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American Journal of Public Health Research
DOI: 10.12691/ajphr-1-1-3

The Implementation of a Tele-Homecare System with Service Oriented Architecture and HL7 Message Transmission Standard
Ching-Sung Wang

American Journal of Medical and Biological Research
DOI: 10.12691/ajmbr-1-1-2

The Influence of Ethanol on Pyruvate Kinases Activity in Vivo, in Vitro, in Silico
Lelevich Sergey Vladimirovich, Khrustalev Vladislav Victorovich, Barkovsky Eugene Victorovich, Shedogubova Tatyana Aleksandrovna

American Journal of Medical Sciences and Medicine
DOI: 10.12691/ajmsm-1-1-1

Clinical and Histological Features in Wegener Granulomatosis
Li Cavoli Gioacchino, Passantino Rita, Bono Luisa, Tortorici Calogera, Ferrantelli Angelo, Giammarresi Carlo, Rotolo Ugo

American Journal of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology
DOI: 10.12691/ajidm-1-1-2

The Curse of Lymphatic Filariasis: Would the Continual Use of Diethylcarbamazine Eliminate this Scourge in Papua New Guinea?
Anne Lanham, Lillian Mwanri

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Label_Title

Dear Label_Name,

Greetings! I hope you are well.

I am writing on behalf of an international publishing house, Science and Education Publishing, USA (http://www.sciepub.com).

Science and Education Publishing (SciEP) is a multidisciplinary open access publisher of Journals covering the fields of Science, Technology and Medicine. All SciEP publications are subject to high-quality peer review, editorial and production processes and are freely available online.

Welcome to the April, 2013 edition of SciEP newsletter, providing monthly summaries of articles on science & education related topics of interest to scientist and professionals. The mission of our journals is to provide an open access forum for publishing new findings on issues pertinent to scientific and academic field. We also invite you to submit original research papers, review articles, short reports, or case studies are considered for publication in our Multidisciplinary Journals.

American Journal of Public Health Research
DOI: 10.12691/ajphr-1-1-3

The Implementation of a Tele-Homecare System with Service Oriented Architecture and HL7 Message Transmission Standard
Ching-Sung Wang

American Journal of Medical and Biological Research
DOI: 10.12691/ajmbr-1-1-2

The Influence of Ethanol on Pyruvate Kinases Activity in Vivo, in Vitro, in Silico
Lelevich Sergey Vladimirovich, Khrustalev Vladislav Victorovich, Barkovsky Eugene Victorovich, Shedogubova Tatyana Aleksandrovna

American Journal of Medical Sciences and Medicine
DOI: 10.12691/ajmsm-1-1-1

Clinical and Histological Features in Wegener Granulomatosis
Li Cavoli Gioacchino, Passantino Rita, Bono Luisa, Tortorici Calogera, Ferrantelli Angelo, Giammarresi Carlo, Rotolo Ugo

American Journal of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology
DOI: 10.12691/ajidm-1-1-2

The Curse of Lymphatic Filariasis: Would the Continual Use of Diethylcarbamazine Eliminate this Scourge in Papua New Guinea?
Anne Lanham, Lillian Mwanri

We have released issues of some journals on February 2013.
American Journal of Public Health Research
American Journal of Medical Sciences and Medicine
American Journal of Medical and Biological Research
American Journal of Pharmacological Sciences
American Journal of Clinical Medicine Research
American Journal of Nursing Research
American Journal of Cancer Prevention
American Journal of Medicine Studies
American Journal of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology
American Journal of Cardiovascular Disease Research
American Journal of Biomedical Research
American Journal of Mechanical Engineering
American Journal of Microbiological Research
Journal of Preventive Medicine
American Journal of Food and Nutrition
American Journal of Hypertension Research
American Journal of Sports Science and Medicine
Journal of Cancer Research and Treatment
American Journal of Zoological Research
Journal of Biomedical Engineering and Technology
American Journal of Microbiological Research
Biomedical Science and Engineering

We are pleased to announce that submissions are now being accepted for peer review for all the journals across all our subject areas in SciEP.

Please submit your manuscript via our online submission system:
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Performance-Based Selection of Diesel Generator Using the Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS)

Friday Erhimudia Ukrakpor*, Musa Momodu Omokhafe, Chukwuka Uboh

Department of Mechanical Engineering, Delta State University, Abraka, Nigeria

Abstract: The selection of diesel generators is a critical decision in environments requiring reliable and uninterrupted power supply. This study presents a structured multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) approach for evaluating and selecting the most suitable diesel generator using the Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS). Four key performance criteria, fuel consumption, lifespan, estimated maintenance time, and mean time between failures (MTBF)were considered. Criteria weights were determined using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), ensuring consistency and objectivity. A case study involving four 75 kVA diesel generator alternatives was conducted. The results indicate that Alternative C achieved the highest closeness coefficient (0.970), making it the most preferred option due to its superior reliability, longer lifespan, and lower maintenance requirements. The study demonstrates the effectiveness of integrating AHP and TOPSIS for rational and data-driven decision-making in equipment selection.

