Towards the Automation of Infrared Thermography Inspections for Industrial Maintenance Applications

The maintenance of industrial equipment extends its useful life, improves its efficiency, reduces the number of failures, and increases the safety of its use. This study proposes a methodology to develop a predictive maintenance tool based on infrared thermographic measures capable of anticipating failures in industrial equipment. The thermal response of selected equipment in normal operation and in controlled induced anomalous operation was analyzed. The characterization of these situations enabled the development of a machine learning system capable of predicting malfunctions. Different options within the available conventional machine learning techniques were analyzed, assessed, and finally selected for electronic equipment maintenance activities. This study provides advances towards the robust application of machine learning combined with infrared thermography and augmented reality for maintenance applications of industrial equipment. The predictive maintenance system finally selected enables automatic quick hand-held thermal inspections using 3D object detection and a pose estimation algorithm, making predictions with an accuracy of 94% at an inference time of 0.006 s.

A Focused Review on Engineering Application of Multi-Principal Element Alloy

Compared with traditional alloys with one principal component up to 40–90%, multi-principal element alloys (MPEAs) were born in the complicated intermingling of traditional and non-traditional physical metallurgy, and brings us a great amount of excellent performances. Here, we would briefly summarize the potential applications in some key areas, which is helpful for latecomers to quickly and comprehensively understand this new alloy system. Especially, the applications of MPEAs in aerospace, industrial equipment, national defense, energy, navigation and so on are discussed roughly. Subsequently, several emerging areas have also been compared. Finally, some suggestions are given for the future development trend.

Model Validation for the Heat Transfer in Gasket Plate Heat Exchangers Working with Vegetable Oils

Many models for accurately predicting the performance of gasket plate heat exchangers were developed in the last decades, grouped in three categories: empirical, semi-analytical or theoretical/numerical, with the view to saving materials and energy through correct design of industrial equipment. This work addresses one such model, namely Lévêque correlation modified by Martin and by Dović, which is promising due to the correct assumption of the flow in sine duct channels and the consideration of energy losses caused by flow reversal at plate edges and the flow path changing when entering the chevron angle. This model was validated by our own experimental data under industrial conditions for vegetable oils processing, both in laminar flow (Re = 8–42) and fully developed turbulent flow (Re = 446–1137). Moreover, in this study, particular values for constants/parameters of the model were determined for the corrugation inclination angle relative to vertical direction equal to 30°. Through statistical analysis, this study demonstrates that this particularized form of the generalized Lévêque correlation can be used with confidence.

Forensic Engineering Investigation of Electrical and Electronic Causes of an Industrial Equipment Failure

This case involved industrial equipment whose repeated, seemingly random failures resulted in the buyer of that equipment suing the seller. The failures had been isolated to a group of several transistors within electro-mechanical modules within the equipment, but the root cause of those transistors failing had not been determined. The equipment seller had more than 1,000 units in the field with no similar failures. And the electro-mechanical module manufacturer had more than 20,000 units in the field with no similar failures. Electrical contractors hired by the buyer had measured power quality, and reported no faults found in the three-phase power at the equipment terminals. This paper presents circuit analyses of the failing electro-mechanical module, basics of electrostatic discharge damage and protection, and the root cause of these failures — an electrical code-violating extraneous neutral-to-ground bond in a secondary power cabinet.

MODERN SAFETY REQUIREMENTS FOR INDUSTRIAL EQUIPMENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS (Part 2. Safety indicators of control systems)

Purpose: Analysis and determination of the main modern international safety requirements that must be met in the design, development and operation of industrial equipment management systems, as well as confirmation of the need for further improvement of the domestic regulatory framework in this area. Methodology/approach: Performed analysis of the requirements of modern international standards (IEC 62061 and IEC 61508) on the safety of electrical, electronic and programmable electronic control systems for industrial equipment and the existing sequence of protection against hazards; the algorithm of step-by-step realization of control systems and the basic features of the organization of their structures at the level of functional blocks and subsystems for maintenance of necessary level of completeness of functional safety are defined; the peculiarities of the process of design and development of each of the subsystems and the algorithm of its execution are analyzed; defined algorithms for estimating the probability of dangerous accidental hardware failures for the recommended basic architecture of subsystems (type A, B, C and D) and for the control system itself; provided recommendations on the composition of the specification of safety requirements in the design of control systems; reviewed software requirements. Conclusions: The analysis of the features of functioning and application of modern international safety standards, which must be observed in the design, development and operation of industrial equipment management systems convincingly confirms the relevance and need for further improvement of domestic regulations in this area. Research results: Modern requirements for the organization of the control system structure at the level of functional units and subsystems to ensure the required level of completeness of functional safety of electrical, electronic and programmable electronic control systems for industrial equipment are determined, as well as features of application the of algorithms for estimating the probability of dangerous accidental failures of control systems and their subsystems. Practical implications: The development and implementation of relevant national standards based on IEC 62061 and IEC 61508 should accelerate the further development of technical progress in Ukraine in the field of industrial safety. Originality/value: Defining the main features of the functioning of modern international safety standards, which must be observed in the design, development and operation of industrial equipment control systems; Appropriate recommendations for their practical application are provided; Substantiated and confirmed the relevance and importance of the development of relevant harmonized national standards based on the standards IEC 62061 and IEC 61508.

Research on visual optimization design of machine–machine interface for mechanical industrial equipment based on nonlinear partial equations

With the continuous development and progress of machinery and industry equipment, human-machine interface has become an important operation in industry equipment and has been widely used in aviation, monitoring, traffic, special engineering vehicles, and a series of complex fields. Through the human-machine interface information system, information and data are provided for operators s. As the human-machine interface information data of the mechanical equipment system are numerous, complex, and changeable, operators often make operation mistakes, misread and misjudge, and do not give timely feedback, resulting in task failure or, in serious cases, major mechanical faults and accidents. Therefore, the human-machine interface data information is screened, and the information useful for the operator is directly obtained according to the target set by the operator, so as to effectively solve the complex and changeable data information in the information system. Human-machine interface uses electronic communication technology, computer network technology, and database technology to expand and update machinery and industrial equipment. Among them, nonlinear partial differential equations comprise an important branch of equation in mathematics. In this paper, according to the nonlinear partial differential equations, we research and analyze the information system of the human-machine interface design field and solve the system of the cognitive load, which is too large, such as cognitive mismatch problem in the working mode of operating personnel, by satisfying the needs of different users. The human-machine interface of mechanical industrial equipment uses visual optimization design and innovation.

Automation and Fuzzy Control of a Manufacturing System

The automation of manufacturing systems is a major obligation to the developments because of exponential industrial equipment, and programming tools, so that growth needs and customer requirements. This automation is achieved in our work through the application programming tools from Siemens, which are PCS 7 (Process Control System) for industrial process control and FuzzyControl++ for fuzzy control. An industrial application is designed, developed and implemented in the cement factory in Ain-Touta (S.CIM.AT) located in the province of Batna, East of Algeria. Especially in the cement mill which gives the final product that is the cement.

Correction Factors for Determining the Mass Transfer Coefficients

A number of industrial operations are linked to mass transfer. The mass transfer coefficient value is necessary to know when designing the industrial equipment in which mass transfer occurs. There are various mass transfer coefficients, as well as equations for their calculation. However, the value of these coefficients determined according to these equations often has to be corrected for the given conditions. The aim of the article is to state the conversion relations - the correction factors enabling the calculation of the mass transfer coefficients values corresponding to the given conditions.