Component joint importance measures for maintenances in submarine blowout preventer system

In order to improve the performance and maintain the interconnection components of the subsea pipeline ram blowout preventer system, the idea of importance analysis can be used to solve this problem. This paper uses an extended joint integrated importance measure to effectively analyze the characteristics of component failures of the blowout preventer system. The interaction between two components is considered to improve system performance while the failed component is being repaired. In order to facilitate subsequent maintenance and repair work, the effects of changes in different parameters on the importance value are considered. Finally, the analysis of a numerical example of the submarine pipeline ram blowout preventer system is carried out to verify the proposed method.     

Opportunistic predictive maintenance for complex multi-component systems based on DBN-HAZOP model

Predictive maintenance (PdM) focuses on failure prediction in order to prevent failure in advance and offer sufficient information to improve inherent safety and maintenance planning. A novel opportunistic predictive maintenance-decision (OPM) method integrating of machinery prognostic and opportunistic maintenance model is proposed in this paper to indicate the optimal maintenance time with minimal cost and safety constrains. DBN-HAZOP model quantifies hazard and operability analysis by dynamic Bayesian networks to provide prospective degradation trends of each component and the overall system for maintenance decision making. It is developed by integrating the prior knowledge of the interactions and dependencies among components and also the external environment, while the online condition monitoring data which is further to update the parameters of the model. Based on the future degradation trends given by DBN-HAZOP model, a local optimal proactive maintenance practice can be determined for each component by minimizing the expected maintenance cost per time unit. Understanding that for a complex system, whenever one of the components stops to perform a predictive maintenance action, the whole complex system must be stopped, at this moment, PdM opportunities arise for the other degraded components in the system at a reduced additional cost. Therefore, this paper further proposes an opportunistic PdM strategy for global cost optimization of predictive maintenance for the whole system, which considers failure probabilities, repair costs, down time cost and set-up cost. Case studies are given throughout to show how this approach works, and the sensitivity of the results to some of the driving cost parameters has also been examined.     

Optimization of test interval for ageing equipment: A multi-objective genetic algorithm approach

Reducing the unavailability of safety systems at nuclear power plants, by utilizing the probabilistic safety assessment (PSA) methodology, is one of the prime goals in the nuclear industry. In that sense, optimization of test and maintenance activities, which are defined within the technical specifications, represents quite popular and interesting domain. Obtaining optimal test and maintenance schedule is of great significance for improving system availability and performance as well as plant availability in general.On the other side, equipment aging has gradually become a major concern in the nuclear industry since the number of safety systems components, that are approaching their wear-out stage, is rising fast. Nuclear power plants life management programs, considering safety components aging, are being developed and employed. The immense uncertainty associated to the available component aging rates databases poses significant difficulties in the process of incorporation and quantification of the aging effect within the PSA and, subsequently, in the decision-making process.In this paper, an approach for optimization of surveillance test interval of standby equipment with highly uncertain aging parameters, based on genetic algorithm technique and PSA, is presented. A standard standby safety system in nuclear power plant is selected as a case study. A Monte Carlo simulation-based approach is used to assess uncertainty propagation on system level. Optimal test interval is derived on the basis of minimal system unavailability and minimal impact of components aging parameters uncertainty. The results obtained in this application indicate the fact that risk-informed surveillance requirements differ from existing ones in technical specifications as well as show the importance of considering aging data uncertainties in component aging modeling.     

An integrated off-on line approach for increasing stability and effectiveness of automated controlled systems based on pump dependability—case study: Offshore industry

Automated controlled systems are vulnerable to faults. Faults can be amplified by the closed loop control systems and they can develop into malfunction of the loop. A control loop failure will easily cause production stop or malfunction at a petrochemical plant. A way to achieve a stable and effective automated system is to enhance equipment dependability. This paper presents a standard methodology for the analysis and improvement of pump performance to enhance total operational effectiveness and stability in offshore industry based on dependability. Furthermore, it is shown how a reliability–safety analysis can be conducted through equipment dependability indicators to facilitate the mitigation of hazard frequency in a plant. The main idea is to employ principle component analysis (PCA) and importance analysis (IA) to provide insight on the pumps performance. The pumps of offshore industries are considered according to OREDA classification. The approach identifies the critical pump and their fault through which the major hazards could initiate in the process. At first PCA is used for assessing the performance of the pumps and ranking them. IA is then performed for the worst pump which could have most impact on the overall system effectiveness to classify their components based on the component criticality measures (CCM). The analysis of the classified components can ferret out the leading causes and common-cause events to pave a way toward improving pump performance through design optimization and online fault detection which ultimately enhance overall operational effectiveness.     

