An Expert System – Generators and Engines with Automatic Fault Diagnosis
Introduction
The consistency in high oil price forces the owners of generators and engines to be caution in the use of oil to power the generators and engines. Most of the generators are using diesel fuel whilst most of the automobile engines are using gasoline. Because of lacking qualified technical people and poor skills in maintaining the generators and engines, their efficiencies are intolerably low and facing the problem of frequent breakdown. Allowing these problems to exist continuously may not only waste valuable fuel, but also lower the productivity. Hence, the industry has shown her urgency in having an automatic health monitoring and fault diagnostic system for generators and engines. Because of such urgency, the Smart Engineering Asset Management Laboratory (SEAM), which is in-charged by Ir Dr. Peter W. TSE, and the King Bridge Technology Co. Ltd. have joined together to develop an expert system for enhancing the reliability and performance of generators and engines. The system aims to ease the work load of operators, increase the reliability of inspected machine and save fuel costs.
Benefits Provided by the System
The welcome screen of the system is shown above. With the help of the expert system, the operators can be acknowledged any problem caused during the operation of cylinders, such as fuel leakage, ring linkage, valve leaks, piston worn out, as well as other mechanical anomalies. The system can also identify anomalous combustion process, such as misfiring, soft fire, cylinder knocks, out of sequence fuel injection, sluggish crack, etc. Most importantly, it can inform the maintenance staff the current health situation of the inspected generator/engine, its performance as well as necessary remedies if faults have been found. Hence, the operators can prepare proper maintenance actions as suggested by the expert system. Equipped with this system, the efficiency and the reliability of the inspected generator/engine can definitely be uplifted.
