Page 377 - Decision Making Applications in Modern Power Systems

Maintenance management with application Chapter | 13 339

rapidly due to the considerable development of computer-enabled monitoring
technologies. Research studies have proven that CBM, if properly planned, can
be effective in improving the reliability of equipment at reduced costs [6].
It presents an algorithm for deciding preferences in maintenance activities
for power supply sections of distribution systems. A component measure of
importance, known as a diagnostic importance factor (DIF), was used for
this purpose. A methodology was developed to calculate a weighted cumula-
tive DIF for each feed section, which represents a quantitatively relative
significance for the prioritization of maintenance activities. The developed
methodology includes the distributed generation effect and the loads. It was
implemented in two distribution systems, so that, at the end, sorted lists of
feed sections for maintenance activities are obtained [7].
CBM is an increasingly applicable policy in the competitive market that
acts as a means of improving the reliability and efficiency of equipment. Not
only does maintenance have a close relationship with security, but its costs
also make the issue even more attractive to researchers [8].
Proper maintenance can increase the company’s productivity and increase
its value in the market. The main study provided a robust model that can
strategically evaluate important available technologies and may exclude
outdated and/or inappropriate technologies. There are many researches in
this field in which the number of models has been proposed, such as the
maintenance management system, maintenance performance measurement,
and maintenance performance indicators, but the details of the effectiveness
of the predictive maintenance indicator, specifically based on maintenance
and conditions with maintenance and management requirements using the
analytical hierarchy process, are hardly available in the literature [9].
Basically, the process consists of monitoring parameters that characterize
the state of operation of the equipment. The methods employed involve tech-
niques and procedures for measuring, monitoring, and analyzing these para-
meters. It can be related as oil analysis, ferrography, thermography, and
vibration analysis.
Motor operation data in conjunction with vibration, oil, and temperature
analysis data are collected periodically at the plant and are used in an inte-
grated way to feed a fuzzy rule based system, which returns the predispatch
scheduling of the plant for the period of interest, taking into account the state
of operation of the machines, Fig. 13.1.
Thermal power plants consist of a set of mechanical and electrical
systems that require constant monitoring of energy production. The data
obtained through the monitoring actions are necessary in the operation, main-
tenance, and evaluation of the performance of the plants. For this purpose, it
is often called distributed control systems (DCS).
The obsolescence of this equipment (DCS) increases the risks of unavail-
ability of the generating units, mainly in thermoelectric plants, with a high
degree of mechanical wear, due to the high temperatures and the chemical
agents used for the production of electric energy [10].