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RCM Analysis on Prepaid Bill Meter (SIRAJ)
Syed Adeel Ahmed Shah*
Mechanical Department, National University Science & Technology, Muscat, Oman
Submission: October 06, 2022; Published: October 18, 2022
*Corresponding author: Syed Adeel Ahmed Shah, Mechanical Department, National University Science & Technology, Muscat, Oman
How to cite this article: Syed Adeel Ahmed S. RCM Analysis on Prepaid Bill Meter (SIRAJ). Eng Technol Open Acc. 2022; 4(3): 555639. DOI: 10.19080/ETOAJ.2022.04.555639
Abstract
As electric energy depletion is one of the biggest concerns of the upcoming era, prepaid bill (SIRAJ) is one of the latest devices to drastically reduce the consumption of energy and cost associated to the consumption. This newly system is introduced to monitor the consumption of energy and boost energy awareness to customers. This particular service facilitates the prepayment and further helps in tracking of the consumer credit balance. The user-friendly system can be easily managed by the end users and the electricity can be monitored by the tip of their fingers. The most important advantage of this particular meter its eco-friendly as its paper free. For the better understanding of the failures occurring in the equipment selected in this coursework an RCM approach is carried out. RCM basically relies on the terminology of preserving the system function. This approach deals with maintenance of the system in a very methodical and analytical manner. A RCM approach was carried out on the prepaid meter; the operational context was discussed accordingly. With the relevant information collected the parameters where analysed and the information and discussion worksheets were formulated. The most important factor was to identify the standards and the practises which were taken place and link it with safety and environmental concerns. The benefits of RCM approach were discussed accordingly, and the function modes were assessed in detail describing all the failure modes associated to it.
Keywords:Siraj; RCM; Energy Consumption; Prepaid Bill Meter; Eco-Friendly
Methodology
The Prepaid meter Siraj was venture started by Mazoon electric to observe the electricity consumption and allow users to use the energy wisely. The display unit depicts like an old age mobile with numbers and keys. Each number has particular function which is further displayed by the monitor. This meter is installed in the asset and connected to the main prepaid meter through cable wires. Both the meters have the same displays and the same readings. Power of the display meter is governed by the main prepaid meter. For emergency purposes the display unit has provision to run on batteries. The meter is easily installed in any part of the asset through a cable (Figure 1).
The meter thoroughly monitors the electricity consumption throughout asset. The display unit as shown in the Figure 1 has buttons from 0 to 9 and #* respectively. Each key denotes a particular function, by the click of the key the value of the reading is displayed accordingly in the monitor. Once the particular meter is recharged with a certain amount which can be attained 24/7 in form of tokens the meter starts monitoring the electricity consumption (Figure 2).
To add the balance to the unit, a token key must be generated by paying the desired amount. Then the key is fed into the display unit by pressing the * key and ending with # key and the amount is added to the unit. The display unit main function is to give each and every detail of electricity consumption. The function modes on every key can be checked on timely manner to keep the record of the consumption energy. The display unit has a critical role in monitoring every spike and notifying the customer of the electricity consumption. The main goal of the asset is to manage their utilities and use the electricity consumption wisely for attaining a reduced electrical cost overall for the asset.
For the better functioning of the display unit a RCM approach was applied. The failure modes were assessed accordingly and dealt with so the maintenance decision could be easily made. The main target was to preserve the system function at all cost. The display unit is designed to have minimum failures for its proper functioning as the electricity consumption is at stake. The backup for the display unit is the prepaid meter itself. So, any failure in the display unit the prepaid meter has the records of the consumption.
As it’s a recent development the RCM approach can give a better understanding of the system. The main failures which the display unit aspects are when the balance runs out and the electricity is cut off and blackout is observed accordingly. However, there is cut out of some money of negative Omani Rials but still eventually there is power failure.
Results & Discussions
Information Worksheet
Decision Worksheet
Conclusion
To conclude the article a vivid analysis was discovered by applying the RCM approach to the display unit. Further with the help of information worksheet a list of failure modes was and loop holes of the unit was discovered. The decision diagram gave the apt solutions to those failure modes and many critical functions were assed accordingly. The prepaid meter is rather new to the market and is a very efficient but still many drawbacks which were discovered are discussed in detail through information worksheet. If proper protocols and timely maintenance carried out the prepaid meter can show excellent efficiency. The most important factors which were looked in this article were the display unit and its failures. Two most important which should be addressed is the catastrophic failure which leads to electricity cut out and the ease of monitoring the readings by the users.
Recommendations
Future work can be categorized as follows:
I. For easy monitoring the display unit details can be accessed remotely by mobile phones or other mediums
II. There should be alternative introduced if the balance is low and instead of power cut an alternative solution can be thought upon.
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