Information processing system, information processing method, and program

Abstract

An information processing system, etc. that facilitates management of estimated potential results, etc. is provided. According to an aspect of the present disclosure, an information processing system for estimating a potential result that may arise in a water system in future or may be derived from the water system in future is provided, in which the information processing system comprising: a parameter information acquisition unit configured to acquire two or more parameters selected from a group consisting of a water quality parameter, a controller parameter, and a result parameter as parameter information, the water quality parameter being a parameter related to water quality of the water system, the control parameter being a parameter related to the water system, a facility related to the water system, or a control condition of a raw material to be added to the water system, the result parameter being a parameter that has a different meaning from the potential result and that is related to a result having arisen in the water system, a facility related to the water system, or a raw material to be added to the water system, or related to a result having been derived from the water system, a facility related to the water system, or a raw material to be added to the water system; a relationship model information acquisition unit configured to acquire relationship model information indicating a relationship between the potential result or an index related to the potential result, which has been created in advance, and the two or more parameters; an estimation unit configured to present the potential result or the index related to the potential result to a user as an estimated result based on the acquired parameter information and the relationship model information, the estimated result being presented to the user in association with each of the parameters included in the parameter information; and a simulation unit configured to accept from the user a change to at least one of the estimated result and each of the parameters presented by the estimation unit, and estimate a variation of an item to which a change from the user has not been accepted among the estimated result and each of the parameters based on content of the accepted change and the relationship model information.

Description

INFORMATION PROCESSING SYSTEM, INFORMATION PROCESSING METHOD, AND PROGRAM

[0001] CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS The present application claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2024-120216, filed July 25, 2024, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. The present disclosure relates to an information processing system, an information processing method, and a program.

[0002] Various products including paper products are manufactured in processes using a water system. In such processes, from the perspective of preventing or reducing occurrence of trouble and adverse effects on products during operations, it is standard practice to predict trouble in advance. In connection with this, techniques for estimating product quality and the like in the papermaking process, etc. are known. For example, Patent Document 1 indicates a technique for estimating a potential result, etc. by using predetermined parameter information and relationship model information.

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2022-123880A

[0004] However, when trouble occurs in various processes, a quicker response than ever before may be required. From this perspective, a technology that is easy for system users to use is desired.

[0005] In view of the above circumstances, the present disclosure provides an information processing system, etc. that facilitates the management of estimated potential results, etc.

[0006] According to an aspect of the present disclosure, an information processing system for estimating a potential result that may arise in a water system in future or may be derived from the water system in future is provided in which the information processing system comprising: a parameter information acquisition unit configured to acquire two or more parameters selected from a group consisting of a water quality parameter, a controller parameter, and a result parameter as parameter information, the water quality parameter being a parameter related to water quality of the water system, the control parameter being a parameter related to the water system, a facility related to the water system, or a control condition of a raw material to be added to the water system, the result parameter being a parameter that has a different meaning from the potential result and that is related to a result having arisen in the water system, a facility related to the water system, or a raw material to be added to the water system, or related to a result having been derived from the water system, a facility related to the water system, or a raw material to be added to the water system; a relationship model information acquisition unit configured to acquire relationship model information indicating a relationship between the potential result or an index related to the potential result, which has been created in advance, and the two or more parameters; an estimation unit configured to present the potential result or the index related to the potential result to a user as an estimated result based on the acquired parameter information and the relationship model information, the estimated result being presented to the user in association with each of the parameters included in the parameter information; and a simulation unit configured to accept from the user a change to at least one of the estimated result and each of the parameters presented by the estimation unit, and estimate a variation of an item to which a change from the user has not been accepted among the estimated result and each of the parameters based on content of the accepted change and the relationship model information.

[0007] According to the above-mentioned aspects, an information processing system, etc. that facilitates the management of estimated potential results, etc. is provided.

[0008] Furthermore, the present disclosure may be provided in each of the following aspects.

[0009] (1) An information processing system for estimating a potential result that may arise in a water system in future or may be derived from the water system in future, the information processing system comprising: a parameter information acquisition unit configured to acquire two or more parameters selected from a group consisting of a water quality parameter, a controller parameter, and a result parameter as parameter information, the water quality parameter being a parameter related to water quality of the water system, the control parameter being a parameter related to the water system, a facility related to the water system, or a control condition of a raw material to be added to the water system, the result parameter being a parameter that has a different meaning from the potential result and that is related to a result having arisen in the water system, a facility related to the water system, or a raw material to be added to the water system, or related to a result having been derived from the water system, a facility related to the water system, or a raw material to be added to the water system; a relationship model information acquisition unit configured to acquire relationship model information indicating a relationship between the potential result or an index related to the potential result, which has been created in advance, and the two or more parameters; an estimation unit configured to present the potential result or the index related to the potential result to a user as an estimated result based on the acquired parameter information and the relationship model information, the estimated result being presented to the user in association with each of the parameters included in the parameter information; and a simulation unit configured to accept from the user a change to at least one of the estimated result and each of the parameters presented by the estimation unit, and estimate a variation of an item to which a change from the user has not been accepted among the estimated result and each of the parameters based on content of the accepted change and the relationship model information.

[0010] (2) The information processing system according to (1), wherein: the relationship model information is a model obtained from a regression analysis, a time series analysis, a decision tree, a neural network, Bayes, clustering, classification, or ensemble learning, between a prior measurement result corresponding to the potential result or an index related to the prior measurement result and the two or more parameters.

[0011] (3) The information processing system according to (1) or (2), wherein: the water system is a water system in a process of manufacturing a paper product and / or a material related to manufacture of a paper product.

[0012] (4) The information processing system according to (3), wherein: the parameter information includes, as the water quality parameter, one or more selected from a group consisting of pH of the water system, electrical conductivity, an oxidation-reduction potential, a zeta potential, turbidity, temperature, a foam height, a biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), a chemical oxygen demand (COD), total organic carbon (TOC), inorganic carbon, absorbance, color, appearance, whiteness, transparency, a particle size distribution, a degree of flocculation, an amount of foreign matter, suspended solids (SS), a foaming area on a water surface, an area of underwater contamination, an amount of bubbles, an amount of glucose, an amount of organic acids, an amount of active alkali, total titrated alkali, metal or a metal ion content, a non-metal ion content, an amount of starch, an amount of calcium, an amount of total chlorine, an amount of free chlorine, an amount of dissolved oxygen (DO), a cationic demand, an amount of hydrogen sulfide, a degree of sulfidation, an amount of hydrogen peroxide, ash concentration, a respiration rate of microorganisms in the system, a viable bacterial count, a spore-forming bacterial count, and ATP.

[0013] (5) The information processing system according to (3) or (4), wherein: the parameter information includes, as the control parameter, one or more selected from the group consisting of an operating speed (a papermaking speed) of a paper machine, a rotational speed of a filter cloth of a raw material dehydrator, a rotational speed of a filter cloth of a cleaning machine, an additive amount of chemicals or intensity to the water system, an additive amount of chemicals or intensity relative to a raw material to be added to the water system, an additive amount of chemicals or intensity relative to a facility related to the water system, an amount of vapor or intensity for heating, temperature of vapor for heating, pressure of vapor for heating, a flow rate from a seed box, nip pressure of a press part, felt vacuum pressure of a press part, a blending ratio of a papermaking raw material, a blended amount or intensity of waste sheets of papermaking raw material, a mesh size of a screen for a papermaking raw material, a gap distance between a rotor and a stator of a beater, freeness, a degree of beating, draw, linear pressure of a press part, a gravity dewatering amount of a wire part or equivalent parameters, a forced dewatering amount of a wire part or equivalent parameters, a gravity dewatering amount of a press part, parameters equivalent to a gravity dewatering amount of a press part, parameters for controlling the gravity dewatering amount of a press part, a forced dewatering amount of a press part, parameters equivalent to the forced dewatering amount of a press part, parameters for controlling the forced dewatering amount of a press part, concentration of interlayer adhesive, an amount or intensity of interlayer adhesive, shower water amount or intensity, fresh water intensity, water usage intensity, timing or frequency of cleaning a wire part, timing or frequency of cleaning a press part, timing or frequency of cleaning a dryer part, timing or frequency of changing tools of a paper machine, an fresh water replenishment amount, an amount of rejects from the screen or parameters for controlling them, differential pressure across the screen or a parameter equivalent thereto, an amount of rejects from the cleaner or a parameter for controlling them, a fuel amount or intensity for heating, concentration in a floatater, an amount of air in the floatater or a parameter equivalent thereto, an amount of froth in a floatater or parameters equivalent thereto, the load of a disperser or a parameter equivalent thereto, the number of felt singeing, a flow rate of fluid flowing through the water system, air temperature, an amount of vapor or intensity for heating, an amount or intensity of calcium carbonate to be added, an amount or intensity of calcium bicarbonate to be added, a flow rate or concentration of clarifying green liquor, a flow rate or concentration of raw green liquor, a flow rate or concentration of dilute black liquor, a flow rate or concentration of concentrated black liquor, a flow rate or concentration of white liquid, black liquor injection rate in a black liquor treatment system, black liquor injection concentration in a black liquor treatment system, an amount of pulp production, a moisture content of a mud filter, lime input or intensity in a slaking / causticizing system, an amount of lime production in a calcination system, fuel usage, a fuel usage intensity, causticizing efficiency in a slaking / causticizing system, caustic input or intensity in a cooking system, an amount of black liquor generated in a black liquor treatment system, an amount of solids in evaporating black liquor in a black liquor treatment system, a evaporation factor in evaporating black liquor in a black liquor treatment system, temperature of an economizer in a boiler in a black liquor treatment system, water content of sludge in a green liquor treatment system, specific gravity of black liquor, specific gravity of green liquor, specific gravity of white liquor, specific gravity of weak liquor, specific gravity of dregs, specific gravity of the calcium carbonate before calcination, and specific gravity of the calcium oxide after calcination.

