JPH06282311A - Distributed control device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To easily prepare a data base for a process simulating means by down-loading the process simulating means to be used for the test of a system prior to the process control of this distributed control device. CONSTITUTION:A system generating means 1 constructs a system for attaining various control functions to be executed by a control device FCS. The constructed system is down-loaded by a system down-loading means 2. A process simulating function data base preparing means 3 prepares the data base of the process simulating means 22 by using a system logic data base constructed by the means 1 and control instrument terminal information data base including the terminal information of respective control instruments. The data base is down-loaded to the control device FCS by a process simulating function data base down-loading means 4.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a distributed type comprising a control device connected to a communication bus for controlling calculation and an operator station (or a workstation) for controlling operation / monitoring of control. Regarding the control device, more specifically, the control device is provided with a process simulation means for converting and processing a control signal output from a control instrument and outputting a simulated process measurement signal. Of the distributed control device capable of easily creating the database of the above in the operator station or the workstation.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A distributed control device includes a plurality of control devices distributed and arranged according to the scale of a process to be controlled.
It consists of an operator station or work station that performs control operation and process monitoring, and is connected to each other via a communication bus.At the operator station, various data handled by multiple control devices are sent via the communication bus. It can be collected and collected and used for control operation and monitoring of the entire process.

Here, in the control device, there is provided a system constructed by a logic in which a control instrument for performing feedback control and various control instruments for performing sequence control are appropriately combined in accordance with the actual condition of a process to be applied and user's request. . Such a system can be constructed by, for example, an engineering station or a work station having a system generating means, or an operation / monitor device (operator station).

Then, a test as to whether the system logic constructed by these meets the user's request or the actual condition of the process is simulated by using a process simulation means (device) provided in the control device. I went there. By the way, the process simulation device is configured by a database that converts and manipulates manipulated variable data for each process so as to be suitable for the process, and is reflected in the simulated process measurement signal.

[0005]

Conventionally, in order to create a database of a process simulation device provided in such a control device, an engineer makes a list of operation amounts of individual processes, and a measured amount corresponding to the operation amount. Was performed and the conversion and processing method suitable for the process operation was specified, which required a great deal of time and labor.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and can simplify the test of the system logic constructed by the system generating means and easily create the database of the process simulating means used at the time of the test. It is an object of the present invention to provide a distributed control device that can be used for the above.

[0007]

The present invention, which achieves the above object, comprises a control device connected to a communication bus and in charge of control calculation, and an operator station in charge of operation and monitoring of control. In the distributed control device, the control device is provided with a control instrument that performs a process control operation, and a process simulation unit that processes and simulates a control signal output by the control instrument and outputs a process measurement signal. Process simulation is performed on the operator station by using a system generating means for constructing a system, a system logic database constructed by the system generating means, and a control instrument terminal information database containing terminal information of each control instrument constituting the system. Process simulation function to create means database Database creation means and this process simulation And a process simulation function database downloading means for downloading the database created by the function database creating means to the process simulating means in the control device, and a process simulating means operating means for operating the process simulating means in the control device. Is a distributed control device.

[0008]

Before the process control by the distributed controller, the system is first constructed by the system generating means. In addition, the process simulation means used during the test (simulation) of the constructed system is downloaded to the control device side. The database forming the process simulating means is a system logic database constructed by the system creating means by using the process simulating function database creating means, and a control instrument terminal information database including terminal information of each control instrument constituting the system. It is created based on.

The process simulation means is operated by the operation means of the process simulation means. As a result of the test using this process simulation means, when the constructed system is in conformity with the requirements, the signal from the actual process is given to the constructed system and the control signal output from the system is outputted to the process. Then, the actual control calculation operation is performed.

[0010]

An embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a configuration block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, OPS is an operation monitoring device (operator station or work station) in charge of process operation / monitoring, and FCS is a control device connected to the operation monitoring device OPS via a communication bus BS and in charge of control calculation. is there. The control device FCS is configured such that a system (system logic) generated (constructed) by an operator station, a work station or an engineering station is downloaded, and feedback control calculation, sequence control calculation and the like can be performed.

Although only one control device FCS is connected to the communication bus in this example, a plurality of control devices FCS are actually arranged in a distributed manner according to the scale of the process to be controlled. It should be noted that when offline such as during debugging, a control device emulator can be formed on the memory of the operation monitoring device or the workstation OPS to substitute for the control device FCS.

In the operation monitoring device or the workstation OPS, reference numeral 1 is a system generating means for constructing a system that realizes various control functions executed by the control device FCS, and is composed of, for example, a graphic editor function. . Reference numeral 2 is a system download means for downloading the system constructed by the system generation means 1 to the control device FCS side. Reference numeral 3 is a process simulation function database creating means, which is a database of the process simulating means 22 using the system logic database constructed by the system creating means 1 and the control instrument terminal information database containing the terminal information of each control instrument forming the system. To create. Reference numeral 4 denotes a process simulation function database download means for downloading the database created by the process simulation function database creation means 3 to the control device FCS side. The download means may be shared with the system download means 2.

