Dependencies between process objects

Abstract

The application relates to an operator station server (15, 16) of a control system (14) of a process-technical installation, the operator station server having a computer-implemented process image (21, 30), wherein the computer-implemented process image (21, 30) comprises during the operating time of the process-technical installation at least one computer-implemented first process object (22a, 22b, 22c, 31a, 31b, 31c) and a computer-implemented second process object (22a, 22b, 22c, 31a, 31b, 31c), the first process object and the second process object being respectively assigned to a technical object (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13) of the process-technical installation and being operationally connected to the technical object, wherein the two assigned technical objects (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13) are operationally connected within the process-technical installation. In this case, a first process object (22a, 22b, 22c, 31a, 31b, 31c) has a reference (24a, 24b, 24c, 32a, 32b, 32c) to a second process object (22a, 22b, 22c, 31a, 31b, 31c).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to an operator station server of a control system of a process technology installation having the features of the invention. In addition, the invention also relates to a control system for a process technology installation. Background Art

[0002] exist Figure 1 , a simplified cutout of a process technology facility for storing and distributing gases is shown. The facility is divided into three sub-facilities 1, 2, 3. The first sub-facilities 1 have a first pressure chamber 4 and a first discharge valve 5 connected thereto. In addition, the first pressure chamber 4 has a first pressure sensor 6. The second sub-facilities include a compressor 7, which is connected to an inlet valve 9 via a first flow sensor 8. The third sub-facilities 3 have a second pressure chamber 10 connected to the inlet valve 9. The second pressure chamber 10 has a second pressure sensor 11 and is connected to a second discharge valve 12 and a third discharge valve 13.

[0003] All the technical objects 4-13 shown in the plant are automated by controlling different process objects of the control system of the plant. For example, the compressor 7 can be the process object "motor control", the intake valve 9 can be the process object "intake valve control", etc.

[0004] The illustrated technical objects 4 - 6 of the first subplant 1 and the technical objects 7 - 13 of the second and third subplant 2 , 3 are each located in a “process technology chain”, ie they are directly dependent on one another or have an operational connection with one another.

[0005] The dependencies of process technology are directly related to the management of alarms between process objects, such as a fault in a compressor that reduces the flow, which causes a pressure drop, etc. For the operation and monitoring of process technology facilities, symbolic facility images are created, which abstractly represent the process technology dependencies. Due to the complexity of the dependencies, the facility images usually have to be greatly simplified, so that the process technology dependencies are often lost, which makes it difficult to assess the cause of the alarm surge. Summary of the invention

[0006] The object of the present invention is to provide a device for operating and monitoring a process-technical installation which can more quickly and effectively find alarm causes and alarm correlations between different process objects of the process-technical installation without requiring additional analysis tools, such as message sequence displays.

[0007] This object is achieved by an operator station server of a control system of a process technology facility, in particular a manufacturing or process facility, having the features of the present invention. In addition, this object is achieved by a control system for a process technology facility according to the present invention. Advantageous improvements are obtained from the various embodiments.

[0008] The operator station server according to the invention of the control system of a process-technical installation has a computer-implemented process image, wherein the computer-implemented process image comprises at least a first computer-implemented process object and a second computer-implemented process object at runtime of the process-technical installation, which process objects are respectively assigned a technical object of the process-technical installation and are operatively connected thereto, wherein the two assigned technical objects are operatively connected within the process-technical installation. The operator station server is characterized in that the first process object has a reference to the second process object. The process-technical installation can be an installation from the process industry, for example a chemical, pharmaceutical, petrochemical installation or an installation from the food and beverage industry.

[0009] These facilities each have a control system or at least one computer-aided module for controlling and regulating an ongoing process or production. In this context, a control system is understood to be a computer-aided technical system that includes functions for displaying, operating and managing technical systems such as production facilities. In the present case, the control system includes sensors for deriving measured values ​​and various actuators. In addition, the control system includes so-called process- or production-related components for driving actuators or sensors. In addition, the control system also has components for visualizing technical facilities and for engineering design. The term control system also includes other processing units for more complex regulation and systems for data storage and data processing.