[0014] (6) The information processing system according to any one of (3) to (5), wherein: the parameter information includes, as the result parameter, one or more selected from a group consisting of a unit weight (grammage) of the paper product, a yield, white water concentration, moisture content of the paper product, an amount of vapor or intensity in a facility manufacturing the paper product, temperature of vapor in a facility manufacturing the paper product, pressure of vapor in a facility manufacturing the paper product, thickness of the paper product, concentration of ash in the paper product, a type of defect of the paper product, the number of defects in the paper product, a timing of paper breakage in a process, freeness, a degree of beating, an amount of aeration, air temperature in a dryer, a joint rate, the number of joints, an amount of paper loss, the number of flaws, a flaw index, outdoor temperature including indoor temperature, outdoor humidity including indoor humidity, wet paper moisture content, product moisture content, temperature of rolls and cylinders in the dryer, a five-sense sensor measurement, a fuel amount or a fuel usage intensity, a calcination rate in a calcination system, a causticizing efficiency in a slaking / causticizing system, caustic input in a cooking system, and lime input in a slaking / causticizing system.

[0015] (7) The information processing system according to any one of (3) to (6), wherein: the potential result relates to quality or an amount of energy of the paper product and / or a material associated with manufacture of the paper product, the quality relates to one or more selected from a group consisting of a number of defects, paper strength, a joint rate, a sizing degree, air permeability, smoothness, an ash content, a tone, whiteness, formation, odor, causticizing efficiency, calcination rate, a kappa value, freeness, and a moisture percentage of the paper product and / or the material associated with the manufacture of the paper product, and the amount of energy relates to one or more selected from a group consisting of an amount of vapor, a vapor intensity, a fuel amount, and a fuel usage intensity in manufacturing the paper product and / or the material associated with the manufacture of the paper product.

[0016] (8) An information processing method executed by an information processing system, comprising each step of executing processing of each unit of the information processing system according to any one of (1) to (7).

[0017] (9) A program configured to cause a computer to execute processing of each unit of the information processing system according to any one of (1) to (7). Of course, the present disclosure is not limited to the above aspects.

[0018] FIG. 1 show an overall configuration of an information processing system 1.FIG. 2 shows a hardware configuration of an information processing apparatus 2.FIG. 3 shows a hardware configuration of a user terminal 3.FIG. 4 is an example of a papermaking process to which an information processing system 1 can be applied.FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram showing functions of an information processing apparatus 2.FIG. 6 is an activity diagram showing a flow of information processing using an information processing apparatus 2, etc.Fig. 7 shows a plot of the number A of occurrences of trouble versus an index a related to a potential result, for a total of 30 data sets.Fig. 8 is a graph showing a magnitude of influence of each parameter with respect to an index a related to a potential result.FIG. 9 shows an example of an estimated result presented to a user.FIG. 10 shows a result of a simulation when a change to the parameter 1 is input.FIG. 11 shows a result of a simulation when a change to a potential result index is input.FIG. 12 shows a simulation result related to defect indices.

[0019] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described. It should be noted that various features described in the embodiment below can be combined with each other.

[0020] In other words, the information processing system according to the present embodiment is as follows. An information processing system for estimating a potential result that may arise in a water system in future or may be derived from the water system in future, the information processing system comprising: a parameter information acquisition unit configured to acquire two or more parameters selected from a group consisting of a water quality parameter, a controller parameter, and a result parameter as parameter information, the water quality parameter being a parameter related to water quality of the water system, the control parameter being a parameter related to the water system, a facility related to the water system, or a control condition of a raw material to be added to the water system, the result parameter being a parameter that has a different meaning from the potential result and that is related to a result having arisen in the water system, a facility related to the water system, or a raw material to be added to the water system, or related to a result having been derived from the water system, a facility related to the water system, or a raw material to be added to the water system; a relationship model information acquisition unit configured to acquire relationship model information indicating a relationship between the potential result or an index related to the potential result, which has been created in advance, and the two or more parameters; an estimation unit configured to present the potential result or the index related to the potential result to a user as an estimated result based on the acquired parameter information and the relationship model information, the estimated result being presented to the user in association with each of the parameters included in the parameter information; and a simulation unit configured to accept from the user a change to at least one of the estimated result and each of the parameters presented by the estimation unit, and estimate a variation of an item to which a change from the user has not been accepted among the estimated result and each of the parameters based on content of the accepted change and the relationship model information.

[0021] A program for realizing a software described in an embodiment may be provided as a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, may be provided to be downloaded from an external server, or may be provided so that the program is activated on an external computer to realize function thereof on a client terminal (so-called cloud computing).

[0022] In addition, in various information processing according to an embodiment, an input and an output in response to the input can be realized. Here, as long as an output is obtained as a result of an input, the aspect of information referenced in such information processing (hereinafter, referred to as reference information) is not limited. The reference information may be, for example, rule-based information such as a database, a lookup table, a predefined function (including a determination formula such as a regression formula constructed by statistical methods), may be a trained model in which the correlation between an input and an output has been learned in advance, or may be a large-scale language model that can output a desired result by inputting a prompt.

[0023] The term "unit" in an embodiment may include, for example, a combination of hardware resources implemented as circuits in a broad sense and information processing of software that can be concretely realized by these hardware resources. Further, various information is handled in an embodiment, and the information can be represented by, for instance, physical values of signal values representing voltage and current, high and low signal values as a set of binary bits consisting of 0 or 1, or quantum superposition (so-called qubits), and communication / calculation can be executed on a circuit in a broad sense.

[0024] Furthermore, the circuit in a broad sense is a circuit realized by combining at least an appropriate number of a circuit, a circuitry, a processor, a memory, or the like. The processor may be a general-purpose processor or a dedicated circuit. In other words, a circuit includes an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a programmable logic device (e.g., simple programmable logic device (SPLD), a complex programmable logic device (CPLD), field programmable gate array (FPGA)), and the like.

[0025] 1. Hardware configuration This section describes a hardware configuration of the information processing system 1 according to the present embodiment. FIG. 1 show an overall configuration of the information processing system 1.

[0026] The information processing system 1 according to the present embodiment is a system used to estimate a potential result that may arise in a water system in future or may be derived from the water system in future. Here, the information processing system 1 according to the present embodiment includes an information processing apparatus 2 and a user terminal 3, which are connected via a communication line. The communication line here includes the Internet, wireless, etc., and serves to mediate exchange of data between apparatuses connected to own line. Furthermore, in the information processing system 1 according to the present embodiment, a measurement device 4 is configured to measure various parameters in a water system W. The parameters measured by the measurement device 4 are configured to be transmitted to the information processing apparatus 2.

[0027] A system exemplified by the information processing system 1 in the present specification comprises one or more devices or components. Thus, even the information processing apparatus 2 alone may be an example of a system, and an example including the user terminal 3, the water system W to be applied, and the measurement device 4 may be referred to as a system as well. The following continues the description of each device, etc. that may configure the information processing system 1.

