Application software for performance monitoring

During recent years, control loop performance monitoring has been a topic of interest in both academic and industrial circles because the method gives non-intrusive insight into the operation of control loops. Many useful results have been obtained through research, however, their industrial applications are just starting. The main reason is the lack of good application software for implementation. In this thesis, an integrated loop monitoring software system was developed. On one hand, it provides comprehensive performance monitoring tools, including process data analysis in both time domain and frequency domain, loop oscillation detection, valve friction detection, and performance index calculation. On the other hand, it integrates all the user-system interfaces from a distributed control system (DCS) into PC networks. Two direct benefits of this approach are: first, it shields the critical DCS system from user errors, avoiding potential damage to the industrial process; second, it presents a friendly graphic user interface (GUI) to the user, making the whole system much easier to use. The whole software system was developed in an industrial environment, and preliminary evaluation has been carried out.Applied Science, Faculty ofElectrical and Computer Engineering, Department ofGraduat