Reference numeral 5 is an operating means of a process simulating means for operating the process simulating means 23 in the control device FCS, 6 is a parameter changing means for changing a parameter of the process simulating means 23 in the control device FCS, and 7 is a CRT 11 or the like. The display control means displays various graphic screens and information for operating and monitoring the process on the CRT. The display control means 7 includes a system generation means 1, an operation means 5,
It operates in cooperation with the changing means 6 and the like. ,
A communication driver 8 has an interface function with respect to the communication bus BS, and transfers various data, a constructed system, a database of process simulation means, and the like with the control device FCS.

Reference numeral 12 is a keyboard, and 13 is a mouse, which are used for operating / operating a process, constructing a system, creating / operating a database of process simulation means, and changing parameters. To be
In the control device FCS, 21 is a communication driver, which has an interface function for the communication bus BS.
The control instrument 22 is realized by a system logic downloaded from the operation monitoring device or the workstation OPS side, is composed of a combination of feedback control means and sequence control means, and measures signals from various sensors installed in the process. Enter
After performing a predetermined control calculation, a control signal (process operation amount) is output to an operation end such as a valve.

The process simulation means 23 is also composed of a database downloaded from the operation monitoring device or the workstation OPS side. The process simulating means 23 inputs the control signal output from the control instrument 22, converts and processes the signal, and outputs a process measurement signal simulating the signal from the process. This simulated measurement signal is sent to the operation monitoring device or the workstation side via the communication bus BS, and is configured so that it can be used for evaluation of the constructed system and change / evaluation of the created process simulation means 23. .

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a basic data flow in the process simulation function database creating means 3 in the operation monitoring device OPS. In this figure, 31 indicates a system logic database, which is composed of a group of source files created by the system creating means 1. 32
Is a database of all terminal information of all control instruments. For terminals of each control instrument combined in the system generating means 1,
"Data input / output format", "Whether process input is possible",
It includes information such as "whether process output is possible", "exit terminal name", "whether analog signal is transmitted", and "control operation direction of control instrument". The process simulation database creating means 3 uses each of these databases to create the process simulation function database 33 to be downloaded to the process simulation means 23.

FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram showing a more detailed structure of the process simulation function database creating means 3. In the figure, reference numeral 41 is a table creating stage for creating an all-terminal list table 34 in the system logic based on the system logic database 31 and the terminal information database 32 of the control instrument constructed by the system generating means 1. Here, the system control logic database 31 provides one drawing information, which is the minimum combination of control instruments that can be regarded as a group of control units.

The table creating means 41 lists all terminals in one drawing information, adds terminal information to the terminals listed from the all terminal information database 32 of all control instruments, and creates a list table 34. Is going. Reference numeral 42 denotes a first list creating means for creating the process input terminal list 35 based on the system logic database 31. The list inputting means 42 lists all the process input terminals in one drawing, and performs the process of creating the process input terminal list 35. . Reference numeral 43 denotes a second list creating means, which traces the connection destination of the process input terminals listed by the first list creating means 42 for one drawing information from the system logic database 31 to determine and control the output terminal of the process. A process for determining the operation direction (for example, the operation direction of the process output that is the manipulated variable when the process input that is the measured amount increases) is performed, and the process input terminal list and the process output terminal list 36 are created.

Reference numeral 44 is a conversion type determining means, which refers to the process input terminal list and the process output terminal list 36,
A process of determining a conversion type for conversion processing from process output terminal information to process input terminal information is performed. Here, the conversion type is uniquely determined by the data output format of the process output, the data format of the process input, and the control operation direction. Reference numeral 45 is a conversion parameter determining means, which determines conversion parameters at the time of data conversion processing based on one drawing information from the system logic database 31 and the conversion type list 37 determined by the conversion type determining means 44. Using the type as a key, processing is performed based on range conversion of process input / process output, default value input, drawing information, etc. By going through each of these processes, the process simulation means 2
The database 33 to be downloaded to 3 is created.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the processing of the second list creating means 43 in FIG. The second list creating means 43 determines a process output terminal for each process input terminal listed by the first list creating means 42. (A) Search for the connection destination of the process input terminal 1. From the drawing information, search for the connection destination terminal (process input terminal) of the control instrument SK that is connected to the process input terminal IN of interest (see Fig. B). (B) Next, the control operation direction of the control instrument SK is considered to match the loop control operation direction. That is, assuming that the current control instrument output is represented by Y = Y * X1, X1 is 1 in the case of normal operation, X1 is 1 in the case of reverse operation, and X1 is 1 when no operation direction is designated. And (C) Selection of outlet terminal The output terminal name of the control instrument (current control instrument) that is currently being noticed is obtained from the "exit terminal name" of the obtained terminal on the all instrument all terminal information database 32 (b) See figure).
If the "exit terminal name" is not specified, the exit selection process (creation) is stopped and the process proceeds to step (e) described later. (D) Selection of the input terminal of the next control instrument 1 Search the drawing information and find the connection destination terminal of the exit terminal of the current control instrument SK. Here, the connection destination terminal is "tag name,
If it is described in "Data item name", the process is different for the process output terminal and the control instrument terminal.

