Fault Detection using Principal Component Analysis and Mean Value Modeling in a 2 MW gas engine

Abstract

This paper describes the combination of statistical techniques and mathematical modeling in order to developed a fault detection system in a 2 MW natural gas engine under actual operation conditions. The Mixing chamber, turbochargers, intake and exhaust manifolds, cylinders, throttle and bypass valves, and the electric generator, which are the main components of the gas engine, were studied under a mean value engine to complement the statistical analysis. Objective: The main objective of this paper is to integrate two approaches in order to relate the faults with the changes of mean thermodynamic values of the system, helping to sustain the engine in optimal operating conditions in terms of reliability. The Principal Component Analysis (PCA), a multivariate statistical fault detection technique, was used to analyze the historical data from the gas engine to detect abnormal operation conditions, by means of statistical measures such as Square Prediction Error (SPE) and T2. These abnormal operation conditions are categorized using cluster techniques and contributions plots, to later examine its causes with the support of the results of a mean value mathematical model proposed for the system. The integration of the proposed methods allowed successfully identify which component or components of the engine might be malfunctioning. Once combined, these two methods were able to accurately predict and identify faults as well as shut downs of the gas engine during a month of operation. Statistical analysis was used to detect faults on a 2 MW industrial gas engine, also the result were compared with a mean value model in order to detect variations of the thermodynamic properties of the system at abnormal conditions.