[0010] A technical object can be a single sensor or actuator of a process-related installation. A technical object can also be a combination of multiple sensors and / or actuators, such as a motor, a reactor, a pump or a valve system.

[0011] At present, an "operator station server" is understood to be a server that centrally detects the data of the operating system and monitoring system as well as the alarms and measured value archives of the process control system of a process technology facility and makes them available to users. The operator station server usually establishes a communication connection to the automation system of the process technology facility and forwards the data of the process technology facility to the so-called operator station client, which is used to operate and monitor the operation of the individual functional elements of the process technology facility. The operator station server can be, but is not limited to, a SIMATIC PCS 7 Industrial Workstation Server from Siemens.

[0012] The operator station server has a process image, ie the current status of the technical objects of the process-technical installation is stored on the server during operation of the installation. The process image includes at least one first computer-implemented process object and one second computer-implemented process object.

[0013] According to the invention, the (first and second) process objects in the process image referenced by the operator station server are expanded in order to be able to assign different process objects of a process engineering installation to the image of the process engineering chain of the installation during runtime.

[0014] Currently, the reference is a structured and directed reference to other process objects. For example, during the engineering phase, the values ​​of the structured reference can be derived from a CFC plan (Continuous Function Chart) or a tabular relation matrix and integrated into the configuration of the operator station server.

[0015] The operator station server according to the present invention can dynamically obtain information about the process technology chain between various process objects during the runtime of the process technology facility and forward it to any downstream device for operation and monitoring.

[0016] In the context of a preferred development of the invention, information about the type of the operational connection between two technical objects assigned to the first process object and the second process object is stored in the operator station server. The operational connection between a first tank and a second tank (as a technical object) can, for example, allow a fluid to flow from the first tank into the second tank.

[0017] Preferably, in addition to the reference to the second process object, the first process object has further references to further process objects,

[0018] In this case, the process objects are respectively assigned to the technical objects of the process-technical facilities and are connected to their operations.

[0019] And wherein the technical object assigned to the other process object is operatively connected to the technical object assigned to the first process object, and wherein the first process object is assigned information about how many references the first process object has to the other process objects.

[0020] The operator station server can be connected to an operator station client, wherein the operator station client is arranged and designed to receive visualization information from the operator station server during the operating time of the process technology installation in order to visually display at least a first process object and a second process object and an operating connection between two technical objects assigned to the first process object and the second process object in the form of a symbolic installation image.

[0021] The operator station server is thus able to derive dependencies from the process objects of the symbols present in the installation image, so to speak, from the process technology chain.

[0022] Very particularly preferably, the operator station server has an operator station client, wherein the operator station client is arranged and designed to receive visualization information from the operator station server during runtime of the process-technical installation in order to visually display at least a first process object and a second process object and an operating connection between two technical objects assigned to the first process object and the second process object in the form of a symbolic installation image,

[0023] and wherein the operator station client is arranged and designed to generate at least one first visual representation and one second visual representation during the operation time of the technical installation, wherein the first visual representation comprises at least one symbolized installation image belonging to the first process object and the second visual representation comprises at least one symbolized installation image belonging to the second process object,

[0024] wherein a first visual representation has a graphical reference to a second visual representation and vice versa,

[0025] In this case, an operator of the process engineering installation can switch between the display of two visual representations by selecting the corresponding graphical reference.

[0026] An operator is understood to be a human operator of a process technology facility. The operator interacts with the technology facility or its control system with the aid of a dedicated user interface and controls the facility's dedicated technical functions. To this end, the operator has access to the control system's operating system and monitoring system.

[0027] Using "image change buttons" dynamically created during facility runtime, operators can navigate from facility image to facility image along the derived process technology chain in order to, for example, quickly and efficiently identify the cause of an alarm surge, or the like.

[0028] The expression “control system-known” means that the control system, or more precisely the visualization service of the control system, knows the information about the corresponding data structure type in order to be able to transmit this information to a connected operator station client for a graphical display.

