Using Risk-Based Analysis Tools For Managing Rotating Equipment Outage Intervals

The Problem: With the highly competitive nature of today's markets, you cannot afford to do major rotating equipment outages too frequently. The outages are costly and time consuming,and this doesn't account for lost revenue while the unit is off-line for the outage. Of course, waiting too long to perform an outage may result in more damage to repair, or worse, having to undertake a forced outage to repair disabling damage. However, over the past decade, it has been demonstrated that steam turbines and generators can successfully run longer than 6 to 7 years between major outages. In fact, many are now reliably running eight to ten years between major overhauls. So how do you decide what is the right interval to accomplish major outages for each critical piece of rotating equipment and how do you ensure that the longer outage interval is reliably and safely achieved? How does your equipment and engineering practices compare to other companies with similar equipment?

The Solution: Utilizing risked-based analysis tools, STRAP (Steam Turbine Risk Assessment Program) and TOOP (Turbine Outage Optimization Program) for steam turbine generators. For centrifugal and axial compressors, utilize RAC (Risk Assessment of Compressors). These programs provide you guidance on what and where are the risks, how the time between major outages can be extended with minimal changes in risk, how the risk levels for potential lost revenue can be reduced, and how to prioritize maintenance, monitoring, upgrades, and sparing decisions so that company resources can be cost effectively justified and applied to equipment with the most need.

Why Risk-Based Programs?

What are the STRAP, TOOP, and RAC Programs?

What is the Process for the Risk-Based Evaluations?

What are the deliverables from the Risk-Based Evaluations?

What is the Value Proposition?

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