Intelligent Condition Monitoring of Gas Compressor Engines

The intelligent condition monitoring of industrial plant is a rapidly expanding area of research. It combines two radically different disciplines: classical condition monitoring and intelligent knowledge-based systems. The paper presents an overview of the areas of orthodox condition monitoring systems, intelligent knowledge-based systems and intelligent condition monitoring. The paper also includes two examples of the diverse work underway in this area. Finally, there is a discussion of a current British Gas intelligent condition monitoring project, which is investigating the application of intelligent systems techniques to condition monitoring of gas compressor engines. This features a detailed summary of a particular element of the problem area. In addition the nature of the future development of this system is also discussed.