JP2004062860A - System, method and program for remote monitoring operation - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a remote monitoring/operation system which makes a chemical plant, etc., which requises, interposition of an operator, operable in safe and optimal conditions. <P>SOLUTION: In the remote monitoring/operation system, the respective tasks 1-1 to 1-n asynchronously transmit requests to a request transmission queue 2 first. A queue management task 3 periodically monitors the request transmission queue 2 and when a new request is transmitted to the request transmission queue 2, transfers the request to a controller 5 by removing duplication of the requests together with the requests already existing in the request transmission queue 2. When the controller 5 once receives the request, periodically transmits information specified in it to a client 1. A reception task 6 receives the information from the controller 5 and write it in a memory 7. The respective tasks 1-1 to 1-n obtain the information by reading a place where the information which they need is written on the memory 7. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a remote monitoring operation system, a remote monitoring operation method, and a remote monitoring operation program for controlling an industrial device such as a chemical plant using a DCS (Distributed Control System).
[0002]
[Prior art]
A DCS that controls an industrial device such as a chemical plant includes a controller and a client (for example, see Non-Patent Document 1). In the controller, a program for controlling a target device is constantly executed, and often does not have a function of storing and displaying data. The client is a terminal operated by the operator of the device, and stores and displays information collected from the controller. Further, the client receives a command from the operator to the controller, and transmits the command to the controller.
[0003]
In the conventional DCS, all information that the client may display or save is periodically collected from the controller. Therefore, information that is not currently displayed on the screen of the client and is not to be saved is collected even if it is meaningless to collect it.
[0004]
[Non-patent document 1]
Measurement technology 2000.1 issue (published by Nippon Kogyo Shuppan), 367. Vol 28. No. No. 1, P18-21
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, usually, the controller and the client are installed and used at a short distance such as in the same room or the same building. Therefore, it is possible to connect the controller and the client via a network having a sufficiently large bandwidth, and there is no problem even if a large amount of meaningless information is collected.
[0006]
However, when a client is to be installed in a remote place, it is common sense that a network having a relatively small bandwidth must be selected for the connection between them for economic reasons. In order to collect information in seconds, there is no room to collect meaningless information. That is, in many cases, it was practically impossible to install a client in a remote location.
[0007]
Even if a client could be used for remote monitoring, it had to be a separate product from a regular client, or had to introduce a special mechanism for remote monitoring. For this reason, it has not been realistic to remotely monitor and remotely control a monitoring target device using a DCS system.
[0008]
The present invention has been made in view of the circumstances described above, and can connect a controller for controlling operation and operation of an industrial device such as a chemical plant to a client via a small-bandwidth network, and requires the intervention of an operator. It is an object of the present invention to provide a remote monitoring operation system, a remote monitoring operation method, and a remote monitoring operation program that can remotely monitor and remotely control a chemical plant or the like so that it can safely and optimally operate.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, in the invention according to claim 1, a plurality of distributed control systems having a controller and a client which is an operation terminal are connected via a network, and a remote operation client is connected to the network. Is a remote monitoring operation system for remotely monitoring and operating at least one object by the remote operation client, and asynchronously transmits requests for a plurality of tasks of the client to a controller. A request sending queue means for temporarily holding requests from a plurality of tasks; anda queue managing means for holding the request sending queue means and managing duplication removal of requests from a plurality of tasks and consistency of requests. Communication means for performing communication between the controller having the above and the client.
[0010]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the remote monitoring operation system according to the first aspect, information from a controller with respect to a task request from the request transmission queue can be read from each task of the client so as to be readable for each client. It is characterized by having storage means for holding.
[0011]
According to the third aspect of the present invention, in the remote monitoring and operating system according to the first aspect, the plurality of objects remotely monitored and operated are plants, and a client of at least one plant site is connected to the plant site. Is connected via a network with a plurality of clients at different locations, and among the clients at the plant site and the plurality of clients, the client that performed the final operation is always the highest priority operation client that can operate with the highest priority. Until the highest priority operation client issues an "operation permitting command" to another client, the operation right transfer control means for maintaining the highest priority operation client and disabling operation from the other client is specified. It is characterized by.
[0012]
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the remote monitoring operation system according to the third aspect, the operation right transfer control unit receives the “operation permission command” issued by the highest priority operation client by the other client. At this point, the other client is set as the highest priority operation client.
[0013]
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the remote monitoring operation system according to the third or fourth aspect, the remote control client is arranged at a plurality of points having a time difference such that the daytime is continuous. It is characterized by doing.
