AERprogress creates more sustainability

Much is already available - especially in terms of operational data. What is missing is intelligent and networked processing. AERprogress, the new IIoT platform from AERZEN, starts precisely there: profitable information for efficient and reliable operation is created from existing machine and sensor data. This statement is reflected in the current trend topics in blower technology: energy efficiency, monitoring and predictive maintenance. Instead of supplementing process air packages with costly sensor technology at this point, AERprogress primarily uses the signals and operating states already available via the control system. Supplemented by a few additional sensors, statements can be made about failure probabilities, operating states, trends and optimisation possibilities.

AERprogress has a modular structure with a view to different application scenarios. The basic module "Machine Park Management" includes, among other things, live monitoring for spatially independent online plant management. With the goal in mind of not leaving ideal lines once they have been found, real-time reports at the push of a button as well as detailed maintenance and servicing protocols are part of the functional scope. All in all, the basic "Machine Park Management" package provides tools with which the availability and utilisation of all connected machines can be analysed and adjusted - all under the premise of the greatest possible transparency. "We are talking about a fundamental optimisation of operations that includes intelligent strategies for efficient maintenance as well as plannable maintenance," explains product manager Jan Maksel.

Building on this, AERprogress includes the platform module "Condition Monitoring". With the permanent recording and evaluation of machine conditions, statements are possible as to when maintenance work should be initiated. The complex consideration of cause-and-effect relationships between the PI 2 PI AERprogress – 04/22 EN most diverse components within a process enables the complete condition assessment of all technical systems. Jan Maksel: "The service package is conceptually designed to avoid high prevention costs due to machine downtime, maintenance effort and redundancy." A classic example of condition monitoring in process air is bearing monitoring with the help of temperature and vibration sensors. The frequency curves generated in this process are so precise that they can be used very effectively to assess the condition of ball or roller bearings.

Operational optimisation in the network and condition-based maintenance: energy efficiency is all that is missing to make the IIoT platform from AERZEN complete. The "Energy Management" module includes machine factors that influence consumption. These include intake temperatures, differential and intake pressures as well as the condition of filter cartridges. On this basis, the module shows excess consumption, analyses load profiles, makes suggestions for energy efficiency and compares actual and target situations. Factors influencing the calculations are load curves, load distributions, downtimes and compound efficiencies.