Model predictive control monitoring using multivariate statistics

Control loop monitoring has become an important research field over the past decade. Research has primarily targeted single-input single-output (SISO) feedback control systems with limited progress being made on the monitoring of multi-input multi-output (MIMO) control systems and large scale model predictive control (MPC) systems in particular. The size and complexity of MPC systems means that identifying and diagnosing problems with their operation can be challenging. This paper presents an MPC condition monitoring tool based on multivariate statistical process control (MSPC) techniques. The proposed tool uses intuitive charts to enable casual users of MPC technology to detect abnormal controller operation and to identify possible causes for this behaviour. Through its application to data collected from a large scale MPC system, the proposed technique is shown to be able to identify and diagnose poor control performance resulting from various issues including inappropriate interaction by process operators.