[0014]
In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, in the invention according to claim 6, a plurality of distributed control systems having a controller and a client which is an operation terminal are connected via a network, and are remotely controlled by the network. A remote monitoring operation method for remotely monitoring and operating at least one object by the remote operation client, the method comprising: asynchronously transmitting requests for a plurality of tasks of the client. Upon transmission to the controller, requests from a plurality of tasks are temporarily held, and the temporarily held requests from the plurality of tasks are deduplicated and the consistency of the requests is managed.
[0015]
According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the remote monitoring operation method according to the sixth aspect, information from a controller in response to a task request from the request transmission queue can be read from each task of the client so that the information can be read for each client. It is characterized by holding.
[0016]
In the invention according to claim 8, in the remote monitoring operation method according to claim 6, the plurality of objects to be monitored and operated remotely are plants, and a client of at least one plant site is connected to the plant site. Is connected via a network with a plurality of clients at different locations, and among the clients at the plant site and the plurality of clients, the client that has performed the last operation is the highest priority operation client that can operate at the highest priority. It is characterized in that the client is always designated as the highest priority operation client and the operation from the other client is disabled until the highest priority operation client issues an "operation permission command" to another client.
[0017]
According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the remote monitoring operation method according to the eighth aspect, when the other client receives an "operation permission command" issued by the highest priority operation client, Is the highest priority operation client.
[0018]
In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, in the invention according to claim 10, a plurality of distributed control systems having a controller and a client which is an operation terminal are connected via a network, and are remotely controlled by the network. A remote monitoring operation program for remotely monitoring and operating at least one object by the remote operation client, wherein the remote monitoring operation program asynchronously transmits requests for a plurality of tasks of the client. A step of temporarily holding requests from a plurality of tasks in a request transmission queue when sending the requests to the controller; anda step of managing the temporarily held requests for duplicate removal of requests from the plurality of tasks and consistency of the requests. It is characterized by being executed by a computer.
[0019]
According to the eleventh aspect of the present invention, in the remote monitoring operation program according to the tenth aspect, information from a controller in response to a task request from the request transmission queue can be read from each task of the client so that the information can be read for each client. The step of holding is executed by a computer.
[0020]
According to the present invention, when requests for a plurality of tasks possessed by a client are asynchronously transmitted to a controller, requests from the plurality of tasks are temporarily held in a request transmission queue unit, and the request transmission queue is stored by a queue management unit. Manages deduplication of requests from multiple tasks and consistency of requirements, with the means kept. Therefore, it is possible to adjust the communication amount between the client and the controller that controls the operation and operation of the industrial equipment such as a chemical plant on the client side. It is possible to remotely monitor and remotely control a chemical plant or the like that requires a safe and optimal operation.
[0021]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
A. Basic system
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a basic configuration of a remote monitoring operation system according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, a client 1 includes a large number of tasks 1-1 to 1-n. Each of the tasks 1-1 to 1-n includes, for example, a window such as a system diagram and a graph and data storage. Of each function. Some of the tasks 1-1 to 1-n are constantly executed, while others are started and stopped at the request of the operator. For example, data storage and the like are often executed at all times, and it is sufficient to execute system diagrams and graphs only while the operator is watching.
[0022]
A typical example of a task is an "instrument" that accepts an operation. An example of the external appearance of the “meter” uses a GUI as shown in FIG. Normally, a plurality of these are arranged on the screen. In terms of application, tasks such as "instrument", "graph", and "system diagram" can be mentioned, but this is not a fundamental task classification. In addition to the instruments described above, a special screen may be created for each application, and operation switches, sliders, and the like may be arranged there. In terms of the system, there are three types: "data storage", "window display", and "alarm reception".
[0023]
Each of the tasks 1-1 to 1-n requests only information required by itself from the controller 5. At this time, if the request is made directly to the controller 5, it is sufficiently expected that the requests among the tasks 1-1 to 1-n are duplicated, and in such a case, useless requests are transmitted. Therefore, each of the tasks 1-1 to 1-n sends a request to the request transmission queue 2 instead of directly to the controller 5.
[0024]
The queue management task 3 periodically monitors the request transmission queue 2, and when a new request is sent to the request transmission queue 2, the duplication is performed together with the request already in the request transmission queue 2. Removed and passed to transmission task 4.
[0025]
The transmission task 4 transmits a request to the controller 5. Once receiving the request, the controller 5 periodically transmits the information specified therein to the client 1. The receiving task 6 receives information from the controller 5 and writes the information into the memory 7.
[0026]
Each of the tasks 1-1 to 1-n obtains information by reading a place on the memory 7 where information required by itself is written. Once the request is received by the controller 5, the information is periodically transmitted to the client 1, so that each of the tasks 1-1 to 1-n transmits the request only once when it is activated. It only needs to be sent to queue 2.
