June 22, 2009
Proficy Historian Is Key to Remote Monitoring Solution
Engineering Software Reliability Group (ESRG), located in Virginia Beach, Virginia, provides leading-edge data analysis and remote monitoring technology for power generation needs with its state-of-the-art OstiaEdge™ Monitoring Suite, incorporating GE Fanuc Intelligent Platforms’ industry-leading Proficy Historian data repository.
This plant level and centralized fleet wide analysis of equipment health provides early warning of functional failures in power generating equipment. The OstiaEdge Monitoring Suite enables centralized engineering staff to apply rule-based analytics from any location, integrate plant level online and offline data sources and create unique rules and alarms for individual machines.
“Since the release of the EDS Center framework in 2004, ESRG has been the data analytics leader for the US Navy surface fleet remote monitoring program providing a fleet-wide service of performance reports,” said Jim Putnam, Director of Operations for ESRG. “We currently support the remote condition monitoring of more than 100 US Navy surface fleet ships and with the launch of the OstiaEdge Monitoring Suite, built on the same framework, are now taking the same technology to commercial industries.”
Commercial users and US Navy fleet support teams turn to ESRG for their technology and expertise in reporting, dashboards, and data integration and data analysis as well the company’s ability to utilize in-house subject matter experts to write diagnostic and anomaly detection rules.
ESRG’s remote monitoring products provide flexibility, cost saving and efficiency benefits through increased reliability and reporting capabilities. And here’s where GE Fanuc Intelligent Platforms comes in. Proficy Historian provides a robust and effective data repository to collect, archive and distribute large volumes of real time, plant floor information quickly and easily. Able to read all types of process data, Historian will provide a window into operations across all key metrics. Viewing of results is accomplished in the web-based Ostia Portal.
The OstiaEdge Monitoring Suite consists of two packages enabling plant level and fleet wide analysis of equipment health providing early warning of operational and maintenance failures.
• Plant Edition (PE) for plant machinery monitoring
• Central Edition (CE) for centralized analytics and rule capability
Proficy Real-Time Information Portal, GE Fanuc’s web-based solution that integrates on-line and process-based systems with plant-wide connectivity, analysis and web-based visualization components, is part of the Plant Edition of OstiaEdge. This powerful application provides visibility into plant floor operations. As a result, it enables real time decision support, continuous process improvement and enhances the return on current and future IT investments.
“The value to the customer is the analytics,” said Putnam. “But you need the data to get there. In order to find the root cause of an issue, they need the information, and with this solution, the information is there for them.”
ESRG chose to incorporate Proficy Historian into their OstiaEdge product because of its flexibility of configuration and ease of integration with other products. And, the company is part of GE Fanuc’s OEM Edge partner program to assist them in meeting the needs of their customers with GE Fanuc solutions.
“ESRG strives to implement proven products and services to bring together information and provide automated analysis in support of our customer’s business strategies,” Putnam continued. “This has been and will continue to be accomplished by providing services for data integration, system engineering, maintenance engineering, software and database design engineering, and software development using the latest processes and rapid development tools.”
Utilizing the OstiaEdge technology, automated rules continuously analyzed a high-pressure air compressor and ultimately prevented an issue days before a catastrophic failure would have occurred. The 5th stage discharge pressure and temperature exhibited a degrading trend and the subsequent assessment report instructed the crew to perform an inspection during the next available shutdown. Although the compressor was still operational, the inspection revealed
5th stage piston-seal failure. This advanced warning enabled the maintenance team to order the required parts and schedule the maintenance during the next available shutdown.
The OstiaEdge Monitoring Suite enables early warning of machinery problems and provides all levels of shipboard and shore-side personnel the information they need to make informed operations and maintenance decisions. The US Navy uses ESRG’s products to monitor various ship classes and machines including gas turbine and diesel propulsion and power generation systems. In addition, they monitor auxiliary systems including air conditioning units, reverse osmosis and distilling plants, motors, pumps, and compressors. The years of experience gained on this equipment is immediately transferable to a commercial fleet of ships and unique issues found in the marine industry such as limited connectivity. Combining the OstiaEdge product experience with GE Fanuc’s Proficy Historian and Proficy Real-Time Information Portal, as well as ESRG’s in-house certified staff and experience in monitoring and diagnostics of steam plants, gas turbines, and nuclear power machinery, offers a complete reliability solution for any company’s Power Generation needs.
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Download the full PDF::ESRG Supports Analysis of
Equipment Health.pdf