Upkeep of Technical Process Systems

(small-scale experimental module)

Undoubtedly, the extent and cost of maintenance of modern technical process systems is to a large extent determined by the quality of the automation system (the automation project), whereby the use of modern automation equipment plays a vital role. Here, it should be acknowledged that the recognised procedure for conventional instrumentation has to be reconsidered for the maintenance and commissioning of a technical process system. In this context, the following aspects should be taken into account:

>> Modern automation equipment is highly reliable, requires little or no readjustment, or can be easily adjusted via control and instrumentation systems or similar control elements, whereby any readjustments can be easily made if required.

>> The universal use of process control engineering, being a typical characteristic of modern automation systems, facilitates a new and efficient approach to realising the required measures for maintenance and upkeep.

>> The emerging use of fieldbus systems (bus systems in effect) similarly is to be taken into consideration and also influences the maintenance and upkeep operations.

It is therefore essential, in particular as far as advanced process technology systems is concerned, to reconfigure any previously used maintenance and upkeep strategies, whereby the tried and tested (from previous practice) should be adopted and new strategies (e.g. by evaluating the above points) should at the same time be pursued.