| Abstract: | If several values of the parameters of a model are associated with the same behavior, then the model is not identifiable and there is no hope of estimating a unique best value for the parameter vector from experimental data. Similarly, if several models with different structures correspond to the same behavior, then these models are not distinguishable and there is no hope of selecting a structure that best corresponds to the experimental data. Two methods for testing linear models for identifiability and distinguish ability are recalled and applied to types of catenary compartmental models encountered for instance when studying the isobutane-isobutene-hydrogen system by transient isotopic tracing. |
