ensure protection against lightning-induced transients. RECOM’s OVC III-compliant AC/DC converters withstand 4kVAC surges and offer solutions ranging from 3W to 40W.
RECOM provides AC/DC and DC/DC converter families for smart grid applications, complying with UL/IEC/EN 61010-1 safety standards. These converters isolate power supplies for current, voltage, and phase sensors, as well as support photovoltaic inverters for solar energy conversion. For grid-connected AC/DC converters, over-voltage category (OVC) ratings ensure protection against lightning-induced transients. RECOM’s OVC III-compliant AC/DC converters withstand 4kVAC surges and offer solutions ranging from 3W to 40W.
Smart Mobility
Rapid urbanization necessitates smarter transportation solutions. Cities like London, Singapore, San Diego, and Milan have introduced congestion charges, but smart cities aim to eliminate city-center personal transport entirely, favoring low-cost, efficient public transit. Smart parking apps optimize space availability, reducing time spent searching for parking or charging stations. Parking spots can dynamically shift, allowing increased traffic flow during peak hours while maximizing parking availability in the evenings. Outside city centers, intelligent traffic lights and adaptive speed limits improve traffic flow and enhance safety. A well-implemented smart mobility system reduces pollution, congestion, and vehicle-related accidents.
RECOM supports smart mobility with compact power supplies for traffic sensors, cameras, and data links. The RAC15 series features chamfered corners for easier integration into pole-mounted devices, ideal for street lighting and surveillance applications.
Electric vehicles (EV) play a crucial role in smart cities, requiring sufficient EV charging infrastructure. Bidirectional charging stations enable energy exchange between EVs and the grid. RECOM provides solutions for DC/DC gate drivers, CAN-bus interfaces, and battery monitoring systems in EVs. Smart cities also utilize modern public transport system, including battery-powered Electric trams and buses. Cities like Seville, Bergen, Oklahoma City, and Florence have adopted wire-free charging, while London deploys hydrogen-powered buses. RECOM supplies converters for battery management systems and fuel cells in these vehicles.
RECOM supports smart mobility with compact power supplies for traffic sensors, cameras, and data links. The RAC15 series features chamfered corners for easier integration into pole-mounted devices, ideal for street lighting and surveillance applications.
Electric vehicles (EV) play a crucial role in smart cities, requiring sufficient EV charging infrastructure. Bidirectional charging stations enable energy exchange between EVs and the grid. RECOM provides solutions for DC/DC gate drivers, CAN-bus interfaces, and battery monitoring systems in EVs. Smart cities also utilize modern public transport system, including battery-powered Electric trams and buses. Cities like Seville, Bergen, Oklahoma City, and Florence have adopted wire-free charging, while London deploys hydrogen-powered buses. RECOM supplies converters for battery management systems and fuel cells in these vehicles.
Smart Data
While smart mobility is the most visible aspect of a smart city, smart data remains its backbone. Vast amounts of real-time data must be processed efficiently, with strong security measures to prevent misuse. Predictive analytics aid long-term planning, making cities more sustainable and responsive.
The key enabling technologies for smart data are IPv6 and 5G. IPv6 is an internet protocol that allows up to 2128 individual addresses, allowing much more than billions of billions of billions of sensors to be uniquely addressed (theoretically, every atom on the surface of the Earth could be uniquely addressed, and there would still be spare address capacity for a further 100 Earths). Fifth-generation (5G) cellular communications employ GHz frequencies allowing up to 4Gbit/s download speeds, the kind of information transfer rates needed to handle the massive datasets generated by a smart city. Despite its advanced capabilities, a 5G modem micro-cell requires only 10W, covering a 2km radius or 2000 users. Mounted on streetlights, these modems integrate seamlessly into the cityscape. RECOM offers high-density AC/DC and DC/DC modules for compact 5G modems.
The key enabling technologies for smart data are IPv6 and 5G. IPv6 is an internet protocol that allows up to 2128 individual addresses, allowing much more than billions of billions of billions of sensors to be uniquely addressed (theoretically, every atom on the surface of the Earth could be uniquely addressed, and there would still be spare address capacity for a further 100 Earths). Fifth-generation (5G) cellular communications employ GHz frequencies allowing up to 4Gbit/s download speeds, the kind of information transfer rates needed to handle the massive datasets generated by a smart city. Despite its advanced capabilities, a 5G modem micro-cell requires only 10W, covering a 2km radius or 2000 users. Mounted on streetlights, these modems integrate seamlessly into the cityscape. RECOM offers high-density AC/DC and DC/DC modules for compact 5G modems.
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