Fault detection and isolation for state affine systems (Q1130303)

The problem of residual generation for fault detection and isolation (FDI) in state affine systems is studied. The fundamental problems of residual generation is stated for state affine systems up to output injection. Sufficient conditions for the existence of a solution is presented by making use of Kalman-like observers. The connection between these results and the geometric theory of FDI for linear systems is shown. By particularising the results to bilinear systems, the following facts are obtained: First, the use of Kalman-like observers allows to design residual generators for a larger class of bilinear systems than the class of systems which can be treated by existing methods. This is illustrated by means of the synthesis of a diagnosis system for a chemical reactor. Furthermore, the design of a residual generator essentially amounts to the computation of a specific unobservability subspace, in a particular case.