GB2350907A

GB2350907A - Computer controlled display system for fault conditions in material processing facility

Info

Publication number: GB2350907A
Application number: GB9913361A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Keith Andrew Burton
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1999-06-09
Filing date: 1999-06-09
Publication date: 2000-12-13
Anticipated expiration: 2019-06-09
Also published as: GB9913361D0; GB2350907B

Abstract

The system is used within a facility for the processing of material. The facility has a plurality of property detection devices, including devices for detecting level L11-3, pressure P11-3, and flow F11-4. Fault signals are produced by comparators when output signals from the detectors exceed predetermined levels. Control valves CV1-6, are activated automatically in response to fault conditions being detected. The computer system displays a matrix 401 relating detection devices (left hand side) to control devices (top), such that a condition of an intersection indicates an operating characteristic. A first condition of an intersection (such as an "A" 441-445 or a number 446-448) indicates an association to the effect that a control device will be activated in response to a fault signal from a particular detection means being generated, the numbers indicating the time delay before activation. A second condition of an intersection (shading) indicates that a fault signal has actually been generated and that an associated control device has been activated. Further indicators, 422, 451-452 indicate the device producing the fault signal and the activated valves.

Description

2350907 Computer System

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a computer system for application in a facility for the processing of material.

Background to the Invention

Complex environments for the processing of material are well known and include chemical plants and oil refineries etc. Plants of this type include many automatic systems with control devices for detecting such properties as level, pressure and flow etc. With these detection mechanisms in place, it is possible to identify fault conditions, usually be effecting a comparison of output signals, such that in response to these comparisons action may be taken, such as the closing or opening of valves, in order to prevent a dangerous situation arising which could, ultimately, lead to catastrophic failure of the plant.

It is known to provide computer systems which display the operating environment in a stylised form, thereby giving an operator an immediate overview of the operating characteristics. Using such a model, it is possible for an operator to view a display in order to obtain an appreciation of operating conditions. These operating conditions may also identify fault conditions, showing a particular fault has occurred and showing the action that has automatically been taken. However, with a display of this type, it is not clear as to what action would result should any particular detector detect a fault condition. In order to obtain this information, it is usually necessary for an operator to refer to printed matter in order to gain a full appreciation of the totality of effects resulting from the totality of possible causes. Furthermore, a 2 display of information of this type does not facilitate the construction of 'What if' scenarios. Thus, it is difficult for an operator to gain a full appreciation of the system which may lead to operators being taken by surprised when fault conditions occur.

Summary of the Invention

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided, in a facility for the processing of material having a plurality of property detection means, a plurality of control means and comparison means configured to determine whether outputs from said detection means exceed predetermined levels to produce fault signals, a computer system having display means, storage means, processing means, input interface means and output interface means, wherein said input interface means receives said fault signals; said output interface means supplies control signals to said control means; and said display means displays a matrix relating detection means to control means in response to signals received from said processing means, such that a condition of an intersection indicates an operating characteristic, wherein a first condition indicates an association to the effect that a control device is activated in response to a fault signal from a particular detection means; and a second condition indicates that a fault signal has been generated and that an associated control device has been activated.

In a preferred embodiment, a delay takes place between the activation of an input signal and the generation of a particular output signal an information identifying the duration of the delay is represented at a respective matrix intersection. The system may include additional indication displays representing the activation of input devices and output devices.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is 3 provided a computer-read able medium having com puter-read able instructions executable by a computer such that, when executing said instructions, a computer will perform the steps of displaying a matrix relating detection means to control means such that a condition of an intersection indicates an operating characteristic, wherein a first condition indicates an association to the effect that a control device associated with a facility for the processing of material has been activated in response to a fault signal from a particular detection means; and a second condition indicates that a fault signal has been generated and that an associated control device for the facility has been activated.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Figure I shows a facility for the processing of material, embodying the present invention; Figure 2 details a control station identified in Figure 3:

Figure 3 illustrates a representation of the facility shown in Figure 1; Figure 4 shows an example of an output from a monitor display, embodying the present invention.

