Reliability and availability analyses of coal-fired units: validation of a predictive methodology. Final report. [Based on individual equipment data]

This report describes the application of an Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI)-sponsored reliability, availability, and maintainability (RAM) prediction methodology (presented in EPRI Report AP-2202) to operating and hypothetical coal-fired electric power generation units. Analysis of the operating coal-fired unit (CFU) validated the accuracy of the methodology and the associated computer software. Analysis of the state-of-the-art CFU design yielded RAM predictions that were consistent with the high degree of redundancy in the unit's design, and included predictions of the performance and potential critical areas of future units. Analysis of the hypothetical CFU design demonstrated that the methodology can be used to predict the average performance of a generic class of units. The report describes how RAM analysis, applied at the unit level, can complement a utility company's existing procedures. The capabilities of UNIRAM, the computer program developed to simplify such analyses, are also discussed. Appendixes to this report present the RAM models of the three CFUs studied, component-level mean-time-between-failures and mean-downtime estimates, and a summary of historical RAM data derived from the operating CFU's outage reports.