JPH09160798A - Testing device for plant control system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To smoothly perform the work to repeat test and change to enhance the completeness of a control station. SOLUTION: The data used for setting the test environment are stored in a 1st memory. A data storage request means 11 outputs the data segmentation requests for every control function against the data storage request. A data collection means 21 receives the request from the means 11 and reads the data out of the 1st memory to set the test environment. An identification information addition means 12 adds the identification information to the data read out of the 1st memory and stores them in a 2nd memory. A data restoration request means 14 reads the data out of the 2nd memory against a data restoration request and returns them to a control station. A data restoration means 22 stores the data sent back from an engineering work station EWS at the original storage position of the 1st memory with the identification information as a mark and restores the data in the 1st memory.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a test apparatus for a plant control system, which tests an operation of a control station under a virtually set test environment. More specifically, the present invention relates to a test device for a plant control system, which is improved to prevent re-creating data for setting a test environment that requires a particularly large number of steps for generation.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In engineering work for constructing a plant control system that satisfies specifications requested by a customer, a test environment is virtually set, and the plant control system is operated under the set test environment. Test whether it works according to specifications. In the operation test of such a plant control system, a lot of man-hours are required for setting the test environment. The data for setting the test environment gives, for example, the same signal as a known process value to the plant control system or the control parameter value of the PID control (P is proportional, I is integral, D is derivative) of the plant control system. The data. An environment in which a plant exists is virtually created using such data, and an operation test of the plant control system is performed under this environment.

Conventionally, as a test apparatus for a plant control system, there has been, for example, a test apparatus having a configuration shown in FIG. FIG.
EWS is an engineering workstation, F
CS is a control station. The engineering workstation EWS generates a program that defines the operation of the control station FCS and data that sets up a virtual test environment. The control station FCS operates according to the generated program under the test environment set by the generated data. The set test environment is an environment of known conditions, and it is tested under this environment whether the control station FCS operates according to specifications. The control station FCS controls the plant and corresponds to a plant control system.

In the control station FCS, reference numeral 1 is a main storage device storing a database. The storage area of this database consists of a fixed area and a variable area. A program defining the operation of the control station FCS is stored in the fixed area. Data for setting the test environment is stored in the variable area. Reference numeral 2 is a memory control means for controlling reading and writing of the main storage device 1, and 3 is an execution means for executing a control operation based on a database of the main storage device 1.

Engineering workstation EW
In S, 4 is a main storage device, which is a control station FC
When performing the operation test of S, the data (data for setting the test environment) stored in the variable area of the main storage device 1 is transferred. A data storage unit 5 stores the data stored in the main storage device 4. Reference numeral 6 is a memory control means for controlling reading and writing of the main storage device 4 and the data storage means 5.
Reference numeral 7 is a changing means for changing the data for setting the test environment stored in the data storing means 5 according to the result of the operation test. A generation unit 8 generates a program that defines the operation of the control station FCS and data that sets a virtual test environment. The generated program and data are stored in the fixed area and the variable area of the main storage device 1, respectively.

In the plant control system test apparatus of FIG. 4, when performing an operation test of the control station FCS,
The data stored in the variable area of the main memory 1 is transferred to the engineering workstation EWS as a whole. The engineering workstation EWS uses the transferred data to set up the test environment. Under the set test environment, the control station FCS operates according to the program stored in the fixed area of the main storage device 1. Here, when the control station FCS does not operate according to specifications, the configuration of the control station FCS is changed. The data for setting the test environment may be changed along with this change. For example, control station FC
When a change is made to add a controller to S, data that virtually gives a process signal to the added controller must be added to the data that sets the test environment. When the operation test of the control station FCS is completed, the data for setting the test environment is returned to the main storage device 1 of the control station FCS.

In the test apparatus of the plant control system shown in FIG. 4, the data for setting the test environment is transferred to the engineering workstation EWS and returned to the control station FCS. Therefore, when the data for setting the test environment is changed due to the change of the program, the data for setting the test environment is returned to the variable area of the main storage device 1 in the changed state. Therefore, the data that sets the test environment before transfer becomes invalid. For example, the order of the data may be different from the order before the transfer due to the arrangement change of the data. As a result, when the operation test of the control station FCS is performed again, it is necessary to newly recreate the data for setting the test environment. As mentioned above, it takes a lot of man-hours to create the data for setting the test environment. As described above, every time the data for setting the test environment is changed, a man-hour is required to create new data for setting the test environment. This has been an obstacle to the smooth operation of repeating the test and the change in order to improve the degree of perfection of the control station FCS.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and cuts out the data for setting the test environment in units of control functions and returns the data when the data is returned. By storing information in the original storage location for the purpose of restoring the data, we have realized a plant control system test device that can smoothly perform tests and changes to improve the completeness of the control station. The purpose is to do.