Detailed Description of The Preferred Embodiments

The invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the previously identified drawings.

A facility for the processing of material, in this case the refining of petroleum, is illustrated in Figure 1. The facility includes receptacles, such as vessel 101, for the distillation and additional processing of petroleum, along with storage vessels and transport pipes etc. Within this arrangement, there is provided a plurality of detection systems, including transmitters for 4 transmitting information relating to liquid level, fluid pressure and flow rate etc. Furthermore, the facility is also provided with control devices, often in the form of valves that may be activated manually, under automatic control or, when fault situations arise, in response to fault signals generated by the detection devices. Thus, the overall plant is controlled by a computer system housed within a control station 102.

Control 102 is detailed in Figure 2 and includes a plurality of computer systems 201 in addition to other facility displays 202. An operator has access to a computer system by a manually operable input device, such as a keyboard 203 and a mouse 204.

The system is provided with several monitors, including additional monitor 205. On monitor 205 a schematic representation of the system is displayed using conventional system diagrammatic representations that in turn may be illuminated or operated upon in some other way in order to indicate operating conditions of the system.

A simplified example of the representation shown on monitor 205 is illustrated in Figure 3. In this portion of the facility, there is provided a separation vessel 301, configured to receive a mixture of petroleum with water such that, under normal operating conditions, water enters region 302 with the petroleum remaining in region 303. The water is then removed via a valve 304 with the petroleum being removed via a valve 305. The flow of petroleum through valve 305 is increased by the operation of a pump 306, that in turn supplies an output via an output control valve 307.

A mixture of water and petroleum enters vessel 301 via inlet 308 and gas may be vented from the vessel via valve 309. The vessel includes a pressure transmitter 310 and a level transmitter 311. The vessel also includes a further level transmitter 312. The petroleum output line includes a flow transmitter 313.

Output signals from pressure transmitter 310, level transmitters 311 and 312 and flow transmitter 313 are supplied to the control station via an input marshalling rack 314. Furthermore, output control signals, such as signals for control device 307, are issued by the control station and distributed via an output marshalling rack 315.

An example of an output from monitor 201 is detailed in Figure 4. A matrix 401 is displayed on monitor 201 that relates detection devices, such as transmitters 310, 311 and 312 etc to control devices, such as valve 307, in response to signals received from its associated processing system. In a preferred embodiment, this processing system takes the form of a computer operating under a multi-tasking operating system, such as Windows NT.

Instructions for the operation of the computer system are loaded by means of an instruction carrying medium, such as a CD ROM 211.

The facility includes three level indicators (with a full working system including considerably more) identified as 1-11, L12 and L13. In addition, the facility includes three pressure indicators, indicated as P11, P12 and P13.

Furthermore, the facility is provided with four flow indicators, indicated as FI 1, F12, F13 and F14. Each of these indicators results in a respective row being introduced within matrix 401. Thus, level indicator one is represented by row 411, level indicator two is represented by row 412, level indicator three is represented by row 413, pressure indicator one is represented by row 414, pressure indicator two is represented by row 415, pressure indicator three is represented by row 416, flow indicator one is represented by row 417, flow indicator two is represented by row 418, flow indicator three is represented by row 419 and flow indicator four is represented by row 420. Each row has an associated indicator region, such as region 421 for row 411. Similarly, row 6 412 has an indicator region 422.

The facility includes comparitors for comparing the outputs from detectors or transmitters to determine whether these outputs have exceeded acceptable levels. Usually these levels are present in two stages, a first representing a condition to the effect that action should be taken and a second indicating that a serious fault has occurred and that automatic shutdown conditions will come into effect. It is these second fault shutdown conditions that are indicated on display 201. Thus, if level indicator two identifies a serious fault condition, in response to a comparison being made, region 422 is illuminated, as illustrated in Figure 4.

