JP4910710B2 - Program creation device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a program creation apparatus for creating, editing, debugging, and the like of an application program used in an integrated system in which a distributed control system and a safety instrumented system are integrated.

  In recent years, plants are being scaled up and integrated in order to improve production capacity and production efficiency. Such a plant is generally operated highly automatically using a distributed control system (DCS). In addition, safety instrumentation systems have been developed for the purpose of protecting people, the environment, and equipment from unexpected accidents and troubles in such plants. In recent years, the safety instrumented system and the distributed control system are often integrated.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a conventional integrated system. As shown in FIG. 3, the conventional integrated system 100 includes a distributed control system 110 and a safety instrumented system 120 connected by a communication bus B100. The distributed control system 110 includes a DCS control station 111 that controls the distributed control system 110, a DCS operation monitoring terminal 112, and a DCS engineering station 113 that creates application programs to be executed by these terminals. The DCS control station 111, the DCS operation monitoring terminal 112, and the DCS engineering station 113 are connected to the communication bus B100.

  The safety instrumentation system 120 includes a safety control station 121 that executes safety control, and a safety engineering station 122 that creates an application program to be executed by the safety control station 121. The safety control station 121 and the safety engineering station 122 are also connected to the communication bus B100.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the main configuration of the safety control station 121 and the safety engineering station 122. As shown in FIG. 4, the safety control station 121 includes a logic solver unit 131, a field signal input / output unit 132, a communication unit 133, and an integrated function unit 134. The logic solver unit 131 executes safety control logic for realizing safety control. The field signal input / output unit 132 inputs / outputs signals output from various devices (field devices) that are controlled objects provided in the plant and various signals (field signals) to be given to the field devices. The communication unit 133 communicates with the safety engineering station 122, and the integration function unit 134 provides a function for integrating the safety instrumentation system 120 and the distributed control system 110.

The safety engineering workstation 122 includes an application creation unit 141, a simulator 142, a simulated field signal input / output unit 143, and a communication unit 144. The application creation unit 141 provides a user with a function for creating an application program to be executed by the safety control station 121. The simulator 142 executes the application program created by the application creation unit 141. The simulated field input / output unit 143 allows the simulator 142 to input / output field signals in a simulated manner. The communication unit 144 performs communication with the safety control station 121.

  In the above configuration, when creating an application program to be executed by the safety control station 121 by the user, the safety engineering station 122 is operated to create the application program. The user performs debugging by causing the created application program to be executed using the simulator 142 provided in the safety engineering workstation 122 before being transferred to the safety control station 121 via the communication bus B100. Then, after confirming that the designed operation is performed, the application program is transferred to the safety control station 121 via the communication bus B100 and is executed by the logic solver unit 131.

The following Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for adjusting process model parameters using a process model in order to perform optimum operation or the like in various manufacturing processes.
JP 2005-78545 A

  Incidentally, as described with reference to FIG. 4, the safety engineering station 122 includes a communication unit 144 that communicates with the safety control station 121. For this reason, the application program created by the safety engineering station 122 using the application creation unit 141 can be transferred to the safety control station 121 via the communication bus B100.

  However, the safety engineering station 122 does not have a configuration corresponding to the integrated function unit 134 provided in the safety control station 121. For this reason, it is not possible to receive an operation from the DCS operation monitoring terminal 112 provided in the distributed control system 110 or to debug an application program that is operated by data setting from the DCS control station 111.

  In order to debug such an application program, the same hardware as that in the field where the integrated system 100 is installed is prepared, and a device that generates a pseudo process signal is connected to the input / output unit. Is actually executed by the safety control station 121, and it is necessary to debug the application program by confirming the operation state while actually communicating with the distributed control system 110. For this reason, conventionally, there has been a problem that it takes a lot of time for debugging and is extremely inefficient.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and a program creation apparatus capable of efficiently debugging a program such as an application program used in an integrated system in which a distributed control system and a safety instrumented system are integrated The purpose is to provide.

In order to solve the above problems, a program creation device of the present invention is a program creation device (10) for creating a program used in an integrated system in which a distributed control system and a safety instrumentation system are integrated, The safety instrumentation capable of communicating with the first simulator (11, 12, 13) for virtually realizing the control system and the first simulator via a virtual communication bus and performing safety control based on the program A second simulator (14) that virtually implements the system; an application creation unit (15) that executes at least one of creation, editing, and debugging of the program based on a user operation; and the virtual communication bus The program created by the application creation unit can be communicated with the second simulator via It is characterized in that it comprises a communication unit for transferring a serial second simulator and (16).
According to the present invention, the distributed control system is virtually realized, and the safety instrumented system connected to the virtual distributed control system via the virtual communication bus and performing safety control based on the program is the second. Virtually realized with a simulator .
In the program creation device of the present invention, the first simulator performs virtual operation of the control station that controls the operation of the distributed control system (11), and operates and monitors the distributed control system. It is characterized by comprising at least one of a virtual operation monitoring terminal (12) that virtually realizes the operation monitoring terminal to be performed.

