An approach to the selection of optimal sensor locations in distributed parameter systems

This paper presents an approach to the selection of optimal sensor location s in distributed parameter systems, which distinguishes the purposes of sta te estimation from the purposes of parameter estimation. In the first case, the optimality criterion is based on a measure of independence between the sensor responses, while in the second case, it is based on a measure of in dependence between the parameter sensitivity functions. The procedure, whic h is general and can be applied to models with any degree of complexity, is illustrated with the optimal placement of temperature sensors in a catalyt ic fixed-bed reactor. Some numerical results for the on-line estimation of temperature and concentration profiles as well as for the estimation of unk nown model parameters are discussed. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rig hts reserved.