[0009]

The present invention has an engineering workstation and a control station for controlling a plant, wherein the engineering workstation sets a program for defining the operation of the control station and a virtual test environment. Generate the data to
Under the test environment set by the generated data,
In a test device of a plant control system for operating the control station by the generated program and testing whether the control station operates according to specifications, in the control station, data for setting the test environment is stored. No. 1 memory, a data storage request means for issuing a request to cut out data for setting a test environment for each control function in the engineering workstation, and a data storage request in the control station. In response to the request of the means, the data collecting means for reading the data for setting the test environment from the first memory, and the data read by the data collecting means in the engineering workstation are sent, and the identification information is added to this data. Means for adding identification information, There is a second memory in the engineering workstation that stores the data with the identification information, and a data stored in the engineering workstation that is stored in the second memory when a restore request is issued. Data restoration requesting means for reading and returning to the control station, and data stored in the control station and stored in the original storage position of the first memory with the identification information as a mark, A test apparatus for a plant control system, comprising: a data restoring unit that restores data in a first memory.

[0010]

In the present invention as described above, the data for setting the test environment is stored in the first memory. The data storage requesting means issues a request for cutting out data in control function units when the storage request is issued. The data collection unit receives the request from the data storage request unit and reads the data for setting the test environment from the first memory. The identification information adding means attaches identification information to the read data. The data with the identification information is stored in the second memory. The data restoration requesting means reads the data stored in the second memory when the restoration request is issued and returns it to the control station. The data restoration means stores the data returned from the engineering workstation in the original storage position of the first memory with the identification information as a mark, and restores the data in the first memory.

[0011]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention. 1 that are the same as those in FIG. 4 are given the same reference numerals.

Engineering workstation EW
In S, 11 is a data storage requesting means for issuing a request to store data to the engineering workstation EWS side. The data storage requesting unit 11 determines a unit for cutting out data for setting the test environment, and issues a data storage request to the control station FCS. A plant control system has a functional block that mainly performs control calculation and an element that is operated by the functional block. The functional block is made up of a record in which a plurality of different data are collected. Therefore, the data storage requesting unit 11 uses the functional block as a unit for cutting out data that sets the test environment. As a result, the data is cut out in control function units in which the function block is a unit. The functional block has a block number unique to the system and a tag name for the user to identify. On the other hand, the device has process signals such as DI / DO (digital input / digital output) and an annunciator message,
It has the same data array structure. These all have element numbers, and when cutting out the database, cut out from a certain element in the form of how many points.

Reference numeral 12 is an identification information adding means for attaching identification information to the data cut out in response to the request from the data storage requesting means 11. The identification information is added so that when the cut out data is returned to the control station FCS, the data can be easily restored to the original storage address. The identification information added to the data of the functional block and the element is, for example, as follows. (Function block) Data type, record number, block number, tag name, block model name, data size (element) Data type, start number, points, data size

A data storage means 13 stores the data to which the identification information is added by the identification information addition means 12 for each type of control system. 14 is a data restoration requesting means,
Data is read from the data storage means 13 in response to the tester's restoration request and transmitted to the control station FCS. The restoration request is generated when the operation test of the control station FCS is completed.

In the control station FCS, reference numeral 21 is a data collection means, which receives the request from the data storage request means 11 and cuts out the data for setting the test environment from the main storage device 1. Reference numeral 22 denotes a data restoration means, which checks the validity of the data returned from the data restoration request means 14 and copies the data to the main storage device 1 according to the check result. Use the identification information attached to the data as a guide when checking. As a result, the cut out data is restored in the main storage device 1.

