CONTROL SYSTEM AND OPERATING METHOD FOR A TECHNICAL INSTALLATION - Patent application

Abstract

A control system (9) for a technical installation, the control system (9) comprising an operator station server (3) and an operator station client (2) connected to said server, the server (3) transmitting visualization information to the client (2), the client (2) using the visualization information to generate a graphical display (1) for an operator, the client (2) receiving requests for changes to the display (1) from the operator and transmitting them to the server (3), the server (3) storing the requests received from the client (2) in a memory (16) of the server (3), the operator station client (2) receiving conditions predefinable by the operator for applying the changes to the graphical display (1) and transmitting them to the server (3), the server (3) storing the conditions in the memory (16) of the server (3).

Description

[Technical field]

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

[0002] For operating and observing technical installations, the operator can optimize his activities and configure the course of his activities more efficiently by means of personalization. A personalization possibility is the so-called user preferences, via which, for example, faceplate groups, trend displays, filtered message sequence displays, etc. can be organized during operating hours, saved and also called up again if necessary. In this case, the user preferences are operating-time functions, flexibly configurable and maintainable by the operator during operating hours without requiring prior engineering or projection.

[0003] When a situation occurs that is related to an operator-created user selection, according to the prior art, the operator must first recognize the situation (e.g., perceive a specific alarm), then remember that there is some user selection for this situation, and find and open that one user selection among many user selections. This inefficient approach is also the reason why the potential of operator user selection during working hours has not been fully utilized until now.

[0004] EP 3876046 A1 discloses a control system for a technical installation, which allows the representation of visualization information implemented by an operator station client to be adapted by an operator during the operating time of the technical installation.

[0005] The problem underlying the present invention is to provide a control system for technical installations, which increases the efficiency of operating and monitoring the technical installations.

[0006] The above problem is solved by a control system for a technical installation having the features of claim 1. Furthermore, the above problem is solved by a method for operating a control system for a technical installation according to claim 9. Advantageous developments become apparent from the dependent claims.

[0007] The 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, where the operator station server is configured to transmit visualization information to the operator station client, the operator station client is configured to generate a graphical display for an operator of the technical installation using the visualization information, the operator station client is configured to receive requests for changes to the graphical display from the operator and transmit them to the operator station server, and the operator station server is further configured to store requests received from the operator station client in a memory of the operator station server.

[0008] The control system according to the invention is characterized in that the operator station client is adapted to receive and transmit conditions predefinable by the operator for applying changes to the graphical display to the operator station server, which is adapted to store the conditions in its memory.

[0009] The technical installation may be an installation from the process industry, such as a chemical installation, a pharmaceutical installation, a petrochemical installation, or an installation from the food industry and the luxury goods industry. The technical installation also includes any installation from the manufacturing industry, such as a factory where cars or any kind of goods are manufactured. The technical installation suitable for carrying out the method according to the invention may come from the field of energy generation. Wind turbines, photovoltaic installations or power plants for energy generation are also included in the concept of technical installation.

[0010] A control system in the context of this specification is understood to be a computer-aided technical system that includes functions for displaying, operating and controlling the process technical installation. The control system may also include sensors for determining measured values ​​and different actuators. Furthermore, the control system may include so-called process-related or production-related components that are used to control the actuators or sensors. Furthermore, the control system may have means, inter alia, for visualizing the process technical installation and means for engineering. The control system may also optionally include further calculation units for more complex closed-loop control and systems for data storage and processing.

[0011] An "operator station server" in this context is understood to be a server that centrally detects and provides the user with data of the operating and observing systems and, as a rule, alarm and measured value archives of the control system of the technical installation. The operator station server, as a rule, establishes a communication connection with the automation system of the technical installation and transfers the data of the technical installation to so-called operator station clients, which are used to operate and observe the operation of the individual functional elements of the technical installation. An operator station server can have client functionality in order to access data (archives, messages, tags, variables) of other operator station servers.

