Direct Energy - Optimizing the Flow and Analysis of Plant Operating Data A Strategic Information Architecture for Effective Asset Management

摘要

The major investment in power producing assets made by Direct Energy in the U.S.power market is measured in hundreds of millions of dollars on both a first cost and life cyclecost basis. To achieve an acceptable return on investment and strengthen financial performance,Direct Energy’s operational goals and objectives requires a focus on maximizing powerproduction across their operating fleet while managing and mitigating technical risks. Toachieve these critical to quality objectives, Direct Energy has executed a strategic informationarchitecture that transforms “real time” plant operating data, across their full operating fleet, intorapid actionable information and knowledge. Management, at all levels of the business andacross various departments, use this strategic business information to ensure “best in class”availability and reliability performance relative to corporate pro forma and market expectations,measure operational readiness, reduce reactionary and costly downtime and maximize parts lifeand repair capability for capital inventory.This paper will describe how Direct Energy, in cooperation with Strategic PowerSystems, Inc. (SPS), has deployed a strategic information architecture using the ORAP~? systemto integrate their combined cycle operating fleet for effective asset management. Features andcapabilities of the information infrastructure will be fully described, including; plant “real time”data capture, transformation and reporting; parts life tracking and planned maintenanceprojections; and plant and corporate management reporting over the Internet. The value andcorporate benefits will be discussed.