Alarm Display Apparatus with Simulation and Prediction Modules
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing alarm systems for plant operations struggle to effectively display and manage alarm information, particularly in real-time, due to varying data measurement intervals and the inability to predict future alarms, which hinders timely operator intervention.
Innovation Solution
An alarm display apparatus and method that incorporates an acquisition module for actual measurements, a simulation module to estimate current plant states, a prediction module to forecast future states, and a display module to juxtapose actual, estimation, and prediction alarms on the same screen, differentiated by background colors and chronological order, allowing for intuitive operator understanding.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If alarm information is displayed based only on actual measurement values with fixed measurement intervals, then the display system is simple, but future alarms cannot be predicted and operator response time is delayed
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary simulation and prediction of plant states before actual alarms occur. The simulation module forecasts future plant states, and the prediction module generates predicted alarm information in advance, allowing operators to take preventive actions before actual alarms happen.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces intermediate modules (simulation module and prediction module) between the actual measurement system and the alarm display. These intermediary modules process measurement data through simulation models to generate predicted alarm information, bridging the gap between current measurements and future alarm states.
2Loss of information
If multiple types of alarm information (actual, estimation, prediction) are displayed on the same screen, then comprehensive alarm information is provided, but the display becomes complex and difficult to interpret
Solution Approach 1:
The display unit applies different visual characteristics to different types of alarm information. Predicted alarm information is displayed with distinct visual attributes (such as different colors, icons, or positioning) compared to actual alarm information, allowing operators to quickly distinguish between current and forecasted alarm states without confusion.
Solution Approach 2:
The alarm display is segmented into distinct sections or categories for different alarm types. The display unit separately presents predicted alarm information and actual alarm information in an organized manner, such as through different display areas, time-based segmentation, or hierarchical organization, making the comprehensive information easier to interpret.
3Productivity
If data measurement intervals are extended for certain parameters, then measurement cost and system load are reduced, but real-time monitoring capability is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The system creates a simulated copy of the plant's operational state through the simulation module. This virtual model replicates plant behavior based on available measurement data, allowing the system to infer real-time states of parameters that are not directly measured, thereby maintaining real-time monitoring capability without requiring continuous physical measurement of all parameters.
Solution Approach 2:
The simulation module performs preliminary calculations to estimate current plant states based on historical data and process models. This allows the system to predict parameter values that would otherwise require frequent direct measurement, reducing the need for high-frequency measurement infrastructure while maintaining monitoring capability.
Data Source
AI summary
An alarm display apparatus includes an acquisition module, a plant simulation module, a prediction module, an actual measurement alarm determination module, an estimation alarm determination module, a prediction alarm determination module and a display module. The display module displays, on the same screen, an actual measurement alarm information outputted from the actual measurement alarm determination module, an estimation alarm information outputted from the estimation alarm determination module and an prediction alarm information outputted from the prediction alarm determination module.