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For full details of this year's User Group and to book your place please visit www.imeche.org/stug.
Please briefly explain your role, involvement, and experience in regard to the Steam Turbine and Generator User Group.
Dr David AR Smith (DS): I work for AVEVA which is a global leader in industrial software. Specifically I work within AVEVA’s AI group which incubates machine learning solutions for industrial problems and infuses them in our software portfolio. By original training I am a Mechanical engineer, I studied at Imperial College where I gained a Masters in Mechanical Engineering in 1999 followed by a PhD in the field of Experimental Fluid Mechanics in 2003. During my degree I started my career in Power as a sponsored student with GEC Alstom Large Steam turbines at Rugby. Leaving academia I then moved to steam generation with Mitsui (later Doosan) Babcock where I worked in a variety of technical development and operational roles, mostly on supercritical plant, becoming Engineering Manager for technical proposals in 2010. In 2013 I moved to Pöyry Switzerland and Engineering company, based in Zürich, working in Owner’s Engineering, conducting deign reviews and feasibility studies for power projects in Europe and the Middle East. In 2016 I returned to the UK and Doosan Babcock as Head of Combustion, leading the development, testing and execution of low emissions combustion systems for coal and biomass. In 2018 I decided to change direction and joined AVEVA where I have worked on machine learning application to for industrial application including equipment reliability and autonomous controls.
What would you say is the top challenge facing your industry at present?
DS: The need to leverage a net reduction advantage from technology. Innovation, including the field of AI, is facilitating real advantage in increasing efficiency, thereby decreasing energy consumption and emissions. Our challenge is to realise that benefit as a net reduction and not simply offset it by doing more.
How would you say your industry has evolved over the past two years?
DS: Specifically, in the field of AI, Generative AI is a transformational technology and due to the ability of Large Language Models to accomplish tasks with human-like creativeness it is likely to fundamentally change the way in which we interact with computers. I think this will impact all areas of industrial design and operations; algorithms are accomplishing complicated tasks, linking knowledge and information in ways that we would have not thought possible.
What developments are going on in your industry that may have an impact on the development of future approaches to operation, design, maintenance, service or upgrading of steam turbine or generator assets?
DS: Specifically, in the field of AI, Generative AI is a transformational technology and due to the ability of Large Language Models to accomplish tasks with human-like creativeness it is likely to fundamentally change the way in which we interact with computers. I think this will impact all areas of industrial design and operations; algorithms are accomplishing complicated tasks, linking knowledge and information in ways that we would have not thought possible.
What will you be presenting at the Steam Turbine and Generator User Group and how will this benefit participants?
DS: I will be presenting a machine learning technique focused on equipment reliability monitoring, called Predictive Analytics which is used to detect small changes in the behaviour of industrial assets thereby giving early warning of issues which may propagate into failures, which would otherwise be hidden to plant operations and maintenance personnel. The technique uses historical sensor data of an asset to build a model of how that asset normally behaves under all conditions. The algorithm then uses that model to detect small changes, on-line and in real time, such that we can catch incipient failures early, intervene in a time and cost-effective way and avoid significant business disruption through unplanned maintenance and plant down-time.
Which other speakers and presentations are you looking forward to hearing at the forthcoming seminar?
DS: Generally, I am looking forward to the Industry Trends section at the beginning of the seminar. Specifically I’m interested in those presentations covering reliability issues and the role of data in detecting and diagnosing problems.
Why is it important for engineers and industry to come together at this event and share best practice?
DS: Simply because Engineering and Technology has, for the most part, evolved through sharing and collaboration and that evolution must proceed more quickly than ever to accomplish solutions to today’s challenges.
This year's Steam Turbine and Generator User Group will take place on 13-14 March 2024 in Manchester.
Whether you are involved in the operation, design, maintenance, service or upgrading of steam turbine or generator assets, the User Group is THE forum for engineers and professionals to meet, network and learn from the shared experience of the Steam Turbine and Generator community.
For full details and to book your place please visit www.imeche.org/stug.