JPH04291896A - Industrial plant data distributor - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To construct the distributed supervisory/control system of an industrial plant while securing reliability, real-time ability and the degree of freedom for configuration. CONSTITUTION:The latest data inputted to a plant process data input means 2 are stored in an entire process data storage area 3, and an industrial plant data distribution computer 5 distributes only the requested data among these process data by a plant process data distributing means 4. Then, a data item is requested to the process data distributing means 4, the latest data among the process data a requested by a request process data input means 6 to receive the corresponding data is stored in a requested process data storage area 7, and plural industrial plant data use computers 8 supply the process data to applications 11. Then, this industrial plant data distribution computer 5 and these industrial plant data use computers 8 are linked each other by a local area network 9.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

[Industrial Application Field] The present invention is a system for monitoring and controlling the production process of an industrial plant, in which the process data of the entire industrial plant is distributed to other monitoring and control means that utilizes the process data in real time. This invention relates to an industrial plant data distribution device used to

0002

[Prior Art] Conventionally, special communication technology has generally been used in terms of reliability and speed to supply process data in real time to computer technology that monitors and controls the entire production process of industrial plants. (For example, Masao Okabe: High-speed information system for thermal power plants, Toshiba Review, 1990, V
OL. 15, NO. 7, p. 586-590).

[0003] Monitoring and control of entire industrial plants using computers is becoming faster and faster, and in particular, computers are increasingly being applied to plant diagnosis and plant operation support, especially within monitoring and control.

[0004] Here, in a device that specializes in managing and controlling a certain system of processes, the number of input data is limited because it is sufficient to exclusively use only that process data. However, recently, many computer processes have been developed that monitor and control the entire plant, and much of the monitoring and control is now performed using process data of the entire plant system. Distributed processing using multiple computers is being applied, and there is an increasing demand for distributing process data in real time throughout the processes that utilize this plant data. There are thousands of pieces of process data for the entire plant, and highly sophisticated technology is required to reliably distribute all this data to multiple processes in real time.

That is, if the same data is simply to be distributed to a plurality of computers, it is sufficient to allow each receiving computer to simultaneously receive the data sent by the transmitting side. However, in order to ensure reliability, a communication protocol is required, and protocol specifications that ensure the reliable reception of received data require one-on-one communication between the sender and receiver. It is necessary to send data for the number of receiving computers.

On the other hand, means for high-speed, large-capacity data communication greatly impairs the flexibility of the hardware. In other words, large-capacity communication requires physically close hardware or huge equipment, which greatly impairs the freedom of hardware placement and makes it difficult to add or expand monitoring and control functions for the entire industrial plant. It becomes a hindrance.

Therefore, it is generally quite difficult to satisfy both the requirements of distributed processing and the requirements of distribution of plant process data.

[0008] In a distributed processing environment, fixing in advance which applications run on which computers will greatly impair the advantages of distributed processing. Building any application to work anywhere is
This is essential for enabling mutual backup and implementing optimal load distribution. However, in order to build any application to work anywhere, a plant's process data must be distributed almost entirely across all hardware.

[0009] Furthermore, as a means of distributing data using a local area network, it is widely used commercially to use a network with established international and domestic regulations and a communication protocol. It is advantageous in that it allows the use of existing hardware and software, significantly increases development efficiency, and is inexpensive. However, for the purpose of distributing process data throughout an industrial plant, the communication speed and capacity are significantly insufficient, making it impractical.

[0010] For example, data communication is possible at 10 Mbit/sec with Ethernet and 16 Mbit/sec with token ring, and if this transfer capacity is used to its fullest, the data length is 32 bits per point. data of 3
This is the principle that allows you to send 0,000 to 500,000 points. However, due to communication protocols and synchronization between machines, it is not possible to communicate according to this principle, and each machine can only receive about 10,000 points of data at most. Moreover, if this is done, the computer will be devoted to waiting for reception, and other important processing will be greatly hindered.

[0011] Therefore, it is generally impossible to transfer data of several thousand points with a period of several hundred milliseconds using such general-purpose network specifications, and a means of distributing data using a special protocol using a medium such as light is required. I will have no choice but to take it. However, although current technology has been developed for high-speed medium-distance data transfer from several hundred megabytes to several gigabytes, this cutting-edge technology is becoming more generalized and has become an international technical standard. It remains to be determined in the future.

[0012]Currently, given the widespread use of local area networks, the widespread availability of sufficient applications, and the resulting reduction in hardware and software costs, there is a growing need for new standards among users. By then, there will be a demand for the distribution of even more data points in the network distribution of industrial plant data.

The development of flexible data distribution means is of paramount importance due to the nature of the problem, both from a software and hardware standpoint.

[0014]

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] Considering the distributed processing efficiency of the entire system and its development efficiency, it is necessary to develop an industrial plant monitoring and control system for distributing plant process data in real time in an industrial plant monitoring and control system. It is disadvantageous to use specialized communication means for control. However, the current situation is that it has become inevitable to specialize communication means, sacrificing freedom and flexibility in system construction.

