Connect, no.150, September/October 2007, p.6

Upgraded software now available

TWI's risk-based inspection (RBI) software RISKWISE for Boilers ^TM has been substantially upgraded for power plant boiler or heat recovery steam generator operators.

Version 4.1 now includes several new practical features to improve the scope, consistency and user-friendliness as well as the efficiency of the RBI implementation process. The main new features are as follows:

• Damage mechanisms are automatically output for each equipment item
  
  
• New input fields in the Inspection Methods and Damage Mechanism screens automatically determine the Inspection Effectiveness for each damage mechanism
  
  
• Likelihood or probability factors as well as safety and availability consequences are now arrived at in a fully automated manner on the Risk Factors screen (with the option for user intervention as required)
  
  
• A creep life module including corrosion where appropriate is fully integrated to enable automatic calculation of the failure probability or likelihood sequence and hence the remaining life indicator (RLI)
  
  
• A thermal fatigue life module has been added to enable the failure risks and RLI to be automatically output for components subject to cyclic life expenditure
  
  
• Probabilities and economic consequences of failure can now be output quantitatively in terms of failure rates and $ values or megawatt/hrs lost respectively
  
  
• For benchmarking purposes, the software now incorporates database software giving failure rates and megawatt/hrs lost for equipment items covering a population of over 1000 boilers. This uses the North American Reliability Corporation - Generation Availability Data System (NERC-GADS)
  
  
• Optional modules are now available to facilitate interface protocols with plant systems (SAP, Maximo, etc)
  
  
• An optional module is available to allow on-line input and analysis of transient operational data thereby enabling focused inspection and maintenance planning during operation, particularly in respect of unforeseen operational upsets (up-shocks or down-shocks).
  
  

Should you wish to purchase or upgrade to RISKWISE for Boilers ^TM Version 4.1 or require additional information please contact riskwise@twi.co.uk