Availability optimisation of pre-heat exchanger system with random repair and failure rates using PSO

Abstract

The main objective of this study is to carry out performance analysis and availability maximisation with randomly selected failure and repair rates (FRR) of a Pre-Heat Exchanger (PHE) system of a brewery plant using the particle swarm algorithm. The behavioural analysis of each system is carried out by Markovian method and the schematic diagram of the PHE system represents various components and their connectivity (series/parallel/hybrid) whereas the transition diagram explores various possibilities and combinations of working states of the components i.e. full capacity working (FCW), reduced capacity working (RCW) and failed state (FS). The mathematical equations are formulated using the transition diagrams in order to carry out steady state availability (SSA) and transient state availability (TSA) analysis. The prediction of failure and repair rate to attain maximum availability of a system is done by using Particle Swarm Optimisation (PSO) technique. These results are beneficial for plant personnel by steering of failure and repair rates to achieve maximum availability.