Stepping in to better equip and empower utility organizations with streamlined testing and management tools, Doble Engineering has announced three solutions: dobleARMS, the M7100 Power Apparatus Analyzer and Protection Suite 2.2.
Test data helps determine the health of critical assets, but the volume of data can be overwhelming. Available today, dobleARMS will provide utility companies with an online monitoring and risk assessment platform that goes beyond condition-based maintenance, delivering actionable diagnostic data to its users.
dobleARMS integrates real-time monitoring and offline test data with a sophisticated suite of intelligent, analytical tools. Its unique asset health scoring system lets users prioritize what requires immediate action while providing data needed to prepare long-term replacement and maintenance strategies.
The analytical tools in dobleARMS pull from online and offline data as well as FRANK, the First Response Analysis Knowledgebase, an artificial intelligence engine that leverages Doble's 80+ years of diagnostic test data.
Tackling two major concerns for utility workers – safety and time – Doble's M7100 will revolutionize the way offline testing is done. Available later this year, it will be on display for the first time this month at the 80th International Conference of Doble Clients.
The solution will greatly reduce the number of ladder trips technicians are exposed to per job – sometimes cutting the number to nearly one third, significantly improving the safety and quality of field work by limiting exposure.
The M7100 also automates multiple tests, previously performed by several pieces of equipment, cutting down testing time from seven hours to one and a half hours. By dramatically reducing testing time, utilities can now maximize their outage periods by performing more maintenance during the hours previously devoted to testing.
Reliability and Compliance
Meeting compliance standards can be a challenging, but critical, part of proving the reliability of the grid. Pressure to improve reliability increased after major outages like the 2003 blackout where 50 million people lost power in parts of the US and Canada.
Doble works with utility clients to help them meet North American Electric Reliability Corp. (NERC) compliance standards and audits by providing the necessary tools, like the new Protection Suite Software, which is designed to help utilities perform their protection testing, data management and compliance reporting.