[0027]
When the controller 5 receives a new request, the controller 5 discards the previous request, and the requests do not continue to accumulate. Since the requests from the tasks 1-1 to 1-n are asynchronous, the requests of all the tasks 1-1 to 1-n are not always transmitted to the controller 5 at the same timing. Therefore, there is a possibility that a request that has arrived earlier may be discarded by a request that arrives later. Therefore, a signal for indicating a request that should not be discarded and a signal indicating a discard execution command (permission and non-permission) are stored in the request transmission queue 2.
[0028]
The “indicator for identifying a request that should not be discarded” is a flag indicating “discardable / impossible”. When a plurality of tasks (a data storage program, a screen display program, etc.) are started, “these tags are deleted”. The value is passed to the queue with the request. The "signal indicating permission or non-permission of destruction" means that all the products having the expiration date should be discarded (this system has no concept of the expiration date).
[0029]
For example, the task of saving historical data to a file requires that the value of the specified tag be collected at regular time intervals, no matter what is displayed on the screen. Therefore, the task requires data collection with a flag of disapproval not allowed. Conversely, a screen display task such as a system diagram only needs to collect a value when it is displayed, and thus requests data collection together with a discard permission flag. However, in this case, a single window display is a principle. That is, when the user views another screen, the screen that has been viewed is closed and a new screen is opened.
[0030]
The queue management task 3 also monitors these pieces of information, and always passes an appropriate request to the transmission task 4. The queue management task 3 also performs queue management such as deleting a request in the request transmission queue 2 from such information or changing a sign.
[0031]
By realizing the above-described communication method between the controller 5 and the client 1, the communication amount between the two can be adjusted on the client 1 side, so that a network system with a small bandwidth can be realized. As a result, the client 1 can flexibly select the information to be received from the controller 5, so that the DCS can be used according to the bandwidth of the network.
[0032]
And, by enabling a network with a small bandwidth, the controller 5 and the client 1 can be installed at geographically distant places, and a chemical plant or an air separation apparatus that performs control using DCS Helium liquefaction equipment, buildings, factories, and the like can use the remote monitoring and operating system to perform either remote monitoring or remote control, or both.
[0033]
Further, by realizing a network with a small bandwidth, a plurality of chemical plants can be networked, and optimal distribution, production planning and management, etc. can be comprehensively planned and executed.
[0034]
In particular, the size of the air separation device is becoming smaller, and the automatic control is becoming more sophisticated and sophisticated. If the present network system is used for such a decentralized air separation device, it is not necessary to arrange personnel other than operators at the plant site. For example, since the same information as at the plant site can be obtained by a client at a remote location, what has been done at the plant site until now, such as investigating the cause of an accident, early detection of an accident, etc., and analysis of optimal operation, can be performed remotely. It can be executed on the ground. For this reason, it is possible to take the corresponding measures with a minimum number of personnel, and the functions can be distributed. In other words, the number of personnel required at each plant site is reduced to a minimum of operating personnel, and other functions such as maintenance management, analysis, and monitoring personnel can be distributed, and each function is centrally located. Therefore, the system greatly contributes to reduction of labor costs and the like.
[0035]
The target for centralized operation monitoring at the central monitoring center is a large plant among air separation units. In other words, in terms of the relationship between supply and demand in the country, it is equivalent to the original source of supply. On the recent demand side, gas is often supplied from a small generator at the same time as the conventional liquid storage tank. There is no problem on a regular basis, but when the small generator stops due to a trouble, the supply from the liquid storage tank is forced, and the production of liquid oxygen, nitrogen, etc. from the large plant, which is the original supply source, is inevitable. It is necessary to increase it.
[0036]
Conventionally, such information processing is performed by manpower because the apparatus itself is separated and there is no idea of performing a centralized operation.
On the other hand, in the present invention, since the centralized operation monitoring is performed, the "operation / stop signal, gas supply amount signal at stop" of the small generator is transmitted to the central operation monitoring center, and the total demand amount is calculated by using the stop signal as a trigger. Thus, an economical mechanism for executing the optimal allocation calculation is possible.
[0037]
As described above, according to the present remote monitoring and operating system, it is possible to install a plurality of clients exactly the same as the clients installed at the plant site in necessary places, to achieve functional distribution, and to provide a plurality of clients that are geographically separated. An ant can operate a chemical plant such as an air separation unit. However, while each client can operate freely, there is a risk that security may be impaired.
