57% fewer persons on-site to manage the water plant
A comprehensive digital model of the water plant to maintain and provide cleaning guidance to operators.
Continuous monitoring and analysis of the plant operating data.
Operating knowledgebase to ensure sustainable performance of the plant.
Situation
Chemical processes are usually not monitored visually, but through parameters like pressure, temperature, flow rates, chemical signatures (spectroscopically), ultrasound propagation and radiation. Then why not monitor and analyze plant working from a remote area?
Task
Automation to enable machines to self-optimize, self-configure, and utilize learning algorithms and artificial intelligence (AI) to optimally perform complex tasks without human intervention.
Action
Industry envisions the use of Internet of Things (IoT) and cyber-physical systems such as sensors, actuators, vision systems, and robotics to collect and use plant information in areas managed by manufacturers to increase production efficiency.
Four fundamental design principles are used:
01
Interoperability is the ability of machines, devices, sensors, and people to connect and communicate with each other through the Internet of Things (IoT).
02
Information transparency provides information systems the ability to create a virtual copy of the physical plant and enrichs digital plant models with sensor data. This requires the aggregation of raw sensor data to higher-value contextual information.
03
Decision support pertains to technical assistance. First, it provides automation systems the ability to support operators and engineers by aggregating and visualizing information comprehensively for making informed decisions and solving urgent problems on short notice. Second, it physically supports operators by conducting a range of tasks that are unpleasant, repetitive, too exhausting, or unsafe for humans.
04
Decision automation provides plants the capability to make operational decisions on their own and to perform their tasks as autonomously as possible. Only during serious exceptions, interferences, or conflicting goals, are tasks delegated to a higher level for human intervention.
Result
The water plant will now self-optimize, self-configure, and use artificial intelligence (AI) to perform complex tasks from a remote area. Thereby reducing the number of people required on-site to manage the water plant by 57%.