MAN Energy Solutions addresses autonomous turbomachinery

Energy Solutions and the thyssenkrupp business unit Uhde are looking to drive forward the development, testing and marketing of autonomous turbomachinery systems operation for the nitric acid production industry. They have signed a cooperation agreement. The two major German companies will use artificial intelligence (AI) to aid decision-making in nitric acid plant operation. It will involve taking real-time account of data such as product price, yield, efficiency, emissions, energy costs, process stability, and forecast maintenance requirements.

"Combining human expertise with artificial intelligence is a milestone for the process industry,” said Dr. Uwe Lauber, CEO of MAN Energy Solutions. “Autonomous operation of turbomachinery offers advantages in efficiency, machine availability and health, as well as emissions reductions. AI algorithms ensure that machines and plants run reliably and at the optimum operating point at all times. This leads to fewer failures, greater efficiency and lower operating costs.”

The AI algorithms and automation systems developed by thyssenkrupp Uhde and MAN Energy Solutions, as well as a digital controller for MAN turbomachinery systems, will be further developed, tested and interconnected to form a joint digital technology solution that is market ready.