[0012] This allows a picture of the operation of the technical installation to be combined on the operator station server with variables of other operator station servers (inter-server communication). The operator station server can be, but is not limited to, a SIMATIC PCS 7 Industrial Workstation Server from SIEMENS.

[0013] An operator of the technical installation can access the operator station server for the purpose of operating and observing the technical installation via an operator station client, which may be, for example, a tablet, a smartphone, a personal computer or the like.

[0014] The modification of the graphical display can be, for example, the fading in of a graphical window of a progression of measurement data from the technical installation, an image from a surveillance camera, a visualization of technical objects of the technical installation, or the like. Similarly, the modification can be the deliberate fading out of certain areas of the graphical display in order to allow the operator to directly perceive the hidden graphical objects.

[0015] The operator station client of the control system according to the invention not only receives the operator's request to implement a change, but also additionally receives the conditions for applying this change and stores them in the memory of the operator station server. This information set by the operator can be utilized by the control system or by an additional external computing unit in order to implement the change in a targeted manner if the set conditions exist.

[0016] Preferably, the operator station client is configured to automatically implement the change of the graphical display when the conditions are met.The control system can contribute to overcoming the drawbacks of the known control systems described in the introduction and to making it possible for the operator to fully exploit the potential of individual changes of the graphical display.

[0017] Particularly preferably, the operator station server is configured to automatically check whether the conditions are fulfilled and, if so, to report this to the operator station client. The operator station server can then automatically effect a change in the graphical display as described above. To check whether the conditions are fulfilled, the operator station server can access data from the technical installation, which will be explained in more detail on the basis of an example.

[0018] The graphical representation may be an equipment image of a technical installation. In the case of a process installation, such an equipment image may for example comprise a graphical representation of a pump, a valve, a tank, a pipeline, a combustion chamber or the like. The graphical representation may in this case comprise current process measurements, status values, (alarm) messages or the like.

[0019] Within the framework of an advantageous development of the invention, the condition is an event, and the operator station client is configured to effect a change in the graphical display if the event occurs. The condition may result from a logical combination of several events, which means that the condition is considered to be fulfilled if, for example, event A, event B and event C occur.

[0020] In this case, an event may be the opening of an equipment image, the opening of a faceplate of a technical object of the technical equipment, the occurrence of an alarm, a change in parameters of a technical object of the technical equipment, the operating state of a technical object of the technical equipment, the reaching of a certain state of a step sequence to be processed by the technical equipment or the reaching of a certain quality criterion during the operation of the technical equipment.

[0021] Alternatively or additionally, the condition may be the identity, role or current location of the operator operating the operator station client. If an operator is registered with an operator station client, for example in a certain area of ​​the technical installation, a certain modification of the standard graphical display can be automatically displayed to the operator in order to meet the special requirements of the certain area (such as special environmental conditions). The identity or role of the operator may also be a condition (possibly in addition to the above-mentioned conditions / events) that must be fulfilled in order to modify the graphical display. In this case, a "role" may mean that the relevant operator is granted certain functional rights when exercising his role, which may result in certain modifications of the graphical display not being allowed in some cases. These functional rights in principle relate to the operation and observation of certain components of the technical installation. For example, a first operator may be assigned observation rights for some components and operation rights for other components, while a second operator is assigned observation and operation rights for all components.

[0022] The object of the present invention is to provide a method for operating a control system of a technical installation, in particular a manufacturing or process installation, the control system comprising at least one operator station server and at least one operator station client, the operator station server being configured to transmit visualization information to the operator station client, the operator station client being configured to use the visualization information to generate a graphical display for an operator of the technical installation, the method comprising: a) receiving, by an operator station client, a request for a change to the graphical display from an operator of the technical installation and conditions for applying the change; b) transmitting requests and conditions from the operator station client to the operator station server; c) storing the requests and conditions in a memory of the operator station server; The problem is further solved by a method comprising:

[0023] The operator station client can automatically implement changes to the graphical display when conditions are met.