[0028] <Information processing apparatus 2> FIG. 2 shows a hardware configuration of the information processing apparatus 2. The information processing apparatus 2 includes a communication unit 21, a storage unit 22, and a controller 23, and each of these components is configured to be electrically connected by a communication bus 20. Hereinafter, each unit of the information processing apparatus 2 will be described.

[0029] (Communication unit 21) The communication unit 21 is configured to transmit various electric signals from the information processing apparatus 2 to an external component. Furthermore, the communication unit 21 is configured to receive various electric signals from an external component to the information processing apparatus 2. The communication unit 21 includes a network communication function, and thus various information may be communicated between the information processing apparatus 2 and an external device via a communication line.

[0030] (Storage unit 22) The storage unit 22 stores various kinds of information defined by the description above. This may be implemented as, for example, a storage device such as a solid state drive (SSD) that stores various programs and the like related to the information processing apparatus 2 executed by the controller 23, or a memory such as a random access memory (RAM) that stores temporarily necessary information (argument, array, or the like) related to program operations. The storage unit 22 stores various programs, variables, etc. related to the information processing apparatus 2 which are executed by the controller 23.

[0031] (Controller 23) The controller 23 is, for example, an unshown central processing unit (CPU). The controller 23 is configured to realize various functions related to the information processing apparatus 2 by reading and executing a predetermined program stored in the storage unit 22. In other words, information processing by software stored in the storage unit 22 is specifically realized by the controller 23 that is an example of hardware, thereby may be executed as each functional unit included in the controller 23. Further details on these will be described in the next section. It should be noted that the controller 23 is not limited to being singular, and may be implemented with two or more controllers 23 for each function. Additionally, a combination thereof may be applied.

[0032] <User Terminal 3> FIG. 3 shows a hardware configuration of the user terminal 3. The user terminal 3 is typically a terminal used by a person who performs operations related to the water system W. In the present specification, a person who performs such operations may be simply referred to as a "user". The user terminal 3 includes a communication unit 31, a storage unit 32, a controller 33, a display unit 34, and an input unit 35, and these components are electrically connected inside the user terminal 3 via a communication bus 30. The descriptions of the communication unit 31, the storage unit 32, and the controller 33 are omitted since they are substantially the same as those of the communication unit 21, the storage unit 22, and the controller 23 in the information processing apparatus 2 described above.

[0033] (Display Unit 34) The display unit 34 may be, for example, included in a housing of the user terminal 3 or may be externally attached. The display unit 34 is configured to display a screen of graphical user interface (GUI) that is operable by a user. For instance, this is preferable to be implemented by using different display devices such as a CRT display, a liquid crystal display, an organic EL display, and a plasma display, depending on the type of the user terminal 3.

[0034] (Input unit 35) The input unit 35 may be included in a housing of the user terminal 3 or may be externally attached. For example, the input unit 35 may be implemented as a touch panel integrated with the display unit 34. With the touch panel, a user may input through tapping, swiping, or other operations. Of course, a switch button, a mouse, a QWERTY keyboard, etc. may be employed instead of the touch panel. That is, the input unit 35 receives operation input performed by the user. This input, treated as a command signal, is transferred to the controller 33 via the communication bus 30, and the controller 33 may execute predetermined control or calculation as necessary.

[0035] <Measurement device 4> The measurement device 4 is configured to measure various parameters related to the water system W. In other words, this measurement device 4 is a device for measuring a predetermined parameter. In the present embodiment, a predetermined calculation processing is performed using two or more parameters selected from a group consisting of a water quality parameter, a control parameter, and a result parameter, and the measurement device 4 acquires a parameter that serves as the basis for this calculation. Noted that, although only a single measurement device 4 is shown in FIG. 1, a plurality (or multiple types) of measurement devices 4 may be applied in the information processing system 1.

[0036] Various sensors and the like can be selected as the measurement device 4, depending on the type of parameter to be measured. As the measurement device 4, for example, a pH meter, an electrical conductivity meter, an oxidation-reduction potentiometer, a turbidimeter, a thermometer, a level meter for measuring foam height, a COD meter, a UV meter, a particle size distribution analyzer, a flocculation sensor, a digital camera (or a digital video camera), an internal bubble sensor, an absorptiometer, a freeness meter, a dissolved oxygen meter, a zeta potential meter, a residual chlorine meter, a hydrogen sulfide meter, a retention / freeness meter, a color sensor, a hydrogen peroxide meter, and a five-sense sensor can be used. The five-sense sensor here may include an image sensor, a luminous intensity sensor, an acoustic sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, a gas component sensor, an odor sensor, a liquid component sensor, a tactile sensor, a pressure sensor, a temperature sensors, a humidity sensor, a displacement sensor, etc.

[0037] It should be noted that in some cases, the control parameters and the like that are directly input for controlling the device may be used as they are, or such data may be received from the device via communication, or an operator of the device or the like may record the control parameters other than the device.

[0038] <Water System W> The water system W according to the present embodiment may be any of various industrial processes involving water. That is, the type of water system W is not particularly limited, but as an example, it may be a water system in a process of manufacturing a paper product and / or a material related to the manufacture of a paper product. In the following, these may be collectively referred to as "paper products, etc.". In the present specification, "a material related to the manufacture of a paper product" does not refer to the paper product itself to be manufactured, but rather to various raw materials and intermediates that are used in the manufacture of the paper product. In other words, raw materials used in the manufacture of the paper product include white water, calcium oxide, etc. generated during the manufacturing process of the paper product. Intermediates used in the manufacture of the paper product include, for example, pulp and the like that is manufactured prior to the papermaking process. Specifically, examples of processes for manufacturing white liquor, calcium oxide, and pulp, which are materials related to the paper product, include a cooking process, a washing process, a black liquor concentration process, and a causticizing process. In addition, as a water system other than a water system of a process of manufacturing paper products, etc. examples of the water system to be a target may include various piping, a heat exchanger, a storage tank, a kiln, and cleaning equipment. An example of a process that is a target of the information processing system 1 according to the present embodiment is shown in FIG. 4. FIG. 4 is an example of a papermaking process to which the information processing system 1 can be applied. The papermaking process shown in FIG. 4 shows various systems such as a raw material system, a preparation / papermaking system, a recovery system, and a drainage system. The measurement device 4 described above can acquire parameters from various elements present in such a papermaking process. The application of the information processing system 1 is not limited to the processes shown in the figure, and predetermined elements may be added or deleted as appropriate.

[0039] 2. Functional configuration This section describes a functional configuration of the present embodiment. FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram showing functions of the information processing apparatus 2. As mentioned above, information processing by software (stored in the storage unit 22) is specifically realized by hardware (the controller 23), and can be executed as each functional unit included in the controller 23.

[0040] Specifically, the information processing apparatus 2 (controller 23) may include a parameter information acquisition unit 231, a relationship model information acquisition unit 232, an estimation unit 233, a simulation unit 234, a relationship model information creation unit 235, and a storage management unit 236 as each functional unit. It should be noted that each functional unit may be increased, omitted, or integrated as appropriate depending on the application to which the information processing apparatus 2 is applied.

[0041] (Parameter information acquisition unit 231) The parameter information acquisition unit 231 is configured to execute a parameter information acquisition step. In the parameter information acquisition step, the parameter information acquisition unit 231 acquires two or more parameters selected from a group consisting of a water quality parameter, a controller parameter, and a result parameter, as parameter information. Here, the water quality parameter is a parameter related to water quality of the water system. The control parameter is a parameter related to the water system, a facility related to the water system, or a control condition of a raw material to be added to the water system. The result parameter is a parameter having a different meaning from the potential result and which is related to a result having arisen in the water system, a facility related to the water system, or a raw material to be added to the water system, or a result having been derived from the water system, a facility related to the water system, or a raw material to be added to the water system. During this acquisition, the parameter information acquisition unit 231 is configured, for instance, to acquire various information via the communication unit 21 from the measurement device 4 that is capable of measuring at least a part of the parameters.

[0042] (Relationship model information acquisition unit 232) The relationship model information acquisition unit 232 is configured to execute a relationship model information acquisition step. In the relationship model information acquisition step, the relationship model information acquisition unit 232 acquires relationship model information indicating a relationship between the potential result or an index related to the potential result, which has been created in advance, and the two or more parameters. The details of this model will be explained later.

