Preferred Networks
Assembly Line
PFN Raises Total of 19 Billion Yen in Latest Round
Preferred Networks, Inc. (PFN) announced that it has raised a total of 19 billion yen in the first close of the latest equity financing round led by SBI Group combined with debt financing from financial institutions. PFN intends to use the new capital for talent acquisition efforts as well as for development, production and sales of the low-power AI processors in its MN-Core™ series, especially MN-Core L1000, the generative AI inference processor currently under development. The new capital will also be used for enhancing its Japan-made generative AI foundation model PLaMo™, development of solutions and products in a range of domains powered by these technologies, and the large-scale computing infrastructure that supports them.
ENEOS and PFN Begin World’s First AI-Based Autonomous Operation of Crude Oil Processing Unit
ENEOS Corporation (ENEOS) and Preferred Networks, Inc. (PFN) announced that they started continuous autonomous operation of an atmospheric distillation unit for processing crude oil in January 2024.The atmospheric distillation unit currently operated autonomously with an AI system is located in the ENEOS Kawasaki Refinery.
With 24 key operational factors to control and as many as 930 sensors to monitor, the atmospheric distillation unit especially requires a high level of skills and experience. AI-based, continuous autonomous operation of an atmospheric distillation unit is the world’s first according to a consulting firm Globe-ing Inc.
The AI system for the atmospheric distillation unit continuously monitors 24 key operational factors and adjusts 13 valves at the same time to stabilize fluctuations resulting from crude oil switching as well as changes in crude oil throughput. The AI system has demonstrated higher stability and efficiency compared with manual operations.
🛢️🧠ENEOS and PFN Begin Continuous Operation of AI-Based Autonomous Petrochemical Plant System
ENEOS Corporation (ENEOS) and Preferred Networks, Inc. (PFN) announced today that their artificial intelligence (AI) system, which they have been continuously operating since January 2023 for a butadiene extraction unit in ENEOS Kawasaki Refinery’s petrochemical plant, has achieved higher economy and efficiency than manual operations.
Jointly developed by ENEOS and PFN, the AI system is designed to automate large-scale, complex operations of oil refineries and petrochemical plants that currently require operators with years of experience. The new AI system is one of the world’s largest for petrochemical plant operation according to PFN’s research, with a total of 363 sensors for prediction and 13 controlled elements. The companies co-developed the system to improve safety and stability of plant operations by reducing dependence on technicians’ varying skill levels.