[0024] Furthermore, the operator station server can automatically check whether the conditions are met and, if so, report this to the operator station client.

[0025] The above-mentioned characteristics, features and advantages of the present invention, as well as the manner in which they are accomplished, will be more clearly and distinctly understood in connection with the following description of the embodiments, which are set forth in more detail in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0026] [Figure 1] 1 is a graphical representation of a technical installation according to a first embodiment; [Diagram 2]2 is a graphical representation of a technical installation according to a second embodiment. [Diagram 3] 1 is a graphical representation of a technical installation according to a third embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a control system according to the present invention.

[0027] In Fig. 1 a graphical user interface is shown as a graphical display 1, which displays an operator station client 2 of a control system 9 of a technical installation configured as a process installation to an operator of the process installation for the purpose of operating and observing the technical installation. The operator station client gets the visualization information required for this from an operator station server 3 of the control system 9 (see Fig. 4).

[0028] The user interface 1 displays an installation image 4, which itself contains a graphical representation of a number of individual process objects of a process installation (inter alia heating baths, pumps, valves, etc.). The operator can select an element of the user interface 1, which is to be used within the framework of a later modification of the graphical user interface 1. A first element 5 displays the time course of process measured values. A second element 6 is a so-called faceplate of the process object, by means of which the operator can operate and observe the process object.

[0029] The operator stores these two elements 5, 6 (graphically) in the selection service 7 (or more precisely in the graphical interface of the selection service 7). In this case, this means that the respective elements 5, 6 are opened and displayed again in the graphical user interface 1 if certain conditions exist at a later time. In the selection window 8, the operator can determine under what conditions these elements 5, 6 should be opened. Thus, the operator can, for example, stipulate that the first element 5 is always opened when the standard installation image 8 ("start screen") is opened. The second element 6 may be opened and displayed, for example, if a preconfigurable alarm occurs.

[0030] 2 shows such a standard equipment image 8, which, when opened by an operator (or a further operator), automatically triggers the opening of the first element 5. The operator does not have to perform this laboriously manually - unlike in the prior art - which makes the operation and observation of the process equipment much easier. In this case, the opening of the standard equipment image 8 is an event or condition which, when fulfilled, triggers the operator station client 2 to change the graphical display, i.e. to open the first element 5.

[0031] Compared to FIG. 2, FIG. 3 additionally shows a visually displayed second element 6, which is automatically opened by the operator station client 2 due to the event / condition of the occurrence of an alarm message.

[0032] In Fig. 4 a control system 9 for a process installation is shown diagrammatically. The control system 9 comprises the above-mentioned operator station client 2 and an 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 further components of the control system 9, not shown, such as an engineering station server or an archive server.

[0033] A user or operator can access the operator station server 3 by means of a terminal bus 10 for the purpose of operating and observing the operator station client 2. The terminal bus 10 may be configured as, for example, but not limited to, an industrial Ethernet.

[0034] The operator station server 3 has an equipment interface 11 connected to an equipment bus 12. Via this equipment interface 11 the operator station server 3 can communicate with automation equipment 13 (not shown) and optionally with further components provided as options of the method technical installation, such as peripheral equipment (not shown). The equipment bus 12 can be configured, for example but not exclusively, as an industrial Ethernet.

[0035] Implemented on the operator station server 3 are (among other things) a visualization service 14, a process image 15 and a memory 16. The visualization service 14 integrated in the operator station server 3 initiates the transmission of visualization information to the operator station client 2. The operator station client 2 is configured to display, among other things, a graphical representation of the installation image for operating and observing the process installation.

[0036] The process picture 15 of the operator station server 3 stores an instantaneous record of the (signal) states of devices and / or applications (not shown) connected to the operator station server 3. An alarm service 17 reads alarm messages from the process picture 15 and can generate, for example, a graphical aggregation of the alarm messages, which the operator station client 2 can display.

