Plant performance monitoring solution helps make smart decisions

GE’s MyFleetTM Plant Performance Monitoring software equips plant operators with better access to fleet performance data

By SOURCE: GE Energy June 28, 2011

With world electricity demand expected to increase 75 percent by 2030, plant owners and operators are under continual strain to produce more power more efficiently with fewer resources. Data about plant performance is key to making smart operational decisions, but until now operators have had access only to piecemeal information about their plants and fleets—examining performance often in a vacuum without knowledge of how similar operations are running.

To address this information gap, GE today has made the MyFleetTM Plant Performance Monitor, which gives thermal power-generating plant owners and operators access to a wealth of power generation fleet information. This tool leverages performance data from the GE global fleet, totaling 200 GW of thermal power, routinely captured through GE’s Monitoring and Diagnostics Center, and correlated against over 10,000 operating years of historic data. Access to this data enables plant operators to compare their performance against the detailed backdrop of GE’s turbines and empowers them to make more informed decisions based on how similar plants are operating, helping to identify opportunities for operating efficiency gains.

“Our customers are faced daily with the challenge of accessing and processing detailed performance data effectively and quickly,” said Ross Marcoot, general manager—total plant optimization for GE Energy Services.

The MyFleet data visualization and decision support software provides plant owners with a complete snapshot of more than 50 key performance metrics, uncovering opportunities for strategic efficiency gains while increasing their knowledge and decision making-power.

MyFleet is designed with users in mind and provides flexibility to suit a variety of needs and situations. For example, operators may compare their assets to one another, or across 1,200 power facilities to more effectively analyze plant operations and potential upgrades. Comparisons also can be made by operating conditions, geographic deployment and other parameters. While customers can identify each of their assets by serial number, all remaining fleet data used in the comparative analysis remains anonymous.

This Web-based tool is accessible via any internet-connected device, including mobile, tablet and smartphone applications, allowing operators to access information on the go.

www.ge.com/energy

GE Energy

– Edited by Gust Gianos, Control Engineering, www.controleng.com