# US 10,606,254 B2 · Method for improving process/equipment fault diagnosis > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,606,254 B2 - Document ID: US10606254B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/265,517 - Filed: 2016-09-14 - Published: 2018-03-15 - Granted: 2020-03-31 - Earliest claimed: 2016-09-14 - Assignees: Emerson Process Management Power & Water Solutions, Inc. - Applicants: Emerson Process Management Power & Water Solutions, Inc. - Inventors: Xu Cheng; Azime Can-Cimino; Richard W. Kephart - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10606254B2 ## CPC - G05B 23/027: {Alarm generation, e.g. communication protocol; Forms of alarm} - G05B 23/0237: {based on parallel systems, e.g. comparing signals produced at the same time by same type systems and detect faulty ones by noticing differences among their responses} - G05B 23/0243: {model based detection method, e.g. first-principles knowledge model} - G05B 2219/34457: Emit alarm signal - G05B 2219/42132: Correct, modify position table, model if detected error too large - G05B: CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS OR ELEMENTS (systems for controlling or regulating non-electric variables G05D; systems for regulating electric or magnetic variables G05F; control devices or systems insofar as characterised by mechanical features only G05G) ## Abstract Systems and approaches for error detection detect discrepancies in industrial equipment by comparing a particular asset to similar industrial assets running in parallel to the particular asset. An error detection unit detects a difference between an estimated and actual output of the asset. Based on the magnitude of the difference, the error detection unit determines whether an input value of the particular asset is similar to input values of the plurality of industrial assets and whether an output value of the particular asset is similar to output values of the plurality of industrial assets. If the input value of the particular asset is similar to the input values of the plurality of industrial assets and the output value of the particular asset is not similar to the output values of the plurality of industrial assets, then the error detection system sets an alarm. However, if the input value of the particular asset is not similar to the input values of the plurality of industrial assets, the error detection system considers whether to adapt the process model for the particular asset to account for a new process state or condition not considered when creating the process model for the particular asset. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for detecting an error in an industrial asset operating synchronously with similar industrial assets, the method comprising: obtaining a process model for each of a plurality of industrial assets; synchronously executing a process using the plurality of industrial assets and the process model for each of the plurality of industrial assets; for a particular asset, determining an error value from a difference between an actual output of the particular asset and a predicted output of the particular asset produced using the process model for the particular asset; based on the error value, determining whether an input value of the particular asset is similar to input values of the plurality of industrial assets and whether an output value of the particular asset is similar to output values of the plurality of industrial assets; wherein if the input value of the particular asset is similar to the input values of the plurality of industrial assets and the output value of the particular asset is not similar to the output values of the plurality of industrial assets, triggering an alarm indicating an error in the particular asset. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein if the input value of the particular asset is not similar to the input values of the plurality of industrial assets, determining whether the input value of the particular asset was accounted for in development of the process model for the particular asset. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein if the input value of the particular asset was accounted for in the development of the process model for the particular asset, triggering the alarm indicating an error in the particular asset. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein if the input value of the particular asset was not accounted for in the development of the process model for the particular asset, adapting the process model based on the input value of the particular asset. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein if the input value of the particular asset is similar to the input values of the plurality of industrial assets and the output value of the particular asset is similar to the output values of the plurality of industrial assets, adapting the process model for the particular asset based on the input value of the particular asset and the output value for the particular asset. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein determining the error value includes comparing the error value to a threshold value. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the input values of the plurality of industrial assets comprise calculated average normal input values and the output values of the plurality of industrial assets comprise calculated average normal output values. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether the input value of the particular asset is similar to the input values of the plurality of industrial assets includes determining an average normal input value from the input values of the plurality of industrial assets and wherein determining whether the output value of the particular asset is similar to the output values of the plurality of industrial assets includes determining an average normal output value from the output values of the plurality of industrial assets. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether the input value of the particular asset is similar to the input values of the plurality of industrial assets includes excluding the input value of the particular asset from the input values of the plurality of industrial assets and wherein determining whether the output value of the particular asset is similar to the output values of the plurality of industrial assets includes excluding the output value of the particular asset from the output values of the plurality of industrial assets. