JP2008276545A - Process simulation device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a process simulation device for defining an optional input/output relationship in a short time and having versatility to a connected controller. <P>SOLUTION: The process simulation device receiving a manipulated variable from a controller and outputting a controlled variable simulating a response of a process to the controller is provided with a data association means reading the manipulated variable to an input port and writing the controlled variable, obtained by applying a predetermined computation on the manipulated variable, to an output port. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a process simulation apparatus that inputs an operation amount from a controller and outputs a control amount that simulates a process response to the controller.

  Japanese Patent Application Publication No. JP-A-2001-259507 has a technical disclosure about a distributed control system that is generally employed for process control. FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram showing a general configuration of a controller and a process in the process control system.

  The process 1 includes a process input (set from the outside with respect to the process) and a process output (process movement based on the value of the process input). They are called an operation end and a detection end, respectively, and are defined, for example, in the form of “tag + item (eg, FIC001.PV)”.

  The controller 2 outputs a value (= operation amount) to the process input so that the process output value (= control amount) becomes a desired value. Although the number of process inputs and process outputs varies depending on the process, for the sake of simplicity, a process with three inputs and two outputs is illustrated here.

  Operation amounts 21, 22, and 23 are input from the controller 2 to the three operation terminals 11 (IN 1 .MV), 12 (IN 2 .MV), and 13 (IN 3 .MV) of the process 1. The two detection ends 14 (OUT1.PV) and 15 (OUT2.PV) of the process 1 are output to the controller 1 as control amounts 24 and 25, respectively.

  FIG. 6 is a process model showing the relationship between process input and process output. In general, the process model can be expressed by approximating a transfer function of “first order delay + dead time” or “second order delay + dead time” and further a sum thereof.

If F1, F2, and F3 in FIG. 6 are transfer functions, the input / output relationship of the process is expressed by the following arithmetic expression.
OUT1.PV = F1 × IN1.MV
OUT2.PV = F2 x IN2.MV + F3 x IN3.MV.

JP 2004-46475 A

  In actual process control, safety is strongly required. When the designed controller is first applied to an actual process, it is necessary to sufficiently confirm that the controller operates correctly.

  In particular, in multivariable model predictive control packages designed to satisfy the optimum operation and economic operation of the process at the same time, it is necessary to verify that a predetermined control result can be obtained by sufficiently performing tuning before operation. is there.

  When a controller is commissioned, an engineer checks the controllability while observing the actual process behavior at the customer, so it takes a lot of time and money. A test has been performed to confirm.

  For this purpose, a virtual system that operates in the same manner as an actual process is required. A process simulator for virtually realizing the process is also provided, but the creation and operation of the algorithm requires proficiency and programming skills, and requires considerable time. Furthermore, there are problems such as variations in the simulation function depending on the creator, which is not widespread.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object thereof is to realize a process simulation apparatus that can define an arbitrary input / output relationship in a short time and has versatility with respect to a controller to be connected.

In order to achieve such a subject, the present invention has the following configuration.
(1) In a process simulation apparatus that inputs an operation amount from a controller and outputs a control amount that simulates a process response to the controller.
Data linkage means is provided for reading the manipulated variable into an input port and writing a result of executing a predetermined calculation on the input port as a controlled variable into the output port.

(2) The process simulation apparatus according to (1), further comprising editing means for defining a relationship between input and output of the data linkage means.

(3) The process simulation apparatus according to (2), wherein the editing means includes table means for defining a relationship between input and output.

(4) The process simulation apparatus according to (2) or (3), wherein the editing unit includes an output definition unit that describes an arithmetic expression to be written to the output port.

(5) The process simulation apparatus according to any one of (1) to (4), wherein the data linkage unit performs reading and writing through an OPC interface.

According to the present invention, the following effects can be expected.
(1) Since the mechanism for simulating the movement of the process is visually realized, the input / output relation definition work can be executed in a short time without the need for proficiency.

(2) The time required for checking the controllability of the controller to be delivered to the customer can be greatly reduced. In particular, in a multivariable model predictive control package or the like, detailed pre-tuning is possible at the manufacturing site.