  According to the present invention, there is provided a safety instrumentation system in which a distributed control system is virtually realized and connected to the above virtual distributed control system via a virtual communication bus and performs safety control based on a program. Since it is virtually realized by two simulators, operation confirmation (debugging) of programs used in an integrated system without hardware such as an actual distributed control system, an actual safety control station, and a communication bus that actually connects them It can be performed. As a result, debugging can be performed without being restricted by the installation location of the hardware, so that debugging can be performed efficiently and inexpensively, and the development cost of the program can be reduced.

  Hereinafter, a program creation device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a program creation device according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the program creation device 10 of this embodiment includes a DCS control station simulator 11 (virtual control device), a virtual DCS operation monitoring terminal 12 (virtual operation monitoring terminal), a DCS engineering unit 13, and a safety control station simulator 14. (2nd simulator), the application creation part 15, and the communication part 16 are provided. These are connected to a virtual communication bus B which is a virtual communication bus realized by software.

  The DCS control station simulator 11, the virtual DCS operation monitoring terminal 12, and the DCS engineering unit 13 virtually implement the distributed control system 110 shown in FIG. 3 (first simulator). Specifically, the DCS control station simulator 11 is a virtual control device that virtually realizes a DCS control station 111 (see FIG. 3) that controls the operation of the distributed control system 110. The virtual DCS operation monitoring terminal 12 is a virtual operation terminal that is virtually realized by the DCS operation monitoring terminal 112 (see FIG. 3) that performs the operation and monitoring of the distributed control system 110. Further, the DCS engineering unit 13 is for creating an application program to be executed by the DCS control station simulator 11 and the virtual DCS operation monitoring terminal 12, and virtually implements the DCS engineering station 11 of FIG. .

  The safety control station simulator 14 virtually implements the safety control station 121 shown in FIG. The safety control station simulator 14 executes a safety control simulation based on the application program created by the application creation unit 15. The safety control station simulator 14 can communicate with a virtual distributed control system including the DCS control station simulator 11, the virtual DCS operation monitoring terminal 12, and the DCS engineering unit 13 via the virtual bus B. .

  The safety control station simulator 14 includes a logic solver unit 21, a simulated field signal input / output unit 22, a communication unit 23, and an integrated function unit 24. These are for virtually realizing the logic solver unit 131, the field signal input / output unit 132, the communication unit 133, and the integrated function unit 134 provided in the safety control station 121 shown in FIG.

  That is, the logic solver unit 21 executes safety control logic for realizing safety control based on the application program created by the application creation unit 15. The simulated field signal input / output unit 22 simulates input / output of signals output from various devices (field devices) to be controlled provided in the plant and various signals (field signals) given to the field devices. Is what you do.

  The communication unit 23 performs virtual communication with the communication unit 16 via the virtual communication bus B. Further, the integrated function unit 24 enables communication via the virtual communication bus B with the virtual distributed control system including the DCS control station simulator 11, the virtual DCS operation monitoring terminal 12, and the DCS engineering unit 13. Is.

  The application creation unit 15 creates an application program to be executed by the safety control station simulator 14 based on a user operation. Further, not only the creation of an application program but also the editing or debugging of the application program is performed according to a user instruction. The communication unit 16 can communicate with the safety control station simulator 14 via the virtual communication bus B. For example, the communication unit 16 transfers the application program created by the application creation unit 15 to the safety control station simulator 14.

  The program creation device 10 having the above configuration is realized by executing a program that realizes the function of each block described above, for example, on a personal computer (PC). Alternatively, it can also be realized by inserting an expansion board realized by hardware that realizes the function of each block described above into the PC. However, since the configuration of the safety control station simulator 14 that virtually implements the distributed control system and the safety control station 121 shown in FIG. 3 can be changed, it is desirable to realize each of the blocks by software. Although not shown in FIG. 1, the program creation device 10 includes a keyboard for inputting user instructions, an input device such as a mouse, and a display device such as a liquid crystal display device.

  Next, the operation of the program creation device 10 having the above configuration will be described. An application program to be executed by the safety control station simulator 14 is created by the user using the program creation device 10. That is, when the user operates an input device (not shown) provided in the program creation device 10 with the power of the program creation device 10 turned on, the application creation unit 15 creates an application program based on the user's operation. To do.

  When the creation of the application program is completed and the user gives an instruction to transfer the application program, the communication unit 16 communicates with the communication unit 23 of the safety control station simulator 14 via the virtual communication bus B. The application program created by the program 15 is transferred to the safety control station simulator 14.

