Future behavior equipment predictive system

• US 4,719,587 A
• Filed: 04/16/1985
• Issued: 01/12/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/1985
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Combustion Engineering Incorporated (ABB Limited)
• Original Assignee: Combustion Engineering Incorporated (ABB Limited)
• Inventors: Berte, Frank J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gruber, Felix D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Laibowitz, Danielle
• Application Number:
  US06/723,782
• Time in Patent Office: 1,001 Days
• Field of Search: 364/424, 364/507, 364/550-552
• US Class Current: 702/34
• CPC Class Codes: F22B 35/18 Applications of computers to steam boiler control
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 3/00 Registering or indicating the condition or the working of machines or other apparatus, other than vehicles

Abstract

A system (128) wherein information relating to the performance and availability of equipment is utilized for purposes of appraising the future behavior of the equipment. One purpose, for instance, to which such an appraisal can be put is that of reaching decisions concerning the repair/replacement/refurbishment of the equipment. The subject system (128) includes performance means (130), availability means (132), degradation means (134) and updating means (136), all suitably connected in operative relation one with another. The preformance means (130) is operative as a source of data pertaining to the performance of the equipment. The availability means (132), on the other hand, is operative as a source of data pertaining to the availability of the equipment. Continuing, the degradation means (134) is cross-linked to both the performance means (130) and the availability means (132), and is operative as a source of data pertaining to the degradation of the equipment. Lastly, the updating means (136) is operative as a source of data relating to the latest reported status of the equipment.

Claims

1. A future boiler behavior predictive system for use for purposes of effectuating an appraisal of the future behavior of a boiler comprising:

a. performance means containing a bank of data relating to performance characteristics of the boiler, said performance means being provided with a plurality of inputs from a variety of sources, said plurality of inputs including a first input consisting of data derived from the manufacturer of the boiler relating to the performance characteristics of the boiler, a second input consisting of data derived from boiler industry and other boiler sources relating to the performance characteristics of the boiler, a third input consisting of data derived from past and present boiler users relating to the performance characteristics of the boiler, a fourth input consisting of data derived from the operator of the boiler relating to the performance characteristics of the boiler, a fifth input consisting of data derived from an inspection of the boiler, and a sixth input consisting of data derived from conducting testing on the boiler;

b. availability means containing a bank of data relating to availability characteristics of the boiler;

c. degradation means containing a bank of data relating to degradation characteristics of the boiler, said degradation means being connected in cross-linked relation to both said performance means and said availability means so as to effectuate the assimilation of the degradation characteristics data of said degradation means with the performance characteristics data of said performance means and the availability characteristics data of said availability means such that the performance characteristics data of said performance means and the availability characteristics data of said availability means are each made to reflect the degradation characteristics data of the boiler; and

d. updating means containing a bank of data relating both to current performance characteristics of the boiler and to current availability characteristics of the boiler, said updating means being connected to both said performance means and said availability means so that data relating to the current performance characteristics of the boiler and the current availability characteristics of the boiler can be provided thereto for purposes of accomplishing an updating of the performance characteristics data of said performance means and the availability characteristics data of said availability means.

2. A future boiler behavior predictive system for use for purposes of effectuating an appraisal of the future behavior of a boiler comprising:

a. performance means containing as bank of data relating to performance characteristics of the boiler;

b. availability means containing a bank of data relating to availability characteristics of the boiler, said availability means being provided with a plurality of inputs from a variety of sources, said plurality of inputs including a first input consisting of data derived from the manufacturer of the boiler relating to the availability characteristics of the boiler, a second input consisting of data derived from boiler industry and other boiler sources relating to the availability characteristics of the boiler, a third input consisting of data derived from past and present boiler users relating to the availability characteristics of the boiler, and a fourth input consisting of data derived from the operator of the boiler relating to the availability characteristics of the boiler;

c. degradation means containing a bank of data relating to degradation characteristics of the boiler, said degradation means being connected in cross-linked relation to both said performance means and said availability means so as to effectuate the assimilation of the degradation characteristics data of said degradation means with the performance characteristics data of said performance means abd the availability characteristics data of said availability means such that the performance characteristics data of said performance means and the availability characteristics data of said availability means are each made to reflect the degradation characteristics data of the boiler; and

d. updating means containing as bank of data relating both to current performance characteristics of the boiler and to current availability characteristics of the boiler, said updatng means being connected to both said performance means and said availability means so that data relating to the current performance characteristics of the boiler and the current availability characteristics of the boiler casn be provided thereto for purposes of accomplishing an updating of the performance characteristics data of said performance means and the availability characteristics data of said availability means.