[0043] (Estimation unit 233) The estimation unit 233 is configured to execute an estimation step. In the estimation step, the estimation unit 233 presents a potential result or an index related to the potential result to the user as an estimated result based on the acquired parameter information and relationship model information. Here, the estimated result is presented to the user in association with each of the parameters included in the parameter information. The presented object (estimated result) here is configured to be recognizable by the user or the like. In other words, the estimation unit 233 creates display information and controls the display information so that it can be visually recognized by the user or the like. Note that, the display information may be visual information itself such as a screen, an image, an icon, a text, etc. generated in a form that is visible to the user, or the display information may be rendering information for displaying visual information such as a screen, an image, an icon, a text, etc. on various devices or terminals. Furthermore, the details of the information processing regarding the estimation will be explained later.

[0044] (Simulation unit 234) The simulation unit 234 is configured to execute a simulation step. In the simulation step, the simulation unit 234 accepts from the user a change to at least one of the estimated result and each of the parameters presented by the estimation unit 233, and estimates a variation of an item to which a change from the user has not been accepted among the estimated result and each of the parameters based on the content of the accepted change and the relationship model information. The details of the information processing related to this simulation will be explained later.

[0045] (Relationship model information creation unit 235) The relationship model information creation unit 235 is configured to execute a relationship model information creation step. In the relationship model information creation step, the relationship model information creation unit 235 creates or updates relationship model information to be used in the above-mentioned estimation step and the like.

[0046] (Storage management unit 236) The storage management unit 236 is configured to execute a storage management step. In the storage management step, the storage management unit 236 is configured to manage various information to be stored that is related to the information processing system 1 according to the present embodiment. Typically, the storage management unit 236 is configured to allow the information, etc. handled by the information processing apparatus 2 to be stored in a storage area. Examples of the storage area include the storage unit 22 of the information processing apparatus 2 or storage units of various devices or terminals, but the storage area does not necessarily have to be within the system of the information processing system 1, and the storage management unit 236 may also manage various kinds of information so as to be stored in an external storage device or the like.

[0047] 3. Details of information processing In Section 3, an information processing method executed by the information processing apparatus 2, etc. will be described with reference to an activity diagram, etc. FIG. 6 is an activity diagram showing a flow of information processing using the information processing apparatus 2, etc.

[0048] As shown in FIG. 6, in the present embodiment, the parameter information acquisition unit 231 of the information processing apparatus 2 first acquires parameter information (Activity A101). As mentioned above, the parameter information includes two or more parameters selected from the group consisting of the water quality parameter, the control parameter and the result parameter.

[0049] The parameter information is related to the water system W and includes two or more parameters selected from the group consisting of the water quality parameter, the control parameter, and the result parameter. Typically, this parameter information relates to an estimation target and is set in consideration of the degree of influence, etc. Note that the water system W here is not limited to one present in a single tank or a single flow path or one in which a continuous flow is present, and one with a plurality of tanks or flow paths, specifically, a water system in which a branch is present in a flow path, a water system with a confluence of a plurality of flow paths, a water system that is transferred in batch units from one tank to another, and a water system in which some kind of processing is performed in a mid-flow are also considered one water system. In addition, when a water system related to the water quality parameter, the control parameter, or the result parameter is divided according to tanks or the like, the water quality parameter, the control parameter, or the result parameter with respect to a part of the water system may be used, or the water quality parameter, the control parameter, or the result parameter with respect to the entire water system may be used.

[0050] The water quality parameter is not particularly limited as long as the parameter is related to a water quality of the water system W. In addition, the control parameter is not particularly limited as long as the parameter is related to the water system W, a facility related to the water system W, or a control condition of a raw material to be added to the water system W. Furthermore, the result parameter is not particularly limited as long as the parameter has a different meaning from the potential result and is related to a result having arisen in the water system W, a facility related to the water system W, or a raw material to be added to the water system W, or a result having been derived from the water system W, a facility related to the water system W, or a raw material to be added to the water system W. Note that while "have a different meaning from the potential result" includes a case where assessment indices (for example, physical amount) differs (for example, when one of the assessment indices is a length and the other assessment index is a mass), a case where the assessment index is the same but objects of assessment differ from each other (for example, a mass of paper and a mass of an additive) and a case where locations of measurement differ from each other (for example, an oxidation-reduction potential of a papermaking raw material system and an oxidation-reduction potential of a papermaking system), whereas, a case where the results have different meanings (for example, in a case where an oxidation-reduction potential is positive, and in a case where an oxidation-reduction potential is negative) is not included.

[0051] Hereinafter, specific examples of the water quality parameter, the control parameter, and the result parameter in a case where the water system W is a water system in a process of manufacturing paper products, etc. will be described. These parameters may be related to, for example, the papermaking process as shown in FIG. 4, or may relate to, for example, a cooking system, a black liquor treatment system, a green liquor treatment system, a slaking / causticizing system, and a calcination system (lime calcination process) in a pulp manufacturing system, as described in JP 2022-12850A.

[0052] That is, the parameter information may include, as water quality parameters, one or more selected from the group consisting of pH of the water system, electrical conductivity, an oxidation-reduction potential, a zeta potential, turbidity, temperature, a foam height, a biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), a chemical oxygen demand (COD), total organic carbon (TOC), inorganic carbon, absorbance, color, appearance, whiteness, transparency, a particle size distribution, a degree of flocculation, an amount of foreign matter, suspended solids (SS), a foaming area on a water surface, an area of underwater contamination, an amount of bubbles, an amount of glucose, an amount of organic acids, an amount of active alkali, total titrated alkali, metal or a metal ion content, a non-metal ion content, an amount of starch, an amount of calcium, an amount of total chlorine, an amount of free chlorine, an amount of dissolved oxygen (DO), a cationic demand, an amount of hydrogen sulfide, a degree of sulfidation, an amount of hydrogen peroxide, ash concentration, a respiration rate of microorganisms in the system, a viable bacterial count, a spore-forming bacterial count, and ATP. These water quality parameters are acquired from any point in the water system W.

[0053] It should be noted that, among the above-mentioned water quality parameters, "appearance" may be acquired from an RGB color sensor or a camera image. The "amount of active alkali" or "total titrated alkali" may refer to the amount of alkali evaluated as sodium, the amount of alkali evaluated as calcium, or the total amount of alkali. Furthermore, the metal in the "metal or metal ion content" may include heavy metals such as iron (Fe), lead (Pb), gold (Au), platinum (Pt), silver (Ag), copper (Cu), chromium (Cr), cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg), zinc (Zn), arsenic (As), manganese (Mn), cobalt (Co), nickel (Ni), molybdenum (Mo), tungsten (W), tin (Sn), bismuth (Bi), uranium (U), and plutonium (Pu); alkali metals such as sodium (Na) and potassium (K); alkaline earth metals such as calcium (Ca) and barium (Ba); and base metals such as magnesium (Mg) and aluminum (Al). Note that the "metal or metal ion content" may be the content of a specific (one) metal or metal ion, or the content of multiple types of metals. In addition, the "non-metal ion" may include ions containing hetero atoms such as silicon (Si), phosphorus (P), sulfur (S), and nitrogen (N) as constituent components, as well as halogen ions such as chlorine (Cl) and bromine (Br).

