Recursive operation time maximization model for the maintenance of power generation equipment

• Published in: Computers & operations research Vol. 39; no. 5; pp. 1117 - 1121
• Main Authors: Li, Der-Chiang, Liu, Chiao-Wen, Chen, Tung-Liang
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01.05.2012; Elsevier; Pergamon Press Inc
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Costs; Electricity generation; Exact sciences and technology; Industrial equipment; Industrial metrology. Testing; Maintenance; Maintenance improvement factor; Mathematical analysis; Mathematical models; Mathematical programming; Mechanical engineering. Machine design; Power generation; Preventive maintenance; Preventive maintenance (PM); Recursive; Schedules; Strategy; Studies; Taiwan; Maintenance improvement factor; Preventive maintenance (PM); Mathematical programming; Electric power plant; Empirical method; Variable cost; Maintenance equipment; Maintenance; Modeling; Preventive maintenance; Recursive method; Repair; Age; Firm
• ISSN: 0305-0548; 1873-765X; 0305-0548
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cor.2011.06.016

Repairable equipment requires preventive maintenance (PM) to maintain proper function. An appropriate PM strategy can extend the life of equipment and reduce variable costs. A power generation company in Taiwan that has a fixed-period PM strategy is studied. However, a fixed-period PM strategy is usually not an optimal solution for maintaining equipment those ages gradually. An age-related dynamical model is designed for creating a timely maintenance schedule that extends the life of equipment and improves its efficiency. A recursive mathematical programming model that considers regular maintenance, emergent maintenance, and maintenance improvement factors is used to obtain the optimal equipment PM schedule. An empirical experiment with the nonperiodic PM schedule computed using the proposed method was conducted. Results show a significant reduction in the PM cost and an extension of the life of equipment.