Abstract:

A pre-chamber ignition allows spark-ignition engines to operate in lean air-fuel settings. It improves fuel efficiency and reduces emissions. In this study, a reliability analysis of a single GE Jenbacher J620 natural gas engine was done. It was operational on continuous load in the power generation sector in Karachi, Pakistan. The bathtub curve of GE J620 pre-chamber gas valve (PCV) was generated. The three-year industrial data comprised PCV failures that occurred between two overhauls. During infant mortality, the curve revealed 7 failures during 1000 hours. This decreased to a failure for the next two cycles of thousand hours each. The mean-time-to-failure (MTTF) of the gas valve at 2500 hours and 4500 hours was calculated. There was a 50% decrease in reliability after 1500 hours. Exponential distribution revealed that the mean time-to-failure (MTTF) was 545.5 hours. This study was the first of its kind in the facility. Previously, much time was lost in breakdown maintenance. Thus, it helped to increase the system’s reliability.

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