Introduction to ABB's Digital Solution for Healthcare Power Systems
Helsinki University Hospital (HUS), the largest healthcare provider in Finland, relies on a robust electrical infrastructure to ensure the continuous operation of critical care facilities. With over 87,000 surgeries annually, maintaining reliable power is paramount. The hospital, located in the bustling city of Helsinki, recently adopted ABB's cloud-based digital solution for monitoring transformers, overcoming the traditional challenges of manual inspections.
The Challenge: Physical Inspections in a High-Stakes Environment
Before implementing ABB’s digital solution, HUS faced significant challenges. Routine monitoring of transformers—especially oil-based transformers—required complete shutdowns to take samples, disrupting operations in a high-demand environment. According to Jari-Pekka Korhonen, Operations Manager at HUS, the hospital’s vast campus and critical patient care services made it nearly impossible for the maintenance team to inspect each transformer manually.
The Shift to ABB Ability™ Asset Manager for Transformers
By transitioning to ABB Ability™ Asset Manager for Transformers, developed in collaboration with Oktogrid, HUS has gained real-time access to operational data for its transformers. This cloud-based solution tracks performance trends, including temperature, sound, vibration, and magnetic field levels, enabling continuous monitoring without the need for costly and disruptive physical inspections.
This shift to digital monitoring not only reduced inspection time but also provided more accurate, actionable insights into the health of the transformers. The hospital's management can now remotely monitor transformer performance 24/7, identifying issues before they become critical.
Key Benefits: Improved Maintenance and Sustainability
The new monitoring system brings several key benefits. By accessing real-time data, HUS can now detect early faults and extend the lifespan of critical components. The need for frequent shutdowns is reduced, and the performance of each transformer is continuously optimized. The data-driven approach supports a shift from reactive to predictive maintenance, enhancing the hospital’s sustainability efforts and reducing operational downtime.
Sixten Holm, Business Development Manager for ABB Electrification Service, explains, “Our solution has significantly reduced the need for physical inspections and costly oil analysis. With the real-time health data, HUS can proactively manage its electrical system and ensure reliable power supply for its operations.”
ABB’s Impact on the Healthcare Sector’s Power Management
ABB’s digital solution is a game-changer for hospitals and other critical infrastructure. Traditional transformer monitoring often involves expensive and time-consuming manual inspections, with some units remaining unchecked for decades. ABB’s solution eliminates this gap, providing a cost-effective, scalable way to modernize power management systems across industries, especially in healthcare, where reliability is non-negotiable.
A Future-Oriented Approach to Hospital Infrastructure
As the healthcare sector continues to digitize, ABB’s technology helps hospitals like HUS stay ahead of the curve. With energy consumption equivalent to a small town and the need for 100% uptime, the transition to a cloud-based monitoring system not only ensures that patients receive uninterrupted care but also reduces operational costs, improves sustainability, and extends the life of critical electrical assets.
