Norway-based propulsion specialist Brunvoll has introduced a condition-based monitoring solution, BruCon Condition Monitoring, into its product portfolio.
The solution offers remote access to the condition of Brunvoll’s propulsion units and maneouvring thrusters via a web dashboard.
The solution itself was developed as part of a partially government-funded research project, FAST, which brought together compressor supplier Sperre Air Power AS, ship owner Altera Infrastructure and research partner SINTEF AS in 2019.
The project was intended to develop and implement a system where machine learning algorithms could be used to support condition monitoring and various types of /predictive maintenance systems. The systems would supply actionable information that could contribute to decision making both onshore and offshore.
The project needed to develop solutions to a number of technical barriers, including the development of sensor data collection and compression solutions that could integrate sensor data from other suppliers’ systems aboard the vessel. The project also addressed the need to develop secure data transmission protocols to ensure the security of data transmission from vessel to shore.
At the same time, the project was focused on the development of artificial intelligence and machine learning tools that could analyse the datasets to identify opportunities to optimise the maintenance and operations of the assets.
Following the successful conclusion of the project, Brunvoll has created a data framework that allows live data from its equipment installed on vessels to be fed back to the Brunvoll data centre. Brunvoll can process the sensor and control system data, and integrate analytical insights produced by its machine learning algorithms, to produce condition indicators supplied via a customer portal and dashboard.
The system detects specific events and also monitors operational characteristics that have significance from an optimised maintenance and operations perspective.
This dashboard may also be integrated with the vessel’s planned maintenance system. In addition to the digital online services, Brunvoll is serving the clients through an Operations Centre at the Brunvoll Head Office staffed by Brunvoll specialists.
