JP2007272383A - Process control system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To efficiently perform plant operation by preventing double operation instructions, and enabling a center to take countermeasures to the abnormality of a remote terminal. <P>SOLUTION: This process control system is provided with a terminal state control table for managing the information of each terminal, and is configured to prevent double operation instructions by performing picture exclusive control and message display, and allows a computer main body to turn on/off the power source and picture task of each terminal. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a process control system that involves screen switching of each terminal when performing operation control or monitoring for each facility in a large-scale plant, for example.

In Patent Document 1, for example, in a process control system that performs operation control or monitoring for each facility in a large-scale plant, a touch panel on a CRT screen is provided, and the screen development is made into a hierarchical structure by adopting a hierarchical structure. It describes that the screen can be freely expanded so as to be able to quickly respond to the ever-changing plant situation.
As described above, the terminals used in the plant usually have the same screen type and hierarchical structure, and are normally switched and used.

However, some operation instructions for equipment in the plant may be completed by a series of operations on multiple related screens. During this series of operations, a screen related to the same operation instruction is displayed from another terminal. When different operation instructions are given, there is a possibility that an operation abnormality may occur due to contradiction of operation instructions or a double operation instruction.
To avoid this danger, if a screen task is equipped with a screen exclusion function, the terminal status control table information of that terminal is fixed if something abnormal occurs in the terminal that previously displayed the screen with the screen exclusion function. After that, it becomes impossible to give an operation instruction on a screen having a screen exclusive function from any terminal.

  In addition, when a screen displayed on one terminal is displayed on another terminal and data correction is performed, the screen task checks whether the data displayed on the terminal is the latest when the data is corrected. Since it has a function, the data itself does not become a problem. However, if the operator who selects the same screen is not alerted afterwards, there is a possibility that an operator's misunderstanding or mistake will occur due to double update of data.

Depending on the plant equipment, there is also a terminal installed at a location far from the central computer body. Up to now, it has been necessary to check the operation status of the remote terminal or to go to the site when an abnormality occurs in the remote terminal and it is necessary to take action.
Also, when the terminal requests the latest information from the plant sensor, if the clock of the terminal is advanced, there is no data at the time specified by the terminal, and a data specification error occurs. .
JP-A-6-236169

  The present invention solves the above-mentioned problems in the conventional process control system, prevents double operation instructions, enables information correction, can deal with a remote terminal from the center, and The purpose is to realize a process control system that eliminates operational errors and specification errors by unifying the time with each terminal.

  The present invention provides a process control system for controlling operation of plant equipment, including a computer main body and a terminal installed for each plant equipment, and the computer main body and each terminal are connected via a network. The computer main body has a terminal state control table for managing the state of each terminal, a screen task common to each terminal, and a database for storing information on each facility of the plant, and whether each terminal is normal or abnormal A function for confirming whether or not a power supply is turned on and off, and a time correction function. Each terminal has its own identification information, and when the power is turned on, the screen task is downloaded from the computer main body and the screen task is downloaded. The screen task includes a function for writing the status of each terminal in the terminal status control table, and the terminal A terminal state control screen that displays and controls the contents of the terminal state control table, and has a function of performing screen exclusive control or message display based on relevant information with reference to the state control table. It is a process control system characterized by having a screen control function capable of turning on and off the power of each terminal and turning on and off the screen task, preferably, the computer main body has a periodic time correction function, The process control system according to claim 1, wherein the time of each terminal is corrected from the terminal status control screen.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent double operation instructions, to correct information for abnormalities in the terminal, to deal with remote terminals from the center, and to the computer main body and each terminal. The operation time and specification error are suppressed by unifying the time with the machine, etc., and there is an excellent effect that the plant operation becomes efficient.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a process control system according to an embodiment. Reference numeral 1 denotes a computer main body (server) that controls a large-scale plant, and reference numerals 2a to 2e denote terminals arranged for each facility A to E in the plant. . The computer main body 1 and the terminals 2a to 2e are connected by a network. In FIG. 1 (the same applies to FIG. 2), a solid line indicates a wiring cable, and a broken line indicates a flow of information.

  The computer main body 1 has a terminal state control table for controlling the states of the terminals 2a to 2e. An example of the configuration of the terminal state control table is shown in Table 1, and an example of the terminal state control table itself is shown in Table 2.

The computer main body 1 has a screen task common to each terminal, and has a database for storing plant information.
On the other hand, each terminal has unique identification information, and when the power is turned on, as shown in FIG. 1, a screen task common to each terminal is downloaded from the computer main body and the screen task is activated. The screen task downloaded to each terminal is the same program, and there is no need to manage the program for each screen.