[0038]
Therefore, in this remote monitoring operation system, each client is always specified where the last operation was performed, and is protected by an interlock so that the client that performed the last operation is the highest priority operation client. A system that has the function of performing By setting the highest-priority operation client, operation cannot be performed from other clients, unified plant control is performed, and no dangerous state is caused. Therefore, when a client other than the highest priority operation client attempts to operate, it is necessary to transfer the “operation right”. In the present embodiment, two procedures are provided for the transfer procedure of the “operation right”.
[0039]
In the first transfer procedure, when the highest-priority operation client that has performed the final operation decides to abandon the right of the highest-priority client, it issues an “operation delegation notification” and abandons it to other clients. Is specified. Among the clients that have confirmed the “operation delegation notification”, the client who wants to become the highest priority client issues an “operation transfer command” to the highest priority operation client. The highest priority client issues an “operation permission command” to the client. Then, when the client receives the “operation permission command”, the client becomes the highest priority operation client, and remote operation becomes possible. That is, this is a case where the highest priority client voluntarily relinquishes the “operation right”.
[0040]
Next, in the second transfer procedure, another client who wants to become the highest priority operation client issues an “operation transfer command” to the highest priority operation client. The highest priority operation client that has received the “operation transfer instruction” issues an “operation permission instruction” to the other clients. Then, when the client receives the “operation permission command”, the client becomes the highest priority operation client.
[0041]
As described above, the “operation permission command” is issued from the highest priority operation client, and when the “operation permission command” is received by the client, the transfer of the “operation right” is completed, and the client becomes the highest priority operation client. As a result, the plant can be operated, so that the safety of a chemical plant such as an air separation device can be maintained.
[0042]
B. Embodiment
FIG. 3 shows remote monitoring in which sites A, B, and C, that is, plants A, B, and C are far apart, and Ethernet (registered trademark) of each site is connected to a monitoring network 100 such as a WAN. 2 shows an example of an operation system. In this configuration example, each of the remote control clients 40, 41, and 42 basically has a function of monitoring and operating the plants A, B, and C.
[0043]
The plant A and the remote control client 40, the plant B and the remote control client 41, and the plant C and the remote control client 42 are located on the same site (sites A, B, and C).
In the present embodiment, each of the remote operation clients 40, 41, and 42 monitors all the plants. This is because the risk can be diversified and a quick response can be made in the event of an abnormality.
[0044]
In addition, safe operation cannot be performed unless the operation of each plant is restricted only to a specific remote operation client. Moreover, even if the specific remote operation client does not have the operation right, the operation cannot be performed (a plurality of operation rights can be set for one plant).
[0045]
Next, an operation example of the remote monitoring operation system shown in FIG. 3 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 4 shows preconditions for the operation example (1) of the plant. That is, as shown in FIG. 4A, each of the remote operation clients 40 to 42 can monitor all the plants A, B, and C.
[0046]
As for the operation of the plant, as shown in FIG. 4B, the plant A is operated by the remote operation clients 40 and 41, the plant B is operated by the remote operation client 41, and the plant C is operated by the remote operation client 42. Further, it is assumed that the priority of the operation of the plant A lies in the remote operation client 41. 5 to 7 show the operation contents of the remote operation client side when an accident occurs in the plant in this case.
[0047]
In this example, the operation of the remote operation client when an alarm indicating that an accident has occurred in the plant A is shown. FIG. 5 shows each remote operation when the remote operation client 40 first notices the occurrence of the alarm. 4 shows a recovery operation in the operation clients 40 to 42.
[0048]
As shown in the figure, the remote operation client 40 first performs a bell stop process, and as a result, the bell operation of the remote operation clients 41 and 42 is stopped, but the operation right of the plant A is changed to the remote operation client. Since it is located at 41, an alarm is sounded on the remote control client 41 side, and the abnormality display lamp remains lit. Then, when the remote operation client 41 notices the occurrence of the alarm and performs the bell stop processing, the bell ringing of the remote operation client 41 stops, and the abnormality display lamps of the remote operation clients 40, 41, and 42 are turned off. I do.
[0049]
FIG. 6 shows a recovery operation in each of the remote operation clients 40 to 42 when the remote operation client 41 first notices the occurrence of an alarm. As shown in the figure, when the remote operation client 41 first notices the occurrence of the alarm and performs the bell stop processing, the bell operation of the remote operation clients 440 and 42 stops, and the remote operation client 41 stops the plant A. When the recovery operation is performed, the ringing of the bell of the remote operation client 41 is stopped, and the abnormality display lamps that have been lit up so far in the remote operation clients 40, 41, and 42 are turned off.