水力喷淋式凉水塔在初冷循环冷却水系统中的应用

介绍了喷淋式凉水塔结构、工作原理及冷却效果的影响因素.与机械通风式凉水塔的冷却效果比较表明,该凉水塔具有冷却效率高、运行成本低、操作简单等优点,值得推广应用.     

车用儿童约束装置综述

交通事故是14岁以下儿童死亡的主要原因之一,儿童约束装置(ChildRestraintSystem,CRS)能有效减少交通事故中儿童的伤亡。笔者对车用CRS进行较全面的概述,介绍CRS的定义、工作原理、分类、影响其安全性能的关键部件、国外相关强制性法规、固定装置、试验描述、国外CAE在CRS研发过程中的应用现状等主要内容,并简要指出未来几年欧洲的CRS研究重点。在此基础上,展望我国CRS的研究重点及发展方向,并对我国的儿童交通安全、CRS技术及其应用,提出下列建议:加强宣传力度,强化人们对儿童乘员的保护意识;制定强制性法规,保证CRS的使用率;在技术方面,重点加强CRS的CAE分析和动态试验研究,开发出适合我国儿童使用的CRS。     

Importance and uncertainty analysis of flue gas scrubber systems with extreme reliability parameter values

Although reliability analyses have been used to improve the reliability of industrial systems, generic reliability data from publications, such as component failure intensities and repair times, are used to calculate reliability measures instead of the real reliability data collected from the plant. One reason is that the repair history of the components is not well managed in the plant. In this work, the effect of extreme reliability parameter values on system reliability and unavailability is studied. To do this, importance and uncertainty analysis of the components of flue gas scrubber systems is carried out, and results calculated with the extreme reliability parameter values are compared with those with the mean reliability values of the systems. The different reliability parameter values can give us totally different ranks of the components critical to the reliability of the representative scrubber system. Consequently, the effort to establish a reliable database is emphasized to perform accurate reliability analysis of the system.     

Evaluation of risk and cost using an age-dependent unavailability modelling of test and maintenance for standby components

The improvement of safety in the process industries is related to assessment and reduction of risk in a cost-effective manner. This paper addresses the trade-off between risk and cost related to standby safety systems. An age-dependent unavailability model that integrates the effects of the test and maintenance (T&M) activities as well as component ageing is developed and represents the basis for calculating risk. The repair “same-as-new” process is considered regarding the T&M activities. Costs are expressed as a function of the selected risk measure. The time-averaged function of the selected risk measure is obtained from probabilistic safety assessment, i.e. the fault tree analysis. This function is further extended with inclusion of additional parameters related to T&M activities as well as ageing parameters related to component ageing. In that sense, a new model of system unavailability, incorporating component ageing and T&M costs, is presented. The testing strategy is also addressed. Sequential and staggered testings are compared. The developed approach is applied on a standard safety system in nuclear power plant although the method is applicable to standby safety systems that are tested and maintained in other industries as well. The results show that the risk-informed surveillance requirements differ from existing ones in technical specifications, which are deterministically based. Moreover, the presented approach achieves a significant reduction in system unavailability over a relatively small increase of total T&M costs.     

Reliability and availability modeling of Subsea Xmas tree system using Dynamic Bayesian network with different maintenance methods

Subsea Xmas tree is a vital equipment for offshore oil and gas development. Aiming at the fault mode of subsea Christmas tree system under production conditions, the fault tree of subsea tree system was established, which was transformed into Dynamic Bayesian network, and the reliability and availability of subsea tree system with different repair states are quantitatively analyzed. In this paper, the DBNs are partially verified by the method based on three axes. The results show that the reliability of subsea vertical tree system is slightly higher than that of subsea horizontal tree system. After repair and maintenance, the performance of subsea tree system has been significantly improved, and the improvement of the system performance by preventive maintenance is more obvious. Compared with the perfect repair, the performance of the system with imperfect repair is not significantly reduced. Compared with perfect repair & preventive maintenance, the performance of the system with imperfect repair & preventive maintenance is slightly reduced. In addition, the influence of failure rates and degradation probability on reliability and availability is analyzed. By comparing the influence of failure rates on the system performance of non-maintenance and maintenance, it is found that the change of failure rates has the greatest influence on the reliability and the least influence on the availability of perfect repair & preventive maintenance. By comparing the performance of each component in the subsea tree system, it is found that the failure rates has the most obvious influence on the chock module, and gate valve and tree cap have the most significant influence on the reliability of the system. In order to improve the reliability of subsea tree system, it is necessary to improve the reliability of chock module, gate valve and tree cap.     

