Digital Transformation for NDE for the Electric Power Industry: NDE 4.0
摘要
Globally, as industry is transitioning into the “Digital Transformation,” or “Industry 4.0,” the electric power industry is decarbonizing and advancing into the “Energy Transformation.” Increasing electric power production from low to no-carbon energy resources offers new, diverse asset management challenges. Nondestructive examination (NDE) and monitoring is essential in assuring the structural integrity and safety of critical electric power industry assets. Utilization of different materials, that is, composites for wind power, piping, and concrete repairs; higher thermal operating ranges for advanced power sources; and operating power generation sources in more flexible operating schemes pose unique challenges for implementing nondestructive examinations and managing asset integrity. Integrating advanced NDE 4.0 and structural health monitoring technologies with improved uses of digital NDE data must become an essential part of the power system design and asset management plan for future low carbon energy assets. NDE 4.0 addresses the integration of the diverse technological and digital transformations needed to design, implement, and process diverse NDE data streams for solving future energy asset inspection and asset management challenges. In addition, the performance of NDE needs to factor the future workforce, taking the human out of harm’s way and harmonizing their skills and expertise in symbiosis with machines as implementation of automation and artificial intelligence becomes the norm. The focus for NDE 4.0 must be on increasing the uses and value of digitalized NDE data for future asset management. This chapter will present an overview of the methodologies being pursued to transition and execute NDE 4.0 into the future decarbonized electric power industry.