ARC has been blogging over the last few years about how IIoT-enabled solutions can provide real
business and
operational value across many different industries, products and solutions. However, we believe that IIoT-enabled
rotating equipment,
turbomachinery and
pumps represents the “lowest hanging fruit” for operators and end users for which them to benefit from the most.
ARC recently completed a new market analysis report on
turbine monitoring & controls. Turbine monitoring & controls solutions are slowly being updated with new features to fulfill many market demands and increase their value proposition, such as the growing demand for smart connected products based on, for example, the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT). Smart connected turbines provide opportunities to increase operational efficiency from the power plant floor (or the platform) to the supply chain by optimizing data, information, and analytics ranging.
Data gathering and communication capabilities via standard networking technologies are built-in features of some turbine monitoring & controls solutions. With IIoT, smart turbines could considerably improve electric power generation and mechanical drive of compressors or pumps, driving the use of more automation. In addition, IIoT offers opportunities to apply new kinds of business models that will promote growth. Turbine monitoring & controls suppliers may start selling energy or mechanical drive for compression services if they also offer turbines or they could partner with turbine manufacturers to offer remote monitoring and control services for a monthly or yearly fee.
IIoT-enabled solutions may be used, for example, to help improve the performance and uptime of turbines in conjunction with engines, compressors or AC drives, which control this type of equipment and play an important role in business profitability for industries, such as electric power generation or for on-site power or mechanical drive in oil & gas, chemicals, refining, and other industries. To increase the availability of turbines, monitoring & controls providers need to incorporate technological innovations, such as IIoT, to help these turbines run reliably and closer to their maximum designed performance.
Continuing innovations in sensor instrumentation, embedded advanced control algorithms, and predictive condition monitoring are all critical to the future of the smarter turbine monitoring & controls that will become integrated within the emerging IIoT infrastructure. It is interesting to note that a few users are starting to demand that tur-bine monitoring & controls solutions must be ready for an IIoT ecosystem. However, they have not figured out the full benefit of it. At pre-sent, most of these end users will demand this requirement from suppliers because they feel that they would be “future proof.”
ARC’s
Turbine Monitoring & Controls report is available for investment today. I certainly welcome the opportunity to learn about your turbine challenges, issues, and/or solutions therein.