Abstract of the Offer
MtAlytics Ltd (based in Nottingham, UK) offers a real-time AI-driven software platform for monitoring the “health” of critical industrial components and predicting their remaining lifespan. The technology (called CITRUS) streams data from operating equipment and uses advanced material modeling and neural networks to provide live insight into component condition. This can be used to optimize maintenance schedules for power plants and other industries by preventing unexpected failures and reducing downtime. The company is a University of Nottingham spin-out seeking partners for licensing, demonstration, or co-development of the technology in new applications.
Description
The offered technology is a software platform (CITRUS – Component Integrity and Technology Readiness Utilisation System) that continuously assesses the structural integrity of in-service components in real time.
What it does: It monitors parameters like temperature and pressure via existing sensors on equipment and, using a combination of physics-based material models and artificial intelligence, converts this sensor data into a live representation of accumulated damage and remaining life of the component. In essence, it provides an on-demand “health report” or “life bar” for critical parts under operation.
How it works: The system was born from a decade of materials engineering research at the University of Nottingham. It employs streamlined finite element simulations and state-of-the-art neural networks to analyse stress, fatigue and other damage mechanisms in high-temperature materials. The AI has been trained to emulate complex simulation results instantaneously, allowing it to deliver high-precision insights without the long computation times or expert intervention normally required. Operators receive straightforward visual outputs (e.g. dashboards) indicating the current health status and predicted remaining lifespan of components.
Potential applications: The initial application domain is the energy sector, specifically for power plants (e.g. turbines, boilers, pressure vessels in thermal power stations) where unplanned outages due to component failure are extremely costly. By getting real-time health feedback, plant operators can make informed decisions (such as adjusting loads or scheduling maintenance) to balance performance with component longevity. Beyond power generation, the technology can be adapted to any industry involving critical mechanical systems. For example, it could be applied to aerospace engines, industrial furnaces, chemical processing plants, or maritime propulsion systems , anywhere that continuous monitoring of structural integrity could enhance safety and efficiency. The software is platform-agnostic and can integrate with existing monitoring systems, making it broadly deployable. It does not rely on any brand-specific hardware; as long as the machinery has standard sensors (or can be outfitted with them), CITRUS can ingest the data and provide actionable results.
Advantages and Innovations
Advantages and Innovations
The technology represents an innovative fusion of AI and engineering domain knowledge for maintenance optimization. Its key advantages over prevailing monitoring or analysis methods are:
- Real-time, in-situ analysis: Provides immediate assessment of component health during operation, which is something operators did not have until now (traditionally analyses were done offline). This enables instant operational adjustments rather than waiting for periodic inspections or off-line simulations.
- Reduced unexpected downtime: By continuously tracking damage accumulation, the system reduces the frequency of unexpected failures and unplanned outages. Plant operators gain early warnings of potential issues, improving safety and reliability.
- Optimized performance and longer asset life: CITRUS helps find the optimal balance between running equipment hard and preserving its lifespan. Operators can make informed decisions to maximize output while avoiding overstressing components, which improves overall efficiency and can reduce fuel consumption and emissions. It effectively supports a predictive maintenance regime, extending component life and avoiding catastrophic breakdowns.
- Cost and time savings: The software eliminates the need for expensive external simulations or expert analysis for routine decision-making. Companies no longer have to outsource complex finite element studies or wait days for results, CITRUS delivers near-instant insights on-site. This not only saves analysis cost but also minimizes downtime since decisions can be made faster.
- User-friendly and widely applicable: Despite its sophisticated underpinnings, the platform is designed to be accessible to non-experts with a clear visual interface. It can be customized to different equipment types and industries. The core algorithms are flexible, allowing adaptation (with appropriate training data and material models) to new applications beyond the initial power generation use case. This versatility and ease-of-use mean the innovation can be transferred across sectors without extensive re-engineering.