[0054] In addition, the parameter information may include, as the control parameter, one or more selected from the group consisting of an operating speed (a papermaking speed) of a paper machine, a rotational speed of a filter cloth of a raw material dehydrator, a rotational speed of a filter cloth of a cleaning machine, an additive amount of chemicals or intensity to the water system, an additive amount of chemicals or intensity relative to a raw material to be added to the water system, an additive amount of chemicals or intensity relative to a facility related to the water system, an amount of vapor or intensity for heating, temperature of vapor for heating, pressure of vapor for heating, a flow rate from a seed box, nip pressure of a press part, felt vacuum pressure of a press part, a blending ratio of a papermaking raw material, a blended amount or intensity of waste sheets of papermaking raw material, a mesh size of a screen for a papermaking raw material, a gap distance between a rotor and a stator of a beater, freeness, a degree of beating, draw, linear pressure of a press part, a gravity dewatering amount of a wire part or equivalent parameters, a forced dewatering amount of a wire part or equivalent parameters, a gravity dewatering amount of a press part, parameters equivalent to a gravity dewatering amount of a press part, parameters for controlling the gravity dewatering amount of a press part, a forced dewatering amount of a press part, parameters equivalent to the forced dewatering amount of a press part, parameters for controlling the forced dewatering amount of a press part, concentration of interlayer adhesive, an amount or intensity of interlayer adhesive, shower water amount or intensity, fresh water intensity, water usage intensity, timing or frequency of cleaning a wire part, timing or frequency of cleaning a press part, timing or frequency of cleaning a dryer part, timing or frequency of changing tools of a paper machine, an fresh water replenishment amount, an amount of rejects from the screen or parameters for controlling them, differential pressure across the screen or a parameter equivalent thereto, an amount of rejects from the cleaner or a parameter for controlling them, a fuel amount or intensity for heating, concentration in a floatater, an amount of air in the floatater or a parameter equivalent thereto, an amount of froth in a floatater or parameters equivalent thereto, the load of a disperser or a parameter equivalent thereto, the number of felt singeing, a flow rate of fluid flowing through the water system, air temperature, an amount of vapor or intensity for heating, an amount or intensity of calcium carbonate to be added, an amount or intensity of calcium bicarbonate to be added, a flow rate or concentration of clarifying green liquor, a flow rate or concentration of raw green liquor, a flow rate or concentration of dilute black liquor, a flow rate or concentration of concentrated black liquor, a flow rate or concentration of white liquid, black liquor injection rate in a black liquor treatment system, black liquor injection concentration in a black liquor treatment system, an amount of pulp production, a moisture content of a mud filter, lime input or intensity in a slaking / causticizing system, an amount of lime production in a calcination system, fuel usage, a fuel usage intensity, causticizing efficiency in a slaking / causticizing system, caustic input or intensity in a cooking system, an amount of black liquor generated in a black liquor treatment system, an amount of solids in evaporating black liquor in a black liquor treatment system, a evaporation factor in evaporating black liquor in a black liquor treatment system, temperature of an economizer in a boiler in a black liquor treatment system, water content of sludge in a green liquor treatment system, specific gravity of black liquor, specific gravity of green liquor, specific gravity of white liquor, specific gravity of weak liquor, specific gravity of dregs, specific gravity of the calcium carbonate before calcination, and specific gravity of the calcium oxide after calcination. These control parameters are acquired from various facilities and the like related to the water system W. In the case where the water system W is the water system in the process of manufacturing paper products, the facility here includes, for example, a wire and felt or the like of the paper machine to which chemicals are directly added, and a dry part (dryer) or the like of the papermaking system. Of course, the control parameter is not limited to the above, but may be set as appropriate depending on the type of the water system W, the type of device installed in the process, and the like. With respect to the above control parameter, the type of "fuel" can be set appropriately, and may be, for example, heavy oil or petroleum coke. Furthermore, the point where the "temperature" in the "temperature of an economizer in a boiler in a black liquor treatment system" is acquired may be any point within the device. For example, it may be an inlet point of the device, it may be inside the device, or it may be an outlet point of the device.

[0055] In addition, the parameter information includes, as result parameters, one or more selected from the group consisting of a unit weight (grammage) of a paper product, a yield, white water concentration, moisture content of a paper product, an amount of vapor or intensity in a facility manufacturing the paper product, temperature of vapor in a facility manufacturing the paper product, pressure of vapor in a facility manufacturing the paper product, thickness of the paper product, concentration of ash in the paper product, a type of defect of the paper product, the number of defects in the paper product, a timing of paper breakage in a process, freeness, a degree of beating, an amount of aeration, air temperature in a dryer, a joint rate, the number of joints, an amount of paper loss, the number of flaws, a flaw index, outdoor temperature including indoor temperature, outdoor humidity including indoor humidity, wet paper moisture content, product moisture content, temperature of rolls and cylinders in the dryer, a five-sense sensor measurement, a fuel amount or a fuel usage intensity, a calcination rate in a calcination system, a causticizing efficiency in a slaking / causticizing system, caustic input in a cooking system, and lime input in a slaking / causticizing system. Among these result parameters, as the amount of vapor in a facility manufacturing the paper product, an amount of vapor in a dryer of the paper machine, an amount of vapor in a kraft pulp black liquor evaporator, an amount of vapor in a black liquor heater of a kraft pulp digester, and an amount of vapor which is injected in order to heat pulp raw material or white water can be used. These result parameters are acquired from various facilities and the like related to the water system W.

[0056] Note that there are parameters which originally represent a same matter but are classified according to their purpose into two or more of the water quality parameter, the control parameter, and the result parameter. For example, in a black liquor evaporator, black liquor is heated by indirect heat exchange with vapor generated by a boiler and, as a result of the heating, process vapor is generated from the black liquor. The process vapor is used to heat (thicken) thickened black liquor in a next step. The amount of generated process vapor is a result parameter from the perspective of being generated from the black liquor and is also used as a control parameter from the perspective of being used in heating (thickening) thickened black liquor in a next step. In addition, the vapor generated by the boiler in order to heat the black liquor is used as a control parameter. It should be noted that the two or more parameters acquired by the parameter information acquisition unit are prevented from all being substantially identical. For example, in a case where all of the process vapor generated from the black liquor described above is used to heat (thicken) the thickened black liquor in the next step, the process vapor generated from the black liquor as a result parameter and the amount of vapor to be used to heat (thicken) the thickened black liquor as a control parameter are excluded as the two parameters (parameters other than these two are not used). This is because, in such a case, the process vapor generated from the black liquor as a result parameter and the amount of vapor to be used to heat (thicken) the thickened black liquor as a control parameter are substantially identical. However, in a case where a part of the process vapor generated from the black liquor is used to heat (thicken) the thickened black liquor in a next step, the process vapor generated from the black liquor as a result parameter and the amount of vapor to be used to heat (thicken) the thickened black liquor as a control parameter can be used as the two parameters. This is because, in such a case, the process vapor generated from the black liquor as a result parameter and the amount of vapor to be used to heat (thicken) the thickened black liquor as a control parameter are not substantially identical. Furthermore, in a case where all of the process vapor generated from the black liquor described above is used to heat (thicken) the thickened black liquor in a next step, in addition to using the process vapor generated from the black liquor as a result parameter and the amount of vapor to be used to heat (thicken) the thickened black liquor as a control parameter as the two parameters, a plurality of parameters may be substantially identical if further combining other parameter such as the pH of the water system as a water quality parameter. In addition, for example, while freeness and degree of beating are the identical parameters, freeness and degree of beating can be included in both the control parameter and the result parameter.

[0057] These parameters may be quantitative or qualitative. When using a qualitative parameter, a numerical value may be assigned to the parameter and the parameter may be handled as quantitative data.

[0058] Note that the water quality parameter, the control parameter, and the result parameter are respectively concepts encompassing a plurality of parameters. The two or more parameters included in the parameter information are respectively independent and can be selected from the respective parameters of the water quality parameter, the control parameter, and the result parameter, and two or more parameters (for example, pH and temperature of water) may be selected from only one of the water quality parameter, the control parameter, and the result parameter or two or more parameters may be selected from a combination of two or three (for example, pH, press pressure of a press part, and thickness of the paper product) of the water quality parameter, the control parameter, and the result parameter. However, exact identical parameters (for example, pH of water at point A and pH of water at point A) are not to be selected (however, for example, pH of water at point A and pH of water at point B, which are different measurement points, may be selected).

[0059] While acquiring the parameter information as described above, the relationship model information acquisition unit 232 of the information processing apparatus 2 acquires relationship model information (Activity A102). The order of performing Activity A101 and Activity A102 here is arbitrary. Activity A101 can be performed prior to Activity A102, Activity A102 can be performed prior to Activity A101, or both activities can be performed in parallel (simultaneously).

[0060] This relationship model information indicates a relationship between the potential result or an index related to the potential result, which has been created in advance, and two or more parameters. Note that "in advance" means prior to estimating the potential result or an index related to the potential result and may be either of even during actual operation of the water system W or prior to actual operation, as long as it is prior to estimating the potential result or an index related to the potential result.

[0061] In addition, the "potential result" related to the relationship model information refer to various events related to the water system W. The estimation unit 233 of the information processing apparatus 2 in the present embodiment estimates the potential result or the index related to the potential result, and the potential result related to the relationship model information also corresponds to the result estimated by the estimation unit 233.

[0062] The potential result can be set appropriately depending on the estimation target, but in the case where the water system W is a water system in a process of manufacturing a paper product, the potential result may be as shown below.

