METHODOLOGY FOR PREDICTING THE OCCURRENCE OF FAILURE EVENTS FOR PRESSURE-VESSELS USED IN THE PROCESS INDUSTRY

The prediction of the occurrence of failure events for pressure vessel s used in the process industry is a newly developing technology in the field of modem technical management of facilities. It is of great sig nificance for ensuring safe and high efficiency operations in moderniz ed large-scale and high parameter facilities of chemical, petrochemica l, nuclear and electric power plants. Approximate and plausible reason ings have been proposed in the present methodology as the main procedu re for drawing conclusions from hypotheses or facts involving uncertai n parameters of fuzziness. In this study, a series of new techniques f or predicting failure probability, gravity of perniciousness of failur e events, damage to structural materials and remaining life, etc., hav e been developed. These techniques have met with success and have obta ined economic benefits. A brief statement of theoretical work and actu al case studies is given. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights re served.