Software improves grid reliability by speeding up response to alarms
Zurich, Switzerland, December 15, 2008 –- ABB, a power and automation technology group, has agreed to integrate software from Sweden's GoalArt into its systems for the management of power networks, to strengthen grid reliability by helping utilities improve their handling of alarms.
In a power grid, a fault typically triggers many others and each of these sets off an alarm. GoalArt's software helps the operators of power networks, as well as industrial systems and complex technical products, to understand and manage faults in a timely, safe and efficient manner.
“ABB's partnership with GoalArt will enhance the ability of our customers to respond quickly to faults in the system and maintain the reliability of their operations,” said Neela Mayur, Product Manager of Network Manager. “The new software automatically pinpoints the main cause of a disturbance so that operators can fix it rapidly.”
ABB has begun testing the software in a pilot project with the New York Independent System Operator, the operator of the state of New York's bulk electricity grid. NYISO has been using ABB's Network Manager SCADA/EMS (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition/Energy Management System) to control its power network since 2005.
GoalArt was founded in 2000 and has developed software based on unique research results in artificial intelligence from Lund University, Sweden, the Danish Technical University, Denmark, and Stanford University, California.
GoalArt's alarm management and fault diagnosis is being used to help operators and maintenance personnel of large industrial plants, power grids, conventional and nuclear power plants, chemical industries, pulp, paper, and steel mills, etc. It is also used in complex products where a large amount of data is stored and needs to be analyzed in fault situations, such as medical equipment and aircraft.
About ABB
ABB (www.abb.com) is a leader in power and automation technologies that enable utility and industry customers to improve their performance while lowering environmental impact. The ABB Group of companies operates in around 100 countries and employs about 120,000 people.
For more information, please contact:
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Power Products and Systems
Zurich, Switzerland
Harmeet Bawa
Tel: +41 43 317 6480
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ABB Inc.
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