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Weibull Analysis of Sabroe Chiller Reliability at Heathrow Airport: Implications for Infrastructure Management

International Journal of Mechanical Engineering
© 2025 by SSRG - IJME Journal
Volume 12 Issue 4
Year of Publication : 2025
Authors : Emad Al-Mahdawi, Moiz Abusin, Bed Bhattarai
10.14445/23488360/IJME-V12I4P107
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How to Cite?

Emad Al-Mahdawi, Moiz Abusin, Bed Bhattarai, "Weibull Analysis of Sabroe Chiller Reliability at Heathrow Airport: Implications for Infrastructure Management," SSRG International Journal of Mechanical Engineering, vol. 12,  no. 4, pp. 70-81, 2025. Crossref, https://doi.org/10.14445/23488360/IJME-V12I4P107

Abstract:

This study examines the reliability performance of Sabroe chillers at Heathrow Airport using Weibull statistical analysis to compare failure characteristics with industry benchmarks. The aim is to determine whether the airport’s chillers exhibit different reliability patterns that could inform maintenance strategies for critical infrastructure. The methodology involves fitting Weibull distributions to time-to-failure data for Heathrow’s chillers and corresponding industry reference data, enabling estimation of key reliability metrics, including the shape parameter (β) and B10 life. Results indicate that both datasets are in a wear-out failure phase (β > 1), but Heathrow’s chillers have a more gradual increase in failure rate (β ≈ 1.63) compared to the industry standard (β ≈ 2.35). The estimated B10 life is approximately 46,855 hours for both sets, overlapping 90% confidence intervals, suggesting comparable early-life reliability. However, the Heathrow units exhibit a more distributed failure timeline and maintain significantly lower failure incidence (around one-third of the industry baseline by 160,000 operating hours), implying more effective maintenance or operating conditions. These findings have direct implications for reliability centred maintenance and infrastructure planning, illustrating the critical role of statistical modelling in shifting maintenance paradigms from reactive repairs to proactive interventions. In essential infrastructure settings, such as international airports, data-driven approaches are pivotal for strategic asset management and ensuring operational continuity.

Keywords:

Weibull analysis, Chiller reliability, Infrastructure maintenance, Failure rate modelling, Critical cooling systems.

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