[0029] The above-mentioned object is also achieved by a control system for a process engineering installation, which has at least one operator station server as described above. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0030] The above-mentioned characteristics, features and advantages of the present invention and the manner and method for achieving them are explained in more detail according to the following description of the embodiments in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0031] The accompanying drawings show:

[0032] Figure 1A simplified cut-out of a process-technical installation for storing and distributing gases is shown;

[0033] Figure 2 A control system according to the present invention is shown in a block diagram;

[0034] Figure 3 A first facility image showing a process technology facility;

[0035] Figure 4 In a modified design form, the Figure 3 images of the facilities; and

[0036] Figure 5 A second plant image of a process engineering plant is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0037] exist Figure 2 1 shows a part of a control system 14 according to the invention which is designed as a process engineering installation. The control system 14 comprises a first server or operator station server 15 of the operating system and a second operator station server 16. Furthermore, the control system has an operator station client 17.

[0038] The first operator station server 15 , the second operator station server 16 and the operator station client 17 are connected to one another via a terminal bus 18 and to other components (not shown) of the control system 14 (eg, an engineering system server or a process data archive).

[0039] In the context of operation and monitoring, a user or operator accesses the first operator station server 15 and the second operator station server 16 by means of an operator station client 17 by means of a terminal bus 18. The terminal bus 18 can be designed as an Industrial Ethernet, for example, but is not limited thereto.

[0040] The first operator station server 15 has a first facility interface 19 that can be connected to a facility bus (not shown). Here, the first operator station server 15 can communicate with (external) devices or applications, especially network applications. Similarly, the second operator station server 16 has a second facility interface 20, which can also be connected to a system bus (not shown).

[0041] The first operator station server 15 has a first computer-implemented process image 21 in which process values ​​received during operation of the process-engineering installation are stored. The first operator station server 15 also includes a visualization service 23 for outputting visualization information to the operator station clients 17 .

[0042] In the process image 21, process values ​​are assigned to different computer-implemented process objects 22a, 22b, 22c. The computer-implemented process objects 22a, 22b, 22c are each assigned to a technical object of the process-technical installation and are correspondingly operatively connected to them. This means, for example, that sensor values ​​generated in the assigned technical object are mapped to the assigned process object 22a, 22b, 22c. The process objects 22a, 22b, 22c are Figure 2 The identifiers "POI:Motl", "POI:MonAnl" and "POI:PID1" are provided in the process object 22a, 22b, 22c. Each process object 22a, 22b, 22c has a plurality of assigned parameters, which are Figure 2 are identified as “Alarm Status”, “PV_Out”, “SP_Out”, etc.

[0043] Each process object 22a, 22b, 22c has a structured and oriented reference 24a, 24b, 24c, which is Figure 2 The values ​​of the structured "Dependency Tag" references 24a, 24b, 24c are derived from the CFC plan in the engineering phase and loaded accordingly into the configuration of the first operator station server 15. Each structured and oriented "Dependency Tag" reference 24a, 24b, 24c in the process image 21 of the first operator station server 15 has the following content:

[0044] - References to the relevant process objects 22a, 22b, 22c (which are in Figure 2 In this case, the term “associated” means that the assigned technical objects are in an operational connection within the process technology installation (e.g. “air inlet opening” and “pressure chamber”). The type of the operational connection between the process objects 22a, 22b, 22c is also stored in the operator station server 15.

[0045] - Definition of "left" or "right" dependencies along the process technology chain of a process technology facility

[0046] - Number of references to "left" or "right" along the technological chain of the process.

[0047] The visualization service 23 generates (among other things) a symbolized installation image 27 from the information stored in the process image 21, which is transmitted to the operator station client 17 for visualization. In this case, a first software component 26 of the visualization service 23 uses the references 24a, 24b, 24c to determine the relevance of the block symbols generated by the process objects 22a, 22b, 22c in the symbolized installation image 27, i.e. in order to derive the process technology chain for the installation image 27. A second software component 28 of the visualization service 23 (the so-called “screen object model” or SOM for short) serves to generate the block symbols of the process objects 22a, 22b, 22c for display in the installation image 27.