The matrix of the display shown in Figure 4 is completed by column entries 431, 432, 433, 434, 435 and 436. These columns relate to control valve one, control valve two, control valve three, control valve four, control valve five and control valve six respectively. The facility is set up such that in response to selected fault conditions occurTing, particular control valves will be activated, either to prevent flow or to initiate a flow. Within the facility, the control valves are set up such that they will enter their safe condition when power is removed and as such will fail safe if circumstances arises such that there is a power fail or power shutdown etc.

The matrix shown in Figure 4 includes many intersections where a relationship does not exist between a particular input indicator and an output control valve. This may be considered as a zero condition and the intersection is effectively left blank. A condition of an intersection, such as intersection 441, may be considered as a first condition, indicating that there is an association between a particular input indicator and an output control valve. This association, represented by the display of a letter "A" as shown in Figure 4, indicates that if a fault signal is generated by level indicator one, F 7 control valve two will be activated. Thus, activation associations of this type are also present at intersections 442, 443, 444 and 445.

A more sophisticated type of association is illustrated at intersections 446, 447 and 448. Instead of a letter A being present, representing an association, the intersection includes a numerical value, representing a delay time between indicator activation and control device activation. Thus, flow indicator one is associated with control valve two but activation of control valve two, in response to flow indicator one being activated, only takes place after a period of ten seconds. Similarly, there is a fifteen second delay between activation of flow indicator one and control valve three, with a twenty-five second delay between activation of flow indicator one and control valve four.

When a fault condition occurs, a second intersection condition is indicated, as illustrated at intersections 442 and 443. In this example, level indicator two has activated and its activation region 422 has been illuminated.

Level indicator two is associated with control valve three and control valve four, resulting in the intersections 442 and 443 being illuminated in some way to show that the fault condition has arisen and that control valve three and control valve four are to be activated. In addition, illumination areas 451 and 452 directly associated with control valve three and control valve four respectively are also illuminated. Thus, it can be seen immediately that level indicator two has entered a fault condition, resulting in the activation of control valve three and control valve four. In this way, the information and the state of the system is immediately brought to the attention of an operator who may then take appropriate action to rectify the situation. Furthermore, an operator is alerted if further output controls are to be implemented, after a specified delay. The operator can also see immediately what operations 8 would automatically take effect where other input indicators to detect further fault conditions.

P 9

Claims

Claims

In a facility for the processing of material, having a plurality of property detection means, a plurality of control means and comparison means configured to determine whether outputs from said detection means exceed predetermined levels to produce fault signals, a computer system having display means, storage means, processing means, input interface means and output interface means, wherein said input interface means receives said fault signals; said output interface means supplies control signals to said control means; and said display means displays a matrix relating detection means to control means in response to signals received from said processing means, such that a condition of an intersection indicates an operating characteristic, wherein a first condition indicates an association to the effect that a control device is activated in response to a fault signal from a particular detection means, and a second condition indicates that a fault signal has been generated and that an associated control device has been activated.
2. A computer system according to claim 1, wherein a delay takes place between the activation of an input signal and the generation of an output signal and information identifying the duration of the delay is represented at a respective matrix intersection.
3. A computer system according to claim 1 or claim 2, including additional indication displays representing the activation of input devices and output devices.
4. A computer-read able medium having computer-read able instructions executable by a computer such that, when executing said instructions, a computer will perform the steps of displaying a matrix relating detection means to control means, such that a condition of an intersection indicates an operating characteristic, wherein a first condition indicates an association to the effect that a control device associated with a facility for the processing of material has been activated in response to a fault signal from a particular detection means; and a second condition indicates that a fault signal has been generated and that an associated control device for the facility has been activated.
5. A computer-read able medium having computer-readable instructions according to claim 4, such that said computer performs the further steps of identifying information representing the duration of a delay that takes place between the activation of an input signal and the generation of an output signal.
6. A computer-readable medium having computer-read able instructions executable by a computer such that said computer performs the further step of providing addition display indications representing the activation of input devices and output devices.
7. A compute r-reada ble medium and a programmed computer system substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.