Plant Alarm Processing with Fallback Notification Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing alarm management systems fail to notify operators of plant alarms when the alarm management apparatus is not usable due to power loss, failure, or communication disruptions, leading to potential accidents.
Innovation Solution
An information processing apparatus that receives alarm information directly from a control apparatus and processes it for output to users, even when the alarm management apparatus is unavailable, by selecting between raw and processed alarm information based on the usability of the alarm management system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If alarm management apparatus is used to process alarm information, then alarm information can be suppressed and necessary alarms extracted, but alarm notification fails when the apparatus is not usable due to power loss, failure, or communication disruptions
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments alarm information processing into two independent paths: (1) processed alarm information through the alarm management apparatus, and (2) raw alarm information directly from the control apparatus. The information processing apparatus can independently select either path based on the operational status of the alarm management apparatus, ensuring continuous alarm notification capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The information processing apparatus preliminarily receives and stores both processed alarm information from the alarm management apparatus and raw alarm information from the control apparatus before needing to display alarms. This preliminary acquisition of multiple information sources enables immediate switching without interruption when the alarm management apparatus becomes unavailable.
2Loss of information
If only processed alarm information from alarm management apparatus is used, then unnecessary alarms are suppressed, but no alarm information is available when the alarm management apparatus fails
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the alarm information processing mode based on real-time operational conditions. When the alarm management apparatus is operational, the system uses the efficient processed alarm information path with suppression capabilities. When the alarm management apparatus fails, the system dynamically switches to the raw alarm information path from the control apparatus, ensuring continuous alarm notification while adapting to changing system conditions.
3Reliability
If raw alarm information from control apparatus is always used, then alarm notification is always available, but unnecessary alarms cannot be suppressed leading to information overload
Solution Approach 1:
The information processing apparatus acts as an intermediary between the control apparatus and the display device. It intelligently selects whether to receive processed alarm information (when alarm management apparatus is operational) or raw alarm information (when alarm management apparatus fails), mediating the flow of alarm information to ensure both availability and quality based on system conditions.
Data Source
AI summary
An information processing apparatus includes a communication interface and a controller. The communication interface receives first alarm information indicating an alarm of a plant from a control apparatus and receives second alarm information, obtained by processing the first alarm information, from an alarm management apparatus that receives the first alarm information. The controller makes a judgment of whether the alarm management apparatus is usable, selects, in accordance with the result of the judgment, one of the first alarm information and the second alarm information received by the communication interface, and outputs third alarm information, obtained by the controller processing the selected alarm information, to a user.