[0050]
FIG. 7 shows a recovery operation in each of the remote operation clients 40 to 42 when the remote operation client 42 first notices the occurrence of an alarm. As shown in the figure, when the remote operation client 42 performs the bell stop processing, the ringing of only the bell of the remote operation client 42 is stopped, and the abnormality display lamps of all the remote operation clients remain lit. . Next, when the remote operation client 40 or 41 notices the occurrence of the alarm and performs the bell stop processing, and then performs the recovery operation of the plant, the ringing of the bell of the remote operation client 40 or 41 is stopped and the lamp is lit up to now. The error display lamps of all the remote control clients that are being turned off go off.
[0051]
Next, FIGS. 8 and 9 show an operation transfer procedure when the operation right (operation priority) is in the remote operation client 41. FIG. 8 and 9, C1 indicates a remote operation client 40, C2 indicates a remote operation client 41, and C3 indicates a remote operation client 42.
In these figures, first, when the remote operation client 41 issues an operation right delegation notification (step 200), the remote operation client 40 receives the delegation notification and becomes the highest priority operation client (priority of operation right). Is determined (step 201).
[0052]
If the determination in step 201 is affirmative, the remote operation client 41 issues an operation permission command to the remote operation client 40 (step 202). As a result, the remote control client 40 becomes the highest priority client (step 203).
[0053]
If the determination in step 201 is negative, it is determined whether the remote operation client 42 receives the operation right transfer notification and declares itself as the highest priority operation client (step 204). If the determination in step 204 is affirmative, the remote operation client 41 issues an operation permission command to the remote operation client 42 (step 205). As a result, the remote control client 42 becomes the highest priority client (step 206).
[0054]
If the determination in step 204 is negative, the process returns to step 201 in a state where the remote control client 41 remains the highest priority client (step 207).
On the other hand, if the remote operation client 41 does not issue the operation right transfer notification in step 200, it is determined whether the remote operation client 40 wants to be the highest priority client (step 208).
[0055]
If the determination in step 208 is affirmative, an operation transfer command is issued to the remote operation client 41 (step 209), and then whether or not the remote operation client 41 has issued an operation right transfer notification. Is determined (step 210). If the determination in step 210 is affirmative, the process proceeds to step 202.
When the determination in step 210 is denied, the content of the rejection is notified to the remote operation client 40 (step 211), and the process proceeds to step 207.
[0056]
If the determination in step 208 is negative, it is determined whether the remote operation client 42 wants to be the highest priority operation client (step 212). If the determination in step 212 is negative, the process proceeds to step 207.
On the other hand, if the determination in step 212 is affirmative, an operation transfer command is issued to the remote operation client 41 (step 213). Next, it is determined whether the remote operation client 41 has issued an operation right transfer notification (step 214).
[0057]
If the determination in step 214 is affirmative, the process proceeds to step 205. If the determination in step 214 is denied, the content of the rejection is notified to the remote operation client 42 (step 215), and the process proceeds to step 207.
[0058]
Next, an operation example (2) of another plant will be described. In this operation example, as a precondition, the monitoring and operation of each plant are basically the same as those shown in FIG. 4, but the plant A is operated by the remote operation client 40 or the remote operation client 41. By declaring the right acquisition, it shall become the highest priority operation client. That is, this is an operation example in which the operation right can be equally held. FIGS. 10 to 12 show the contents of operation on the remote operation client side when an accident occurs in the plant in this case.
[0059]
This example shows the operation on the remote control client side when an alarm indicating that an accident has occurred in the plant A. FIG. 10 shows each remote control client 40 when the remote control client 40 first notices the alarm generation. 4 shows a recovery operation in the operation clients 40 to 42.
[0060]
As shown in the figure, when an alarm occurs, the remote control client 41, which had the operation right, gives up the operation right, and the remote operation clients 40, 41 can acquire the operation right. When the remote operation client 40 detects the occurrence of the alarm, declares the acquisition of the operation right at this time, and performs the bell stop processing, the ringing of the bells of all the remote operation clients 40 to 42 is stopped. Next, when the remote operation client 40 having the operation right performs the restoration operation of the plant and the plant A is restored, the abnormality display lamps of all the remote operation clients 40 to 42 are turned off.
[0061]
FIG. 11 shows a recovery operation in each of the remote operation clients 40 to 42 when the remote operation client 41 first notices the occurrence of an alarm. In the figure, a remote operation client 41 having an operation right abandons the operation right when an alarm occurs, and at this time, the operation right can be acquired by all the remote operation clients 40 to 42.
