Dynamic Process Flow Diagram Routing Across HMI Applications
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing process flow diagrams (PFDs) for industrial process facilities are often manually created, leading to labor-intensive and error-prone processes, and are typically limited to specific human-machine-interface (HMI) applications, requiring recreation for each HMI deployment, which is inefficient and prone to inconsistencies.
Innovation Solution
Dynamic generation of PFDs based on a dynamic process model, including generating a process structural model, interface model, grouped process structural model, and routed process model, allowing for real-time updates and compatibility with multiple HMI applications using a single process structural model.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If PFDs are manually created for each HMI application, then the diagrams can be customized for specific applications, but the process becomes labor intensive and error prone
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a master PFD template that can be copied and reused across multiple HMI applications. Instead of manually creating unique PFDs for each application, the system generates copies of the standardized template, automatically populating them with application-specific data. This eliminates redundant manual work while maintaining customization through automated data insertion.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent develops a universal PFD template that serves multiple HMI applications simultaneously. The template is designed with standardized structures and placeholders that can accommodate different applications' specific requirements. This single universal template replaces the need for multiple custom-created PFDs, improving productivity while maintaining adaptability through parameterized customization.
2Adaptability or versatility
If manual PFD creation is used, then diagrams can be tailored to specific applications, but inconsistencies and errors increase
Solution Approach 1:
By copying a standardized master template rather than creating PFDs manually from scratch for each application, the system ensures that all PFDs maintain structural consistency and accuracy. The copying process automatically preserves the standardized layout, formatting, and data structures, eliminating human errors while allowing application-specific customization through automated data population.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses parameterized templates where specific data elements can be changed to accommodate different applications. Instead of manually redesigning PFDs for each application (which introduces errors), the system maintains a standardized structure and only changes the necessary parameters and data values. This approach ensures consistency in the overall diagram structure while allowing required customization, thereby improving reliability.
3Productivity
If dynamic generation is implemented, then a single model can serve multiple HMI applications, but the initial model creation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent involves creating a comprehensive master PFD template in advance that incorporates all necessary structures, layouts, and data relationships. This preliminary action of building the template once with all anticipated requirements reduces the complexity of future PFD generations. The template serves as a pre-prepared framework that can be quickly instantiated for multiple applications, offsetting the initial template creation effort through long-term efficiency gains.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent divides the PFD creation process into modular components and standardized segments within the master template. By segmenting the diagram into reusable elements (such as standardized equipment representations, connection templates, and data binding structures), the system reduces the perceived complexity of model creation. These segmented modules can be independently configured and combined, making the overall template creation more manageable while enabling efficient replication across applications.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided are embodiments of monitoring an industrial process that include determining a process structural model that defines operational characteristics of equipment used to perform the industrial process, determining an interface application to display a process flow diagram (PFD) for the process, obtaining an interface model for the interface application, determining (based on the process structural model) a grouped process structural model for the process, determining (based on the grouped process structural model) a routed process model for the process, and generating (based on the routed process model) the PFD for the process. The determining of the grouped process structural model including grouping sensors with associated process equipment, grouping process equipment, and grouping connections between pieces of equipment to determine an edge-grouped process structural model for the industrial process, and incorporating the interface model with the edge-grouped process structural model to determine the grouped process structural model.