Contextualized Process Component Editors for Error-Free Plant Configuration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing automation solutions for process plants require laborious and error-prone steps for configuring and integrating automation functionality with operation and monitoring, particularly for measuring points, leading to inefficiencies and increased engineering effort.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented project planning tool with two sub-tools facilitates the transfer of automated process components between sub-tools using drag-and-drop or copy-paste operations, enabling seamless integration of automation with operation and monitoring, and offering selection options for graphical representations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional manual configuration methods are used for creating measuring points in process plants, then each measuring point can be individually configured with automation functionality and operation/monitoring, but the engineering effort and time required increases significantly due to numerous repetitive steps
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the configuration of automation functionality and operation/monitoring into a single integrated process. When a measuring point is created in the process description, the system automatically generates both the automation configuration (function blocks, connections) and the operation/monitoring representation (display symbols, I/O assignments) simultaneously, eliminating the need for separate manual configuration steps in different editors.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary configuration actions automatically when a measuring point is initially created. The automation functionality, I/O assignments, and operation/monitoring displays are pre-configured in the background without requiring manual intervention, so that when the engineer needs to use the measuring point, it is already fully configured and ready for use.
2Reliability
If traditional manual configuration methods are used for creating measuring points in process plants, then each measuring point can be individually configured, but the error rate increases due to the large number of manual steps and potential for mistakes
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-service configuration by automatically generating the automation functionality and operation/monitoring settings based on the process description and selected measuring point templates. The system configures itself without requiring manual intervention for each parameter, reducing human error while maintaining configuration accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides feedback mechanisms that automatically verify configuration consistency and detect potential errors. When measuring points are created or modified, the system checks for conflicts, ensures proper I/O assignments, and validates the configuration against predefined rules, alerting engineers to potential issues before they become problems.
3Adaptability or versatility
If separate editors are used for automation configuration and operation/monitoring creation, then each aspect can be configured independently, but the integration between editors becomes complex and error-prone
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements a universal configuration approach where a single process description editor serves multiple functions. The same editor interface is used for both automation configuration and operation/monitoring setup, with the system automatically handling the cross-editor integrations. This multi-functional approach eliminates the need for separate editors while maintaining the flexibility to configure different aspects of the measuring point.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a computer-implemented configuration tool for configuring a plurality of process components of a process plant, said configuration tool comprising a first tool component (1) and a second tool component (6), the first tool component (1) being designed to generate an automation of the process components for the process plant, the first tool component (1) being designed to assign to each process component, during the automation, a parameterisation and an interaction with further process components, and the second tool component (6) being designed to generate an operation and observation for the process components of the process plant. The configuration tool is designed to provide the second tool component (6) with a process component, which is automated by the first tool component (1), with its parameterisation and its interaction with further process components, in such a way that the second tool component (6) does not have to make any adjustments to the automated process component in order to integrate it into the operation and observation of the plurality of process components of the process plant.