Reliability and Sensitivity Analysis of a Wastewater Treatment Plant Operating with Two Blowers as a Single System

Utilizing wastewater for irrigation is a pressing necessity in regions grappling with water scarcity. However, before wastewater can be used, it must undergo treatment due to its contamination. Wastewater treatment plants are pivotal in purifying wastewater and rendering it suitable for irrigation. Within these treatment plants, blowers play a crucial role, serving as vital assets. The failure of blowers can result in substantial repair costs. Consequently, it is imperative to conduct a thorough reliability and sensitivity analysis to assess the performance of blowers in wastewater treatment plants. This paper focuses on the reliability and sensitivity analysis of a wastewater treatment facility equipped with two blowers. To support this research, actual failure data from the plant have been collected. When a blower fails, it undergoes an inspection to determine the nature of the failure, which can fall into three categories: instrumental, mechanical, or electrical. The reliability model is constructed by incorporating real-world situations derived from the collected data. This modeling process employs Markov and regenerative processes to estimate key plant performance metrics, including availability, the expected frequency of inspections and repairs, the anticipated busy time for the repairman, and the profit generated. Furthermore, the analysis determines the profit threshold. To understand the influence of various parameters on reliability outcomes, a sensitivity analysis has been undertaken.