3. A future boiler behavior predictive system for use for purposes of effectuating an appraisal of the future behavior of a boiler comprising:

a. performance means containing a bank of data relating to performance characteristics of the boiler;

b. availability means containing a bank of data relating to availability characteristics of the boiler;

c. degradation means containing a bank of data relating to degradation characteristics of the boiler, said degradation means being provided with a plurality of inputs from a variety of sources, said plurality of inputs including a first input consisting of data relating to erosion suffered by the boiler, a second input consisting of data relating to corrosion suffered by the boiler, a third input consisting of data relating to fatigue suffered by the boiler, and a fourth input consisting of data relating to leakage suffered by the boiler, said degradation means being connected in cross-linked relation to both said performance means and said availability means so as to effectuate the assimilation of the degradation characteristics data of said degradation means with the performance characteristics data of said performance means and the availability characteristics data of said availability means such that the performance characteristics data of said performance means and the availability characteristics data of said availability means are each made to reflect the degradation characteristics data of the boiler; and

d. updating means containing a bank of data relating both to current performance characteristics of the boiler and to current availability characteristics of the boiler, said updating means being connected to both said performance means and said availability means so that data relating to the current performance characteristics of the boiler and the current availability characteristics of the boiler can be provided thereto for the purposes of accomplishing an updating of the performance characteristics data of said performance means and the availability characteristics data of said availability means.

4. A future boiler behavior predictive system for use for purposes of effectuating an appraisal of the future behavior of a boiler comprising:

a. performance means containing a bank of data relating to performance characteristics of the boiler;

b. availability means containing a bank of data relating to availability characteristics of the boiler;

c. degradation means containing a bank of data relating to degradation characteristics of the boiler, said degradation means being connected in a cross-linked relation to both said performance means and said availability means so as to effectuate the assimilation of the degradation characteristics data of said degradation means with the performance characteristics data of said performance means and the availability characteristics data of said availability means such that the performance characteristics data of said performance means and the availability characteristics data of said availability means are each made to reflect the degradation characteristics data of the boiler; and

d. updating means containing a bank of data relating both to current performance characteristics of the boiler and to current availability characteristics of the boiler, said updating means being provided with a plurality of inputs from a variety of sources, said plurality of inputs including a first input consisting of data relating to the current performance characteristics of the boiler and a second input consisting of data relating to the current availability characteristics of the boiler, said updating means being connected to both said performance means and said availability means so that data relating to the current performance characteristics of the boiler and the current availability characteristics of the boiler can be provided hereto for purposes of accomplishing an updating of the performance characteristics data of said performance means and the availability characteristics data of said availability means.

5. A future equipment behavior predictive system for use for purposes of effectuating an appraisal of the future behavior of equipment comprising:

a. performance means containing a bank of data relating to performance characteristics of the equipment, said performance means being provided with a plurality of inputs from a variety of sources, said plurality of inputs including a first input consisting of data derived from the manufacturer of the equipment relating to the performance characteristics of the equipment, a second input consisting of data derived from industrial and other equipment sources relating to the performance characteristics of the equipment, a third input consisting of data derived from past and present equipment users relating to the performance characteristics of the equipment, a fourth input consisting of data derived from the operator of the equipment relating to the performance characteristics of the equipment, a fifth input consisting of data derived from an inspection of the equipment, and a sixth input consisting of data derived from conducting testing on the equipment;

b. availability means containing a bank of data relating to availability characteristics of the equipment;

c. degradation means containing a bank of data relating to degradation characteristics of the equipment, said degradation means being connected in cross-linked relation to both said performance means and said availability means so as to effectuate the assimilation of the degradation characteristics data of said degradation means with the performance characteristics data of said performance means and the availability characteristics data of said availability means such that the performance characteristics data of said performance means and the availability characteristics data of said avaibility means are each made to reflect the degradation characteristics data of the equipment; and

d. updating means containing a bank of data relating both to current performance characteristics of the equipment and to current availability characteristics of the equipment, said updating means being connected to both said performance means and said availability means so that data relating to the current performance characteristics of the equipment and the current availability characteristics of the equipment cna be provided thereto for purposes of accomplishing an updating of the performance characteristics data of said performance means and the availability characteristics data of said availability means.

