About the Project
UAB Energy Advice, together with its partner Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, is implementing project No LT07-1-EIMK01-006 "Development of Innovative Integrated Predictive Maintenance System EA-Predictive" financed by the Norwegian Financial Mechanism 2014-2021 and the State Budget of the Republic of Lithuania. Total value of the project – EUR 1 142 621,04 of which EUR 833 838,01 consist of mechanism and co-financing funds.
Support for the implementation of the project was provided in accordance with the guidelines of the Norwegian Financial Mechanism Programme 2014-2021 "Business Development, Innovation and SMEs" call for proposals under the green industry innovation (including bio economy) focus area, approved by Order No 2V-270 of the Director of the Agency for Science, Innovation and Technology of 24 July 2020.
The industry has several needs: to increase productivity, to reduce operating costs, and to increase energy efficiency. Predictive maintenance (PdM) of production processes, currently the most advanced method of production equipment maintenance designed for real-time remote monitoring of production processes, can help overcome these challenges.
During this project, an innovative integrated predictive maintenance system EA-Predictive will be developed, which is based on a unique method that allows efficient management of not only production, but also energy and business management processes, as well as the complex integration thereof. The system is designed for the chemical, wood and food industries, which require large amounts of energy. The system modules that are being developed will be universal and adaptable to other industries. This system will be more technologically advanced than those currently on the market, since it will be able to model in an integrated manner the processes that are taking place in the company, and increase production productivity. A demonstration of the prototype (trial version) of the integrated predictive maintenance system EA-Predictive will be performed during the project, including preparation of a test batch, testing and presentation to consumers. The algorithms for mathematical modelling of production and energy processes developed during the project will be patented to protect intellectual property and confirm the status of global innovation.
This project is a continuing activity of UAB Energy Advice. The company is currently implementing an R&D project for the development and commercialization of an innovative energy efficiency diagnostics and analysis system EA-Industry (new title EA-SAS). End of the project – 2020. An innovative mathematical model was developed during the project, combining all the company's energy systems, which enables to model in an integrated manner the company's energy consumption processes at different efficiency moments, analyse interactions, and find opportunities for increasing efficiency.
Development of the predictive maintenance system EA-Predictive model was carried out using the experience gained from the research and technological testing performed during the implementation of the said project. While the purpose of EA-SAS is to optimize energy use by managing all types of energy processes, EA-Predictive aims to increase industrial productivity by modelling in an integrated manner production processes which include equipment, energy and resource management.
The project will be implemented in cooperation with the company's partner - Western Norway University of Applied Sciences (Høgskulen på Vestlandet – HVL). The applicant's main activity and developed products are energy process management systems, while HVL researchers have carried out research and achieved excellent results in the management of multilayer networks.
During the implementation of the project, the partner will be responsible for the implementation of a multilayer network based on machine learning in the developed system, preparation of testing procedures, testing of system functions, and certain programming tasks. For the implementation of project activities, the applicant intends to appoint university researchers with the necessary competence and experience in the implementation of similar projects.
The EA-Predictive system is designed for companies operating in the chemical, wood and food industries, which require large amounts of energy. The system modules that are being developed will be universal and adaptable to other industries. The EA-Predictive system allows users to increase their technological efficiency and production productivity, as well as reduce energy consumption and CO2 emissions.
R&D activities will be carried out during the project, covering the following levels of technological readiness (R&D):
· Demonstration of a prototype (trial version) of the predictive maintenance system EA-Predictive (TPL 7);
· Production and evaluation of a test batch of the predictive maintenance system EA-Predictive (TPL 8).
The innovative integrated predictive maintenance system EA-Predictive developed during the project will be unique and new on a global scale due to its scientific and technological solutions. In the EA-Predictive system, the O&M concept is combined with Digital Twin technology, which enables to model and integrate the company's production and energy processes. Process modelling enables the optimal management of equipment by increasing its technological efficiency, as well as the management of various types of energy sources, thus increasing the energy efficiency of the production process. Equipment performance modelling enables to predict potential failures, wear, and the need for new parts and components, which means the planning of resources. Machine learning algorithms used in the system analyse processes and provide tasks and recommendations, thus eliminating the human factor. The EA-Predictive system will be the first such innovation on the market based on a patented invention.
The project is estimated to be completed on 30 April 2024.