This paper presents a generic approach to optimising maintenance of multi-component systems with degradation interactions. A degradation model for M-component systems where N (N<M) components are subject to degradation interactions is developed using General Path Degradation Modelling and regression techniques to characterise the degradation interactions. An industrial case study is also presen...

Utilities account for a significant portion of the fixed cost associated with running a petrochemical plant, however, utility optimisation has not received much focus until recently. This change was driven by rising energy prices, stricter environmental policies, and the threat of climate change. Several utilities are used including steam, compressed air, nitrogen, cooling water, refrigeration ...

This paper considers a practical approach to model-based fault diagnostics. The fault estimation is performed by a delayed FIR lter that is designed as a noncausal Wiener lter. The approach is demonstrated using a case study of a process upset in a separation column in a petrochemical plant. The designed fault estimator demonstrates early and reliable detection of the fault. It presents a concl...

When designing a plant for continuous or semi-continuous processes, such as paper pulp or petrochemical production systems, engineers face very complex tasks, which are only in part supported by software tools. The paper analyses the problem, proposes the RCAD software architecture and describes partial implementation results. The architecture, which is based on a simple yet powerful conceptual...