Data-driven methods for system monitoring and analysis
MSdigit
The MSdigit project focuses on advancing technologies for concentrating solar power and thermal energy storage systems based on molten salt (MS). Such systems represent a reliable and scalable solution for producing both heat and electricity. The project aims to enhance the efficiency, safety, and cost-effectiveness of molten-salt-based power plants by investigating innovations in materials, components, and digital system monitoring, ensuring their long-term competitiveness within the evolving energy landscape.
Within this framework, the Institute for Data Science contributes by developing and validating data-driven methods for system monitoring and analysis, with the following key objectives:
Feasibility analysis: Assessing the potential for automated monitoring of the Évora Molten Salt Platform (ESMP) in Portugal, enabling early detection and causal understanding of unwanted events using intelligent algorithms.
Algorithm development and implementation: Selecting, refining, and applying suitable anomaly detection and causal inference algorithms, first on historical datasets, and potentially extending to near real-time monitoring.
Projektgrafik MSdigit DLR Institut für Datenwissenschaften.png
By combining anomaly detection with causal inference, the project seeks to move beyond simply identifying when an issue occurs, towards understanding why it occurs. This combination supports more transparent, explainable, and actionable system monitoring, helping operators not only detect anomalies early but also pinpoint their root causes.
