Visualization of multivariate process data for fault detection and diagnosis

This report introduces the concept of three-dimensional (3D) radial plots for the visualization of multivariate large scale datasets in plant operations. A key concept of this representation of data is the introduction of time as the third dimension in a two dimensional radial plot, which allows for the display of time series data in any number of process variables. This report shows the ability of 3D radial plots to conduct systemic fault detection and classification in chemical processes through the use of confidence ellipses, which capture the desired operating region of process variables during a defined period of steady-state operation. Principal component analysis (PCA) is incorporated into the method to reduce multivariate interactions and the dimensionality of the data. The method is applied to two case studies with systemic faults present (compressor surge and column flooding) as well as data obtained from the Tennessee Eastman simulator, which contained localized faults. Fault classification using the interior angles of the radial plots is also demonstrated in the paper.