[0037] The user selection service 18 has access to the memory 16 of the operator station server 3. In the memory 16, user profiles and personal settings of operators / operators of the process installation can be stored. These user profiles and personal settings can also be accessible to further operators / operators. The user selection service 18 has access to a selection service 7, in which the operator sets requirements and conditions for an automated graphical change of the graphical display of the operator station client 2, as explained on the basis of Figs. 1-3. The user selection service 18 stores this data in the memory 16 of the operator station server 3 after receiving it from the operator station client 2.

[0038] The user interface services 19a, 19b monitor the graphical user interface 18 displayed by the operator station client 2 and inform the user selection service 18 of possible changes performed by the operator in the graphical user interface 1. Such changes may be, for example, the opening or closing of an equipment image or other element. The alarm service 17 informs the user selection service 18 of possible occurrences of alarm messages.

[0039] The user selection service 18 then automatically checks whether the conditions for a change in the graphical display, stored in the memory 16, are fulfilled and, if so, initiates this change by correspondingly triggering the operator station client 2.

[0040] Although the details of the present invention have been illustrated and described in more detail by preferred embodiments, the invention is not limited to these disclosed examples, and other variations can be derived from these examples by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A control system (9) for a technical installation, in particular a manufacturing or process installation, comprising: The control system (9) includes at least one operator station server (3) and at least one operator station client (2) connected to the operator station server; said operator station server (3) being adapted to transmit visualization information to said operator station client (2); said operator station client (2) being configured to use said visualization information to generate a graphical representation (1) for an operator of said technical installation, said operator station client (2) being adapted to receive requests for modification of said graphical display (1) from said operator and to transmit them to said operator station server (3); the operator station server (3) is configured to store requests received from the operator station client (2) in a memory (16) of the operator station server (3); In the control system (9), said operator station client (2) receiving conditions preconfigurable by said operator for applying said changes to said graphical display (1); configured to transmit to said operator station server (3), The operator station server (3) is configured to store the conditions in the memory (16) of the operator station server (3). A control system (9).

2. said operator station client (2) being configured to automatically implement said modification of said graphical representation (1) if said condition is fulfilled; A control system (9) according to claim 1.

3. said operator station server (3) being adapted to automatically check whether said condition is fulfilled and, if said condition is fulfilled, to report this to said operator station client (2); A control system (9) according to claim 1 or 2.

4. said graphical representation (1) being an installation image (4, 8) of said technical installation, A control system (9) according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. the condition is an event, said operator station client (2) being configured to effect said modification of said graphical display (1) when said event occurs; A control system (9) according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

6. the condition results from a logical combination of a plurality of events; A control system (9) according to claim 5.

7. An event can be the opening of an equipment image (4, 8), the opening of a faceplate of a technical object of the technical equipment, the occurrence of an alarm, a change in a parameter of a technical object of the technical equipment, an operating state of a technical object of the technical equipment, the reaching of a certain state of a sequence of steps to be processed by the technical equipment or the reaching of a certain quality criterion during the operation of the technical equipment. A control system (9) according to claim 5 or 6.

8. The condition is an identifier, a role, or a current location of an operator operating the operator station client (2); A control system (9) according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

9. A method for operating a control system (9) of a technical installation, in particular a manufacturing or process installation, comprising: The control system (9) includes at least one operator station server (3) and at least one operator station client (2); said operator station server (3) being adapted to transmit visualization information to said operator station client (2); said operator station client (2) being configured to use said visualization information to generate a graphical representation (1) for an operator of said technical installation, The method comprises: a) receiving, by said operator station client (2), a request for modification of said graphical representation (1) from an operator of said technical installation and conditions for applying said modification; b) transmitting said request and said conditions from said operator station client (2) to said operator station server (3); c) storing said request and said conditions in a memory (16) of said operator station server (3); A method comprising:

10. said operator station client (2) automatically implements said modification of said graphical display (1) if said condition is met.

10. The method of claim 9.

11. said operator station server (3) automatically checks whether said conditions are met and, if said conditions are met, reports this to said operator station client (2); 11. The method according to claim 9 or 10.

Images