Modeling of degradation mechanisms in electrical components taking into account their actual living conditions

A novel approach is proposed for modeling the degradation mechanisms affecting components of electrical production plants. The aim is to characterize the actual living conditions in which the component works and, on this basis, to estimate its Time To Failure. The underlying motivation is to include useful component-specific information for establishing effective management strategies capable of optimally coping with the production availability needs and the safety requirements of the electrical production plant. A case study regarding the degradation due to contact fatigue of the seals of a water-feeding turbo-pump in a steam generator is used to illustrate the approach.