Optimal sensor positioning on pressurized equipment based on Value of Information

Abstract

In this work, we apply a simulation-based framework that makes use of the Value of Information (VoI) for identifying the optimal spatial positioning of sensors on pressurized equipment. VoI is a utility-based Figure of Merit (FoM) which quantifies the benefits/losses of acquiring information. Sensors are typically positioned on pressurized equipment in line with specific recommendations based on operational experience, like UNI 11096 in Italy. We show that the recommendations in UNI 11096 are, indeed, justified and that, incidentally, relying on VoI for the optimization of the sensor positioning, one can achieve the same monitoring performance, as measured by VoI, where following UNI 11096, but with a reduced number of sensors. The proposed VoI-based approach can, thus, be used to confirm or revise recommendations coming from operational experience.