08 July 2021
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MD for Hevasure, Steve Munn, has written a white paper exploring how complex data-sets can be interpreted to inform ‘active service interventions', focussing on corrosion prevention in closed-circuit HVAC systems.
An active service intervention is an appropriate and effective response to information, i.e. a change in condition which suggests something is wrong, rather than a routine or knee-jerk reaction not informed by real time, accurate information.
Inspired to write the paper due to what he feels is a continued lack of understanding when it comes to the benefits of collating and interpreting a range of data points vs simply tracking corrosion rates, the document explores how Hevasure's Aquila conditioning monitoring technology obtains and make sense of a spectrum of parameters in order to determine the root cause of problems.
Tracking corrosion rates alone simply tells you there is corrosion. By the time a closed circuit system is corroding there is already a real problem which could lead to costly repairs and downtime. The cause of corrosion has not necessarily been deduced and maintenance companies then often have to send people to site to investigate.
Where a range of data points is tracked, corrosion can potentially be stopped before it even starts. Crucially, the root cause (e.g. oxygen ingress due to pressurisation issues) leads to informed decisions without the need for site visits. Aggregated data combined with proprietary algorithms and intelligent messaging takes out the guess-work.
Munn said: "We are all gradually coming to terms with the myriad of data and information that monitoring and Internet of Things (IoT) systems generate, realising the huge potential this technology offers. Ultimately, it is all about making our lives easier, using data to help in the decision-making process and reduce the overall cost of ownership.
"Overall, the water treatment industry has been behind the curve when it comes to this approach. Even today, too many organisations record important information on disparate sheets of paper which make intelligent interpretation either time consuming or nigh on impossible.
"What's key is that where data is collected, it is interpreted and understood correctly - recording raw data electronically has limited use unless it can be properly integrated and real meaning added."
The white paper explains the hierarchy of data diagnostics in accordance with British Standard BS ISO 13374, which sets out the framework for ‘Condition monitoring and diagnostics of machines', and how Hevasure fits within this framework, with real examples from a selection of commercial buildings benefitting from the Aquila technology.
Hevasure has been at the forefront of condition monitoring since its inception in 2014, leveraging IoT technology to prevent corrosion in commercial heating and chilled water systems. Data, obtained remotely and in real-time from a wide range of sensors, is used to inform on corrosive conditions and enable effective interventions while minimising the need for scheduled (and often unnecessary) site visits.
The white paper can be downloaded here.
