Increased Plant Availability and Reduced Maintenance Costs by a Smart and Integrative Condition Monitoring System

摘要

Striving to minimize the risk of unplanned shutdowns and maximize plant availability plant operators of the steel industry have given the machine maintenance top priority. Thus a reliable condition monitoring of the plant becomes inevitable. The global overcapacities have led to a decrease of modernization investments, which is why the use of high-end maintenance concepts and technologies are gaining more and more attention. Various monitoring functions can be integrated in existing plants and utilities (i.e. casters, converters, hot and cold rolling mills, water treatment plants) to monitor selected parts, equipment or processes that are particularly critical for production. The developed condition monitoring system does not only include the evaluation of mechatronic systems but it also comprises the evaluation of technological controls, process models and third party systems. Several examples shall illustrate the operational value that such a smart monitoring concept can add to both upstream and downstream plants.