CONTROL SYSTEM FOR A TECHNICAL PLANT AND OPERATING PROCESS

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a control system for a technical plant, in particular a manufacturing or processing plant. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for operating a control system of a technical plant.

[0002] For the operation and monitoring of technical systems, operators can optimize their work and make their processes more efficient through personalization. One option for personalization is so-called user selections, which can be used to compile, persist, and retrieve faceplate groups, trend displays, filtered message sequence displays, etc., at runtime. User selections represent a runtime functionality, do not require prior engineering or configuration, and can be flexibly configured and maintained by operators at runtime.

[0003] If a situation occurs for which an operator has created a user selection, the current state of the art requires the operator to first recognize the situation (e.g., detect a specific alarm), then remember that a user selection exists for the situation, identify one user selection among many, and open it. This inefficient approach is also the reason why the potential of user selections at runtime has not yet been fully exploited by operators.

[0004] EP 3 876 046 A1 discloses a control system of a technical installation which enables an operator to adapt a presentation of visualization information by an operator station client during the runtime of the technical installation.

[0005] EP 2 530 548 A2 discloses a process control system with a controller and an alarm display for visually presenting alarm information regarding field devices.

[0006] US 2018 / 059921 A1 discloses a method for customizing a graphical user interface of a control system of a technical plant.

[0007] The invention is based on the object of providing a control system for a technical system which increases the efficiency of operation and monitoring of the technical system.

[0008] This object is achieved by a control system for a technical installation having the features of claim 1. Furthermore, the object is achieved by a method for operating a control system of a technical installation according to claim 7. Advantageous further developments emerge from the dependent claims.

[0009] A control system according to the invention comprises at least one operator station server and at least one operator station client connected to the operator station server. The operator station server is designed to transmit visualization information to the operator station client. The operator station client is designed to use the visualization information to generate a graphical representation for an operator of the technical installation, and the operator station client is designed to receive a request for a modification of the graphical representation from the operator and to transmit it to the operator station server. The operator station server is further designed to store the request received from the operator station client in a memory of the operator station server.

[0010] The control system according to the invention is characterized in that the operator station client is designed to receive a condition, which can be specified by the operator, for applying the modification of the graphical presentation and to transmit it to the operator station server. The operator station server is designed to store the condition in the memory of the operator station server, wherein the operator station server is designed to automatically check whether the condition is met and, if the condition is met, to notify the operator station client accordingly. The operator station client is designed to automatically carry out the modification of the graphical presentation if the condition is met.

[0011] The technical plant can be a plant from the process industry, such as a chemical, pharmaceutical, petrochemical, or food and beverages industry. This also includes any plant from the production industry, such as factories where cars or goods of all kinds are produced. Technical plants suitable for carrying out the method according to the invention can also come from the field of energy generation. Wind turbines, solar systems, or power plants for energy generation are also encompassed by the term "technical plant."

[0012] In this context, a control system is understood to be a computer-aided, technical system that includes functionalities for displaying, operating, and managing the process engineering plant. The control system may also include sensors for determining measured values ​​and various actuators. Furthermore, the control system may include process- or production-related components that serve to control the actuators or sensors. Furthermore, the control system may include, among other things, means for visualizing the process engineering plant and for engineering. The control system may optionally also include additional processing units for more complex control systems and systems for data storage and processing.

[0013] An "Operator Station Server" is defined here as a server that centrally collects data from an operating and monitoring system, as well as, typically, alarm and measured value archives from a control system of a technical plant, and makes them available to users. The Operator Station Server typically establishes a communication connection to the automation systems of the technical plant and forwards data from the technical plant to so-called Operator Station Clients, which are used to operate and monitor the operation of the individual functional elements of the technical plant. The Operator Station Server can have client functions to access the data (archives, messages, tags, variables) of other Operator Station Servers.