[0015] This provides a flexible configuration for the distribution of industrial plant data, both in terms of software and hardware, and provides a reliable, real-time, dynamic distribution of process data using a general-purpose local area network. This is because it is difficult to adopt a communication protocol that complies with international and domestic standards.

In other words, the requirements for communication reliability and high speed and large capacity conflict with the freedom and flexibility of system construction.

[0017] If a local area network, which is commonly used in the fields of business and engineering, is used, commonly standardized and widespread communication protocols and distributed processing means can be used, and software This also increases the degree of freedom in the hardware configuration.

In view of the above, an object of the present invention is to provide an industrial plant data distribution device for constructing a distributed monitoring and control system for industrial plants while ensuring reliability, real-time performance, and freedom of configuration. shall be.

[0019]

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above object, the industrial plant dispersion device according to the present invention stores the latest data of all the plant data inputted to the plant process data input means in the entire process data storage area. An industrial plant data distribution computer configured to store only the requested process data from among these process data and distribute it to the plant process data distribution means, and to request data items from the plant process data distribution means and respond accordingly. a plurality of industrial plant data utilization computers configured to store the latest of the process data requested by the requested data data input means for receiving data in a requested process data storage area and supply the process data to the application; , the industrial plant data distribution computer and a plurality of industrial plant data utilization computers are interconnected through a local area network.

[0020]

[Operation] Applications constituting a monitoring and control system for an industrial plant require process data covering the entire plant, but only a portion of the process data is required temporarily. According to the present invention configured as described above, it is possible to dynamically distribute and supply specific process data to these applications at specific times using a local area network.

[0021]

Embodiments Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a flowchart of the plant process data distribution means shown in FIG.

That is, the industrial plant data distribution device 1 of this embodiment has a plant process data input means 2, a total process data storage area 3, and a plant process data distribution means 4, and is used for dynamically distributing process data. industrial plant data distribution calculation 5; and a plurality of industrial plant data utilization computers 8 having request data input means 6 and request process data storage area 7 to enable dynamic data distribution; The plant data distribution computer 5 and the plurality of industrial plant data utilization computers 8 are interconnected by a local area network 9 that complies with international and domestic standards.

The plant process data input means 1 is connected to a communication means 10 for importing process data, and is connected to each requested plant data storage area 7.
The plant data stored in
The information is supplied to the application 11 that constitutes the control system.

[0025] With this configuration, a monitoring and control system for an industrial plant can be constructed using a local area network 9 of medium capacity and speed that complies with domestic and international standards, and reliability throughout the plant can be improved. Certain process data can be distributed dynamically, periodically, and in real time to a group of applications 11 that require it.

[0026] As the local area network 9, a network commonly used for commercial purposes can be used, thereby allowing for more flexible configuration regarding the physical spatial arrangement of equipment and wiring that constitute the monitoring and control system. This is because it becomes possible.

Furthermore, since the present distribution device 1 is configured to dynamically distribute plant process data, the combination of hardware and application 11 can be specified in advance without specifying the hardware on which the application 11 operates. It is possible to dynamically arrange the application 11 without having to do so, and thereby it is possible to easily optimize load distribution and improve reliability by making the application 11 redundant.

In this way, by increasing the degree of freedom in hardware and making it possible to use standards such as communication protocols, commercial general software in monitoring and control systems, such as window environments and databases, can be used. It is possible to improve the efficiency of monitoring and control system development by using such methods.

Next, the operation of the above embodiment will be explained.

When the plant process data input means 2 periodically takes in the constantly changing process data of the plant through some kind of communication means 10, the industrial plant data distribution computer 5 receives the latest process data out of all the process data taken in. is stored in the entire process data storage area 3.

On the other hand, the plant process data distribution means 4
Process data requests from the request data input means 6 of each industrial plant data utilization computer 8 via the local area network 9 are stored in . This process data request is a string of requests for adding or deleting process data distribution items, and has a request identifier for identifying the request.

The plant process data distribution means 4 sends the latest process data item requested by the request data input means 6 of the corresponding industrial plant data utilization computer 8 out of the process data to the request data input means 6 with a request identifier. It is distributed periodically with .

The request data input means 6 receives a process data request from an application 11 constituting a plant monitoring/control system of an industrial plant, and transmits the process data required to the plant process data distribution means 4 via the local area network 9. Request the addition or deletion of a data item, periodically receive the corresponding data along with an identifier, determine whether the data sent by this identifier is in accordance with the current data item requested by the user, and receive the data. The requested data is stored in the requested process data storage area 7.

Necessary process data is then supplied to each application 11 from this requested process data storage area 7.

A flow chart of the plant process data distribution means 4 is shown in FIG.

That is, a data addition or deletion request is accepted in response to a data input interruption from the request data input means 6 of the industrial plant data utilization computer 8 or a start command by checking for the presence or absence of input. Then, the data storage record corresponding to the requested industrial plant data utilization computer 8 is updated, and the request identifier is also updated.

On the other hand, starting with a timer interrupt or clock check, the plant data corresponding to the data request storage is edited, and the request identifier and plant data are transmitted to each corresponding industrial plant data utilization computer 8.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the second embodiment.

