Objective Objectives and content This research aims to furnish a methodology and the corresponding computer code for a diagnostic system which, when coupled to existing monitoring facilities for rotating machinery in power plants, would allow the nature, location and severity of faults and malfunctions to be identified with a high degree of confidence. The research is timely because most operators of large power plants have invested in modern computer based vibration monitoring systems which collect and store large amounts of data. Current technology does not make use of all the quantitative information in this data. The proposed diagnostic system, in contrast to all existing diagnostic tools, will be based on models of the rotor-bearing-foundation system and models of possible faults or malfunctions. Faults will be detected by comparing on-line data from plant and simulated output from the model using advanced computational methods. The system will provide the plant operator with better quantitative information concerning the plant condition, allowing more informed commercial and safety decisions regarding plant operation to be made. It would also allow residual life of plant to be estimated; an extremely important feature since within the European Community many power plants are more than 20 years old and approaching the end of their design life. The technology could be transferred to rotating machinery users in other European industrial sectors. The research will consist of the following main activities: - Definition of models: Models will be prepared for components and for the complete rotor-bearing-foundation system using system identification and parameter estimation techniques where required to maximise model accuracy. Models will include non-linearities where appropriate, they will incorporate sensitivity information to quantify their robustness and they will be optimised for efficient computation. - Definition and models of faults: Fault models, compatible with the system models, will be developed for each of the principal failure modes considered and used in the model based diagnostics. - Experimental verification: The reliability of the system and fault models will be verified using test rigs and full scale in-situ measurements on the industrial partners' power plant under various operating conditions. - Development of model-based diagnostic methodology: An intelligent diagnostic system, using advanced computation methods such as a neural network and/or knowledge based system will be developed. It will interface with all the available machine monitoring instrumentation together with data from the system and fault models. Part of this work will include an assessment of monitoring instrumentation and signal processing requirements. Fields of science engineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringelectronic engineeringsignal processingnatural sciencescomputer and information sciencescomputational sciencenatural sciencescomputer and information sciencessoftwaresoftware applicationssimulation softwarenatural sciencescomputer and information sciencesartificial intelligencecomputational intelligence Programme(s) FP4-BRITE/EURAM 3 - Specific research and technological development programme in the field of industrial and materials technologies, 1994-1998 Topic(s) 0104 - Safety and reliability of production systems Call for proposal Data not available Funding Scheme CSC - Cost-sharing contracts Coordinator University of Aston Address Aston triangle B4 7ET Birmingham GB See on map EU contribution € 0,00 Participants (6) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all E.ON UK PLC GB EU contribution € 0,00 Address Ratcliffe-on-soar NG11 0EE Nottingham See on map ENEL SpA Italy EU contribution € 0,00 Address Via alessandro volta 1 20093 Cologno monzese See on map Electricité de France France EU contribution € 0,00 Address 1,avenue du général de gaulle 92141 Clamart See on map NORWEGIAN UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY Norway EU contribution € 0,00 Address 10,otto nielsens veg 10 7450 Trondheim See on map POLYTECHNIC OF MILAN Italy EU contribution € 0,00 Address Campus bovisa, piazza la masa 34 20158 Milano See on map Technische Hochschule Darmstadt Germany EU contribution € 0,00 Address 1,hochschulstrasse 1 64289 Darmstadt See on map