mPrest, an Israeli global provider of mission-critical monitoring, big data analytics and control software for the energy sector, and the New York Power Authority (NYPA), the largest state public power organization in the U.S, have announced the release of an updated version of the award-winning asset health management software that they co-developed. The software helps to predict failures in electricity generation transformers before they occur.
The updated version streamlines and automates how power utilities maintain critical assets on the smart grid to prevent power outages and reduce costs. After contributing significantly to mPrest’s Transformer Health Management product and its successful implementation at NYPA’s Robert Moses Niagara Power Project earlier this year, NYPA has installed the application at its Blenheim-Gilboa Pumped Storage Project in Schoharie County and its 500 MW Combined-Cycle Power Plant in Queens. The system is currently rolling out to the St. Lawrence Power Project in New York State’s North Country and other sites.
“The transformer asset health system is improving the efficiency of the field workforce and enhancing safety,” said Alan Ettlinger, director of Research, Technology Development, and Innovation, NYPA. “It allows NYPA to monitor its transformers and warn its staff of any assets that may need maintenance, replacement or repair. As a result, we are also able to protect our assets and ensure that the transformers live longer — reducing the cost to NYPA and its customers.”
Version 2.0 enhances mPrest’s asset health product with new analytics tools and support for new assets and new sensors. This version introduces, among other functions, lube-oil monitoring within generation and transmission elements, as well as aggregation of trend data on lubricating oils with other data types. The product combines sensor data with data from commonly-used dissolved gas analysis (DGA) to create a comprehensive picture of transformer health in real time.
mPrest’s software uses prediction and smart analytics technologies to monitor all sensor-enabled transformer equipment while also analyzing offline measurements in a single application and dashboard. It provides operators a comprehensive view of transformer function, predicted health and recommended maintenance actions.
“We are proud to see NYPA's confidence in our asset health management product as expressed through their expansion of our mutual production contract. The NYPA-mPrest partnership, which is going on two years, ensures that our asset health management product is at the forefront of the market," said Ron Halpern (News - Alert), Chief Commercial Officer, mPrest. "Version 2.0 takes our market leadership and smart, predictive nature of our application one step further with new tools and new assets, all aiming for better grid reliability and better service to consumers."