Reliability evaluation of furnace systems

This article reports an application of the k-out-of-n:F and the consecutive-k-out-of-n:F system reliability models in evaluation of the life distribution of furnaces used in a petro-chemical company. Different scenarios are used in modeling the reliability behaviors of the furnaces as a function of the reliabilities of the tubes in the furnaces. The life distribution of the furnace is used in making decisions on when to replace the furnace.