6. A future equipment behavior predictive system for use for purposes of effectuating an appraisal of the future behavior of equipment comprising:

a. performance means containing a bank of data relating to performance characteristics of the equipment;

b. availability means containing a bank of data relating to availability characteristics of the equipment, said availability means being provided with a plurality of inputs from a variety of sources, said plurality of inputs including a first input consisting of data derived from the manufacturer of the equipment relating to the availability characteristics of the equipment, a second input consisting of data derived from industrial and other equipment sources relating to the availability characteristics of the equipment, a third input consisting of data derived from past and present equipment users relating to the availability characteristics of the equipment, and a fourth input consisting of data derived from the operator of the equipment relating to the availability characteristics of the equipment;

c. degradation means containing a bank of data relating to degradation characteristics of the equipment, said degradation means being connected to cross-linked relation to both said performance means and said availability means so as to effectuate the assimilation of the degradation characteristics data of said degradation means with the performance characteristics data of said performance means and the availability characteristics of said availability means such that the performance characteristics data of said performance means and the availability characteristics data of said availability means are each made to reflect the degradation characteristics data of the equipment; and

d. updating means containing a bank of data relating both to current performance characteristics of the equipment and to current availability characteristics of the equipment, said updating means being connected to both said performance means and said availability means so that data relating to the current performance characteristics of the equipoment and the current availability characteristics of the equipment can be provided thereto for purposes of accomplishing an updating of the performance characteristics data of said performance means and the availability characteristics data of said availability means.

7. A future equipment behavior predictive system for use for purposes of effectuating an appraisal of the future behavior of equipment comprising:

a. performance means containing a bank of data relating to performance characteristics of the equipment;

b. availability means containing a bank of data relating to availability characteristics of the equipment;

c. degradation means containing a bank of data relating to degradation characteristics of the equipment, said degradation means being provided with a plurality of inputs from a variety of sources, said plurality of inputs including a first input consisting of data relating to erosion suffered by the equipment, a second input consisting of data relating to corrosion suffered by the equipment, a third input consisting of data relating to fatigue suffered by the equipment, and a fourth input consisting of data relating to leakage suffered by the equipment, said degradation means being connected in cross-linked relation to both said performance means and said availability means so as to effectuate the assimilation of the degradation characteristics data of said degradation means with the performance characteristics data of said performance means and the availability characteristics data of said availability means such that the performance characteristics data of said performance means and the availability characteristics data of said availability means are each made to reflect the degradation characteristics data of the equipment; and

d. updating means containing a bank of data relating both to current performance characteristics of the equipment and to current availability characteristics of the equipment, said updating means being connected to both said performance means and said availability means so that data relating to the current performance characteristics of the equipment and the current availability characteristics of the equipment can be provided thereto for purposes of accomplishing an updating of the performance characteristics data of said performance means and the availability characteristics data of said availability means.

8. A future equipment behavior predictive system for use for purposes of effectuating an appraisal of the future behavior of equipment comprising:

a. performance means containing a bank of data relating to performance characteristics of the equipment;

b. availability means containing a bank of data relating to availability characteristics of the equipment;

c. degradation means containing a bank of data relating to degradation characteristics of the equipment, said degradation means being connected in cross-linked relation to both said performance means and said availability means so as to effectuate the assimilation of the degradation characteristics data of said degradation means with the performance characteristics data of said performance means and the availability characteristics data of said availability means such that the performance characteristics data of said performance mean and the availability characteristics data of said availability means are each made to reflect the degradation characteristics data of the equipment; and

d. updating means containing a bank of data relating both to current performance characteristics of the equipment and the current availability characteristics of the equipment, said updating means being provided with a plurality of inputs from a variety of sources, said plurality of inputs including a first input consisting of data relating to the current performance characteristics of the equipment and a second input consisting of data relating to the current availability characteristics of the equipment, said updating means being connected to both said performance means and said availability means so that data relating to the current performance characteristics of the equipment and the current availability characteristics of the equipment can be provided thereto for purposes of accomplishing an updating of the performance characteristics data of said performance means and the availability characteristics data of said availability means.

9. A method of effectuating an appraisal of the future behavior of equipment comprising the steps of:

a. establishing a bank of data relating to the performance characteristics of the equipment from a plurality of inputs from a variety of sources including a first input consisting of data derived from the manufacturer of the equipment relating to the performance of the equipment, a second input consisting of data derived from industrial and other equipment sources relating to the performance characteristics of the equipment, a third input consisting of data derived from past and present equipment users relating to the performance characteristics of the equipment, a fourth input consisting of data derived from the operator of the equipment relating to the performance characteristics of the equipment, a fifth input consisting of data derived from an inspection of the equipment, and a sixth input consisting of data derived from conducting testing on the equipment;

b. establishing a bank of data relating to the availability characteristics of the equipment;

c. establishing a bank of data relating to the degradation characteristics of the equipment;

connecting in cross-linked relation the bank of data relating to the degradation characteristics of the equipment to both the bank of data relating to the performance characteristics of the equipment and the bank of data relating to the availability characteristics of the equipment so as to effectuate the assimilation of the degradation characteristics data with the performance characteristics data and the availability characteristics data such that the performance characteristics data and the availability characteristics data are each made to reflect the degradation characteristics data of the eqipment;

e. establishing a bank of data relating to the current performance characteristics of the equipment and to the current availability characteristics of the equipment; and

f. connecting the bank of data relating to the current performance characteristics of the equipment and to the current availability characteristics of the equipment to both the bank of data relating to to the performance characteristics of the equipment and to the bank of data relating to the availability characteristics of the equipment so that data relating to the current performance characteristics and to the current availability characteristics of the equipment can be provided thereto for purposes of accomplishing an updating of the performance characteristics data and an updating of the availability characteristics data.