[0062]
Next, when the remote operation client 41 first detects the occurrence of the alarm, declares the acquisition of the operation right, and performs the bell stop processing, the bell sounds of all the remote operation clients 40 to 42 stop. Then, the remote control client 41 performs a recovery operation of the plant A, and when the plant A recovers, the abnormality display lamps of all the remote control clients 40 to 42 which have been lit up until now are turned off.
[0063]
FIG. 12 shows a recovery operation in each of the remote control clients 40 to 42 when the remote control client 42 first notices the occurrence of an alarm. In this example, the remote operation client 41 having the operation right relinquishes the operation right when an alarm occurs, and the remote operation client 42 operates in a state where all the remote operation clients have not declared the acquisition of the operation right. This figure shows a case in which the processing of stopping the ringing of the bell is performed when the alarm is first noticed.
[0064]
In this case, the processing similar to that of FIGS. 10 and 11 is performed because the remote operation clients 40 and 41 notice the occurrence of the alarm.
Next, another example of the procedure for transferring the client operation right for remote control is shown in FIG.
In this example, the remote operation client that has declared the operation right has the operation priority, but when an event such as an alarm occurs and the plant operation is required promptly, the operation right is automatically relinquished and newly added. Operation rights can be obtained.
[0065]
In FIG. 13, C1 indicates the remote operation client 40, C2 indicates the remote operation client 41, and C3 indicates the remote operation client 42.
In FIG. 13, first, it is determined whether or not the remote operation client having acquired the operation right has abandoned the operation right (step 300).
[0066]
If the determination in step 300 is negative, it is further determined whether or not the operation right has been abandoned due to the occurrence of an event (step 301). If this determination is denied, the process returns to step 300.
If the determination in step 300 is affirmative, the operation right is in a free state (step 302), and then it is determined whether or not the remote operation client 40 has obtained the operation right (step 303).
[0067]
If the determination in step 303 is affirmative, the remote operation client 40 acquires the operation right (step 304), and the process returns to step 300. If the determination in step 303 is negative, it is determined whether or not the remote operation client 41 has acquired the operation right (step 305). If the determination in step 305 is negative, the process returns to step 302.
If the determination in step 305 is affirmative, the remote control client 41 acquires the operation right (step 306), and the process returns to step 300.
[0068]
FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a remote monitoring and operation system for remotely monitoring and remotely controlling a plurality of air separation devices incorporating the DCS system. 14, about 100 air separation devices 410, 410,..., 410 are scattered in various places, each including a controller 412 and a client 413 connected to a LAN 411.
[0069]
The central monitoring center 415 monitors the operation status of the apparatus, performs remote operations such as changing variables such as operating conditions, and receives and transmits an alarm when an abnormality occurs. The maintenance management center 416 performs maintenance when the air separation device fails. The analysis center 417 performs an analysis for the purpose of optimizing the air separation device. Although not shown, a sub-monitoring center for minimizing troubles due to an earthquake or an accident in the communication system is also provided.
[0070]
The central monitoring center 415, the sub monitoring center, the maintenance management center 416, and the analysis center 417 include clients 430 to 436 connected to LANs 418, 419, and 420, respectively. The LANs 418 to 420 of the centers 415 to 417 are connected to the WAN 440 via lines having a communication speed of 64 Kbps.
[0071]
Each of the controllers 412, 412,..., 412 has a total number of 1000 or more variables including the status value of the device, internal variables, and parameters for PID control. In order to remotely monitor such information, information necessary for monitoring is displayed on a daily one-second cycle. All variables, including detailed information such as PID control parameters, can be referenced and changed as necessary.
[0072]
Clients 430 to 436 used at the central monitoring center 415 or the like and located at a distance from the controller 412 are not specially manufactured or set for remote monitoring, but are provided with the client 413 attached to the device. It has exactly the same configuration as or has an equivalent function.
[0073]
Since the clients 430 to 436 at remote locations and the controller 412 of the air separation device 410 can be connected by a network having a small bandwidth, other networks (a distribution center or an inventory management center not shown in FIG. 14) can be used. ), And an expandable network system can be obtained.
[0074]
For example, the clients 430 to 432 of the central monitoring center 415 include a warning PC, a trend monitoring PC, and a remote operation monitoring PC. Each of the clients 430 to 432 needs a screen such as a real-time trend, a historical trend screen, an individual instrument screen (pressure, flow rate, temperature), a device piping system diagram screen, and an alarm screen (displaying which device, alarm content, etc.). In the case of an operation remote monitoring PC, in addition to these, a driving operation screen is displayed and the target device can be operated.
