Computer scientists optimise safety at UK power stations
Friday 2 February 2018
SOFTWARE engineers at the University of Salford are helping to optimise safety at some of the UK’s key industrial locations.
A team working as part of a Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) co-sponsored by Innovate UK, with supervisor Dr Julian Bass and KTP Associate Adeniyi Abdul, has trialled a software tool which helps monitor the lifecycles of components enabling their timely maintenance, repair and replacement.
The software, “AimHi,” was tested at the Isle of Grain power station, Kent - which supplies electricity to around 1 million homes - and has now been adopted by operator Uniper, (formerly E.ON) UK.
“Power stations have literally tens of thousands of working parts,” explained Dr Bass, a senior lecturer in computer science and software engineering. “They all have to be maintained, according to a carefully optimised schedule, so creating this software was a real test of our ingenuity and we are delighted it is working.”
'It was a real test of our ingenuity' - Dr Julian Bass, senior lecturer in computer science and software engineering
The AimHi software is part of a wider development process for Add Latent Ltd, part of the Add Energy Group, which provides asset maintenance engineering for Shell, BP and a host of global energy sector firms. The Partnership has been adapting some of the latest thinking; including the use of so-called agile software development methods.
‘Outstanding'
The project has earned a prestigious ‘Outstanding’ rating from Innovate UK; one of the few KTPs to achieve the accolade.
Peter Adam, Executive VP at Add Energy said: “This successful KTP has enabled us to establish an in-house innovation and software development capability. Working with the University we have established R&D processes which have enabled us to diversify into new markets with new products.”
“Uniper were very impressed with the product’s performance at the Isle of Grain, and there is interest from other Add Latent clients”, added Dr Bass. “One of the beauties of the package is it is cloud deployed which means it can be scaled up to accommodate additional clients.”
Among other outcomes, Adeniyi has earned himself a PhD opportunity at Salford; Dr Bass has become a senior fellow of the HEA after drawing on learning from the KTP to shape and update the University’s software syllabus and the KTP has supported a number of final year and Master’s projects, including one on how the data could best be visualised.
Further, two research papers have already been published, including one on Product Innovation which won ‘Best Paper Award’ at the iSociety conference Dublin 2017.
The University is now undertaking a second KTP with Add Energy to develop automated asset tracking for change management processes.
Find out more
Gareth Hollyman, Senior Press & PR Officer (Science)
0161 295 6895 g.b.hollyman@salford.ac.uk
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