[0063] That is, in the present embodiment, the potential result may be related to the quality or the amount of energy of the paper product and / or a material associated with the manufacture of the paper product. The quality may relate to one or more selected from the group consisting of the number of defects, paper strength, a joint rate, a sizing degree, air permeability, smoothness, an ash content, a tone, whiteness, formation, odor, causticizing efficiency, calcination rate, a kappa value, freeness, and a moisture percentage of a paper product and / or a material related to the manufacture of the paper product. The amount of energy may relate to one or more selected from the group consisting of an amount of vapor, a vapor intensity, a fuel amount, and a fuel usage intensity, in manufacturing a paper product and / or a material related to the manufacture of the paper product. As mentioned above, "a material related to the manufacture of the paper product" does not refer to the paper product itself to be manufactured, but to various raw materials and intermediates used in the manufacture of the paper product. That is, a raw material used in the manufacture of the paper product includes white water, calcium oxide, and the like that are generated during the manufacturing process of the paper product. In other words, the causticizing efficiency and the calcination rate described above may be related to these raw materials. Intermediates used in the manufacture of the paper product include, for example, pulp manufactured prior to the papermaking process. The above-mentioned potential result may be an evaluation item related to such pulp. The potential result may be the items listed above themselves, or may be a combination of the items listed above, or related items. For example, examples of the related items related to the calcination rate described above include the amount of fuel used to satisfy the predetermined calcination rate (typically, the amount of fuel used in the kiln when obtaining calcium oxide which is used in the causticizing and slaking processes, from calcium carbonate). The type of fuel for the "fuel amount" in the potential result is not particularly limited, and may be heavy oil, petroleum coke, or the like.

[0064] In addition, the potential result in the present embodiment may correspond to the result parameter described above. In this case, the result parameter is usually not included in the parameter information (two or more parameters).

[0065] Examples of the relationship model information include, but are not particularly limited to, a function or a look-up table indicating a relationship between the potential result or an index related to the potential result and two or more parameters, or a trained model of a relationship between the potential result or an index related to the potential result and two or more parameters.

[0066] It is assumed that the two or more parameters included in the parameter information acquired by the parameter information acquisition unit 231 and the parameters included in the parameter information used in the relationship model information have two or more parameters that are common to each other. As described above, the water quality parameter, the control parameter, and the result parameter are respectively concepts encompassing a plurality of parameters. "Have two or more parameters that are common to each other" may mean two or more of any parameters (for example, two or more of only water quality parameters; pH and temperature of water) among the water quality parameter, the control parameter, and the result parameter being common, a combination of the water quality parameter, the control parameter, and the result parameter (for example, one water quality parameter and one control parameter; for example, pH of water and press pressure of the press part) being common, or all of the water quality parameter, the control parameter, and the result parameter (for example, one water quality parameter, one control parameter, and one result parameter) being common.

[0067] This relationship model information is created, for example, as follows. That is, prior to estimating the potential result or the related index, a prior measurement result corresponding to the potential result or a prior measurement index related to the prior measurement result is measured. In addition, in the same water system, two or more parameters, each of which is one of the water quality parameter, the control parameter, or the result parameter, are measured. A plurality of data sets of these prior measurement result or prior measurement index and the parameter are prepared, for example by changing the days and times on which measurements are taken, so that variations occur in the prior measurement result or prior measurement index and the parameter. Next, the prior measurement result or prior measurement index is assumed to be a function of two or more parameters, and the form and coefficients of the function are determined by comparing with the prior measurement result or the prior measurement index, thereby constructing relationship model information. Here, the relationship model information may be a model obtained by performing a predetermined processing on a prior measurement result corresponding to the potential result or an index related to a prior measurement result, and two or more parameters. As the processing here, the following can be used: regression analysis (a linear model, a generalized linear model, a generalized linear mixed model, ridge regression, lasso regression, an elastic net, support vector regression, projection pursuit regression, principal component regression, etc.), a time series analysis (a VAR model, a SVAR model, an ARIMAX model, a SARIMAX model, a state space model, a HMM model, etc.), a decision tree (a decision tree, a regression tree, a random forest, XGBoost, Light GBM, etc.), a neural network (a simple perceptron, a multilayer perceptron, a DNN, a CNN, a RNN, a LSTM, a GAN, a VAE, etc.), Bayes (naive Bayes, Bayesian optimization, a Bayesian network, etc.), clustering (k-means, k-means++, etc.), classification (a k-nearest neighbor algorithm, a support vector machine, etc.), ensemble learning (Boosting, Adaboost, etc.) or the like.

[0068] In an embodiment, the relationship model information is preferably a model obtained from a regression analysis between a prior measurement result corresponding to the potential result or an index related to the prior measurement result and the two or more parameters. Note that the number of sample sets when performing a regression analysis is not particularly limited.

[0069] The creation of the relationship model information is preferably performed in a same water system as the water system of which the potential result is to be estimated. In addition, for example, in a case where the water quality of a water system changes significantly even in a same apparatus (for example, a case where pulp that is a papermaking raw material is changed or the like in a papermaking system at a paper mill), a relationship model information with respect to the water system after the water quality changes is preferably created and used.

[0070] From such a viewpoint, the potential result or the related index and the two or more parameters may be measured on a regular or irregular basis during operation of the water system W, the relationship model information may be created every time, or the relationship model information may be updated by adding data.

[0071] Such relationship model information may be created and updated by, for example, the function of the relationship model information creation unit 235 included in the information processing apparatus 2. That is, the relationship model information creation unit 235 can create relationship model information suitable for the information processing of the present embodiment by performing predetermined calculation processing on the acquired potential result or related index and two or more parameters. Noted that, the creation of relationship model information may be manually performed by, for example, an operator or the like.

[0072] An example of creating the relationship model information will be described below. Specifically, a case will be described in which an index a related to a potential result is calculated using a water quality parameter x, a water quality parameter y, and a control parameter z, and the index a related to the potential result and the number A of occurrences of trouble (times / day) as the potential result are calculated.

[0073] When creating the relationship model information, the water quality parameter x, the water quality parameter y, and the control parameter z shown in Table 1 below are measured and, at the same time, the number A of occurrences of trouble is also measured to acquire a total of 30 sets of data. The acquired data is shown in Table 1 below. Of course, the number of sets of data is not limited thereto, and may be set appropriately.

[0074] The index a related to the potential result is represented by the following Equation (1), where "parameters" stand for x, y, and z, bnis a coefficient of x, y, and z, and a0and b0are constants. <Equation 1>

[0075] A negative binominal regression analysis is performed based on actual measured values of the number A of occurrences of trouble and the index a related to the potential result of Equation (1). The index a related to the potential result calculated by the negative binominal regression analysis is also shown in Table 1. In addition, Fig. 7 shows a plot of the number A of occurrences of trouble versus the index a related to the potential result, for a total of 30 data sets. A correlation coefficient between the number A of occurrences of trouble and the index a related to the potential result is r = 0.78 (p < 0.05), and a strong correlation is observed.

[0076]

[0077] In addition, Fig. 8 is a graph showing a magnitude of influence of each parameter with respect to the index a related to the potential result. In this example, it is shown that the magnitude of influence with respect to the index a related to the potential result is in a descending order of the control parameter z, the water quality parameter x, and the water quality parameter y. By performing a negative binominal regression analysis using a standardized score of each parameter, the result shown in Fig. 8 is obtained. Note that a standardized score can be obtained by (individual numerical value - average value) / standard deviation. In this manner, in the relationship model information of the present embodiment, the degree of influence (contribution) of each parameter (explanatory variable) on the index (response variable) may be weighted.

[0078] Note that a function of the index a related to the potential result used in the regression analysis and the water quality parameter x, the water quality parameter y, and the control parameter z is not limited to Equation (1) described above, and a general Equation (2) can be used. <Equation 2>

[0079] After acquiring the parameter information and the relationship model information in this manner, the estimation unit 233 of the information processing apparatus 2 presents the potential result or an index related to the potential result to the user as an estimated result based on the acquired parameter information and relationship model information (Activity A103). Here, the estimated result is presented to the user in association with each parameter included in the parameter information.

[0080] Such an estimated result can typically be output by inputting the acquired parameter information into the relationship model information. That is, Activity A103 can be realized by presenting the potential result or the index related to the potential result, which are output by the input processing for such relationship model information, in a manner that the user can understand.