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether the input value of the particular asset is similar to the input values of the plurality of industrial assets comprises performing an input similarity test over a specified period of time, and wherein determining whether the output value of the particular asset is similar to the output values of the plurality of industrial assets comprises performing an output similarity test over a specified period of time. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising performing, for each of the plurality of assets as the particular asset, the steps of (1) determining an error value from a difference between an actual output of the particular asset and a predicted output of the particular asset produced using the process model for the particular asset, (2) based on the error value, determining whether an input value of the particular asset is similar to input values of the plurality of industrial assets and whether an output value of the particular asset is similar to output values of the plurality of industrial assets, and (3) if the input value of the particular asset is similar to the input values of the plurality of industrial assets and the output value of the particular asset is not similar to the output values of the plurality of industrial assets, triggering an alarm indicating an error in the particular asset. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the input value of the particular industrial asset is a vector and wherein the input values of the plurality of industrial assets are vectors. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the output value of the particular industrial asset is a vector and wherein the output values of the plurality of industrial assets are vectors. ### Claim 14 A method for adapting a process model in real time, the method comprising: obtaining a process model for each of a plurality of industrial assets; synchronously executing a process using the plurality of industrial assets and the process model for each of the plurality of industrial assets; for a particular industrial asset, determining an error value from a difference between an actual output of the particular asset and a predicted output of the particular asset produced using the process model for the particular asset; based on the error value, determining whether an input value of the particular asset is similar to input values of the plurality of industrial assets and whether an output value of the particular asset is similar to output values of the plurality of industrial assets; wherein if the input value of the particular asset is similar to the input values of the plurality of industrial assets, adapting the process model for the particular asset. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein adapting the process model includes adapting the process model for the particular asset based on the input value of the particular asset and the output value for the particular asset. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein if the input value of the particular asset is similar to the input values of the plurality of industrial assets and the output value of the particular asset is not similar to the output values of the plurality of industrial assets, triggering an alarm indicating an error in the particular asset. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein if the input value of the particular asset is similar to the input values of the plurality of industrial assets and the output value of the particular asset is similar to the output values of the plurality of industrial assets, adapting the process model for the particular asset. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein if the input value of the particular asset is not similar to the input values of the plurality of industrial assets, determining whether a process state defined by the input value of the particular asset was accounted for in development of the process model for the particular asset. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein if the process state defined by the input value of the particular asset was accounted for in the development of the process model, triggering an alarm indicating an error in the particular asset. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein if the process state defined by the input value of the particular asset was not accounted for in the development of the process model, adapting the process model based on the input value of the particular asset. ### Claim 21 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein determining the error value includes comparing the error value to a threshold value. ### Claim 22 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the input values of the plurality of industrial assets comprise calculated average normal input values and the output values of the plurality of industrial assets comprise calculated average normal output values. ### Claim 23 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein determining whether the input value of the particular asset is similar to the input values of the plurality of industrial assets includes determining an average normal input value from the input values of the plurality of industrial assets and wherein determining whether the output value of the particular asset is similar to the output values of the plurality of industrial assets includes determining an average normal output value from the output values of the plurality of industrial assets. ### Claim 24 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein determining whether the input value of the particular asset is similar to the input values of the plurality of industrial assets includes excluding the input value of the particular asset from the input values of the plurality of industrial assets and wherein determining whether the output value of the particular asset is similar to the output values of the plurality