Patent ID: 6195624
Filing Date: 2001-02-27
Classification: G06F,G21C,G21D,Y02E,Y10S

Abstract:
A method for generating an index commensurate with a degree to which a tube array degrades over a period of time due to corrosion in a particular operating environment, comprising:creating a data array defining a number of tubes in the tube array, a plurality of time points defining time intervals during which the degradation is to be assessed, and operating conditions that induce corrosion during each time interval;computing an expected degradation value of the tube array over each of a plurality of time points using a deterministic failure model having at least one parameter that is assumed to have a constant value at each time point;for each time point generating a plurality of values of said parameter that deviate from said assumed constant value;for each time point, computing a plurality of degradation values using said deterministic failure model with each of said plurality of deviated values of said parameter, thereby defining a distribution of degradation values at said time point surrounding said expected degradation value at said time point; andgenerating an index from said distribution of degradation values, commensurate with an uncertainty at each time point, in said expected degradation value as computed by said deterministic failure model.