[0075]
As described above, since the remote clients 430 to 436 and the driving operation client 413 at the site have equivalent functions, the air separation device 410 can be transmitted from the remote clients 430 to 436 in real time. Can be monitored. Therefore, it is possible to predict operational fluctuations without being on site. Therefore, fine adjustment of operating conditions and the like, gas supply / shut-off when maintenance / trouble occurs, recovery countermeasures, investigation of the cause, and the like can be performed more quickly than in the prior art. Moreover, since the network system of the present application employs the DCS of the communication procedure of the present embodiment and has the above-described interlock function, the safety of the air separation device can be ensured.
[0076]
Further, when the highest priority operation client does not respond, it is possible to forcibly abandon the “operation right” of the highest priority operation client and transfer the “operation right” to another client. However, in this case, it is assumed that some means for limiting the operation transfer itself or the operation range (operation contents) is provided.
[0077]
According to the above-described embodiment, since the communication amount between the controller and the client can be freely adjusted on the client side, it is possible to construct a network having a very small bandwidth. As a result, remote monitoring and operation can be realized very cheaply. In addition, the client attached to the device that requires a large amount of communication and the remote monitoring operation client that requires a small amount of communication have exactly the same configuration, and can be installed, operated, and maintained very easily.
[0078]
In addition, if the above-described network system is adopted, remote monitoring (chemical operation) of a chemical plant such as a plurality of air separation devices can be performed in real time, and remote operation (operation) while ensuring safety can be performed. In particular, it is possible to provide a remote monitoring and operation system that is optimal for a target device that requires continuous feedback and feedforward control, such as PID control, where the control target is gas flow, pressure, temperature, or the like.
[0079]
In addition, according to the above-mentioned network, functions such as analysis, monitoring, maintenance management, and distribution are decentralized, and comprehensive (company-wide) management can be performed. Since the functions can be integrated for each function, management costs such as reduction of labor costs can be significantly reduced.
[0080]
Next, a remote monitoring operation system according to another embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the present embodiment, the client is arranged at a plurality of points having a time difference such that the daytime is continuous, and the plant is operated by enabling only the client in the daytime among them to operate. It is possible to eliminate the night shift of the operator who operates the client.
[0081]
In consideration of the time difference, the Earth is divided into three parts, specifically, centralized monitoring operation centers requiring remote control clients are located in Los Angeles (USA), Tokyo (Japan), and Hamburg (Germany).
For example, a remote operation place is selected every eight hours during the day. After being in charge of remote monitoring operations for eight hours in Tokyo, he will then transfer the operation to Hamburg, where the time difference is eight hours. Eight hours later, operations will be transferred to Los Angeles, and eight hours later, operations will be sequentially transferred to Tokyo. As a result, work such as night shift can be eliminated.
[0082]
In addition to the case where the remote operation client is arranged at three points where the time difference is 8 hours, the remote operation client may be arranged at two points where the time difference is 12 hours.
Further, considering a break time such as a lunch break, remote control clients may be arranged at six points with a time difference of 4 hours between 4 hours from 1:00 to 5:00.
[0083]
Further, when remote control clients are arranged at a plurality of points having a time difference and the remote control clients at each point can be operated only during the daytime, 8 hours at one point and 6 hours at another point. In this way, the operable time of the remote control client may be different at each point.
Conventionally, the operation of plants installed around the world has been forced to work 24 hours a day in a limited place. However, if the remote monitoring operation system according to the present embodiment is adopted, night shifts can be eliminated. .
[0084]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, when asynchronously transmitting requests for a plurality of tasks possessed by a client to a controller, requests from a plurality of tasks are temporarily held in a request transmission queue means, By the management means, the request transmission queue means is held, so as to manage the duplication removal of requests from a plurality of tasks and the consistency of requests, a controller for controlling the operation and operation of industrial equipment such as a chemical plant. Because the communication volume with the client can be adjusted on the client side, it is possible to connect with a network with a small bandwidth, and it is possible to safely and optimally operate chemical plants etc. that require operator intervention The advantage that remote monitoring and remote control can be performed is obtained.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a basic configuration of a remote monitoring operation system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a GUI used as an example of a task.
FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an example of a remote monitoring operation system in which Ethernet (registered trademark) at each site is connected to a monitoring network.
