� TECHNOLOGY �
Optimising asset performance and reliability
Ensuring that essential plant assets are operating at optimum levels as often as possible requires the swift and efficient rectification of any issues that arise , before they lead to costly repairs or replacements , or create safety risks . Traditionally , checks on the health and performance of critical equipment and devices in a green steel plant have been made during manual inspection rounds . The longer the gap between these inspections , the more likely that a defect would go undetected and result in an unexpected failure , significantly impacting production , product quality and plant efficiency . personnel to effectively plan maintenance during scheduled shutdowns and turnarounds , and to minimise or eliminate unplanned downtime , thereby reducing costs .
Better planning , communication and collaboration
The specifics of each green steel project may be unique , but they all face common concerns about keeping within budget and completing on time . Such large , complex projects can require the involvement of multiple owners , engineering contractors and suppliers from different parts of the world , which can create challenges when it comes to planning , communication and collaboration .
Fast and reliable leak detection requires the implementation of extremely accurate flow meters , such as Rosemount E-Series magnetic flow meters from Emerson .
being able to remotely review prototypes to ensure compliance with specifications , and to engage operations personnel early in remote ( virtual ) factory acceptance tests of the automation equipment .
However , many plants are now switching to fully automated asset monitoring , to digitally transform their maintenance planning and reduce their costs through the early diagnosis and analysis of developing issues . Edge analytics devices , such as the AMS Asset Monitor from Emerson , digitalise essential asset data and analytics for better operational performance and improved decision-making . These devices combine easy deployment , embedded logicbased analytics and intuitive health scoring to simplify the monitoring and maintenance of essential assets . Their analytics and visualisation can help plant
To meet these challenges , cloudbased engineering environments can help to engage resources and expertise regardless of location . For example , Emerson has developed Remote Virtual Office ( RVO ) – a cost-efficient , rapidly-deployed and secure distributed engineering solution that allows worldwide project team members to communicate , collaborate and contribute remotely in a virtual engineering and testing environment . Stakeholders can access files , discussions , updates , tools and applications , and contribute their specific knowledge to the ongoing project . This provides many benefits , including
Reducing engineering time
The actionable data provided by digital ecosystems helps green steel manufacturers to minimise costs , increase energy efficiency and accelerate time to market . However , the task of wiring and connecting all this technology can be significant and directly impacts project timelines .
The design , documentation and installation of input / output ( I / O ) and marshalling can be especially labour-intensive and time-consuming , and often falls on the critical path of green steel projects . Because I / O hardware and software – bound
Green Steel World | Issue 9 | November 2023 35