APPLICATION OF MULTIWAY PRINCIPAL COMPONENTS-ANALYSIS TO NUCLEAR WASTE STORAGE TANK MONITORING

Multivariate statistical process control (MSPC) techniques for batch p rocesses have been extended to monitoring a semi-batch process by focu ssing on periodic process set point changes. This procedure can be ext ended to continuous processes that have repeated upsets or perturbatio ns. The MSPC technique was demonstrated for a nuclear waste storage ta nk that undergoes periodic agitation from a mixing pump. The procedure described here used multi-way principal components analysis to develo p a statistical model of the process based on historical data. The mod el can be used to determine if changes have occurred in the system. At present this procedure is used off-line for monitoring but it could b e implemented on-line.