Applying Reliability Centered Maintenance (RCM) to Sampling Subsystem in Continuous Emission Monitoring System

Abstract

Continuous emission monitoring system (CEMS) is widely used in the field of environmental protection, but the maintenance routines of it consist mostly of pre-defined activities. Reliability-centered maintenance (RCM) uses a systematic approach to develop maintenance strategies that take into account factors such as system life, operating efficiency, and maintenance cost-effectiveness. This paper is motivated to apply RCM to sampling subsystem in CEMS. Based on the failure mode and effect analysis (FMEA), the RCM logic decision used to identify the reasonable maintenance mode is implemented. Subsequently, an average availability model is proposed to determine the maintenance interval cycle. Finally, the maintenance outline is formed, which can be then further used as valuable information to improve equipment reliability and develop maintenance strategies.

Keywords

• Continuous emission monitoring system
• sampling system
• reliability centered maintenance
• failure mode and effect analysis
• maintenance strategy