Plant Image Fragments for Alarm Navigation Without View Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
In process engineering systems, operators face inefficiencies in navigating and managing alarms due to the need to frequently change system images, leading to a loss of focus on the active system, especially when dealing with multiple sources of alarms and partial system checks.
Innovation Solution
A method and control system that generate a first and second system image using a project planning tool, allowing operators to define and visualize system image fragments, enabling focused observation of critical parts without changing the primary system image, and providing graphical references for alarm management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If operators navigate to alarm sources using loop-in that changes plant view, then alarm management efficiency is improved, but focus on currently active plant view is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the plant monitoring system into multiple independent plant images (first plant image and second plant image) that can be displayed simultaneously. Each plant image represents a separate view or alarm source, allowing operators to segment their attention across multiple critical areas without losing context of any single view.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a single-view display system to a multi-view simultaneous display system. By presenting multiple plant images in parallel spatial arrangements on the display device, operators gain an additional dimensional capability to monitor multiple areas at once, eliminating the need to switch between views for alarm management.
2Reliability
If operators routinely check other parts of the system by switching system views, then comprehensive monitoring is improved, but time and focus on primary task are lost
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the monitoring task by creating multiple concurrently visible plant images, each representing different system areas. Operators can assign primary focus to one plant image while simultaneously monitoring others, eliminating the need to switch views for comprehensive monitoring.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables continuous monitoring of multiple plant areas simultaneously through parallel display. Instead of intermittently switching between views, operators maintain continuous visual contact with all critical system parts, ensuring uninterrupted monitoring of both primary tasks and secondary areas.
3Quantity of substance
If complete system view is displayed for alarm management, then all alarm sources are visible, but detail observation of specific components is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the complete system view into multiple separate plant images, each focusing on specific system areas or alarm sources. This segmentation allows operators to view a larger total number of alarm sources across multiple images while maintaining detailed observation quality within each individual image, as each image can be optimized for its specific purpose.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method is proposed comprising: a) generating a first plant image (11) and a second plant image (1) using a design tool (1, 18) of a control system (13), wherein the second plant image (1) has a plurality of objects (3, 4, 5, 6, 7), b) defining a part of the objects (3, 4, 5, 6, 7) of the second plant image (1) as a plant image fragment (8, 9) in the design tool (1, 18), c) transmitting the first plant image (11) and the second plant image (1) with the part of the objects (3, 4, 5, 6, 7) of the second plant image (1) defined as plant image fragment (8, 9) to an operator station server (14) of the control system (13), d) transmitting the first plant image (11) with a graphic reference to the part of the objects (3, 4, 5, 6, 7) of the second plant image (1) defined as plant image fragment (8, 9) 9) specified part of the objects (3, 4, 5, 6,7) of the second plant image (1) to an operator station client (16) of the control system (13) for visual presentation to an operator of the control system (13), e) In the event that the operator selects the graphic reference of the part of the objects (3, 4, 5, 6, 7) of the second plant image (1) defined as plant image fragment (8, 9), visual presentation of the part of the objects (3, 4, 5, 6, 7) of the second plant image (1) defined as plant image fragment (8, 9), without the second plant image (1) being visually presented to the operator.