Sensor fault diagnosis based on energy balance evaluation: application to a metal processing

This paper deals with the design of a residual generator for fault detection and isolation in the dynamic closed-loop systems based on the balance of energy which "enters" and "leaves" plants. The main contribution of this paper consists in developing a suitable fault detection and isolation technique to detect faults in single-input single-output closed-loop system based on major signals without the requirement of an accurate static or dynamic model. Indeed, in the absence of conventional input-output models, the proposed method involves the on-line energy balance evaluation to detect a sensor fault. The application to the monitoring of a galvanizing line in steel industry shows the effectiveness of the suggested approach when a sensor fault occurs.