Keywords: Diesel generator, TOPSIS, AHP, multi-criteria decision-making, MTBF, performance evaluation

Received March 10, 2026; Revised April 12, 2026; Accepted April 19, 2026

Citation: Friday Erhimudia Ukrakpor, Musa Momodu Omokhafe, Chukwuka Uboh, Performance-Based Selection of Diesel Generator Using the Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS). American Journal of Industrial Engineering, 10 (1). 8-11. January 2026. doi:10.12691/ajie-10-1-1

1. Introduction

Reliable power supply is fundamental to industrial, commercial, and residential operations. However, persistent instability in national power grids, particularly in developing regions, necessitates the use of backup power systems such as diesel generators [1,2,3]. Diesel generators are widely preferred due to their durability, cost-effectiveness, and fuel availability [4,5].

Selecting an appropriate diesel generator constitutes a complex decision-making problem involving multiple, often conflicting criteria, including fuel consumption, lifespan, estimated maintenance time, and mean time between failures (MTBF) [6,7,8]. Traditional selection approaches based solely on cost or brand are inadequate and may result in suboptimal long-term performance [3,9].

To overcome this limitation, this study applies a multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) approach using the Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS). This method facilitates the systematic evaluation of alternatives based on their relative proximity to ideal and negative-ideal solutions, thereby ensuring a robust and objective selection process [10,11,12].

2. Methodology

The analysis of the alternatives was conducted using the following approach [13,14,15].

2.1. Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS)

The Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) was developed by Hwang and Yoon in 1981 to address decision-making problems involving multiple, often conflicting criteria [16]. The method was applied in this study through the following steps:

• Normalized Decision Matrix (R):

The decision matrix was normalized using vector normalization

• Weighted Normalized Decision Matrix:

Each normalized value was multiplied by its corresponding weight (obtained from AHP)

• Determination of Ideal Solutions:

The positive ideal solution (A⁺) and negative ideal solution (A⁻) were determined by maximizing benefit criteria (lifespan and MTBF) and minimizing cost criteria (fuel consumption and maintenance time).

• Separation Measures:

The distances from the ideal and negative-ideal solutions were computed as

• ClosenessCoefficient:

The relative closeness to the ideal solution was calculated as

3. Result

Table 1. Surveyed Data

Table 2. Description of Criteria

Table 3. Saaty scale (1-9)

3.1. Criteria Weighting Justification

The criteria-weighting order obtained from the AHP reflects the relative importance of each criterion based on pairwise comparisons and the decision objective. In this study, MTBF received the highest weight due to its critical role in ensuring system reliability and minimizing downtime. Lifespan was ranked second as it represents long-term durability, while maintenance and fuel consumption were assigned lower weights as they primarily influence operational cost rather than system performance. This weighting structure highlights the prioritization of reliability and sustainability over short-term cost considerations.

Table 4. Comparison Matrix

Table 5. Each Column Summation

Table 6. Normalized Matrix

Each element in Table 4 was divided by the sum of its respective columns in Table 5.

3.2. Final Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) Weighting

The AHP weights were obtained by averaging each row of the normalized matrix. For example, the weight for Fuel is calculated as:

(0.10 + 0.087 + 0.077 + 0.120)/4 = 0.095

Lifespan = 0.284, Maintenance = 0.170, MTBF = 0.451 respectively.

Table 7. Normalized Decision Matrix

Table 8. Weighted Normalized Decision Matrix

Table 9. Separation Measures

Table 10. Closeness Coefficient and Final Ranking

Figure 1. Graphical Representation of the Result

The results displayed on Figure 1 shows Alternative C is the most preferred diesel generator. This is primarily due to:

• Highest MTBF (3500 hours), indicating superior reliability.

• Longest lifespan (10 years).

• Lowest maintenance requirement (3 hours).

Although Alternative C has the highest fuel consumption, its advantages in reliability and durability outweigh this drawback. This highlights the importance of using a multi-criteria approach rather than relying on a single factor such as cost.

The integration of AHP and TOPSIS proved effective in balancing conflicting criteria and providing a rational basis for decision-making.

4. Conclusion and Recommendations

4.1. Conclusion

This study demonstrates the applicability of the TOPSIS method in selecting the most suitable diesel generator based on multiple performance criteria. By incorporating AHP-derived weights, the approach ensures consistency and objectivity in evaluation.

The findings confirm that Alternative C is the optimal choice, offering the best trade-off among fuel consumption, lifespan, maintenance, and reliability. The proposed methodology provides a robust framework for decision-makers in engineering and procurement.

4.2. Recommendations

• Organizations should adopt MCDM methods such as TOPSIS for equipment selection.

• Future studies should include additional criteria such as emissions, noise levels, and acquisition cost.

• Sensitivity analysis should be conducted to evaluate the impact of weight variations.

Real-world data should be incorporated to validate the model further.

References

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