A methodology for robust fault detection in dynamic systems

This paper is concerned with the robust detection of abnormalities occurring in complex operations such as those found in industrial processes. A methodology for detection of process abnormalities is presented which uses only uncertain dynamic process models derived from historical operational data and little !a priori fault information. The emphasis of the methodology is to provide a robust, on-line abnormality detector. An illustration of the application of this methodology is given for the on-line detection of abnormal reactor temperature variations in an ethoxolate reactor. This case study exhibits many of the above issues arising in process monitoring. r 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.