Cloud Plant Control Using External Data for Setting Values
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing plant simulation technologies fail to determine appropriate setting values and conditions due to reliance on internal data alone, neglecting external factors like environment, demand, and material price changes, which can lead to suboptimal plant operation.
Innovation Solution
A plant system and method utilizing a cloud server to acquire both internal and external information, determining setting values and conditions for optimal plant operation by integrating external data such as sales volume, demand forecasting, and weather forecasts, and transmitting these to the plant for real-time adjustments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If simulation technology uses only internal plant data to determine setting values, then the system complexity is reduced, but the appropriateness and optimality of the setting values deteriorate due to neglecting external factors
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments information sources into internal plant data and external information, processing them through separate acquisition units that feed into the determination unit. This segmentation allows the system to handle multiple data sources without excessive complexity while improving setting value appropriateness by incorporating external factors like weather forecasts and demand predictions.
Solution Approach 2:
The cloud server acts as an intermediary between internal plant systems and external information sources. It collects, processes, and integrates external data with internal plant data, then transmits the integrated setting values back to the plant. This intermediary role enables comprehensive data integration without directly complicating the plant's internal systems.
2Speed
If the plant operates based on setting values determined without external information, then the operation speed is maintained, but the adaptability to external changes deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by acquiring external information such as weather forecasts and demand predictions in advance, before they directly impact plant operations. The determination unit processes this advance information to determine appropriate setting values proactively, allowing the plant to adapt to external changes before they occur, thus maintaining operational speed while improving adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system establishes a feedback loop where external information continuously influences setting value determination. The cloud server monitors external conditions, adjusts setting values based on this feedback, and transmits updated values to the plant. This feedback mechanism enables the plant to dynamically adapt to external changes while maintaining efficient operation.
3Productivity
If setting values are determined using comprehensive internal and external data, then the plant operation optimality is improved, but the information processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cloud server serves as an intermediary that handles the complexity of integrating and processing comprehensive internal and external data. It collects data from multiple sources, processes this information through determination units, and outputs optimized setting values. This intermediary approach improves plant operation optimality by utilizing comprehensive data while containing information processing complexity within the cloud server infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The determination unit within the cloud server performs self-service by automatically acquiring, processing, and determining setting values based on integrated data without requiring manual intervention. The system autonomously handles the complex information processing tasks, improving plant optimality while managing processing complexity through automated algorithms and data integration routines.
Data Source
AI summary
A CI server 10 includes an acquisition unit that acquires first information from a plant 5 and acquires second information from a source other than the plant 5, a determination unit that determines a setting value of the plant 5 and a first condition for reflecting the setting value in the plant 5 based on the first information and the second information, and a transmission unit that transmits the setting value and the first condition to the plant 5. The plant 5 operates based on the setting value and the first condition.