Monitoring and Control

Fraunhofer ITWM

The research work of this group is focused on the development and implementation of mathematical methods for system modeling and for observer and controller design.

Main applications are technical systems, such as monitoring of turbine generator shaft lines, active vibration damping within adaptronic systems or temperature control of fluid systems.

Our  consultant and support services include modeling and simulation of your overall system, design of a (model-based) robust observer/controller, analyses of the performance and robustness of the resulting system or integration of the solutions into hardware systems. We offer rapid prototyping solutions as well as complete solution including hardware, controller/observer design and graphical user interface.

Projects and Products

  • Toolbox for monitoring Cracks in power Plant shaft lines

    Critical operating states can be initiated in a power plant shaft lines by a number of various structural mechanical conditions, for example, cracks, bearing faults, coupling damage, imbalance as well as interruptions in the electric grid.

  • Automated, robust controller design for active vibration damping

    The controller design plays an important role in the design of an active vibration damping system. Only in the optimal interplay between structure and controller can the best possible damping be attained.

  • TORSYS (only in German)

    The compensation of the run-out signal of the magnetostrictive torque sensor is the focus of this project.

Competences

  • Models - FE-Models, Neuronal Networks, Local Model Networks
  • System analysis - Sensitivity Analysis, Sensor- und Actor Placement
  • Numerical and Symbolic Model Reduction
  • Parameter Identification and Model Upadating
  • Observer/Controller Design
more details

Methods and Algorithms

Models - FE-Models, Neuronal Networks, Local Model Networks

Based on measurements for physical relationships we generate a mathematical model in MATLAB/Simulink or import your system models from standard FE-Tools (Ansys, Abacus,....).

System analysis - Sensitivity Analysis, Sensor- und Actor Placement
Numerical and Symbolic Model Reduction

To end up with an online-capable controller or observer within model based approaches the dimension of the underlying model has to be reduced. The methods have to be chosen in such a way that the dynamics of the original and reduced model within a chosen frequency range match within a given tolerance band.

Parameter Identification and Model Upadating

Based on measurement data we identify unknown model parameters or  we update the numerical parameters of the systems mathematical model such that they reflect reality in the best possible way. The measurement data can be frequency responses or modal data.

Observer/Controller Design

Based on frequency responses or based on a  mathematical model we design a controller or on observer which fits optimal your performance and robustness specifications.

Modeling, Design- and Simulation Tools

  • System: ANSYS, Matlab/Simulink, Dymola
  • Modeling Languages: Matlab/Simulink, Modelica