Presentation: Technology Innovation and Condition Based Monitoring

PI Coresight was renamed PI Vision in 2017

The power generation industry is under pressure due to increased competition and market uncertainty. Plant staff are developing new, innovative ways to monitor power plants by leveraging technology to improve safety and efficiency. Exelon Nuclear is the leader in developing new and innovative technologies and better utilizing plant experts. One such method is their Advanced Monitoring Technology that monitors plant performance in real time with the use of the PI System that helps plant staff to make timely decisions. Real-time monitoring coupled with diagnostic tools reduces the burden of data collection for plant experts. Staff spend their valuable time in data analysis and decision making.

The Exelon's Advanced Monitoring program has three major elements:
1) On-Line Monitoring
2) Wireless Equipment Monitoring
3) Prognostics Health Monitoring

The On-Line Monitoring program is an analytical tool to identify plant anomalies at incipient stage. The tool pulls real-time data from the PI System's data historian and performs analysis. Appropriate staff is alerted to any anomaly identified by the tool via email.  This program proved to be a paradigm shift for plant monitoring and trending.

The wireless equipment monitoring has provided a new avenue to add smart sensors on plant assets. The additional sensors have helped improve plant safety. The technology has paved the way for Condition Based Monitoring. The ultimate goal of this effort is to optimize preventive maintenance program. The additional sensors will provide opportunity to utilize PI Asset Frame and PI Coresight. The PI notification will be used to warn plant staff of changing plant condition. Exelon is collaborating with OSIsoft to effectively utilize PI advanced features.

The Prognostic Health program is an innovative technology to predict equipment health. This will be great tool for Knowledge Transfer and retention and troubleshooting.