Synengco’s software solutions and service offerings are based on the foundations of digital modelling. Our modelling solutions range from a core model of infrastructure, right up to a complex and detailed digital twin of an asset and its operation.
Digital twins can be used as a foundation to:
- Automate activities
- Ensure compliance
- Perform risk assessments
- Monitor and optimise performance
- Automate data-supported decision-making for all parts of the operation
These models serve as the foundation for the majority of Synengco’s capabilities. Where these models can be created, business operations and assets can be visualised. Where operations can be visualised, opportunities can be identified. And where opportunities can be identified, operations can be improved.
The opportunities and potential insights determine the complexity and depth of the operation model. The three main tiers of digital modelling that can be provided for our clients on their optimisation journey are outlined below:
Digital Skeleton
The first option on your modelling journey is the digital skeleton. The digital skeleton is just as its name infers – a skeleton. It is the barebones representation of your asset, systems or business.
It is a simple, yet effective opportunity for us to compare your asset’s energy consumption to baseline consumption. When we are dealing with digital skeletons, we use them to analyse the asset system within constraints of data availability, time and budget- for example commercial buildings.
This tier involves building a skeleton model of an asset and exposing it to the prevailing local conditions. In the context of a building, the behaviour of the building shell, plant, and equipment can be standardised in these digital skeletons so that a standard baseline can be established.
This provides the ability to identify where opportunities exist to improve performance within a system or across a portfolio of assets. Where opportunities exist, further action can be taken.
When modelling a portfolio of assets, this means that energy audits are only performed on assets likely to significantly benefit. Good performance can be maintained by continuously monitoring the deviation between actual energy consumption and the dynamic baseline.
Rudimentary Digital Twin
A rudimentary digital twin can be built from the digital skeleton in conjunction with modelling the behaviour of services and equipment within an asset system.
Again, with a commercial building as an example – this allows the actual performance of things such as solar generation and HVAC to be considered within the digital skeleton, and therefore provides a better understanding of opportunities to improve.
This level of modelling will help detect suboptimal performance of components and equipment within an asset or asset portfolio. For example, poorly performing solar panels, heat exchangers or turbines and ineffective equipment will all be detected.
It can help to optimise maintenance requirements to maintain performance; and allow for the evaluation of the cost, reliability, and environmental impact of a new asset based on the behaviour of the digital twin – of which is learnt through machine learning algorithms.
Comprehensive Digital Twin
Comprehensive digital twins are generally used to address complex problems, more typical in critical infrastructure like power plants and mining, but still present in the built environment.
This allows for a high-detail analysis of the services provided and the value delivered. Improvement can now occur at an individual floor, room or component level.
In the final tier, the digital twin concept is taken through the entire asset using all available information to characterise the actual behaviour of the asset and its subsystems. This allows for whole-of-system, whole-of-life-cycle analysis in an automated digital environment that directly mirrors the real world. This tier of digital twinning can be used for asset optimisation and decision support for nearly any asset system.
To learn more about our modelling capabilities for complex infrastructure, check out our SentientSystem® product page.