10. A method of effectuating an appraisal of the future behavior of equipment comprising the steps of:

a. establishing a bank of data relating to the performance characteristics of the equipment;

b. establishing a bank of data relating to the availability characteristics of the equipment from a plurality of inputs from a variety of sources including a first input consisting of data derived from the manufacturer of the equipment relating to the availability characteristics of the equipment, a second input consisting of data derived from industrial and other equipment sources relating to the availability characteristics of the equipment, a third input consisting of data derived from past and present equipment users relating to the availability characteristics of the equipment, and a fourth input consisting of data derived from the operator of the equipment relating to the availability characteristics of the equipment;

c. establishing a bank of data relating to the degradation characteristics of the equipment;

d. connecting in cross-linked relation the bank of data relating to the degradation characteristics of the equipment to both the bank of data relating to the performance characteristics of the equipment and the bank of data relating to the availability characteristics of the equipment so as to effectuate the assimilation of the egradation characteristics data with the performance characteristics data and the availability characteristics data such that the performance characteristics data and the availability characteristics data are each made to reflect the degradation characteristics data of the equipment;

e. establishing a bank of data relating to the current performance characteristics of the equipment and to the current availability characteristics of the equipment; and

f. connecting the bank of data relating to the current performance characteristics of the equipment and to the current availability characteristics of the equipment to both the bank of data relating to the performance characteristics of the equipment and to the bank of data relating to the availability characteristics of the equipment so that data relating to the current performance characteristics and to the current availability characteristics of the equipment can be provided thereto for purposes of accomplishing an updating of the performance characteristics data and an updating of the availability characteristics data.

11. A method of effectuating an appraisal of the future behavior of equipment comprising the steps of:

a. establishing a bank of data relating to the performance characteristics of the equipment;

b. establishing a bank of data relating to the availability characteristics of the equipment;

c. establishing a bank of data relating to the degradation characteristics of the equipment from a plurality of inputs from a variety of sources including a first input consisting of data relating to erosion suffered by the equipment, a second input consisting of data relating to corrosion suffered by the equipment, a third input consisting of data relating to fatigue suffered by the equipment, and a fourth input consisting of data relating to leakage suffered by the equipment;

d. connecting in cross-linked relation the bank of data relating to the degradation characteristics of the equipment to both the bank of data relating to the performance characteristics of the equipment and the bank of data relating to the availability characteristics of the equipment so as to effectuate the assimilation of the degradation characteristics data with the performance characteristics data and the availability characteristics data such that the performance characteristics data and the availability characteristics data are each made to reflect the degradation characteristics data of the equipment;

e. establishing a bank of data relating to the current performance characteristics of the equipment and to the current availability characteristics of the equipment; and

f. connecting the bank of data relating to the current performance characteristics of the equipment and to the current availability characteristics of the equipment to both the bank of data relating to the performance characteristics of the equipment and to the bank of data relating to the availability characteristics of the equipment so that data relating to the current performance characteristics and to the current availability characteristics of the equipment can be provided thereto for purposes of accomplishing an updating of the performance characteristics data and an updating of the availability characteristics data.

12. A method of effectuating an appraisal of the future behavior of equipment comprising the steps of:

a. establishing a bank of data relating to the performance characteristics of the equipment;

b. establishing a bank of data relating to the availability characteristics of the equipment;

c. establishing a bank of data relating to the degradation characteristics of the equipment;

d. connecting in cross-linked relation the bank of data relating to the degradation characteristics of the equipment to both the bank of data relating to the performance characteristics of the equipment and the bank of data relating to the availability characteristics of the equipment so as to effectuate the assimilation of the degradation characteristics data with the performance characteristics data and the availability characteristics data such that the performance characteristics data and the availability characteristics data are each made to reflect the degradation characteristics data of the equipment;

e. establishing a bank of data relating to the current performance characteristics of the equipment and to the current availability characteristics of the equipment from a plurality of inputs from a variety of sources including a first input consisting of data relating to the current performance characteristics of the equipment and a second input consisting of data relating to the current availability characteristics of the equipment; and

f. connecting the bank of data relating to the current performance characteristics of the equipment and to the current availability characteristic of the equipment to both the bank of data relating to the performance characteristics of the equipment and to the bank of data relating to the availability characteristics of the equipment so that data relating to the current performance characteristics and to the current availability characteristics of the equipment can be provided thereto for purposes of accomplishing an updating of the performance characteristics data and an updating of the availability characteristics data.