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing prerequisites for an operation example of the remote monitoring operation system shown in FIG. 3;
FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a client-side recovery operation of the remote monitoring operation system shown in FIG. 3;
FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing another example of the client-side recovery operation of the remote monitoring operation system shown in FIG. 3;
FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing still another example of the recovery operation on the client side of the remote monitoring operation system shown in FIG. 3;
FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an example of an operation transfer procedure of the remote monitoring operation system shown in FIG. 3;
FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an example of an operation transfer procedure of the remote monitoring operation system illustrated in FIG. 3;
FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a client-side recovery operation when each client has an equal operating right in the remote monitoring operation system shown in FIG. 3;
FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing another example of the recovery operation on the client side when each client has an equal operating right in the remote monitoring operation system shown in FIG. 3;
FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing still another example of a recovery operation on the client side in a case where each client has an equal operating right in the remote monitoring operation system shown in FIG. 3;
FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing an example of an operation transfer procedure in a case where each client has an operation right equally in the remote monitoring operation system shown in FIG. 3;
FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a system for remotely monitoring and remotely controlling a plurality of air separation devices incorporating a DCS system.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 client
1-1 to 1-n tasks
2 Request transmission queue (request transmission queue means)
3 queue management tasks (queue management means)
4 Sending task
5 Controller
6 receiving tasks
7 memory (storage means)
410 Air separation unit
412 controller
413 Client
415 Central Monitoring Center
416 Maintenance Management Center
417 Analysis Center
418, 419, 420 LAN
430-436 clients
440 WAN

Claims (11)

A plurality of distributed control systems having a controller and a client that is an operation terminal are connected via a network, and a remote operation client is connected to the network, and at least one object is connected by the remote operation client. A remote monitoring and operation system for remotely monitoring and operating,
Request transmission queue means for temporarily holding requests from a plurality of tasks when asynchronously transmitting requests for a plurality of tasks that the client has to the controller,
Communication means for performing communication between the controller and a client having a queue management means for managing duplication elimination of requests from a plurality of tasks and consistency of requests, which holds the request transmission queue means; A remote monitoring operation system characterized by the following. 2. The remote monitoring operation system according to claim 1, further comprising storage means for holding information from a controller in response to a task request from the request transmission queue from each task of the client so as to be readable from each client. . The multiple objects that are remotely monitored and operated are plants,
Connecting a client of at least one plant site to a plurality of clients located at a different location from the plant site via a network;
Of the client of the plant site and the plurality of clients, the client that performed the final operation is always explicitly specified as the highest priority operation client that can be operated with the highest priority,
Until the highest-priority operation client issues an “operation permission command” to another client, the operation right transfer control means for maintaining the highest-priority operation client and disabling operation from other clients is provided. The remote monitoring operation system according to claim 1, wherein The operation right transfer control means sets the other client as the highest priority operation client when the other client receives the "operation permission command" issued by the highest priority operation client. The remote monitoring operation system according to claim 3. 5. The remote monitoring operation system according to claim 3, wherein remote control clients are arranged at a plurality of points having a time difference such that daytime is continuous. A plurality of distributed control systems having a controller and a client that is an operation terminal are connected via a network, and a remote operation client is connected to the network, and at least one object is connected by the remote operation client. A remote monitoring and operating method for remotely monitoring and operating,
When sending requests for multiple tasks that the client has to the controller asynchronously, temporarily hold requests from multiple tasks,
A remote monitoring operation method, wherein the temporarily held requests from a plurality of tasks are deduplicated and the consistency of the requests is managed. 7. The remote monitoring operation method according to claim 6, wherein information from a controller in response to the task request from the request transmission queue is held for each of the clients so as to be readable from each task of the client. The multiple objects that are remotely monitored and operated are plants,
Connecting a client of at least one plant site to a plurality of clients located at a different location from the plant site via a network;
Of the client of the plant site and the plurality of clients, the client that performed the final operation is always explicitly specified as the highest priority operation client operable with the highest priority,
7. The remote controller according to claim 6, wherein the client is maintained as a top-priority operation client and operation from another client is disabled until the top-priority operation client issues an "operation permission command" to another client. Monitoring operation method. 9. The remote monitoring operation according to claim 8, wherein when the other client receives the "operation permission command" issued by the highest priority operation client, the other client is set as the highest priority operation client. Method. A plurality of distributed control systems having a controller and a client that is an operation terminal are connected via a network, and a remote operation client is connected to the network, and at least one object is connected by the remote operation client. A remote monitoring operation program for remotely monitoring and operating,
When asynchronously sending requests for a plurality of tasks that the client has to the controller, temporarily holding requests from the plurality of tasks in a request transmission queue,
A step of causing the computer to execute the temporarily held steps of removing duplicate requests from a plurality of tasks and managing the consistency of the requests. 11. The remote monitoring operation according to claim 10, further comprising the step of causing a computer to execute a step of holding information from a controller in response to a task request from the request transmission queue for each of the clients so that the information can be read from each task of the client. program.

Images