CIP wash comparison and simulation

• US 10,315,235 B2
• Filed: 08/04/2015
• Issued: 06/11/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ecolab USA Incorporated (Ecolab, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Ecolab USA Incorporated (Ecolab, Inc.)
• Inventors: Curran, Joseph P., Jensen, Finn, Kingsbury, Jonathan, Schacht, Paul, Young, Juli, Krohn, James
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Michael T
• Application Number:
  US14/818,015
• Publication Number:
  US 20160045943A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,407 Days
• Field of Search: 706 14, 705 39
• CPC Class Codes: A01J 7/022 Clean-in-Place Systems, i.e. CIP, for cleaning the complete milking installation in place
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 13/00 Accessories or details of general applicability for machines or apparatus for cleaning
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 9/027 Cleaning the internal surfaces; Removal of blockages
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 9/0325 Control mechanisms therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 9/08 Cleaning containers, e.g. tanks
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/41835 characterised by programme execution
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31265 Control process by combining history and real time data
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31318 Data analysis, using different formats like table, chart
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/32128 Gui graphical user interface
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/32343 Derive control behaviour, decisions from simulation, behaviour modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 23/0272 Presentation of monitored results, e.g. selection of status reports to be displayed; Filtering information to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06393 Score-carding, benchmarking or key performance indicator [KPI] analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing

Abstract

One embodiment includes a method for simulating an operational effect of one or more changes in a CIP process. The method includes providing a graphical user interface configured to receive inputs from a user, receiving at least one proposed adjustment to one CIP phase of the CIP process, and generating a simulated CIP process based on a first set of CIP data and the at least one proposed adjustment to generate simulated CIP data based on the simulated CIP process. The simulated CIP data is displayed on the display. The simulated CIP data includes at least one of the amount or the total cost of each consumable used to generate the simulated CIP data. A total cost of the simulated CIP process is calculated, where the total cost of the simulated CIP process incorporates the proposed adjustment.

Claims

1. A method of comparing clean-in-place (CIP) process, the method comprising:

detecting, using a sensor, one or more operating conditions of a CIP system;

accessing, from a CIP database using a CIP controller including at least one programmable processor, a first set of CIP process data corresponding to a first CIP wash process, the first set of CIP process data comprising at least two CIP phases and an amount of each of a plurality of consumables consumed during the CIP process;

associating, using the CIP controller, a price with each consumable consumed in the CIP process;

calculating, using the CIP controller, (i) the total cost of each consumable used in the CIP process and (ii) the total cost of the CIP process, each based on the amount and price of the consumables consumed;

accessing, using the CIP controller, a library of CIP process data comprising a plurality of CIP processes performed previous to the first CIP wash process;

providing, using the CIP controller, a graphical user interface via a display device, the graphical user interface configured to receive inputs;

displaying, via the display device, at least a portion of the first set of CIP data on a display, the displayed CIP data including at least one of (iii) the amount or (iv) the total cost of each consumable used in the CIP process;

receiving, using an input device configured to receive inputs from a user, a selection of a second CIP wash process comprising at least two CIP phases, the second CIP wash process selected from the plurality of CIP processes in the library of CIP processes;

retrieving, using the CIP controller, a second set of CIP process data from the library of CIP process data, the second set of CIP process data corresponding to the second CIP wash process; and

displaying, using the graphical user interface on a display device, at least portions of the first set of CIP process data and the second set of CIP process data such that at least a portion of the first set of CIP process data and a portion of the second set of CIP process data are simultaneously presented for direct viewing and comparison;

receiving, using the input device, data corresponding to a proposed adjustment to a CIP phase of the CIP process;

generating, using the CIP controller;

a simulated CIP wash process based on the first set of CIP data and the proposed adjustment; and

simulated CIP data based on the simulated CIP wash process;

calculating, using the CIP controller, a total cost of the simulated CIP wash process, the total cost of the simulated CIP wash process incorporating the proposed adjustment;

displaying, using the CIP controller, the simulated CIP data on the display device, the simulated CIP data including at least one of;

(v) the amount of each consumable used to generate the simulated CIP data, (vi) the total cost of each consumable used to generate the simulated CIP data, and (vii) the total cost of the simulated CIP wash process; and

controlling, using the CIP controller in communication with the sensor, fluid communication between a first chemistry and a CIP object of the CIP system, the controlling incorporating the proposed adjustment;

wherein the first CIP wash process and the second CIP wash process share at least one common CIP phase comprising at least one of a rinse phase, an alkaline wash, an acid sanitize, a rinse recovery, a chemical recovery, and a sterilization such that the presented portions of the first and second sets of CIP data comprise CIP process data regarding the at least one common CIP phase;

wherein the first and second sets of CIP process data comprise (i) the amount or cost of at least one consumable consumed in the at least one common CIP phase and (ii) the total cost of the at least one common CIP phase;

wherein displaying the first set of CIP process data and the second set of CIP process data further comprises displaying a difference in total cost of the at least one common CIP phase between the first and second CIP wash processes;

wherein the CIP database is remote from the CIP controller and in communication via a network with the CIP controller; and

wherein the CIP database includes a respective price associated with each consumable consumed in the CIP process.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein associating a respective price with each consumable consumed in the CIP process includes receiving a present cost of at least one consumable consumed in the CIP process from a remote database via a network connection between the remote database and one of the one or more programmable processors.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving a proposed adjustment to a CIP phase of the CIP process includes changing an amount of a consumable used in the CIP phase.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one consumable consumed in the at least one common CIP phase is selected from the group consisting of electrical energy, thermal energy, water, chemistry, and time.

