Monitoring data from plant sensors and using a complexity measure to assess predictability

摘要

Disclosed is a system (10) for controlling an industrial plant (12). The system comprises automatic control equipment (14) which has a plurality of measurement sensors (16) for sensing predetermined variables associated with components of the industrial plant. The sensors generate measured data relating to operation of the components of the industrial plant. A database (20) contains operational data, including observational data, regarding the industrial plant. A processor (18) is in communication with the automatic control equipment and the database for receiving the measured data from the sensors of the automatic control equipment and the operational data from the database. The processor manipulates the measured and operational data to provide an evolving description of a process condition of each component over time, along with output information relating to operational control of the industrial plant and for updating the database.