[0081] FIG. 9 shows an example of an estimated result presented to the user. In FIG. 9, the parameter information (parameters 1 to 5) used by the estimation unit 233 is associated with the potential result index and displayed on the display unit 34 of the user terminal 3. That is, a predetermined screen showing the estimated result may be displayed on the display unit 34 based on the function of the estimation unit 233. In addition, forms F1 to F5 corresponding to each parameter and a form F100 corresponding to the potential result index (an index related to the potential result) are provided on the screen shown in FIG. 9, and each form shows a parameter (measured value) used by the estimation unit 233 in the estimation processing or an estimated result (estimated value).

[0082] In the information processing method of the present embodiment, a change to at least one of the estimated result and each of the parameters presented by the estimation unit 233 is accepted from the user (Activity A104). Based on the content of the accepted change and the relationship model information, a variation of an item to which a change from the user has not been accepted among the estimated result and each of the parameters is estimated (Activity A105).

[0083] The processing of Activities A104 and A105 as described above can be realized by the function of the simulation unit 234. Specific aspects will be described below.

[0084] That is, a user who meets the screen as shown in FIG. 9 inputs a change to at least one of the estimated result and each of the parameters. The example shown in FIG. 9 is configured to allow various numerical values to be input for the forms F1 to F5 and F100, and the aforementioned Activity A104 is achieved in such a manner that the user inputs any numerical value into the forms.

[0085] FIG. 10 shows a result of a simulation when a change to the parameter 1 is input. That is, when the user inputs a value V10 into the form F1, the value shown in the form F100 indicating the potential result index is changed to an estimated value of V200. The estimated value (V200) shown in this form F100 can be obtained by inputting the input value (V10) for the parameter 1 and the measured values (V2 to V5) for the parameters 2 to 5 into the relationship model information described above.

[0086] The example shown in FIG. 10 shows an aspect in which the estimation is performed without varying each of the parameters 2 to 5 from the values corresponding to the aforementioned parameter information. In other words, in the present embodiment, it is possible to perform a simulation after fixing the measurement result and the values of the parameters to the contents presented as the estimated result. The control related to such a change of the value can be set arbitrarily by the user.

[0087] Of course, in the example shown in FIG. 10, it is also possible to accept changes to some or all of the parameters 2 to 5. Even in that case, the estimated value of the potential result index is calculated based on the input value of each parameter, as mentioned above.

[0088] On the other hand, the simulation unit 234 may execute the processing shown below. FIG. 11 shows a result of a simulation when a change to the potential result index is input. In the example shown in FIG. 11, when the user inputs a value V300 of the potential result index into the form F100, combinations of values that satisfy the value V300 of the potential result index are presented in the forms F1 to F5 corresponding to the parameters 1 to 5. The combinations of values presented in the forms F1 to F5 are combinations of values derived based on the value V300 and the relationship model information. That is, such combinations of values can be obtained by inversely calculating from the value V300 of the potential result index based on the relationship model information. Note that in the case where multiple combinations of the estimated values V10, V20, V30, V40, and V50 are assumed, all of the multiple assumed combinations may be presented, some of them may be presented, or the combination with the highest feasibility may be presented. The high feasibility here may be evaluated based on the operating history of the water system W and the like. As an example, a highly feasible combination may be a combination that reduces the cost of achieving each estimated value. Also, in the example shown in FIG. 11, it is possible to perform a simulation after fixing some of the parameters 1 to 5 to the contents presented as the estimated result.

[0089] The manner in which a change is made to the estimated result or each parameter is not limited to the manner shown in FIG. 10 and FIG. 11 (inputting numerical values into the form). By way of example, it is assumed that the estimation unit 233 indicates at least a part of the estimated result and each of the parameters as a graph (such as a bar graph). In that case, it is also possible for the simulation unit 234 to accept a change to the potential result and each of the parameters when the user operates to change the shape of the graph. The presentation of the estimated result of the variation in this case may also be realized by changing the shape of the graph for the corresponding item.

[0090] The simulation step described above may also be realized by calculations using SHAP. In an exemplary embodiment, the SHAP value (Shapley value) is determined in advance for each parameter of the relationship model information, and the estimated result and each of the parameters can be estimated based on the SHAP value. For example, in the example of FIG. 10 described above, the value of the potential result index can be estimated based on the SHAP value determined in advance when the user changes the parameter. On the other hand, in the example of FIG. 11 described above, when the user changes the value of the potential result index, a calculation may be performed based on the SHAP value so as to seek a value that approximates the value to which this potential result index has been changed.

[0091] Furthermore, the simulation unit 234 of the information processing apparatus 2 may show a simulation result such as a parameter, a potential result, etc., in the following manner.

[0092] The following describes an example in which how the defects (the number of defects) in a certain papermaking process are estimated by five types of parameters (parameter information). Here, the five types of parameters are the "operating speed (a papermaking speed) of a paper machine", the "amount of vapor to be used in a process B", the "turbidity of water to be used in a process A", the "suspended solids (SS) of water to be used in a process C" and the "chemical oxygen demand (COD) of water to be used in a process D". The relationship model information is created while weighting each parameter in a predetermined manner, and the number of defects is evaluated.

[0093] The result of the simulation is shown as FIG. 12 in the case where the estimation unit 233 estimates the number of defects (defect indices) based on each parameter and then reduces the "turbidity of water to be used in the process A" by 30%. FIG. 12 shows a simulation result related to the defect indices. The simulation result shown in FIG. 12 presents as a graph how the defect indices change when the "turbidity of water to be used in the process A" is reduced by 30%, based on the data sets accumulated in the past. Prior to the presentation of the simulation result shown in FIG. 12, the increase or decrease in the "turbidity of the water to be used in the process A" can be input from the user terminal 3, and the graph shown in FIG. 12 is displayed based on this input. In this graph, the horizontal axis shows the value before the change in the parameter (the turbidity of water to be used in the process A), and the vertical axis shows the amount of change in the defect indices. In addition, in FIG. 12, the results of the simulation based on data accumulated as past relationship model information and the results of the simulation based on the latest data set (i.e., the most recent data set used for the estimation by the estimation unit 233) are shown in mutually different manners.

[0094] In other words, a user who meets the graph of FIG. 12 can intuitively understand from the distribution shown in the graph how the number of defects will change when a predetermined amount of reduction is made for the turbidity of water in the current process A. The example shown as FIG. 12 has also been demonstrated as an actual process. As a result of this demonstration, it has been confirmed that reducing the turbidity in the process A leads to a decrease in the number of defects in the paper product correlating to the simulation result.

[0095] According to the information processing method executed by the information processing apparatus 2 (information processing system 1) of the present embodiment, the function of the simulation unit 234 makes it easier to manage events related to the water system W. That is, according to the present embodiment, it becomes easier to intuitively understand the effect of varying various parameters, etc. regarding events (potential results) related to the water system W. From this perspective, it can be said that the information processing apparatus 2 (information processing system 1) of the present embodiment can facilitate the management of the estimated potential results, etc.

[0096] 4. Variation Section 4 describes a variation of the information processing method executed by the information processing system 1 or the like described above.

[0097] Although the above-mentioned embodiment is described as a configuration of the information processing system 1, an information processing method executed by an information processing system may be provided in which the method includes each step of executing processing of each unit of the information processing system. In addition, a program causing a computer to execute processing of each unit of the information processing system 1 may also be provided.

[0098] The embodiment described above shows an information processing method using the relationship model information, but information associated when creating the relationship model information is not limited thereto. That is, the relationship model information used in the present embodiment may be associated with various other conditions such as a weather condition, a condition related to region, and a condition related to equipment age.

[0099] In the above-described embodiment, the information processing system 1 executes various storage and control operations, but a plurality of external devices may be used instead of the information processing system 1. In other words, various information and the like may be divided to be stored into the plurality of the external devices by using blockchain technology, or the like.

[0100] In the embodiment described above, the aspect is shown in which the information processing apparatus 2 and the user terminal 3 function as separate devices. However, the user terminal 3 itself may have various functions as the controller 23 of the information processing apparatus 2. That is, the user terminal 3 may function as a stand-alone computer to execute processing such as acquiring various types of information, estimation, simulation, and the like.

[0101] The above-described embodiments of the present disclosure are examples of the present invention, and various configurations other than the above-described configurations may be adopted. The present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments described above, and the present disclosure encompasses variations, improvements, etc. within the scope of the spirit of the present disclosure.

