Model based fault diagnosis in a centrifugal pump application using structural analysis

A model based approach for fault detection and isolation in a centrifugal pump is proposed in this paper. The fault detection algorithm is derived using a combination of structural analysis, analytical redundant relations (ARR) and observer designs. Structural considerations on the system are used to identify four subsystems each sensitive to a subset of the faults under consideration. Either an ARR or a residual observer is designed for each of the four subsystems. The four obtained residuals are then used for fault isolation. The applicability of the algorithm is illustrated by applying it to an industrial benchmark. The benchmark tests have shown that the algorithm is capable of detection and isolation of five different faults in the mechanical and hydraulic parts of the pump.