[0014] This allows images of the operation of the technical plant on the operator station server to be combined with variables from other operator station servers (server-to-server communication). The operator station server can be, but is not limited to, a SIMATIC PCS 7 Industrial Workstation Server from SIEMENS.

[0015] An operator of the technical system can access the Operator Station Server via the Operator Station Client, which can be, for example, a tablet, a smartphone, a personal computer or the like, for the purpose of operating and monitoring the technical system.

[0016] A modification of the graphical presentation can, for example, involve displaying a graphical window with a history of measurement data from the technical system, an image from a surveillance camera, a visualization of technical objects within the technical system, or similar. Likewise, the modification can involve selectively hiding certain areas of the graphical presentation to make hidden graphical objects immediately recognizable to the operator.

[0017] The operator station client of the control system according to the invention not only accepts the operator's request to make a modification, but also receives a condition for the application of this modification and stores it in the memory of the operator station server. This information specified by the operator can be used by the control system or by additional, external processing units to perform the modification in a targeted manner when the specified condition is met.

[0018] The Operator Station Client is designed to automatically modify the graphical display if the condition is met. The control system overcomes the disadvantages of existing control systems discussed in the introductory section and can help operators fully exploit the potential of individual modifications to the graphical display.

[0019] Furthermore, the operator station server is configured to automatically check whether the condition is met and, if so, to notify the operator station client. As previously explained, the client automatically modifies the graphical display. To check whether the condition is met, the operator station server can access data from the technical system, which will be explained in more detail using the example.

[0020] The graphical representation can represent a plant diagram of the technical plant. In the case of a process plant, such a plant diagram can include, for example, graphical representations of pumps, valves, tanks, pipelines, combustion chambers, or the like. The graphical representations can include current process measured values, status values, (alarm) messages, or the like.

[0021] In an advantageous development of the invention, the condition represents an event, with the operator station client being configured to modify the graphical display when the event occurs. The condition can also result from a logical combination of multiple events. This means that the condition is considered fulfilled if, for example, event A, event B, and event C occur.

[0022] An event can be the opening of a system image, the opening of a faceplate of a technical object of the technical system, the occurrence of an alarm, a parameter change of a technical object of the technical system, an operating state of a technical object of the technical system, the reaching of a certain state of a sequence of steps to be processed by the technical system or the reaching of a certain quality criterion during the operation of the technical system.

[0023] The condition can alternatively or additionally represent the presence of a specific identity, role, or location of an operator operating the Operator Station Client. For example, if an operator logs on to the Operator Station Client within a specific area of ​​the technical system, they can be automatically presented with a specific modification of the standard graphical display to meet specific requirements of the specific area (such as specific environmental conditions). An operator's identity or role can also represent a condition (possibly in addition to the conditions / events already mentioned) that must be met for the graphical display to be modified. A "role" can mean that the operator in question is granted certain functional rights when exercising their role, which may prohibit certain modifications to the graphical display.These functional rights typically relate to the operation and monitoring of specific components of the technical system. For example, a first operator may be assigned monitoring rights for some components and operating rights for others, while a second operator may be assigned monitoring and operating rights for all components.

[0024] The object is also achieved by a method for operating a control system of a technical plant, in particular a manufacturing or process plant, which comprises at least one operator station server and at least one operator station client, wherein the operator station server is designed to transmit visualization information to the operator station client, and wherein the operator station client is designed to generate a graphical representation for an operator of the technical plant by means of the visualization information, the method comprising: a) Receiving a request for a modification of the graphical presentation and a condition for the application of the modification from an operator of the technical installation by the Operator Station Client, b) Transferring the request and the condition from the Operator Station Client to the Operator Station Server, c) Storing the request and the condition in a memory of the Operator Station Server.

[0025] If the condition is met, the Operator Station Client can automatically modify the graphical display.

[0026] Furthermore, the Operator Station Server can automatically check whether the condition is met and, if the condition is met, notify the Operator Station Client accordingly.

