Maintenance

Routine inspections, servicing, and clean-ups of equipment are what preventive maintenance is all about. Equipment is checked before it fails to ensure that the efficiency of the equipment continues as it should. But what kind of preventive measures can a power plant take to ensure not just the routine operations of a 660-MW supercritical unit but also the safety of the unit’s operators? What conditions, if any, would warrant taking the unit offline? If we go by the textbook, which is basically the manufacturer’s guide and a compilation of the experiences of several power plants that have operated similar units for years, what kind of lifespan should we expect for the 660-MW unit?

How often maintenance is done depends on what kind of equipment it is and how much it's used. Lately, there has not been a lot of discussion, from manufacturers or elsewhere, about recommended maintenance schedules. Equipment that's heavily used might need maintenance on a monthly or quarterly basis and machinery that's used even more might need its maintenance schedule bumped up several notches. Additionally, regular maintenance itself might yield some suggestions about how to adjust the schedule for better performance.

By using a CMMS, maintenance operations can be enhanced significantly. This system not only allows for the centralized arrangement of maintenance task schedules but also coTXeniently keeps track of those maintenance tasks that have already been completed. A CMMS is a great tool for providing necessary record-keeping that is vital to any maintenance organization's operation. And it is mostly record-keeping that allows for effective and efficient maintenance decision-making strategies. After all, if one can't keep track of what has been done and what needs to be done, then maintenance decision-making is bound to be poor at best and potentially disastrous at worst.

Typical symptoms incorporate odd sounds, shake, or performance so bad it seems like the common core has flunked the apparatus. In other cases, you might think, "No big deal; it just needs to eat a little less energy and consume a little more cocoa butter." Yet, should we really be ignoring overheating? Especially when there are parts that are directly adjacent to parts that have already shown visible wear? Shouldn't we be taking these signs a lot more seriously?

Maintenance service can be outsourced and is often suitable for specialized or complex machines needing expert knowledge. For the most vital tasks and equipment, however, in-house maintenance might be a better alternative because it allows the organization to keep focus on core activities and ensures that maintenance is performed by well-trained staff. Outsourcing maintenance deals might net some cost savings, but maintaining quality and performance on missions to the edge of space necessitates using the latest (and presumably best) tools and technologies.

Workplace safety hinges on maintenance, ensuring that equipment meant to do a job does that job correctly and, more important, safely. Checks and services that happen regularly keep malfunctions from happening. And malfunctions, as the historical record undeniably shows, can lead to accidents and injuries. Potential hazards—like faulty machinery or faulty structures—can be identified and corrected. And what could be more basic to maintaining a safe workplace and upholding as well as promoting a safety culture? And following that, as it usually does, safety maintenance keeps the workplace compliant with the myriad safety regulations that exist.

The use of data and analytics to predict equipment failures shifts maintenance from a reactive approach to a proactive one, thus minimizing unneeded interventions and extending the life of the equipment. The newfound insight into equipment health not only allows maintenance to be scheduled more effectively but also helps to make better overall process decisions. In essence, using these tools to gain a better understanding of an operation allows for a much more efficient overall operation.

After a failure or problem is found in a piece of equipment, corrective maintenance is performed to bring that equipment back to its operational state. This sort of maintenance often requires repairs or even replacements, and it can lead to haven't-planned-for downtime.In contrast, regular and preventive maintenance is proactive, focusing on regular checks, upkeep, and maintenance to prevent failures from occurring in the first place.The maintenance strategy is composed of many parts, two of which are preventive and reactive maintenance. Preventive maintenance is typically more cost-effective and less disruptive.

Performance and longevity of equipment can be significantly affected by eTXironmental factors like temperature, humidity, and exposure to chemicals or dust. In demanding climates, equipment might need more regular upkeep to fix and mitigate problems caused by corrosion, wear, and tear. A proper understanding of these affects allows for a more narrowly tailored maintenance model that can ensure not just optimal performance but also something very nearly equivalent to a failure-free operating mode. Weather poor or good, the following five factors must be considered when planning maintenance to maximize the reliability of equipment and the assets it supports.

A strong grasp of mechanical and electrical systems is essential for a maintenance technician. These are the typical knowledge areas that allow a technician to properly and effectively diagnose and repair problematic equipment.Identifying and managing a host of possible problems requires attention to detail and excellent problem-solving skills.Being able to communicate well is also vital for working with the team and for reporting on maintenance activities.It is essential to continuously learn and adapt to new technologies in order to keep up with them in the maintenance field.