(3) By performing reading and writing to the data linkage means via the OPC interface, it is possible to provide versatility to the controller to be connected, so even for processes in which other companies' control systems have been introduced Simulation is possible.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing an embodiment of a process simulation apparatus to which the present invention is applied. The same components as those described in FIGS. 5 and 6 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.

  The process simulation apparatus of the present invention comprises a data linkage unit 100 in which the relationship between input data and output data is defined, and an editing unit 200 that defines the input / output relationship. The data linkage unit 100 includes three input ports 101, 102, 103 and two output ports 104, 105 on the assumption that the data linkage unit 100 is applied to the process illustrated in FIG.

  Operation amounts IN1.MV′IN2.MV ′ and IN3.MV ′ are read into the input ports 101, 102, and 103 from a controller (not shown). In the output ports 104 and 105, control amounts OUT1.PV 'and OUT2.PV', which are the results of calculation with the defined functional relationship, are written.

The definition contents in the data linkage means 100 are expressed by the following arithmetic expressions when F1, F2, and F3 are defined by transfer functions.
OUT1.PV '= F1 × IN1.MV'
OUT2.PV '= F2 × IN2.MV' + F3 × IN3.MV '

  This input / output relationship is the same as the process shown in FIG. 6, and by using this data linkage means 100, the movement of the process of FIG. 6 can be virtually realized.

The editing unit 200 includes an input / output information table 201 and an output definition unit 202.
FIG. 2 is a display screen of the input / output information table 201. The operator can grasp the input / output relationship in a list by browsing the display screen.

  FIG. 3 is a definition screen of the output definition means 202. 3A is a screen for defining an output by abstractly expressing an arithmetic expression with a function F, and FIG. 3B is a screen for defining an output by displaying the arithmetic expression as a transfer function. The operator selects an output port from the drop-down list box at the top of the screen, and describes an arithmetic expression for the output.

  FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram when the data linkage means 100 is connected to the controller 2 to execute a simulation. The controller 2 controls a virtual process realized by the data linkage unit 100 as a pre-stage for controlling the actual process 1.

  The operation ends 21, 22 and 23 and the detection ends 24 and 25 of the controller 2 are disconnected from the actual process 1 and connected to the input ports 101, 102, 103 and the output ports 104, 105 of the data linkage unit 100. .

  In this connection state, the control operation is confirmed for the virtual process, and after confirming the correct operation, it is applied to the actual process. Since the operation end and the detection end of the controller are separated from the actual process, even when the controllability of the prototype controller is not good, the controllability can be safely confirmed and redesigned.

  In addition, if the data link means reading and writing processes are executed via the PCS (Process Control System) industry standard OPC (OLE for Process Control) interface, the connection to the controller can be versatile. The simulation apparatus of the present invention can be applied to a process in which a control system of another company is introduced.

It is a functional block diagram which shows one Embodiment of the process simulation apparatus to which this invention is applied. It is a display screen of an input / output information table. It is a definition screen of an output definition means. It is a functional block diagram in the case of performing a simulation by connecting a data cooperation means to a controller. It is a functional block diagram which shows the general structure of the controller and process in a process control system. It is a process model showing the relationship between process input and output.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Data cooperation means 101,102,103 Input port 104,105 Output port 200 Editing means 201 Input / output information table 202 Output definition means

Claims (5)

In a process simulation apparatus that inputs an operation amount from a controller and outputs a control amount that simulates a process response to the controller.
A process simulation apparatus comprising: a data linkage unit that reads the operation amount into an input port and writes a result of executing a predetermined operation on the input port as a control amount to the output port.   The process simulation apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an editing unit that defines a relationship between an input and an output of the data linkage unit.   The process simulation apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the editing unit includes a table unit that defines a relationship between input and output.   4. The process simulation apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the editing unit includes an output definition unit that describes an arithmetic expression to be written to the output port.   The process simulation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the data linkage unit performs reading and writing through an OPC interface.

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