[0027] The above-described properties, features, and advantages of this invention, as well as the manner in which they are achieved, will become clearer and more readily understood in connection with the following description of exemplary embodiments, which are explained in more detail in conjunction with the drawings. FIG 1 shows a graphic representation of a technical installation according to a first aspect; FIG 2 shows a graphic representation of a technical installation according to a second aspect; FIG 3 shows a graphic representation of a technical installation according to a third aspect; and FIG 4 shows a control system according to the invention in a schematic representation.

[0028] In FIG 1A graphical user interface is shown as a graphical representation 1, which an operator station client 2 of a control system 9 of a technical plant designed as a process plant presents to an operator of the process plant for the purpose of operating and monitoring the technical plant. The operator station client receives the necessary visualization information from an operator station server 3 of the control system 9 (see FIG 4 ).

[0029] The user interface 1 displays a plant diagram 4, which in turn includes a plurality of graphical representations of individual process objects of the process plant (e.g., boiler, pump, valve, etc.). The operator can select elements of the user interface 1 to be used in a later modification of the graphical user interface 1. A first element 5 represents a temporal progression of process measured values. A second element 6 represents so-called faceplates of process objects, which the operator can use to operate and monitor the process objects.

[0030] The operator stores the two elements 5, 6 (graphically) in a selection service 7 (more precisely: in its graphical interface). This means that the respective element 5, 6 will be opened and displayed again in the graphical user interface 1 at a later time if a specific condition is met. In the selection window 8, the operator can specify the conditions under which this opening should occur. For example, they can specify that the first element 5 is always opened when a standard plant image 8 (a "start screen") is opened. The second element 6 can be opened and displayed, for example, when a predefined alarm occurs.

[0031] In FIG 2Such a standard plant diagram 8 is shown, the opening of which by the operator (or by another operator) automatically triggers the opening of the first element 5. Unlike in the prior art, the operator does not have to laboriously do this manually, which significantly simplifies the operation and monitoring of the process plant. The opening of the standard plant diagram 8 represents an event or condition, the fulfillment of which triggers the operator station client 2 to modify the graphical representation, namely, to open the first element 5.

[0032] FIG 3 shows in comparison to FIG 2 Additionally, a visually displayed second element 6, which was automatically opened by the event / condition of an alarm message generated by the Operator Station Client 2.

[0033] In FIG 4The control system 9 for the process plant is shown schematically. The control system 9 comprises the previously mentioned operator station client 2 and the operator station server 3. The operator station server 3 and the operator station client 2 are connected to each other via a terminal bus 10 and optionally to other components of the control system 9 not shown, such as an engineering station server or an archive server.

[0034] A user or operator can access the operator station server 3 via the operator station client 2 using the terminal bus 10 for the purpose of operating and monitoring. The terminal bus 10 can, for example, be configured as Industrial Ethernet, but is not limited to this.

[0035] The operator station server 3 has a device interface 11 connected to a plant bus 12. Via this device interface 11, the operator station server 3 can communicate with an automation device 13 (not shown) as well as with optional additional components of the process plant, such as peripheral devices (not shown). The plant bus 12 can be implemented, for example, as Industrial Ethernet, but is not limited to this.

[0036] A visualization service 14, a process image 15, and a memory 16 are implemented (among other things) on the operator station server 3. The visualization service 14 integrated in the operator station server 3 initiates a transmission of visualization information to the operator station client 2. The operator station client 2 is designed to display a graphical representation, in particular plant images, for operating and monitoring the process plant.

[0037] A snapshot of the (signal) states of devices and / or applications (not shown in the figure) connected to the Operator Station Server 3 is stored in the process image 15 of the Operator Station Server 3. An alarm service 17 can read alarm messages from the process image 15 and, for example, generate a graphical aggregation of the alarm messages that the Operator Station Client 2 can display.