  Next, when the user instructs the program creation device 10 to execute the application program, the logic solver unit 21 of the safety control station simulator 14 executes the transferred application program. Here, the actual safety control station (safety control station 121 shown in FIG. 3) controls the on / off state of the field device only when a password is input at the DCS operation monitoring terminal 112 of the distributed control system 110. Function (password function block function). Hereinafter, the operation of the program creation device 10 will be described by taking safety control using this function as an example.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the password function block function. In FIG. 2, “KEY_INPUT” is an on / off input signal from the field, and “RAMP_OUTPUT” is a control signal for controlling on / off of a lamp arranged in the field. Further, “PASSWORD” in FIG. 2 is a password input by the user operating the DCS operation monitoring terminal 112 (see FIG. 3). FIG. 2 shows that when a password is input and an on / off input signal is input, a control signal for controlling on / off of the lamp is output.

  Here, in the integrated system 100 having the configuration shown in FIG. 4, if the user inputs a password by operating the DCS operation monitoring terminal 112 shown in FIG. 3, and there is an on / off input signal from the field. think of. The input password is input to the safety control station 121 via the communication bus B100, but is not input to the safety engineering station 122. This is because the safety engineering station 122 does not have a configuration corresponding to the integrated function unit 134 provided in the safety control station 121. Therefore, in the integrated system 100 having the configuration shown in FIG. 4, the password function block function test (debugging) of the application program executed by the simulator 142 of the safety engineering station 122 cannot be performed.

  On the other hand, in the program creation device 10 of this embodiment shown in FIG. 1, virtual communication with a virtual distributed control system including a DCS control station simulator 11, a virtual DCS operation monitoring terminal 12, and a DCS engineering unit 13. An integrated function unit 24 that enables communication via the bus B is provided in the safety control station simulator 14. Moreover, the safety control station simulator 14 executes an application program created by the application creation unit 15.

  Therefore, if a password is input from the virtual DCS operation monitoring terminal 12 corresponding to the DCS operation monitoring terminal 112 shown in FIG. 3 and there is an on / off input signal from the field, the password is transmitted via the virtual communication bus B. To the safety control station simulator 14. As a result, a control signal for controlling on / off of the lamp shown in FIG. 2 is output from the safety control station simulator 14, and thus, in any case where the password is not input or is input. Can also be tested. As a result, debugging is possible in any case.

  The program creation apparatus according to the present embodiment described above includes a virtual distributed control system including the DCS control station simulator 11, the virtual DCS operation monitoring terminal 12, and the DCS engineering unit 13, and a virtual communication bus B. Since it has a safety control station simulator 14 capable of communicating with the distributed control system and performing safety control based on the created application program, the actual distributed control system, the actual safety control station, and these are actually Even if there is no hardware such as a communication bus connected to the system, it is possible to confirm (debug) the operation of the application program used in the integrated system. As a result, debugging can be performed without being restricted by the installation location of the hardware, so that debugging can be performed efficiently and inexpensively, and the development cost of the application program can be reduced.

  The program creation device according to the embodiment of the present invention has been described above, but the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be freely changed within the scope of the present invention. For example, in the above embodiment, the case where an application is mainly created has been described as an example. However, the present invention can also be used when editing and debugging an already created application.

  In the above-described embodiment, the case where creation, editing, and debugging of an application program executed in the safety control station is described as an example. The safety control station simulator 14 described above is created by diverting the actual basic software source code of the safety control station. Therefore, the basic software of the safety control station itself can be operated on the safety control station simulator 14, and the operation can be confirmed and debugged. Thereby, the basic software of the safety control station can be corrected efficiently and easily.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the program creation apparatus by one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure explaining a password function block function. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the conventional integrated system. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of a safety control station 121 and a safety engineering station 122.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Program creation apparatus 11 DCS control station simulator 12 Virtual DCS operation monitoring terminal 13 DCS engineering part 14 Safety control station simulator 15 Application creation part 16 Communication part

Claims (2)

A program creation device for creating a program used in an integrated system in which a distributed control system and a safety instrumented system are integrated,
A first simulator for virtually realizing the distributed control system;
A second simulator capable of communicating with the first simulator via a virtual communication bus and virtually realizing the safety instrumented system for performing safety control based on the program ;
An application creation unit that executes at least one of creation, editing, and debugging of the program based on a user operation;
A program creation apparatus comprising: a communication unit capable of communicating with the second simulator via the virtual communication bus and transferring the program created by the application creation unit to the second simulator . The first simulator includes a virtual control device that virtually realizes a control station that controls the operation of the distributed control system;
  A virtual operation monitoring terminal that virtually realizes an operation monitoring terminal that performs operation and monitoring of the distributed control system;
  The program creation device according to claim 1, comprising at least one of the following.

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