Applicability of reliability centered maintenance approach for thermal power plants in Sri Lanka

Abstract

More than 70% of entire power demand in Sri Lanka mainly caters through thermal power and oil base thermal power plants contributes to cater more than 55% of demand in the country. Even though plant reliability and efficiency should be maintained at higher value to cater this demand, sudden island wide power cuts and Ceylon electricity board (CEB) statistics has been revealed the prevailing plant performance issues of thermal power plants. Reliability Centered Maintenance (RCM) approach has been adopted successfully for wide range of industries including thermal power industry in considerable number of countries to overcome plant performance issues while reducing maintenance cost. Therefore the focus of this research is to study applicability of RCM approach for maintenance planning of thermal power plants in Sri Lanka to overcome current issues relating to maintenance operation. Comprehensive literature review was conducted to explore RCM concept. Through the preliminary survey current maintenance practices, issues that directly related with maintenance practice, currently available resources that necessary for RCM base analysis and attitude of industry practitioner towards RCM implementation were identified. Streamline Reliability Centered Maintenance (SRCM) was identified as ideal type of RCM analysis method for thermal power plants in Sri Lanka through findings of literature review and preliminary survey. Findings of single case study revealed criticality evaluation criteria and applicable maintenance strategies for critical and non-critical components of typical thermal power plants. A comprehensive maintenance plan was developed for fuel pre pressure system using currently available physical and human resources. Considering findings, the research suggests that thermal power industry in Sri Lanka should initiate SRCM base maintenance program to overcome existing performance issues using existing resources.