Papers by Keyword: Maintenance

Abstract: The petroleum production process emphasizes the importance of inspection, analysis, test planning, and providing feedback on rotating equipment. This study discusses the analysis of steam turbine generator overhaul (OH) for efficiency enhancement at the power plant center of refinery unit. The efficiency of steam turbines in power plants is critical for optimizing energy conversion and minimizing operational costs. This study analyzes the impact of a steam turbine generator overhaul on efficiency at a refinery unit power plant. Efficiency was evaluated using Rankine cycle calculations, comparing performance data before and after the overhaul. The findings indicate a 2.63% increase in efficiency, with entropy-temperature analysis revealing energy losses due to scaling buildup and seal strip clearance deterioration. To maintain efficiency and reduce overhaul frequency, demineralized water quality, periodic maintenance, and anti-scaling treatments are recommended. These results highlight the importance of proactive maintenance in sustaining turbine performance and minimizing long-term costs.

Abstract: This study developed a user-friendly and simplified Spatial Decision Support System using Geographic Information System (GIS) techniques to provide essential information for road managers. This enables the application of appropriate treatments at the right time, based on the available budget. A Global Positioning System (GPS) device was used to collect coordinate data for designated routes within Akure metropolis. Twenty (20) different roads were selected for the study. Data such as road names, coordinates, distances, and infrastructure or facilities unique to each road were collected through reconnaissance surveys, GPS tools, administrative road maps of the city, and street guides clearly showing Akure’s road network. The data were processed using Microsoft Excel, and classifications of the selected roads were made for easy referencing. Database design and creation were carried out using GIS tools within the ArcGIS environment. Digitization of data, labeling of features, symbology, layout design, hyperlinking, and other spatial features were implemented using ArcGIS applications. Each road was linked to its characteristic information, allowing users to access and update information as needed. The result shows that 95% of the total selected roads lack traffic lights and pedestrian bridge facilities. Forty-five percent of the roads have street light facilities. 5% of the road has traffic light facilities. 75% have no bus shelters. Only 5% of the total selected roads have all the identified road facilities. It was concluded that some of the selected roads were not in good condition. While some road facilities were defective, other roads lacked the necessary road facilities that could aid traffic flow. However, the data and associated attributes of each road can be used to support administrative decisions regarding maintenance.

Abstract: Water or moisture contained in any form in hydraulic oil is not desirable in a hydraulic system. It can cause emulsification of the oil, which results in deterioration or rupture of the lubricating film, as well as corrosion of metal parts in this system. This corrosion can cause damage to metal parts and impair their functionality. Regular control of the amount of water in hydraulic oil is therefore a very important part of hydraulic oil diagnostics. The article presents a case study of monitoring the condition of hydraulic oil for water content values, which were determined according to the Karl Fischer method. The analysis of hydraulic oil in the article was also an experimental drop analysis for monitoring water in hydraulic oil, which we classify as a quick and simple chemical method aimed at indicatively demonstrating the presence of water in oil and the degree of oil contamination. This analysis belongs to non-dismantling technical diagnostics. Its greatest advantage is that with its help, oil analysis is faster and cheaper compared to analyses performed in laboratories.

Abstract: Designing and manufacturing a new mold is laborious work and requires well-trained human resources but also considerable material investments. The achizition and implementation the CAD/CAM softwares, three and five-axis machining centers, cutting tools with high performance are necessary to processing a mold. That is why it is frequently used to repair used molds. This repair is done by welding and then manufacturing on machines with numerical control. The present paper presents these stages of corrective maintenance of a mold. Starting from a concrete case, the solutions for remediation of the used mold are presented. The two basic operations in retrofitting, welding and computer-assisted processing on CNC machines are also analyzed.

Abstract: The unkempt state of many ceiling fans in offices, homes and industries due to poor maintenance in term of cleaning and the wastage of energy as a result of carelessness in appliance usage inform the design of a ceiling fan with autonomous capability. The design of the ceiling fan was done using appropriate design equations and Solidworks CAD software. Different concepts were conceived and the best concept was determined using one of the Multi – Criteria decision Tools named Pugh Matrix Method. After which, simulation was done using ANSYS and Proteus 8.1 design suite to test functionality of the design. The outcome shows that at no load in the room, the ceiling fan switches off automatically and also when occupants are in the room with an increase in temperature above ambient temperature (25 °C), the ceiling fan switches on. The simulation results analysis of stress, strain, shear force, deflection, factor of safety and bending moment on the embedded cleaner gave 112.717 MPa, 0.007496, 5 N, 60.28 mm, 1.8346 and 0.8965 Nm respectively. Furthermore, the result revealed that the autonomous capability of the cleaning mechanism gave an efficiency of 85%. The cost to implement this innovation is estimated at twenty five dollar.

