Observer-based FDIA: application to an electromechanical positioning system

This paper discusses research carried-out by ALSTOM POWER on the development and validation (on laboratory scale plant) of an observer-based fault detection identification and accommodation (FDIA) system for an electromechanical actuator. Three separate linear observers (or Kalman filters) are used to detect and identify faults corresponding to the system's three sensors. Having successfully detected a sensor fault, a reconstructed measure of that output signal (generated from an observer not associated with that sensor) is used to replace the measured signal for feedback control. This ensures that the system can continue to function effectively even after a sensor failure. The experimental results demonstrate that this approach could significantly enhance the post-fault availability of such systems. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.