Using an electronic product code network to improve monitoring systems for continuous operating equipment - A thermal power plant example

The term 'continuous operating equipment' refers to equipment that operates for long periods without any stoppage or power outages. Continuous monitoring and long-term surveillance systems are crucial in ensuring the reliability of such equipment. Continuous monitoring operations involve constantly monitoring and recording active information and static data, including information- processing tasks such as access, query, and implementation. With the aim of obtaining information continuously, accurately, and rapidly, this study proposes to use the electronic product code (EPC) network on outflow electricity and equipment to enable constant information management regarding power quality and equipment operations. The radio frequency identification (RFID)-based EPC network used functions principally for information transmission, real-time calculation, and production management to reduce the non-performing rate of the power system, thus preventing failures and safety risks. A thermal power plant in Taiwan is used to explain the structure of the proposed continuous operation monitoring system. The performance results of the approach reveal a significant reduction in operating cost (14 operators are reduced to four operators), fast real-time monitoring response, and low power system variation. RFID tags can increase the power factor of the transformer and save 7 357 898kWh of electricity, as well as decreasing carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 4 751 338kg.