Abstract: Drilling equipment is the main asset of mining companies; therefore, a decrease in the operability and availability of such equipment can generate negative impacts on organizations, such as the generation of extra expenses due to the hiring of third parties for the performance of activities and contractual projects. According to statistics from previous studies, the availability of equipment in the sector should be 95% to be considered optimal for use in mining operations. Equipment downtime can be avoided by establishing and following a preventive maintenance schedule and having spare parts and hydraulic components readily available for maintenance. The purpose of this work is the implementation and follow-up of a maintenance management plan based on a failure mode analysis and autonomous maintenance and preventive maintenance with the purpose of keeping the equipment in optimal conditions, maintaining an adequate level of availability and extending the useful life of the assets. With the simulation of the Arena program, a possible availability of 95% was evidenced, which corresponds to being adequate for the optimal operation of the equipment and the continuity of the projects.

Abstract: Rotating parts such as shafts, gear wheels, ball bearings or rollers are subject to wear that limits their life cycle. Damage causes loss of production and consequential damage to the entire production plant. Based on the application in a support roller, a system design is presented with which it is possible to record and wirelessly transmit relevant measured values in or on rotating machines without an additional voltage source. The system is largely maintenance-free and can be implemented with components that are currently freely available on the market.

Abstract: Product data management is the practice of assimilating, processing, protecting, and storing product data. One of the main concepts of Industry 4.0 is the application of data-driven policies to optimise industrial processes and monitor product life cycles. Consequently, a data management discipline within an organisation has become increasingly prioritised to address significant challenges such as data silos, security risks and general decision-making bottlenecks. The application of digital transformation technologies is needed to capture data from various industrial operations and product status in a smarter way. In addition, the data that is collected can be very useful in the maintenance phase of a product; in fact, it allows us to know the 'history' of the product under consideration, thus making risk factors understandable and giving us the possibility of defining intervention methods well in advance. The implementation of Blockchain (BC) technology in the storage of data that can be used for the maintenance of a product, can be seen as a solution to the problems behind the management of product data, in fact, it allows the acquisition, storage and processing of these in a secure, transparent, and decentralised environment. The present work in this regard studies the effects of BC on the performance of a product data management system in the maintenance process. The main critical issues in maintenance data management were identified and the potential of using blockchain technology was studied. A framework was developed to reproduce the operation of a BC for maintenance data management, and a set of key performance indicators (KPIs) were outlined to assess the effects of BC on the performance of a product data management system in the maintenance process. The results demonstrate that it is possible to improve a company's performance and make it more resilient through the collection of data within the BC, as it allows in-depth analysis during product maintenance planning and provides decision-makers with a single source of truth and insight to make complex decisions.

Abstract: In the food industry, food safety largely depends on the quality of the surfaces that meet the food. Their various imperfections can become dangerous areas of contamination. The manufacturer of industrial equipment has imposed rules in this regard. This paper highlights certain violations of these rules in the maintenance interventions, carried out in improper conditions at the food processor's headquarters. Some quality control methods of these welded joints are presented, specifying some correlations of surface imperfections with the risks of contamination of the food product. Some corrective measures contained in the European hygienic design guide are also highlighted, with the particularities imposed on welding technologies.

Abstract: This paper is focused on the use of special composite materials for the construction of aircraft components. It focuses on measuring and testing the strength of reinforced composite materials used in damaged aircraft parts repairs. To determine the layer required to repair a part of the aircraft, it is necessary to know the strength limit of the material and its parts. The article describes experimental measurements of manufactured composite samples that have been subjected to tensile stress. Aim of the performed tensile tests was to determine the maximum tensile stress that the composite materials are able to transmit until they are damaged. Measurement determining the maximum stress level is important to ensure the required safety of the aircraft structure on which the composite structure was repaired.