Process Plant Configuration Tool for Seamless Editor Context Transfer
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional automation solutions for process plants require laborious and error-prone steps for configuring new measuring points, particularly in the interaction between tool components for automation and operator control/monitoring, leading to inefficiencies in engineering efficiency and error prevention.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented configuration tool with two components: the first tool component automates process components and assigns parameterization and interaction with other components, allowing the second tool component to integrate these automated components seamlessly into operator control and monitoring through 'drag & drop' or copy-paste operations, reducing manual assignment and effort for project engineers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional automation solutions are used for configuring measuring points, then automation functionality can be configured, but the process requires numerous laborious and error-prone steps including manual assignment of process objects, I/O fields, and trend displays
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the automation configuration tool and operator control/monitoring tool into a single integrated configuration tool. This allows process objects created in the automation tool to be automatically available to the operator control/monitoring tool without manual assignment, eliminating numerous repetitive steps and reducing engineering time while maintaining full functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The automation tool component creates and parameters process objects with all necessary attributes beforehand. When the same tool provides these objects to the operator control/monitoring component, the preliminary parameterization and configuration are already complete, eliminating the need for repeated configuration steps and reducing errors.
2Adaptability or versatility
If separate tool components are used for automation and operator control/monitoring, then specialized functionality is maintained, but manual assignment and integration steps are required between components
Solution Approach 1:
The configuration tool is designed as a universal platform that performs both automation configuration and operator control/monitoring configuration functions. The same tool components, process objects, and parameterization mechanisms serve both purposes, eliminating the need for separate specialized tools and their complex integration interfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an internal data structure and communication mechanism within the unified tool that automatically transfers process object references from the automation component to the operator control/monitoring component. This intermediary mechanism eliminates manual assignment while maintaining the functional separation and specialization of different tool components.
3Adaptability or versatility
If manual assignment of process objects is required between tool components, then flexibility in configuration is maintained, but errors and rework increase
Solution Approach 1:
The configuration tool automatically manages the assignment and transfer of process objects between its internal components without requiring manual user intervention. The system self-services by automatically creating, parameterizing, and distributing process objects to where they are needed, eliminating manual errors while preserving configuration flexibility through programmatic control.
Solution Approach 2:
The unified tool structure provides automatic feedback mechanisms where the automation component's configuration decisions are immediately reflected in the operator control/monitoring component. This real-time feedback ensures consistency and eliminates errors that would arise from manual assignment mismatches, while still allowing flexible configuration through the same interface.
Data Source
AI summary
A computer-implemented configuration tool for configuring a plurality of process components of a process plant includes a first tool component and a second tool component, wherein the first tool component generates an automation of the process components for the process plant and is assigns to each process component, during the automation, a parameterisation and an interaction with further process components, and the second tool component generates an operation and observation for the process components of the process plant, where the configuration tool provides the second tool component with a process component, which is automated by the first tool component, with its parameterisation and its interaction with further process components, such that the second tool component is not required to make adjustments to the automated process component to integrate it into the operation and observation of the plurality of process components of the process plant.