The screen task has a function of writing the status of each terminal in the terminal status control table and a function of referring to the terminal status control table and performing screen exclusive control or message display based on relevant information. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 2, the downloaded screen task acquires the screen state of the own terminal and writes the information in the terminal state control table of the computer main body.
Each terminal refers to the terminal state control table of the computer main body as shown in Table 2 when switching the screen, and checks whether another terminal has already selected the same screen. If another terminal has already selected the same screen, screen exclusive control or message display is performed according to the type of the screen.

  For example, in the terminal of “BF01”, when switching the screen to the screen number 7 having the operation instruction, in the terminal state control table shown in Table 2, the terminal of “BF02” has already selected the screen number 7 Yes. A screen example of screen number 7 is shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, a message “in use at terminal 02” is displayed on the terminal “BF01” together with the screen of screen number 7, and the execution button is deleted to give an operation instruction. This is not possible, and the screen is merely for monitoring. Even if a screen other than the screen number 7 is selected, if the screen is related to the operation instruction of the screen number 7, the same screen is displayed. In addition, if there is a screen number that is subject to screen exclusive control among the screen numbers managed by the terminal status control table, the computer main unit displays the operating status of the terminal at a fixed cycle for the terminal that displays the exclusive control screen. Check. If an abnormality is confirmed, the screen number in the terminal status control table is forcibly cleared. By doing so, an exclusive control screen from another terminal can be selected, and a situation in which an operation instruction cannot be issued can be avoided.

  In addition, when the terminal with the name “BF05” tries to switch the screen to the screen number 28 having data correction, the terminal with the name “BF06” has already selected this screen number in the terminal state control table of Table 2. is doing. Therefore, the screen task displays the message “Selected at terminal 08” as shown in FIG. 6 for the terminal “BF05” which later tried to select screen number 28, and pay attention to the operator. Prompt. As a result, of course, the operator will take action such as correcting the immediate data, updating the screen before correcting the data, or confirming the situation with the operator whose name is “BF06”.

  The computer main body has a function for confirming whether each terminal is normal or abnormal, and a function for turning on / off the power. The screen task has a terminal state control screen for displaying and controlling the contents of the terminal state control table. Furthermore, it has a screen control function capable of requesting the computer main body to perform screen control such as power on / off of each terminal, screen task on / off, and time correction from the corresponding terminal state control screen.

  When an abnormality occurs in a certain terminal, the maintenance supporter displays a terminal state control screen prepared in the nearest terminal and collects the latest operation information for the terminal in which the abnormality has occurred. An example of the terminal state control screen is shown in FIG. Based on the results of information collection, you can ask the computer to turn on and off the power and screen tasks, and restart the computer to isolate the cause of the abnormality and the cause of the abnormality.

  Further, the computer main body has a periodic time correction function. A time correction instruction including the time held by the self-machine is given to each terminal at a constant period, and the time is set to the same time as the computer main body. It is also possible to correct the time for each terminal from the terminal status control screen.

1 is an overall configuration diagram of a process control system in an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a process control system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of a screen in this invention Example. It is explanatory drawing which similarly shows the example of a screen in this invention Example. It is explanatory drawing which similarly shows the example of a screen in this invention Example. It is explanatory drawing which similarly shows the example of a screen in this invention Example. It is explanatory drawing which similarly shows the example of a screen in this invention Example.

Explanation of symbols

1 Computer body 2a-2e Terminal

Claims (2)

In a process control system that controls the operation of plant equipment,
It has a computer main unit and a terminal installed for each plant facility, and these computer main unit and each terminal are connected by a network,
The computer main body has a terminal state control table for managing the state of each terminal, a screen task common to each terminal, and a database for storing information on each facility of the plant,
It has a function to check whether each terminal is normal or abnormal, a function to turn on / off the power, and a time adjustment function.
Each terminal has unique identification information, and has a function of starting the screen task by downloading the screen task from the computer main body when the power is turned on,
The screen task has a function of writing the status of each terminal in the terminal status control table, a function of performing screen exclusive control or message display based on relevant information with reference to the terminal status control table, and It has a terminal state control screen that displays and controls the contents of the terminal state control table, and has a screen control function that can turn on / off power of each terminal and turn on / off screen tasks from the corresponding screen. Process control system.   The process control system according to claim 1, wherein the computer main body includes a periodic time correction function, and corrects the time of each terminal from the terminal state control screen.

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