Reliability Assessment of a Co-Generation Power Plant in a Sugar Mill Using Fault Tree Analysis

Abstract

Combined heat-and-power systems can produce energy and heat efficiently compared to separate systems, and also contributes to greenhouse gas emission reduction in most of the process industries. Under such circumstances, we ought to analyze and optimize the reliability in terms of performance of the power plant for various applications. In this article, the reliability study carried out in a sugar mill combined heat and power plant using fault tree analysis is presented and discussed. Common cause failures are evaluated using the β-factor model and the available failure data sourced from the plant. Based on the analysis, it is found that the probability of failure on demand or unavailability of the plant is 2.50E-3. It is observed that a very high condenser exhaust temperature is the major contributor to the unavailability of the plant. The other significant contributing factors for plant unavailability are alternator coolant jammed and lube oil tank valve leak. Such failures can be averted by implementing stringent preventive and periodic maintenance techniques.

Keywords:

• combined heat and power systems
• common cause failures
• fault tree analysis
• minimal cut set