In an attempt to better understand and improve efficiency in their massive generators, General Electric has begun to develop sensors to track data ranging from weather, power demand and alternative energy supplies.
Computer algorithms the company runs will determine how to reach optimal performance at any stage of production, whether they track wind speeds to adjust movement and position of turbines, maintenance of systems or weather effects on usage, according to the New York Times.
The information they learn will be just part of a recent trend toward data collection, where companies in many fields including agriculture, healthcare and manufacturing use large amounts of learned material to update their systems and information faster, improving systems and increasing profits and system quality.
GE is already making money using these sensors, by “the use of analytics to automate processes, optimize performance, eliminate downtime, and predict when a machine or component will fail,” said CEO Jeff Immelt.
Increased knowledge of wind turbine science
For instance, data enters the system from wind towers at speeds of 400 times per second, which it in turn uses to adjust blades from energy demand, rates of use from other turbines and conventional turbines’ power outputs, which has helped GE become the world’s top seller of wind turbines.
These sensors have helped the company reduce its rejection rate of products not meeting quality to 22 percent, among the world’s lowest according to the news source and a rate that normally takes companies years to reach. As a result, G.E. plans on expanding its sensors into other machines it produces, including trains, jet engines and healthcare devices.
GE believes these sensors’ data can be used to catch problems earlier, improve efficiency in their buildings and learn more about their generators’ true connection with the general population.
The news source said the company’s shift to the sensors began when the company’s executives examined websites’ efficiencies using data, how sites like Google, Facebook and Amazon overtook their competitors in media. After the systems worked on their computer networks, Mark Little, the company’s chief technology officer, spent $1 billion to apply them to the rest of GE’s output.
Improving efficiency of planes, trains
One example used by the company to improve efficiency was its trains; by sensing the trains’ positions and speeds, using sensors on cars and tracks that report back to the company’s data collection services, the software can improve their efficiencies to the tune of hundreds of millions of dollars per year. Additionally, by studying planes and airports, the sensors were able to cut average flight delay times nearly in half, further saving money.
Information collected can also be used to improve the jet engines GE makes as well; in Cincinnati, the company uses calculations about materials’ weights and builds in 3D printers to test improvements.
The value of increased efficiency using these methods could total as much as $1.3 trillion by 2020, according to Forbes.
By using these tests, GE can ensure longevity of their products, improve their efficiency drastically and lower maintenance and production costs.