A monitor is developed to automatically detect poor control performance. It provides a measure (relative performance index}RPI) of a control-loop performance relative to a reference model of acceptable control. The reference model simulates the controlled variable output of a user-defined, acceptably tuned control loop. The inputs to the reference model are the setpoints (same as the true plant) and the disturbances (estimated from the measurements). The monitor uses routine plant operation data only. Pending ability to obtain temporally accurate process models, and the validity of process measurements, simulations and experiments show that the monitor can detect the poor control performance caused by improper controller parameter values or changes in plant characteristics, and can distinguish it from poor performance caused by external disturbances.

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