Reliability evaluation of furnace systems

This article reports an application of the k-out-of-n:F and the consecutive -k-out-of-n:F system reliability models in evaluation of the life distribut ion of furnaces used in a petro-chemical company. Different scenarios are u sed in modeling the reliability behaviors of the furnaces as a function of the reliabilities of the tubes in the furnaces. The life distribution of th e furnace is used in making decisions on when to replace the furnace. (C) 1 999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.