[0102] 1: Information processing system 2: Information processing apparatus 3: User terminal 4: Measurement device 20: Communication bus 21: Communication unit 22: Storage unit 23: Controller 30: Communication bus 31: Communication unit 32: Storage unit 33: Controller 34: Display unit 35: Input unit 231: Parameter information acquisition unit 232: Relationship model information acquisition unit 233: Estimation unit 234: Simulation unit 235: Relationship model information creation unit 236: Storage management unit F1-F5, F100: Form W: Water system

Claims

1. An information processing system for estimating a potential result that may arise in a water system in future or may be derived from the water system in future, the information processing system comprising: a parameter information acquisition unit configured to acquire two or more parameters selected from a group consisting of a water quality parameter, a controller parameter, and a result parameter as parameter information, the water quality parameter being a parameter related to water quality of the water system, the control parameter being a parameter related to the water system, a facility related to the water system, or a control condition of a raw material to be added to the water system, the result parameter being a parameter that has a different meaning from the potential result and that is related to a result having arisen in the water system, a facility related to the water system, or a raw material to be added to the water system, or related to a result having been derived from the water system, a facility related to the water system, or a raw material to be added to the water system; a relationship model information acquisition unit configured to acquire relationship model information indicating a relationship between the potential result or an index related to the potential result, which has been created in advance, and the two or more parameters; an estimation unit configured to present the potential result or the index related to the potential result to a user as an estimated result based on the acquired parameter information and the relationship model information, the estimated result being presented to the user in association with each of the parameters included in the parameter information; and a simulation unit configured to accept from the user a change to at least one of the estimated result and each of the parameters presented by the estimation unit, and estimate a variation of an item to which a change from the user has not been accepted among the estimated result and each of the parameters based on content of the accepted change and the relationship model information.

2. The information processing system according to claim 1, wherein: the relationship model information is a model obtained from a regression analysis, a time series analysis, a decision tree, a neural network, Bayes, clustering, classification, or ensemble learning, between a prior measurement result corresponding to the potential result or an index related to the prior measurement result and the two or more parameters.

3. The information processing system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: the water system is a water system in a process of manufacturing a paper product and / or a material related to manufacture of a paper product.

4. The information processing system according to claim 3, wherein: the parameter information includes, as the water quality parameter, one or more selected from a group consisting of pH of the water system, electrical conductivity, an oxidation-reduction potential, a zeta potential, turbidity, temperature, a foam height, a biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), a chemical oxygen demand (COD), total organic carbon (TOC), inorganic carbon, absorbance, color, appearance, whiteness, transparency, a particle size distribution, a degree of flocculation, an amount of foreign matter, suspended solids (SS), a foaming area on a water surface, an area of underwater contamination, an amount of bubbles, an amount of glucose, an amount of organic acids, an amount of active alkali, total titrated alkali, metal or a metal ion content, a non-metal ion content, an amount of starch, an amount of calcium, an amount of total chlorine, an amount of free chlorine, an amount of dissolved oxygen (DO), a cationic demand, an amount of hydrogen sulfide, a degree of sulfidation, an amount of hydrogen peroxide, ash concentration, a respiration rate of microorganisms in the system, a viable bacterial count, a spore-forming bacterial count, and ATP.

5. The information processing system according to claim 3 or 4, wherein: the parameter information includes, as the control parameter, one or more selected from the group consisting of an operating speed (a papermaking speed) of a paper machine, a rotational speed of a filter cloth of a raw material dehydrator, a rotational speed of a filter cloth of a cleaning machine, an additive amount of chemicals or intensity to the water system, an additive amount of chemicals or intensity relative to a raw material to be added to the water system, an additive amount of chemicals or intensity relative to a facility related to the water system, an amount of vapor or intensity for heating, temperature of vapor for heating, pressure of vapor for heating, a flow rate from a seed box, nip pressure of a press part, felt vacuum pressure of a press part, a blending ratio of a papermaking raw material, a blended amount or intensity of waste sheets of papermaking raw material, a mesh size of a screen for a papermaking raw material, a gap distance between a rotor and a stator of a beater, freeness, a degree of beating, draw, linear pressure of a press part, a gravity dewatering amount of a wire part or equivalent parameters, a forced dewatering amount of a wire part or equivalent parameters, a gravity dewatering amount of a press part, parameters equivalent to a gravity dewatering amount of a press part, parameters for controlling the gravity dewatering amount of a press part, a forced dewatering amount of a press part, parameters equivalent to the forced dewatering amount of a press part, parameters for controlling the forced dewatering amount of a press part, concentration of interlayer adhesive, an amount or intensity of interlayer adhesive, shower water amount or intensity, fresh water intensity, water usage intensity, timing or frequency of cleaning a wire part, timing or frequency of cleaning a press part, timing or frequency of cleaning a dryer part, timing or frequency of changing tools of a paper machine, an fresh water replenishment amount, an amount of rejects from the screen or parameters for controlling them, differential pressure across the screen or a parameter equivalent thereto, an amount of rejects from the cleaner or a parameter for controlling them, a fuel amount or intensity for heating, concentration in a floatater, an amount of air in the floatater or a parameter equivalent thereto, an amount of froth in a floatater or parameters equivalent thereto, the load of a disperser or a parameter equivalent thereto, the number of felt singeing, a flow rate of fluid flowing through the water system, air temperature, an amount of vapor or intensity for heating, an amount or intensity of calcium carbonate to be added, an amount or intensity of calcium bicarbonate to be added, a flow rate or concentration of clarifying green liquor, a flow rate or concentration of raw green liquor, a flow rate or concentration of dilute black liquor, a flow rate or concentration of concentrated black liquor, a flow rate or concentration of white liquid, black liquor injection rate in a black liquor treatment system, black liquor injection concentration in a black liquor treatment system, an amount of pulp production, a moisture content of a mud filter, lime input or intensity in a slaking / causticizing system, an amount of lime production in a calcination system, fuel usage, a fuel usage intensity, causticizing efficiency in a slaking / causticizing system, caustic input or intensity in a cooking system, an amount of black liquor generated in a black liquor treatment system, an amount of solids in evaporating black liquor in a black liquor treatment system, a evaporation factor in evaporating black liquor in a black liquor treatment system, temperature of an economizer in a boiler in a black liquor treatment system, water content of sludge in a green liquor treatment system, specific gravity of black liquor, specific gravity of green liquor, specific gravity of white liquor, specific gravity of weak liquor, specific gravity of dregs, specific gravity of the calcium carbonate before calcination, and specific gravity of the calcium oxide after calcination.

6. The information processing system according to any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein: the parameter information includes, as the result parameter, one or more selected from a group consisting of a unit weight (grammage) of the paper product, a yield, white water concentration, moisture content of the paper product, an amount of vapor or intensity in a facility manufacturing the paper product, temperature of vapor in a facility manufacturing the paper product, pressure of vapor in a facility manufacturing the paper product, thickness of the paper product, concentration of ash in the paper product, a type of defect of the paper product, the number of defects in the paper product, a timing of paper breakage in a process, freeness, a degree of beating, an amount of aeration, air temperature in a dryer, a joint rate, the number of joints, an amount of paper loss, the number of flaws, a flaw index, outdoor temperature including indoor temperature, outdoor humidity including indoor humidity, wet paper moisture content, product moisture content, temperature of rolls and cylinders in the dryer, a five-sense sensor measurement, a fuel amount or a fuel usage intensity, a calcination rate in a calcination system, a causticizing efficiency in a slaking / causticizing system, caustic input in a cooking system, and lime input in a slaking / causticizing system.

7. The information processing system according to any one of claims 3 to 6, wherein: the potential result relates to quality or an amount of energy of the paper product and / or a material associated with manufacture of the paper product, the quality relates to one or more selected from a group consisting of a number of defects, paper strength, a joint rate, a sizing degree, air permeability, smoothness, an ash content, a tone, whiteness, formation, odor, causticizing efficiency, calcination rate, a kappa value, freeness, and a moisture percentage of the paper product and / or the material associated with the manufacture of the paper product, and the amount of energy relates to one or more selected from a group consisting of an amount of vapor, a vapor intensity, a fuel amount, and a fuel usage intensity in manufacturing the paper product and / or the material associated with the manufacture of the paper product.

8. An information processing method executed by an information processing system, comprising each step of executing processing of each unit of the information processing system according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

9. A program configured to cause a computer to execute processing of each unit of the information processing system according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

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