of industrial assets includes excluding the output value of the particular asset from the output values of the plurality of industrial assets. ### Claim 25 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein determining whether the input value of the particular asset is similar to the input values of the plurality of industrial assets comprises performing an input similarity test over a specified period of time, and wherein determining whether the output value of the particular asset is similar to the output values of the plurality of industrial assets comprises performing an output similarity test over a specified period of time. ### Claim 26 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, further comprising performing, for each of the plurality of assets as the particular asset, the steps of (1) determining an error value from a difference between an actual output of the particular asset and a predicted output of the particular asset produced using the process model for the particular asset, (2) based on the error value, determining whether an input value of the particular asset is similar to input values of the plurality of industrial assets and whether an output value of the particular asset is similar to output values of the plurality of industrial assets, and (3) if the input value of the particular asset is similar to the input values of the plurality of industrial assets and the output value of the particular asset is similar to the output values of the plurality of industrial assets, adapting the process model for the particular asset. ### Claim 27 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the input value of the particular industrial asset is a vector and wherein the input values of the plurality of industrial assets are vectors. ### Claim 28 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the output value of the particular industrial asset is a vector and wherein the output values of the plurality of industrial assets are vectors. ### Claim 29 An error detection system comprising: a plurality of industrial assets; a control unit communicatively connected to the plurality of industrial assets to control operation of the plurality of industrial assets such that the plurality of industrial assets operate in parallel to each other; and an error detection unit adapted to detect a discrepancy in the operation of a particular industrial asset; wherein upon detecting the discrepancy in the operation of the particular industrial asset, the error detection unit determines whether an input value of the particular industrial asset is similar to input values of the plurality of industrial assets and whether an output value of the particular industrial asset is similar to output values of the plurality of industrial assets, wherein if the input value of the particular industrial asset is similar to the input values of the plurality of industrial assets and the output value of the particular industrial asset is not similar to the output values of the plurality of industrial assets, the error detection unit generates an alarm indicating an error in the particular industrial asset. ### Claim 30 (depends on 29) The error detection system of claim 29, wherein if the input value of the particular industrial asset is not similar to the input values of the plurality of industrial assets, the error detection unit determines whether the input value of the particular industrial asset was accounted for in development of a process model for the particular industrial asset. ### Claim 31 (depends on 30) The error detection system of claim 30, wherein if the input value of the particular industrial asset was accounted for in the development of the process model for the particular industrial asset, the error detection unit generates an alarm indicating an error in the particular industrial asset. ### Claim 32 (depends on 30) The error detection system of claim 30, wherein if the input value of the particular industrial asset was not accounted for in the development of the process model for the particular industrial asset, the error detection unit adapts the process model based on the input value and the output value of the particular industrial asset. ### Claim 33 (depends on 29) The error detection system of claim 29, wherein if the input value of the particular industrial asset is similar to the input values of the plurality of industrial assets and the output value of the particular industrial asset is similar to the output values of the plurality of industrial assets, the error detection unit adapts a process model for the particular industrial asset based on the input value of the particular industrial asset and the output value of the particular industrial asset. ### Claim 34 (depends on 29) The error detection system of claim 29, wherein the error detection unit comprises a process model generator adapted to generate a process model for one or more the plurality industrial assets and wherein the error detection unit detects the discrepancy in the particular industrial asset by comparing an error value determined by the error detection unit to a threshold value. ### Claim 35 (depends on 34) The error detection system of claim 34, wherein the error detection unit determines the input values of the plurality of industrial assets by calculating an average normal input value from measured input values of the plurality of industrial assets and wherein the error detection unit is adapted to calculate the output values of the plurality of industrial assets by calculating an average normal output value from measured output values of the plurality of industrial assets. ### Claim 36 (depends on 34) The error detection system of claim 34, wherein the error detection unit is adapted to calculate the input values of the plurality of industrial assets by excluding the input value of the particular industrial asset and wherein the error detection unit is adapted to calculate the output values of the plurality of industrial assets by excluding the output value of the particular industrial asset. ### Claim 37 (depends on 29) The error detection system of claim 29, wherein for each of the plurality of industrial assets as the particular industrial asset, the