KEPCO Develops AI Gas Turbine Operation Software... "Annual Savings of 4.4 Billion KRW"

Partnering with Siemens for Joint Research from February
AI Predicts Gas Turbine Compressor Performance Degradation
Reducing Unnecessary Cleaning Saves 4.4 Billion Won Annually

[Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) announced on the 14th that it has developed an 'Artificial Intelligence (AI) Gas Turbine Compressor Performance Degradation Prediction Technology' through joint research with Germany's Siemens. It is expected to save 4.4 billion KRW annually by reducing cleaning operations that do not require power plant operators.

Since February, KEPCO has been conducting international joint research with Siemens to improve gas turbine performance. Siemens has recently been focusing its core competencies on electrification, automation, and digitalization.

The software developed by KEPCO and Siemens inputs real-time data such as temperature, humidity, and operating conditions obtained from power plant measurement equipment into AI technology to predict the performance degradation and contamination level of gas turbine compressors.

The core of the technology is that AI predicts the contamination level of the compressor, reducing the annual compressor cleaning frequency by three times, thereby improving quality and saving costs. It helps power plant operators to pre-judge the necessity of compressor cleaning.

A gas turbine is equipment that generates electricity by rotating a turbine with gas combusted at high pressure together with compressed air and fuel. During long-term operation, the air compressor becomes contaminated with fine dust and other particles, lowering gas turbine performance.

Therefore, power plants regularly clean contaminants attached to compressor blades. Reducing the number of cleanings can save costs.

KEPCO predicted that using this software could further reduce the cleaning frequency by three times annually. It explained that applying the system to 74 gas turbines owned by domestic power companies could save 4.4 billion KRW annually.

Additionally, KEPCO announced plans to develop an air filter replacement cycle optimization program through its own research.

A KEPCO official said, "Through the development of this software, we have laid the groundwork for entering the overseas gas turbine market," and added, "We will continue to establish cooperative systems with overseas companies such as Siemens to lead core gas turbine technologies."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.