Plant performance, analysis reconciliation

MacDonald, R.J. and C.S. Howat, Data Reconciliation and Parameter Estimation in Plant Performance Analysis, AlChE Journal, 34(1), 1988, 1-8. (Parameter estimation)... 

Historical Definition Plant-performance analysis has been defined as the reconciliation, rectification, and interpretation of plant... 

MacDonald, R. Howat, C.S. Data reconciliation and parameter estimation in plant performance Analysis. AIChE J. 1998, 34 (1), 1-8. 

Chemical process data inherently contain some degree of error, and this error may be random or systematic. Thus, the application of data reconciliation techniques allows optimal adjustment of measurement values to satisfy material and energy constraints. It also makes possible the estimation of unmeasured variables. It should be emphasized that, in today s highly competitive world market, resolving even small errors can lead to significant improvements in plant performance and economy. This book attempts to provide a comprehensive statement, analysis, and discussion of the main issues that emerge in the treatment and reconciliation of plant data. 

All of the previous ideas are developed further in Chapter 8, where the analysis of dynamic and quasi-steady-state processes is considered. Chapter 9 is devoted to the general problem of joint parameter estimation-data reconciliation, an important issue in assessing plant performance. In addition, some techniques for estimating the covariance matrix from the measurements are discussed in Chapter 10. New trends in this field are summarized in Chapter 11, and the last chapter is devoted to illustrations of the application of the previously presented techniques to various practical cases. 

For modelling mass flows and the link between concentrate input and neutral leach residue output, a regression analysis using non-parametric methods (in this case, neural networks) was applied. Intensive analysis and preparation of the available plant data (data reconciliation) had to be performed to produce the database used for modelling. 

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