error detection unit performs the steps of (1) determining whether an input value of the particular industrial asset is similar to input values of the plurality of industrial assets and whether an output value of the particular industrial asset is similar to output values of the plurality of industrial assets, and (2) generating an alarm indicating an error in the particular industrial asset if the input value of the particular industrial asset is similar to the input values of the plurality of industrial assets and the output value of the particular industrial asset is not similar to the output values of the plurality of industrial assets. ### Claim 38 A process model adaptation system comprising: a plurality of industrial assets; a control unit communicatively connected to the plurality of industrial assets to control operation of the plurality of industrial assets such that the plurality of industrial assets operate in parallel to each other; and an error detection unit adapted to detect a discrepancy in a particular industrial asset; wherein upon detecting the discrepancy in the particular industrial asset, the error detection unit determines whether an input value of the particular industrial asset is similar to input values of the plurality of industrial assets and whether an output value of the particular industrial asset is similar to output values of the plurality of industrial assets, wherein if the input value of the particular industrial asset is similar to the input values of the plurality of industrial assets, the error detection unit adapts a process model for the particular industrial asset. ### Claim 39 (depends on 38) The process model adaptation system of claim 38, wherein the error detection unit adapts the process model for the particular industrial asset based on the input value of the particular industrial asset and the output value of the particular industrial asset. ### Claim 40 (depends on 38) The process model adaptation system of claim 38, wherein if the input value of the particular industrial asset is similar to the input values of the plurality of industrial assets and the output value of the particular industrial asset is not similar to the output values of the plurality of industrial assets, the error detection unit triggers an alarm indicating an error in operation of the particular industrial asset. ### Claim 41 (depends on 38) The process model adaptation system of claim 38, wherein if the input value of the particular asset is similar to the input values of the plurality of industrial assets and the output value of the particular asset is similar to the output values of the plurality of industrial assets, the error detection unit adapts the process model for the particular asset. ### Claim 42 (depends on 38) The process model adaptation system of claim 38, wherein if the input value of the particular industrial asset is not similar to the input values of the plurality of industrial assets, the error detection unit determines whether the input value of the particular industrial asset was accounted for in development of the process model for the particular industrial asset. ### Claim 43 (depends on 42) The process model adaptation system of claim 42, wherein if the input value of the particular industrial asset was accounted for in the development of the process model for the particular industrial asset, the error detection unit triggers an alarm indicating an error in the particular industrial asset. ### Claim 44 (depends on 42) The process model adaptation system of claim 42, wherein if the input value of the particular industrial asset was not accounted for in the development of the process model for the particular industrial asset, the error detection unit adapts the process model based on the input value of the particular industrial asset. ### Claim 45 (depends on 38) The process model adaptation system of claim 38, wherein the control unit comprises a process controller adapted to generate one or more control signals for executing a process which controls each of the plurality of industrial assets, and wherein the error detection unit executes the process model for each of the plurality of industrial assets synchronously with the control unit controlling the process, includes a process model generator adapted to generate the process model for one or more of the plurality of industrial assets, and detects the discrepancy in the particular industrial asset by comparing an error value to a threshold value. ### Claim 46 (depends on 45) The process model adaptation system of claim 45, wherein the error detection unit calculates the input values of the plurality of industrial assets by calculating an average normal input value from measured input values of the plurality of industrial assets and wherein the error detection unit is adapted to calculate the output values of the plurality of industrial assets by calculating an average normal output value from measured output values of the plurality of industrial assets. ### Claim 47 (depends on 45) The process model adaptation system of claim 45, wherein the error detection unit calculates the input values of the plurality of industrial assets by excluding the input value of the particular industrial asset and wherein the error detection unit is adapted to calculate the output values of the plurality of industrial assets by excluding the output value of the particular industrial asset. ### Claim 48 (depends on 38) The process model adaptation of claim 38, wherein for each of the plurality of industrial assets as the particular industrial asset, the error detection unit performs the steps of (1) determining whether an input value of the particular industrial asset is similar to input values of the plurality of industrial assets and whether an output value of the particular industrial asset is similar to output values of the plurality of industrial assets, and (2) adapting a process model for the particular industrial asset if the input value of the particular industrial asset is similar to the input values of the plurality of industrial assets and the output value of the particular industrial asset is similar to the output values of the plurality of industrial assets.