Method for monitoring plants with mechanical components

A method for monitoring plants with mechanical components that can be operated at variable working points, the method comprising:

• determining measured values (xiT;
• xiU) during the operation of the components, the measured values being determined in each case at predeterminable time intervals for a fixed set of parameters (xi);
• using the measured values (xiT) that are determined during a modeling phase for various working points for the generation of a model (A) for the operating behavior of the components without determination of the physical relationships between the parameters, wherein the input variables of the model are at least a portion of the set of the parameters (xi) and the output values comprise a model value (ynT) for at least one of the parameters (xn), wherein a residue (rT) is formed in each case through comparison of the respective model value (ynT) with the corresponding actual measured value (xnT) of the modeling phase, and wherein the model is optimized by termination of model parameters in such a manner that a modeling error (E) that is derivable from the residues (rT) is a minimum;
• deriving at least one monitoring value (r;
• snu) at predeterminable time intervals, the at least one monitoring value being derived with the help of the model of the operating behavior and being independent of the respective current working point;
• determining a threshold value for the monitoring value on the basis of the residues determined for the modeling phase;
• and
• using the temporal behavior of the monitoring value (r;
• snu) for estimating the wear in the components and/or the detection of operating disturbances.