Automatic Control Program Creation for Power Plants

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing process of creating control programs from block diagrams in power generation plants is time-consuming and prone to errors, and does not allow for efficient on-line monitoring, as the working logics for control and computing differ from the block diagram, leading to delays in addressing plant failures.

Innovation Solution

A control program automatic creation system that includes a control program creating unit with a block diagram data storage section, an executable code storage section, and a display section, which automatically generates executable codes from block diagrams and superimposes computational decisions on the block diagram for display, enabling direct compilation and efficient monitoring.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If control programs are manually input using an engineering tool from block diagrams, then control programs can be created, but the process takes an immense amount of time and is prone to input errors

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccuracy of control program creationVSAvoidtime for input operation

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system creates a control program by automatically copying and converting information from the block diagram data structure into the engineering tool's data structure, eliminating manual transcription and reducing both time and errors

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The manual mechanical process of interpreting and inputting control logic is replaced by an automated computer-based conversion system that directly transforms block diagram data into executable control programs

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Ease of operation

If control programs are converted from block diagrams using existing tools, then control programs can be created, but on-line monitoring cannot be performed because the working logics differ from the block diagram

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveon-line monitoring capabilityVSAvoidcorrespondence between block diagram and control logic

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system establishes a feedback mechanism where computational decisions from the control program execution are superimposed back onto the original block diagram for display, enabling on-line monitoring while preserving the visual correspondence between design and implementation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system merges the block diagram display with the computational decision output, combining the design visualization and runtime monitoring into a single integrated view that maintains information correspondence

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS10459415B2Control program automatic creation system

Publication Date: 2019.10.29 MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORP

AI summary

A control program automatic creation system includes a control program creator which creates a control program of the plant instrument based on the block diagram; a controller which receives a process signal from the plant instrument; and a network which connects the control program creator and the controller. The control program creator transmits the control program by way of the network. When the controller receives the control program by way of the network, the controller stores it in the memory, and further executes the control program, and transmits a computational decision of the control program by way of the network. When the control program creator receives the computational decision of the control program by way of the network from the controller, the creator superimposes the computational decision on the block diagram which the display displays and displays the superimposed decision.