[0038] A user selection service 18 has access to the memory 16 of the operator station server 3. User profiles and personal settings of operators of the process plant can be stored there. These can also be accessible to other operators. The user selection service 18 has access to the selection service 7, in which the operator, as indicated by the Figures 1 to 3explains the requirements and conditions for the automated graphical modification of the graphical presentation of the Operator Station Client 2. After receiving this data from the Operator Station Client 2, it stores it in the memory 16 of the Operator Station Server 3.

[0039] A user interface service 19a, 19b monitors the graphical user interface 1 presented by the operator station client 2 and informs the user selection service 18 of any changes made by an operator to the graphical user interface 1. Such a change can, for example, be the opening or closing of a system image or other element. The alarm service 17 informs the user selection service 18 of any alarm messages.

[0040] The user selection service 18 automatically checks whether the conditions stored in the memory 16 for a modification of the graphical presentation are met and, if the condition is met, initiates the modification by triggering the operator station client 2 accordingly.

[0041] Although the invention has been illustrated and described in detail by the preferred embodiment, the invention is not limited to the disclosed examples and other variations may be derived therefrom by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. Control system (9) for a technical installation, in particular production or process installation, which comprises at least one operator station server (3) and at least one operator station client (2) connected to the operator station server, wherein the operator station server (3) is embodied to transmit visualisation information to the operator station client (2), and wherein the operator station client (2) is embodied to generate a graphical display (1) for an operator of the technical installation by means of the visualisation information, and wherein the operator station client (2) is embodied to accept a request for a modification of the graphical display (1) from the operator and to transmit the same to the operator station server (3), and wherein the operator station server (3) is embodied to store the request received by the operator station client (2) in a memory (16) of the operator station server (3), characterised in that the operator station client (2) is embodied to accept a condition for the application of the modification of the graphical display (1) which can be specified by the operator and to transmit the same to the operator station server (3), wherein the operator station server (3) is embodied to store the condition in the memory (16) of the operator station server (3), wherein the operator station server (3) is embodied to automatically check whether the condition is fulfilled and, in the event that the condition is fulfilled, to notify the operator station client (2) to that effect, and wherein the operator station client (2) is embodied to automatically perform the modification of the graphical display (1) in the event that the condition is fulfilled.

2. Control system (9) according to claim 1, in which the graphical display (1) represents an installation image (4, 8) of the technical installation.

3. Control system (9) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the condition represents an event, wherein the operator station client (2) is embodied to perform the modification of the graphical display (1) when the event occurs.

4. Control system (9) according to claim 3, in which the condition is produced from a logical link of a plurality of events.

5. Control system (9) according to claim 3 or 4, in which an event represents an opening of an installation image (4, 8), an opening of a faceplate of a technical object of the technical installation, an occurrence of an alarm, a parameter change of a technical object of the technical installation, an operating state of a technical object of the technical installation, the achievement of a specific state of a sequence of steps to be worked through by the technical installation or the achievement of a specific quality criterion during operation of the technical installation.

6. Control system (9) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the condition represents the presence of a specific identity, a specific role or a specific location of an operator operating the operator station client (2).

7. Method for operating a control system (9) of a technical installation, in particular production or process installation, which comprises at least one operator station server (3) and at least one operator station client (2), wherein the operator station server (3) is embodied to transmit visualisation information to the operator station client (2), and wherein the operator station client (2) is embodied to generate a graphical display (1) for an operator of the technical installation by means of the visualisation information, the method comprising: a) accepting a request for a modification of the graphical display (1) and a condition for the application of the modification from an operator of the technical installation by way of the operator station client (2), b) transmitting the request and the condition from the operator station client (2) to the operator station server (3), c) storing the request and the condition in a memory (16) of the operator station server (3), d) automatically checking by way of the operator station server (3) whether the condition is fulfilled, and in the event that the condition is fulfilled, notifying the operator station client (2) by way of the operator station server (3) to that effect, e) in the event that the condition is fulfilled, automatically performing the modification of the graphical display (1) by way of the operator station client (2).