系统安全风险描述研究

从安全风险研究角度系统描述部件状态、部件状态向量、系统状态、风险和风险矩阵、风险分类、系统状态风险、风险状态集、风险状态概率、风险转移概率、临界状态、关键部件和风险重要度,对系统安全风险有了更加全面深刻而准确的呈现,得到基于部件状态向量的系统安全风险描述,给出系统处于低中高风险的概率、风险转移临界集和安全风险重要度的计算方法。     

Occupational safety and health as an element of a complex compensation system evaluation within an organization

Occupational safety and health (OSH) plays a significant role in today’s organizations, because it helps in attracting and retaining employees as well as molding their attitudes and behaviors at work. This is why the issue of OSH is stressed in a comprehensive approach to employee rewards: the total reward concept. This article explains how OSH may be included in a complex evaluation process of the compensation system. Although the literature on the effectiveness of employee compensation refers mainly to financial and non-financial components, there is a need for inclusion of working conditions in such analyses. An evaluation of the compensation system that incorporates OSH can drive many benefits for both the organization and employees. Obtaining such benefits, however, requires systematic evaluation of the reward system, including OSH. Incorporation of OSH issue within the comprehensive analysis of compensation systems promotes responsible behavior of all stakeholders.     

工作面水力卸压防突作用的数值模拟

为进一步摸清水力卸压的防突作用原理,笔者用UDEC软件对张集煤矿7353工作面水力卸压措施进行了数值模拟。先介绍水力卸压技术及模拟工作面概况,后通过确定几何模型及单元划分、边界条件及初始应力场、力学模型、开挖模型、水力卸压后相关参数等环节进行数值模拟和分析,与此同时,通过测定现场水力卸压后的煤体位移并与数值模拟对照,验证数值模拟方法的正确性。从模拟及现场结果看,水力卸压后的煤壁位移量加大,塑性区范围增大,应力集中程度下降,集中应力深移,卸压带加长,降低了工作面前方煤体的弹性潜能,增加了煤层透气系数及煤体颗粒运动的阻力,从而起到预防突出的作用。     

Integrated framework to optimize RAM and cost decisions in a process plant

The research implications of reliability, availability and maintainability (RAM) aspects of engineering systems in recent years have increased substantially due to rising operation and maintenance costs. To strike a balance between the two the paper presents a framework which makes use of both qualitative and quantitative techniques to optimize RAM and cost decisions in a process plant. In the quantitative analysis, the imprecise and vague information regarding the system failure behavior is quantified by using the principles of fuzzy mathematics in terms of fuzzy and crisp values. Further, to manage the system reliability for best economic performance a resource optimization model based on multi-stage decision making (MSDM) has been proposed. The model makes use of crisp output values of unit's reliability along with relevant system information (number of components, manpower, cost ranges). In the qualitative analysis the in-depth analysis of the system is carried out using Root Cause analysis (RCA) and Failure Mode & Effects Analysis (FMEA). The ambiguities associated with the traditional FMEA are handled using Fuzzy Decision Making System (FDMS) and Grey Relation Analysis (GRA). The suggested framework has been illustrated with the help of a case.     

铁路运营监测预警系统的构建

在对铁路预警研究综述的基础上,进行了铁路运营监测预警系统研究。从指标内涵、地位、政策相关性、表现形式、数据可得性及指标间关系等方面,确定了铁路运营监测预警系统指标体系的设计原则。引入机车辆数指数、旅客列车坐席指数的概念,从运输量、货车和机车运用、生产能力改善、经济、服务水平5个方面,构建铁路运营监测预警指标体系。对警限和警度的确定原则、方法进行探讨,提出预警信号评价模型。结合具体案例,对铁路运营水平进行评价,将运营水平状况的判断与决策取向相融合。所研究的理论和方法为铁路运营管理提供了科学依据和有益的参考。     

多因素影响下系统故障预防的多方案比选方法研究

为研究多因素影响下系统遭遇危险事件前预防方案的选优,在集对分析和空间故障树基础上提出比选方法。首先,论述集对分析与空间故障树理论结合的可行性;其次,研究系统故障预防的多因素多方案比选方法和步骤;最后,通过实例进行分析。研究结果表明：停运方案没有因素分量系数影响,其损失是停运带来的经济损失;无措施方案的系统常分量系数最小,因素分量系数最大;采取措施方案中,当常分量系数相差不大时,因素分量系数积最小者为最优方案。使用赵森烽-克勤概率表示危险事件的发生特征是可行的;常分量系数代表方案对系统故障预防效用的可靠性,因素分量系数代表该可靠性的稳定性;结合常分量系数和因素分量系数即可确定最优方案。该方法适合于故障发生对因素变化敏感的系统。     

Continuous performance assessment and improvement of integrated HSE and maintenance systems by multivariate analysis in gas transmission units

