Factors Affecting the Operational Reliability of Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Systems in Employee-Occupied Service Facilities
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.21706674Keywords:
Operational reliability, ir conditioning systems, refrigeration systems, predictive maintenance, desert environment, compressor reliability, heat exchanger foulingAbstract
The operational reliability of Air Conditioning and Refrigeration (AC/R) systems in employee-occupied service facilities is critical for maintaining personnel comfort, safeguarding sensitive electronic equipment, and ensuring uninterrupted industrial operations in hydrocarbon processing environments. This quantitative study examines the factors affecting AC/R system reliability at the Ras Lanuf Oil and Gas Processing Company (RASCO) in Libya, operating under extreme desert conditions with ambient temperatures exceeding 45°C, pervasive sand and dust particulates, and atmospheric salinity. Grounded in Reliability Engineering Theory and the Bathtub Curve model, the research evaluates three controllable operational variables: refrigerant selection, compressor maintenance practices, and coil/filter maintenance protocols. Using a structured survey instrument administered to 85 engineering and technical personnel across RASCO's service facilities, data were analyzed through descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and multiple linear regression. Results demonstrate that all three factors significantly influence operational reliability, with compressor maintenance practices emerging as the strongest predictor (β = 0.358, p < 0.001), followed by coil/filter maintenance (β = 0.312, p = 0.001), and refrigerant selection (β = 0.284, p = 0.002). The regression model explained 64.3% of the variance in operational reliability (R² = 0.643, F(3,81) = 48.62, p < 0.001). These findings provide empirical validation for transitioning from reactive maintenance to condition-based predictive strategies, implementing adaptive weather-responsive cleaning schedules, and establishing standardized refrigerant management protocols. The study contributes to bridging the research gap between HVAC engineering and industrial reliability theory in extreme climate contexts, offering actionable insights for facility managers to optimize system uptime, reduce lifecycle costs, enhance energy efficiency, and maintain safe working conditions in desert industrial environments.
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