The operation of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 will be described. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the operation test. A description will be given according to the order of steps in the flowchart of FIG. (S1) The tester sets parameters required for the operation test. This produces data that sets up the test environment. (S2) The generated data is temporarily stored in the main storage device 1. (S3) Data is read from the main storage device 1, and the test environment is set by the read data. An operation test of the control station FCS is performed under the set test environment.
As a result of the test, when the control station FCS operates according to specifications, the process proceeds to the next step. (S4) If the control station FCS does not operate according to the specifications as a result of the test, the control station FCS is corrected. The control station FCS is modified by changing the program that defines the operation of the control station FCS stored in the fixed area of the main storage device 1. (S5) Data is restored by reading from the main storage device 1. This restores the same environment as at the time of the previous inspection.

The operation of saving data on the side of the engineering workstation EWS is performed in the following procedure. When the tester issues a data collection request, the data storage requesting means 11
Divides the functional blocks and elements into smaller pieces for each type, and issues a storage request to the data collection means 21. Data collection means 21
Checks the size of the data to be stored based on the received storage request, copies the data into a communication frame, and sends it to the engineering workstation EWS.
The identification information adding means 12 attaches identification information to the data sent from the data collecting means 21 and files the data in the data storage means 13 for each plant control system. The data storage unit 13 stores data for setting a test environment for a plurality of types of control systems.

The database is restored by the following procedure. When the tester issues a data restoration request, the data restoration request means 14 finds the specified file from the data storage means 13 and sends it to the control station FCS. The data restoration unit 22 extracts the identification information from the received data and checks the type size of the data. The data restoration unit 22 searches the main storage device 1 for the same data as the received data, and obtains the address of the searched data. At this time, the tester can select whether to search the functional block for data by tag name or block number. This selection is made according to the type of restore key that the tester presses. This is because the block number may be changed due to maintenance of the control system or the like. Further, the block number of the functional block created when the test environment is virtually set is often a different block number on the test target control station. If the tag name is used as a keyword for data restoration, it takes a long time to search the data to find the location of the functional block by character search, but there is an advantage that the data can be restored on other hardware. The data restoration means 22 checks the validity of whether or not the received data is restored in the main storage device 1. At this time, the following points are checked for the functional block and the element. (For functional blocks) ・ Whether the block model names match (whether they are the same type of block) ・ Whether the record numbers match ・ Whether the data sizes (record sizes) match (for the element) ・Whether the data size does not exceed the size of the actual database When the validity of restoration is checked, the main memory 1
Update the data of.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing the flow of data restoration.

[0020]

According to the present invention, the following effects can be obtained. The data for setting the test environment is cut out from the control station in units of control functions instead of the whole data and sent to the engineering workstation. When the data is returned to the control station, the identification information attached to the data is stored in the original storage position for the purpose of restoring the data. Therefore, as a result of the test, even if the data that sets the test environment is changed due to the change of the control station, when the setting data of the test environment is restored, the changed data is not restored and the original data is restored. Only is reproduced. Therefore, it is not necessary to newly recreate the setting data of the test environment. As a result, it is possible to smoothly perform the work of repeating the test and the change in order to enhance the degree of perfection of the control station.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a procedure of an operation test.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a flow of restoring data.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of a conventional example of a test apparatus for a plant control system.

[Explanation of symbols]

 EWS engineering workstation FCS control station 1 main storage device 3 execution means 8 generation means 11 data storage request means 12 identification information addition means 13 data storage means 14 data restoration request means 21 data collection means 22 data restoration means

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An engineering workstation and a control station for controlling a plant, wherein the engineering workstation generates a program that defines the operation of the control station and data that sets a virtual test environment, and the generation. In a test environment of a plant control system for operating the control station by the generated program to test whether the control station operates according to specifications under a test environment set by the data, the control station is, A first memory in which data for setting a test environment is stored; and a data storage requesting unit in the engineering workstation for issuing a request to cut out data for setting a test environment in control function units when a storage request is issued. , Said control A data collecting means for reading data for setting a test environment from the first memory in response to a request from the data storage requesting means in the station; and transmitting data read by the data collecting means in the engineering workstation. Identification information adding means for attaching identification information to this data, a second memory in the engineering workstation for storing the data with the identification information, and in the engineering workstation for a restore request At the time, the data stored in the second memory is read out and returned to the control station, the data restoration requesting means and the data returned from the engineering workstation in the control station are identified by the identification information. The source of the first memory And a data restoring unit that restores the data in the first memory, the test apparatus for the plant control system.