Condition monitoring : its impact on plant performance at British Steel, Scunthorpe works^*

Maintenance conditionnelle : son impact sur les performances de l'usine de Scunthorpe, British Steel

Abstract

This paper aims to outline the present status of plant condition monitoring activities at Scunthorpe works and to provide an insight into the most important techniques used and the results achieved. Condition monitoring must produce positive results in terms of plant reliability, availability and safety and these must be quantifiable economically.

This paper concentrates on the performance improvements and financial savings generated by systematic use of the following major condition monitoring techniques : thermography, electro-optical laser, vibration (portable data-collection system).