Yokogawa releases Energy Performance Analytics software

Development background

Manufacturers around the world are working hard to improve their energy performance and protect the environment by reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Released in 2011, the ISO50001 standard provides a framework of requirements that help companies in the process industries effectively manage their energy performance and achieve regulatory compliance.

Yokogawa is a leading supplier of advanced solutions and control instrumentation to the process industry, and excels in helping manufacturers conserve energy by optimising their plant operations. In 2013, Yokogawa took a significant stake in Soteica Visual MESA, a world leading supplier of energy management systems with a solid track record in providing solutions for the utility facilities at large industrial complexes. Through this partnership with Soteica, Yokogawa is able to offer the Visual MESA solution to its customers.

The EP-Analytics plant energy performance visualisation software is based on Yokogawa''s knowhow in production processes and operations, and is powered by Soteica''s Visual MESA energy management and optimisation technology.

Product features

To improve plant energy performance, it is necessary to first grasp how energy is being used by each process unit. By visualising and tracking the energy consumption in each unit, inefficiencies can be easily identified and located. The EP-Analytics software runs on a workstation that is connected via an OPC interface to the control system, giving it access to pressure, temperature, flow rate, and other plant data. Based on the Visual MESA simulation engine, the EP-Analytics software uses rigorous “first principle” models to track energy flows throughout the plant and calculate the energy performance for each individual process unit and piece of equipment. This software also compares actual performance against expected energy performance to pinpoint underperforming units and equipment, and this information can be used by plant personnel to plan specific countermeasures.