PROJECT OBJECTIVES THE DEVELOPED VIRTUAL SENSOR DIGITAL TWIN (VS-DT) WILL USE EXISTING INSTRUMENTATION PREDICT ROTOR RIM DISPLACEMENT THAT HAS BEEN MEASURED USING NON-STANDARD INSTRUMENTATION. THE VS-DT WILL APPLY MACHINE LEARNING TECHNIQUES WHICH HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFULLY APPLIED TO GAS TURBINES TO CREATE A SYNTHETIC SENSOR WITH +/-5% ACCURACY. THE END GOAL OF THIS PROJECT IS TO GENERALIZE, AUTOMATE, AND IMPLEMENT ROTOR RIM DISPLACEMENT PREDICTIONS USING VS-DT FOR HYDROPOWER PLANTS AND TO INTRODUCE ADVANCED MONITORING TECHNOLOGIES AS A LAUNCHPAD FOR ADDITIONAL FLEET MODERNIZATION. THE DEVELOPED VS-DT WILL SEEK TO USE EXISTING INSTRUMENTATION, SUCH AS AIR-GAP SENSORS, SHAFT ROTATIONAL SPEED, GENERATOR TEMPERATURE, AND GENERATOR SHAFT VIBRATION. THIS WILL BE COUPLED WITH MACHINE LEARNING TECHNIQUES WHICH HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFULLY APPLIED TO GAS TURBINES TO CREATE A SYNTHETIC SENSOR WITH +/-5% ACCURACY. POTENTIAL IMPACT SUCCESSFUL DEVELOPMENT OF A HYDROPOWER VS-DT WOULD RESULT IN SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENT OF THE MONITORING AND RELIABILITY OF HYDROPOWER PLANTS. WHILE TURBINE LOGIC HAS DEVELOPED AND DEPLOYED DIGITAL TWINS FOR GAS TURBINE ASSETS ON A COMMERCIAL BASIS, THE DISPARITY OF HYDROPOWER AMONGST PLANTS’ DESIGN AND INSTRUMENTATION CREATES A RISK OF ENTRY WITHOUT AN EXISTING PROOF-OF-DEPLOYMENT (BECAUSE IT IS MORE DIFFICULT TO CREATE A REFERENCE MODEL THAT CAN BE BROADLY APPLIED). DOE FUNDING PROVIDES THE RESOURCES NECESSARY FOR THIS TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT AND DE-RISKING ACTIVITY. MAJOR PARTICIPANTS THE PROJECT TEAM COMPRISES TURBINE LOGIC, SAVANNAH STATE UNIVERSITY, AND THE ELECTRIC POWER RESEARCH INSTITUTE (EPRI). TURBINE LOGIC IS A SMALL BUSINESS FOCUSED ON PROVIDING PRODUCTS AND SERVICES TO THE ENERGY INDUSTRY THAT IMPROVE PERFORMANCE, RELIABILITY, AND SUSTAINABILITY. EPRI IS THE WORLD'S PREEMINENT INDEPENDENT, NON-PROFIT ENERGY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION, WITH OFFICES AROUND THE WORLD. SAVANNAH STATE UNIVERSITY DEVELOPS PRODUCTIVE MEMBERS OF A GLOBAL SOCIETY THROUGH HIGH QUALITY INSTRUCTION, SCHOLARSHIP, RESEARCH, SERVICE AND COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT. COMMUNITY BENEFITS PLAN COMMITMENT AND GOALS THE TEAM WILL ACTIVELY ENGAGE THE SAVANNAH COMMUNITY THROUGH: • HOSTING A HYDROPOWER INDUSTRY FORUM WITH GUEST SPEAKERS FORM GOVERNMENT, INDUSTRY, AND ACADEMIA TO EXPOSE CAREER AND RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES IN HYDROPOWER. • AN INDUSTRY REVIEW DAY WILL BE HELD TO ALLOW DIRECT ENGAGEMENT WITH STUDENT RESEARCHERS PARTICIPATING ON THIS PROJECT.