[0048] The first software component 26 calculates the entire process technology chain, i.e. also introduces process objects 22a, 22b, 22c for calculating the chain, wherein no block symbols are displayed in the currently displayed installation image 27. If the process technology chain contains process objects 22a, 22b, 22c whose block symbols are not present in the current installation image 27, an installation image 27 is derived for these process objects 22a, 22b, 22c in which these process objects are present.

[0049] For the resulting plant image 27, the group alarms of the corresponding relevant process objects 22a, 22b, 22c (i.e., whose block symbols are displayed in the corresponding plant image 27) are calculated and updated. Using the resulting plant image 27 and the group alarms, an "image change button" can then be dynamically set up in the currently open plant image 27 at runtime in order to be able to navigate from plant image 27 to plant image 27 along the derived process technology chain. This aspect is Figure 3-5 This aspect is shown more clearly in FIG.

[0050] Similar to the first operator station server 15 , the second operator station server 16 has a second computer-implemented process image 30 in which process values ​​received during operation of the process engineering system are stored. The second operator station server 16 also includes a visualization service 29 for outputting visualization information to the operator station client 17 .

[0051] In the process image 30, process values ​​are assigned to different computer-implemented process objects 31a, 31b, 31c. The computer-implemented process objects 31a, 31b, 31c are each assigned to a technical object of the process plant and are correspondingly operationally connected to them. Figure 2 Each process object 31a, 31b, 31c has multiple Figure 2 Parameters of the assignment identified by "Alarm Status".

[0052] Each process object 31a, 31b, 31c has a structured and oriented reference 32a, 32b, 32c, which is Figure 2 is marked as "reference" (dependencies are indicated by double arrows 33a, 33b, 24c). Figure 2 As can be seen, references 24a, 24b, 24c, 32a, 32b, 32c (marked here by a double arrow 24c) can also relate to process objects 22a, 22b, 22c, 31a, 31b, 31c stored in process images 21, 30 of other operator station servers 15, 16.

[0053] In a similar manner to the first operator station server 15 , the visualization service 29 of the second operator station server 16 has a first software component 34 and a second software component 35 .

[0054] exist Figure 3 The block symbols 36-40 show Figure 1 The exemplary facility image 27 of the first sub-facility 1 and the second sub-facility 2, the block symbol and Figure 1 The technical objects of the first sub-plant 1 and the second sub-plant 2 are related. The first block symbol 36 corresponds to the first discharge valve 5, the second block symbol 37 corresponds to the first pressure sensor 6, the third block symbol 38 corresponds to the flow sensor 8, the fourth block symbol 39 corresponds to the compressor 7 and the fifth block symbol 40 corresponds to the intake valve 9.

[0055] exist Figure 3 Also shown are symbolic representations of a compressor 7 (“M”), a flow sensor 8 (“arrow”) and an intake valve 9 (“valve”), which however do not provide any statements about the process-technical relationships between the block symbols 36 - 40 which depend on the process-technical relevance.

[0056] exist Figure 3 As can be seen in FIG. 1 , the two block symbols 37, 38 visualize the alarms of the associated process objects. If the dependencies between the process objects do not appear directly from the plant image, in particular if such dependencies extend across plant images, the operator of the process technology plant can use the dynamic derivation and visualization of the dependencies of the process objects in the plant image during runtime. For this purpose, the operator selects one of the block symbols 38-40 (alarm or no alarm) using, for example, a key combination (the result is shown in FIG. 1 ). Figure 4 The dependencies resulting from the first software component 26 (“DCS domain logic”) are used dynamically by means of the second software component 27 of the first operator station server 15 between the technical objects on which the block symbols 36 - 40 are based to expand the installation image 27 in order to mark the process technology chain on which the selected block symbol is based.

[0057] For this purpose, the process technology data flows are visualized by directed arrows 41, 42, 43, where the color of the arrows (not visible here) corresponds to the alarm class color of the highest priority alarm along the process technology chain. Figure 5 ), so that a graphic reference 44 (the so-called “image change button”, represented by “sub-plant 3”) is also inserted. Here, the graphic reference 44 includes a list of alarms of process objects, whose block symbols 46, 47, 48 are located in another plant image 45.

