Availability Simulation Model for Stochastic Analysis of Coal Supply System in a Thermal Power Plant

The paper evaluates the availability simulation model (Av.) for the performance analysis of coal supply system in a coal-fired power plant using Markov approach. Coal supply system ensures proper supply of coal for sound functioning of thermal power plant. This system consists of four subsystems, i.e., Wagon tippler, Crusher, Conveyor belt and Coal mills. For the analysis, an availability simulation model (Av.) is developed with the help of mathematical formulation based on Markov Birth-Death process using probabilistic approach. For this purpose, first order differential equations are developed based on the transition diagram developed for the system. Then these equations are further solved by using normalizing conditions so as to determine the availability simulation model (Av.), i.e., measure of performance of the coal supply system. This performance evaluating model deals with the quantitative analysis of all factors (courses of actions and states of nature), which influence all maintenance decisions associated with this system. The results show that coal mill subsystem is the most sensitive and demands more improvement in maintainability as compared to other subsystems.