In this second embodiment, the communication means 1
A GP-IP bus is used as the GP-IP bus as the GP-IP bus, and the process signal converted into a digital signal by another microprocessor 12 is sent to the plant process data input means 2 via the communication means (GP-IP bus) 10. It is input via the device driver 13. On the other hand, a local area network 9 connects the industrial plant data distribution computer 5 and the plurality of industrial plant data utilization computers 8 to each other.
As such, Ethernet with TCP/IP as the data transfer protocol is used.

Furthermore, UNIX system V is used as the operating system of the industrial plant data distribution computer 5 and the plurality of industrial plant data utilization computers 8, and the entire process data storage area 3 and the requested process data storage area 7 are run using UNIX. System V shared memory is used.

The industrial plant data distribution computer 5 has a plant data table 14, which contains plant data items input by the plant process data input means 2 and stored in the total process data storage area 3. A list of names is stored in a file format. The request data input means 6 is provided in each of the three industrial plant data utilization computers 8, and the industrial plant data distribution computer 5 is provided with the plant process data distribution means 4 and the local area network. (Ethernet) 9, a network demon 15 is provided.

The operation of this second embodiment will be explained.

The plant data process input means 2 includes G
For example, 25
Plant process data is input from the signal input microprocessor 12 at a period of 0 milliseconds, and the input data is written into the entire process data storage area 3.

The plant process data distribution means 4 comprises 3
Process data requests are received by input interrupts from two request data input means 6, and a table of each request data is stored. Then, as soon as a data request is received for each request data input means 6, the request number is updated as a request identifier, the plant data item in the plant data table 14 is referred to, and a timer interrupt with a period of 250 milliseconds is sent. A column of requested plant data is created from the contents of the entire process data storage area 3 at that time by referring to the request data table and the plant data table 14, and each request data is assigned a request number. It is transmitted to the input means 6.

Each request data input means 6 inputs and receives plant process data from the application 11 in the industrial plant data utilization computer 8 in response to an input interrupt.
Accept deletion requests. Accepted data requests are
A tag is attached to identify how many applications 11 require the same plant data item, and the data is stored as a request data table. Then, it identifies newly added data items and data items that are no longer available in the application 11 that uses them due to deletion, and sends them to the plant process data distribution means 4 as a data request for addition/deletion.

The request data input means 6 also receives plant data transmitted from the plant process data distribution means 4 by input interrupt. If the request number of the received data matches that requested by the latest request data input means 6, the data is stored in the request process data storage area 7 according to the request data table, and the stored data is applied to the application. 11.

According to the second embodiment, by using a general-purpose and widely used operating system, it can be sold commercially for communication device drivers, communication protocols, data sharing between processes in a computer, etc. You can use the software provided. Additionally, since commercial software is available, computers are not limited to specific models.

A block diagram of the third embodiment is shown in FIG.

In this third embodiment, the process data input of the plant process data input means of the second embodiment is replaced with one using the TCP/IP protocol via another Ethernet. The function of the request data input means of another industrial plant data distribution device is added to the data input means, and the plant process data distribution means is positioned as an application for the other industrial plant data distribution device. . This makes it possible to distribute plant data in two levels.

The configuration of this third embodiment is such that the applications of the monitoring and control system are grouped, and by doing so, it is possible to balance the specialization and generalization of hardware and software. By making it possible to design with this in mind, even higher efficiency can be expected.

[0051]

[Effects of the Invention] Since the present invention has the above structure,
By using local area networks that are commonly used in business and engineering fields, it is possible to use commonly standardized and widespread communication protocols and distributed processing means, which allows software and hardware The degree of freedom in configuration can be increased. That is, according to the present invention, in the industrial plant monitoring and control system, various commercial software can be used in terms of software, and in terms of hardware, a free configuration can be adopted in terms of spatial arrangement. .

Furthermore, since reliable, real-time process data can be dynamically distributed using a general-purpose local area network and communication protocols that comply with international and domestic regulations, industrial plant monitoring and control systems can be It is possible to reduce the dependence of applications on hardware and achieve redundancy and dynamic load balancing.

[0053] Therefore, the degree of freedom and flexibility in system construction can be increased, and the processing distribution efficiency and development efficiency of the entire system can be improved without using communication means specialized for industrial plant monitoring and control. .

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of the plant process data distribution means shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a second embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a third embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Industrial plant data distribution device 2 Plant process data input means 3 All process data storage area 4 Plant process data distribution means 5 Industrial plant data distribution computer 6 Request data input means 7 Request process data storage area 8 Industrial plant data utilization computer 9 Local area Network 10 Communication means 11 Application

Claims (1)

[Claims] Claim 1: Storing the latest data of all plant data input into a plant process data input means in a total process data storage area, and only requesting process data from among these process data as plant process data. An industrial plant data distribution computer configured to distribute by a distribution means, and a request data data input means that requests data items from the plant process data distribution means and receives corresponding data, requests the latest of the requested process data. a plurality of industrial plant data utilization computers stored in a process data storage area and configured to supply the process data to an application;
An industrial plant data distribution device characterized in that the industrial plant data distribution computer and a plurality of industrial plant data utilization computers are interconnected through a local area network.