[0058] exist Figure 5 It is shown in Figure 1 An exemplary other facility image 45 of the third sub-facility 3 of FIG. Figure 1 The block symbols 46, 47, 48 related to the technical objects of the third sub-plant 3. The first block symbol 46 corresponds to the second pressure sensor 11, the second block symbol 47 corresponds to the second discharge valve 12 and the third block symbol 48 corresponds to the third discharge valve 13.

[0059] and Figure 4 Similarly, the process technology data flow derived previously is also Figure 5 is visualized by directed arrows 49, 50, 51. In addition, Figure 5 The facility image 45 in FIG. 1 has a graphical reference 52 (“sub-facility 2”) which can change the facility image 27 and the alarm list of the process objects whose block symbols 38-40 are located according to Figure 4 The facilities image 27.

[0060] The operator can also select the alarm state directly in the illustration references 44, 52 in order to reach the source directly in one of the illustration references 44, 52. The operator can also deactivate the display of the process chain in the installation image 27, 45.

[0061] Although the present invention has been illustrated and described in more detail by means of preferred embodiments, the present invention is not limited to the disclosed examples and a person skilled in the art can derive other variants therefrom without departing from the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. An operator station server of a control system (14) of a process-engineering installation, the operator station server having a computer-implemented process image (21, 30), in, The computer-implemented process image (21, 30) comprises during runtime of the process-engineering installation a first computer-implemented process object, a second computer-implemented process object and further computer-implemented process objects, the first process object, the second process object and the further process objects being each assigned to a technical object of the process-engineering installation and being operatively connected to the technical object, The operator station server comprises a visualization service (23) which is designed to transmit a symbolized installation image to an operator station client (17) for visualization and to display block symbols generated from the first process object and the second process object in the installation image. It is characterized in that The first process object has a structured and directional reference to the second process object, wherein the visualization service (23) is designed and arranged to use the structured and directional reference to determine the correlation of block symbols generated from the first process object and the second process object in the symbolized installation image in order to derive a process technology chain for the installation image, wherein the visualization service (23) is also designed to introduce further process objects for deriving the process technology chain, wherein the block symbol is not displayed in the installation image, wherein the installation image including the further process objects is derived for the further process objects, And wherein the visualization service (23) is also designed to calculate and update alarms for all block symbols and to set up an image change button in the currently open facility image using the derived facility image and the alarms during the runtime in order to be able to navigate from facility image to facility image along the derived process technology chain.

2. The operator station server according to claim 1, in, Information about the type of operational connection between two technical objects assigned to the first process object and the second process object is stored.

3. The operator station server according to claim 1 or 2, in, In addition to the reference to the second process object, the first process object also has a further reference to the further process object, wherein the process objects are respectively assigned to the technical objects of the process-technical installation and are operatively connected to the technical objects, and wherein the technical object assigned to the other process object is operatively connected to the technical object assigned to the first process object, And wherein the first process object is provided with information about how many references the first process object has to the other process objects.

4. The operator station server according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the operator station server comprises an operator station client (17), in, The operator station client (17) is arranged and designed to receive visualization information from the operator station server during the runtime of the process-technical installation in order to visually display at least the first process object and the second process object and an operating connection between two technical objects assigned to the first process object and the second process object in the form of the installation image.

5. The operator station server according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the operator station server comprises an operator station client (17), in, The operator station client (17) is arranged and designed to receive visualization information from the operator station server during the runtime of the process-technical installation in order to visually display at least the first process object and the second process object and an operating connection between two technical objects assigned to the first process object and the second process object in the form of a symbolic installation image. And wherein the operator station client (17) is arranged and designed to generate at least one symbolized first installation image and a symbolized second installation image during the operation time of the technical installation, the first symbolized installation image comprising at least one block symbol belonging to the first process object, and the second symbolized installation image comprising at least one block symbol belonging to the second process object, wherein the first facility image has a graphic reference for the second facility image, and the second facility image has a graphic reference for the first facility image, Therein, an operator of the process engineering installation can switch between the display of the first installation image and the second installation image by selecting a corresponding graphical reference.

6. A control system (14) for a process engineering installation, comprising at least one operator station server according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

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