Introduction to the DAMADICS actuator FDI benchmark study

This paper provides the description and presentation of the actuator benchmark used in fault diagnosis studies within the DAMADICS European Research Training Network presented in the papers of this special issue. The benchmark system is openly available, is FDI method-independent and based on an in-depth study of the phenomena that can lead to likely faults in valve actuator systems. The study uses a detailed consideration of the physical and electro-mechanical properties of an intelligent industrial actuator and includes typical engineering requirements of an actuator valve operating under challenging process conditions, e.g. provision of a set of performance indices for evaluating the results. The industrial application is focused on the sugar factory Cukrownia Lublin SA, Poland.