Citation

Johnson E. Reliab. Eng. 1983; 4(2): 105-125.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1983, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/0143-8174(83)90003-3

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Having decided to install an on-line computer control system on a chemical plant the following questions usually arise: 'How often will the system fail?'; 'What is to be done when it does fail?'; 'What size of insurance policy, in the form of redundant equipment, should be taken out?'.

In this paper an attempt is made to answer these questions by considering a number of computer systems where redundant equipment is used with the object of improving the overall system reliability. A comparison of the reliability of four different systems is given, together with some of the pitfalls to be avoided when installing a computer, e.g. common mode.