In this study, an integrated “Health, Safety, and Environment (HSE)” and maintenance systems are presented. Multivariate analysis is used for continuous performance assessment and improvement of these systems. The two subjects of “Maintenance System” and “HSE” have been individually investigated several times in different studies. However, few studies have been done to integrate these two systems and provide an integrated system for their implementation. This study evaluates current maintenance and HSE systems of a Gas Transmission Unit by Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) and Principal Component Analysis (PCA). Moreover, decision making units (DMUs) are examined and ranked. Employees are considered as DMUs. This is done through investigating and measuring their efficiencies and identifying the inefficient and less-efficient units. Since an increase in the number of inputs does not lead to an increase in the number of outputs with the same scale, an output-oriented DEA with a Variable Returns to Scale (VRS) is used. The Fuzzy DEA (FDEA) is also used in this research to decrease uncertainty existing in qualitative indicators and human error. Finally, suggestions are given to improve those DMUs. The managers and employees of the gas transmission unit constitute the statistical population of the study. To achieve the objectives of this study, standard questionnaires with respect to HSE and Maintenance system are completed by operators. The proposed approach would help policy makers and top managers of Gas Transmission Company to have a more comprehensive and thorough understanding the working conditions with respect to the maintenance and HSE features.     

Developing a risk-based maintenance model for a Natural Gas Regulating and Metering Station using Bayesian Network

During the last decades, the vital role of maintenance activities in industries including natural gas distribution system has cleared up progressively. High costs may induce to reduced maintenance and, in turn, lead to a lower availability and high risk of undesired events. Therefore, a probabilistic model, based on an acceptable level of risk, is required to avoid under and over estimation of maintenance time interval. This paper presents an advanced Risk-based Maintenance (RBM) methodology to optimize maintenance time schedule. Bayesian Network (BN) is applied to model the risk and the associated uncertainty. The developed method can assist the asset managers to work out the exact maintenance time for each component according to the risk level. To demonstrate and discuss the applicability of the methodology, a case study of Natural Gas Reduction and Measuring Station in Italy is considered. Results prove that the most critical components are the calculator and pilots, while the most reliable one is the odorization. Furthermore, the pressure and temperature gauge (PTG), the remote control system (RCS) and the meter are predicted as the components that require less time to transit from minor risk to catastrophic risk.     

The relationships of distributive justice and compensation system fairness to employee attitudes in international joint ventures

Employee perceptions of the fairness of general corporate systems have thus far not received enough attention in the organizational justice literature. To fill this gap, we examined perceptions of the fairness of the compensation systems of international joint ventures in China. It is argued that perceptions of compensation system fairness are positively related to the three distributive justice dimensions, i.e., performance‐based distributive justice, comparative distributive justice relative to foreign expatriates, and comparative distributive justice relative to local colleagues. Perceptions of compensation system fairness are also hypothesized to mediate the relationships between the three distributive justice dimensions and organizational commitment and turnover intention. A survey of 161 Chinese employees in Sino‐foreign joint ventures found a positive relationship between perceptions of distributive justice and perceptions of compensation system fairness. In particular, compensation system fairness was more strongly associated with performance‐based distributive justice than with the other two distributive justice dimensions based on social comparison. The mediating role of compensation system fairness was strongly supported. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

消除电力谐波污染 确保电网运行安全

笔者从维护绿色电力环境、确保电网运行安全的角度出发 ,简述了抑制和消除电网谐波污染意义 ,着重介绍了一种新颖的用于消除电网谐波污染的装置 (有源电力滤波器 )的滤波原理和研究。这种滤波器与传统的LC无源滤波器的区别在于它采用了积极主动的滤波方式 ,将检测到的电网谐波电流经DSP(高速数字处理器 )运算处理后生成谐波补偿电流指令信号 (六路PWM驱动信号 ) ,然后 ,用此信号去驱动由 6只MOSFET管组成的三相逆变电路 ,逆变电路产生谐波补偿电流去抵消电网谐波电流 (谐波补偿电流与谐波电流大小相等、方向相反 )。理论研究和实验结果表明 :在电力系统中使用该装置可动态抑制和消除谐波电流 ,为维护电网运行安全和绿色电力环境提供了必要的技术保障。     

城市防空和灾情报警防御系统研究

近年来 ,城市防空和灾情报警防御系统作为一种重要的城市防御灾情措施 ,特别是应对各种恐怖破坏活动和地域灾害的突然发生 ,以及未来战争的防御需求等灾情 ,已受到人们高度重视。笔者针对我国城市防空和灾情报警防御系统的实际现状 ,提出了我国城市防空和灾情报警防御系统的建设初步思想 ,并从系统的组织结构、功能原理、救援组织等几方面进行了描述 ,对提高城市的防御能力、避免灾难的发生 ,具有重要的指导作用