Plant Control Device Program Switching for Performance Cost Trade-off
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Solution Overview
Problem
The high initial cost of upgraded components for plant improvement deters customers from introducing them, despite understanding the long-term benefits of reduced costs and increased income through performance enhancement.
Innovation Solution
A plant operation method and control device that allow switching between a first program for maintaining initial performance and a second program for enhanced performance, enabling customers to introduce upgraded components at a lower initial cost and charge based on usage, with the control device managing and calculating charges for these performance upgrades.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If upgraded components are introduced to improve plant performance, then productivity and income are increased, but initial cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the plant's performance characteristics adjustable through program switching. The control device can dynamically change operational parameters between a first program (lower performance, lower cost) and a second program (higher performance, higher cost), allowing the system to adapt its performance level to match economic conditions and usage requirements rather than being fixed at a single performance level
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements parameter changes by modifying operational parameters through different control programs. The first program uses a first set of parameters that achieve baseline performance, while the second program uses a second set of parameters that enable enhanced performance. This allows the same physical plant to operate at different performance levels by changing control parameters rather than physical configuration
2Productivity
If upgraded components are introduced to enhance performance, then income increases, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by designing a control device that performs multiple functions: it manages both the first program for baseline operations and the second program for enhanced performance, handles program switching between different operational modes, and calculates charges based on usage. This multi-functional approach consolidates what could be separate complex systems into a single unified control device
Data Source
AI summary
A plant operation method having: an exchange step for exchanging a first component provided in a plant for a second component capable of operating the plant with higher performance than the first component; an introduction step for introducing a first program for causing the plant to be operated using the second component with a first performance equivalent to or higher than that achieved when using the first component, and a second program for causing the plant to be operated with a second performance higher than or equal to the first performance; and a switching step for switching between the first program and the second program.