That is, (d-1) When described by "tag name, data item name" The creation of the loop in this step is stopped, and the process proceeds to step (e) described later. (D-2) Process output terminal When the output terminal of the current control instrument is the "process output terminal" of the terminal information, the process output terminal to which this output terminal is connected is the process terminal to be obtained, and (e ) Step (see Figure C).

If the output terminal of the current control instrument is not the "process output terminal" of the terminal information, the determination of the process output terminal of this loop is stopped and the process proceeds to step (e). (D-3) In the case of the terminal of the control instrument When the current control instrument is counted from the process input terminal IN, for example,
In the case of the fourth or lower control instrument, for the instrument to be coupled to, return to the step (b) and repeat the subsequent steps to determine the coupling destination of the outlet terminal of the current control instrument (Fig.
(See Figure D).

Further, the current control instrument is the process input terminal IN.
For example, in the case of the fifth control instrument counting from the above, the creation of this loop is stopped, and the process proceeds to step (e). Here, the current control instrument counts 4 from the process input terminal IN
The process branching to another process in the fifth or lower order or the fifth process is a process for preventing a defect due to looping and has no special meaning in operation. (D-4) When the coupling destination is determined and the input / output formats of the outlet terminal and the coupling destination terminal are different, for example, one of the control instruments has an analog signal transmission format (the output of the PID feedback control instrument). Format), while
When the other control instrument is of a non-analog signal transmission type (on / off signal transmission type such as a sequence control instrument or a switch instrument), this loop is stopped and the process proceeds to step (e). (D-5) When the input and output formats of the outlet terminal and the coupling destination terminal match, the control operation direction value considers the "analog signal transmission forward / backward" information of the coupling destination terminal.

That is, assuming that the output of the coupling destination terminal is represented by Y = Y * X2, X2 is 1 in the case of direct coupling and X2 is -1 in the case of reverse coupling. (D-6) The processes after (b) above are repeated for the control instrument to be coupled. (E) For the next process input terminal on the process input terminal list, the processing from (a) is performed.

In this embodiment, it is assumed that the system logic generating means and the process simulation function database generating means are both provided in the operator station. However, these functions are provided in the workstation or engineering station. It may be provided. Further, although the process simulation means 23 is provided on the control device FCS side, it may be provided in the operation monitoring device or the workstation.

[0026]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, when the system provided in the control device is constructed or the operation of the constructed system is tested or simulated, the process simulation provided on the control device side is simulated. The database for use can be easily created on the operator station or workstation. Therefore, it is possible to significantly reduce the labor and the burden on the engineer when constructing the system.

[Brief description of drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a basic data flow in a process simulation function database creating means in the operation monitoring device.

FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram showing a more detailed configuration of a process simulation function database creating means.

FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram showing a process in a second list creating means.

[Explanation of symbols]

OPS operation monitoring device (operator station, work station) FCS control device BS communication bus 1 system generation means 2 system download means 3 process simulation function database creation means 4 process simulation function database download means 5 process simulation device operation means 6 process simulation Parameter changing means 7 Display control means 8 Communication driver 12 Keyboard 13 Mouse 21 Communication driver 22 Control instrument 23 Process simulation means

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A distributed control device comprising a control device connected to a communication bus and in charge of control calculation, and an operator station in charge of operation and monitoring of control, wherein the control device comprises: A control instrument for performing a process control calculation, a process simulation means for processing a control signal output from the control instrument and outputting a simulated process measurement signal, and a system generating means for constructing a system at the operator station, A process simulation function database creating means for creating a database of the process simulating means using the system logic database constructed by the system creating means and the control instrument terminal information database including the terminal information of each control instrument constituting the system, The data created by the database creation means for this process simulation function A database controller for process simulation function for downloading the database to the process simulator in the controller, and a process simulator for operating the process simulator in the controller. . 2. The process simulation function database creating means, a table creating means for creating a list of all terminals in the system logic based on the system logic database built by the system creating means and the terminal information of the control instrument, and the system. A first list creating means for creating a process input terminal list based on the logic database; and a second list creating means for creating a process output terminal list from the system logic database, the process input terminal list information and the all terminal list table. , The process input terminal list, the process output terminal list, and the conversion type determining means for determining the conversion type for converting the process output terminal information into the process input terminal information, and the system logic database and the conversion type determining means. Claim based on the converted type and a conversion parameter determining means for creating a database of the determined process simulator means the transformation parameters at the time of data conversion processing has 1
Distributed controller.