The system is designed to monitor the current operational parameters of the power unit, which forecasts its operations at every stage. The installation of the system at power unit no.5 will be completed in the near future.

One of the seven power units of GRES-4 (PU4) was equipped with such system in 2000. The installation of this software helped to save more than 1 million rubles.

The Mentor system is produced by OOO Turbokosmos in co-operation with the scientific and production association for research and development of power equipment after I.I. Polzunov (OAO NPO TsKTI), St. Petersburg. Mentor is used to forecast start-up charts for power units and archive data that can be monitored and analysed afterwards.

The system automatically returns the main technical parameters of the start-up process: turbine rotation frequency, fuel consumption, power generation, steam temperature, etc. It alerts operators of the power unit if any parameter has been exceeded. In general, the system is easy to handle and takes minimal time to manage.

Currently, an upgraded version of Mentor is installed at GRES-4. It differs from the previous version in that it covers more parameters. It also has an option to adjust projected start-up charts for the power unit. Its graphic, alert system and archiving tools have been also modernised. The new version of the program runs on a network that will ensure that a larger number of specialists from GRES-4 will have access to the data.

The installation of Mentor will contribute to better reliability and safety of power unit operation, improve its technical and economic performance and reduce start-up time. It will also help to reduce fuel consumption. According to the developers of the system, the use of the system is a major step towards further implementation of new information and monitoring tools.