Preventive maintenance scheduling for multi-cogeneration plants with production constraints

Purpose ‐ This paper describes a method developed to schedule the preventive maintenance tasks in separate and linked cogeneration plants while satisfying the maintenance and production constraints. Design/methodology/approach ‐ The proposed methodology is based on a mixed integer programming model which finds the maximum number of available power and desalting units in separate and linked cogeneration plants. To verify that the model can be implemented for a real system, a case study of scheduling the preventive maintenance tasks of a cogeneration plant in Kuwait is illustrated. Findings ‐ An efficient solution can be achieved for scheduling the preventive maintenance tasks and production in cogeneration plants. Practical implications ‐ The paper offers a practical model that can be used to schedule preventive maintenance for expensive equipment in cogeneration plans. Originality/value ‐ The model presented is an effective decision tool that optimises the solution of the maintenance scheduling problem for cogeneration plants under maintenance and production constraints.