2. A clean-in-place (CIP) system comprising:

a CIP object including an input;

a first chemistry in fluid communication with the input of the CIP object;

a sensor configured to detect one or more operating conditions of the CIP system;

a CIP controller in communication with the sensor, the CIP controller including one or more programmable processors and a non-transitory computer-readable storage article having computer-executable instructions stored thereon to cause the CIP controller to;

access, from a CIP database, a first set of CIP process data corresponding to a first CIP wash process, the first set of CIP process data comprising at least two CIP phases and an amount of each of a plurality of consumables consumed during the CIP process;

associate a price with each consumable consumed in the CIP process;

calculate (i) the total cost of each consumable used in the CIP process and (ii) the total cost of the CIP process, each based on the amount and price of the consumables consumed;

access a library of CIP process data comprising a plurality of CIP processes performed previous to the first CIP wash process;

provide a graphical user interface via a display device, the graphical user interface configured to receive inputs;

display, via the display device, at least a portion of the first set of CIP data on a display, the displayed CIP data including at least one of (iii) the amount or (iv) the total cost of each consumable used in the CIP process;

receive, using an input device configured to receive inputs from a user, a selection of a second CIP wash process comprising at least two CIP phases, the second CIP wash process being selected from the plurality of CIP processes in the library of CIP processes;

retrieve a second set of CIP process data from the library of CIP process data, the second set of CIP process data corresponding to the second CIP wash process; and

display, using the graphical user interface on a display device, at least portions of the first set of CIP process data and the second set of CIP process data such that at least a portion of the first set of CIP process data and a portion of the second set of CIP process data are simultaneously presented for direct viewing and comparison;

receive, using an input device configured to receive inputs from a user, data corresponding to a proposed adjustment to a CIP phase of the CIP process;

generate;

a simulated CIP wash process based on the first set of CIP data and the proposed adjustment; and

simulated CIP data based on the simulated CIP wash process;

calculate a total cost of the simulated CIP wash process, the total cost of the simulated CIP wash process incorporating the proposed adjustment;

display the simulated CIP data on the display device, the simulated CIP data including at least one of;

(v) the amount of each consumable used to generate the simulated CIP data, (vi) the total cost of each consumable used to generate the simulated CIP data, and (vii) the total cost of the simulated CIP wash process; and

control, incorporating the proposed adjustment, fluid communication between the first chemistry and the CIP object of the CIP system;

wherein the first CIP wash process and the second CIP wash process share at least one common CIP phase comprising at least one of a rinse phase, an alkaline wash, an acid sanitize, a rinse recovery, a chemical recovery, and a sterilization such that the presented portions of the first and second sets of CIP data comprise CIP process data regarding the at least one common CIP phase;

wherein the first and second sets of CIP process data comprise (i) the amount or cost of at least one consumable consumed in the at least one common CIP phase and (ii) the total cost of the at least one common CIP phase;

wherein displaying the first set of CIP process data and the second set of CIP process data further comprises displaying a difference in total cost of the at least one common CIP phase between the first and second CIP wash processes;

wherein the CIP database is remote from the CIP controller and in communication via a network with the CIP controller; and

wherein the CIP database includes a respective price associated with each consumable consumed in the CIP process.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the at least one consumable consumed in the CIP phase is selected from the group consisting of electrical energy, thermal energy, water, chemistry, and time.

4. The system of claim 2, further comprising:

a second chemistry in fluid communication with the input of the CIP object, wherein the second chemistry is different than the first chemistry, and wherein the CIP controller is configured to control fluid communication between the second chemistry and the input of the CIP object.

5. The system of claim 4, a first phase of the first CIP wash process includes fluid communication between the first chemistry and the input of the CIP object, and wherein a second phase of the first CIP wash process includes fluid communication between the second chemistry and the input of the CIP object.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein a first phase of the first CIP wash process includes fluid communication between the first chemistry and the input of the CIP object as well as fluid communication between the second chemistry and the input of the CIP object.

7. The system of claim 2, wherein the at least one common CIP phase includes use of the first chemistry, and wherein the first chemistry is selected from the group consisting of an alkaline and an acid.

11. The system of claim 2, wherein associating the price with each consumable consumed in the CIP process includes receiving a present cost of at least one consumable consumed in the CIP process from a remote database via a network connection between the remote database and one of the one or more programmable processors.

12. The system of claim 2, wherein receiving a proposed adjustment to a CIP phase of the CIP process includes changing an amount of a consumable used in the CIP phase.