Plant operating apparatus and method

• US 20040078094A1
• Filed: 10/10/2003
• Published: 04/22/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Suzuki, Junichi, Nagatsuka, Hideki
• Granted Patent: US 7,269,463 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/9
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/042 using digital processors G05B19/05 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23043 Remote and local control panel, programming unit, switch
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 23/0267 Fault communication, e.g. human machine interface [HMI]

Abstract

In a CRT operation system for operation and monitoring of plant equipment in a plant worksite through a central control room and a network, an operation control personal computer is provided for monitoring and operating the plant equipment, and one or more wireless LAN transceivers or transmitting/receiving sections are provided to appropriate points in a patrol route around the plant equipment, for wireless communication with the operation control personal computer. The personal computer controls the plant equipment through a wireless transceiver and a network, and transmits therethrough information signals of on-site operation of the plant equipment to enable a display device and a sound/voice output device provided in the central control room.

Claims

1. A plant operating apparatus for operating plant equipment of a plant worksite through a central control room and a network, wherein:

an operation terminal to be used for operating the plant equipment is provided, and

a plurality of wireless transceivers are provided to appropriate points at the plant worksite for carrying out wireless communication with the operation terminal, and

the operation of the plant equipment is also carried out through the operation terminal by transferring an operation request from the operation terminal via the wireless transceiver and the network.

2. A plant operating apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein a display device of the operation terminal displays an operating end image same as that displayed in the central control terminal.

3. A plant operating apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein when a tag for prohibiting the operation of the plant equipment is set/canceled from the plant worksite by use of the operation terminal, information concerning the setting/cancellation of the tag is transferred to the central control room and is displayed and outputted by a display device and a sound output device in the central control room.

4. A plant operating apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein information concerning the status of on-site operation at the plant worksite is transferred to the central control room.

5. A plant operating apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the status of the on-site operation at the plant worksite is displayed and outputted by a display device and a sound output device in the central control room.

6. A plant operating method for operating plant equipment, wherein:

the plant equipment is operated through a central control room and a network, and

an operation terminal and a wireless transceiver are provided so as to carry out wireless communication, and

the operation of the plant equipment is also carried out through the operation terminal by transferring an operation request from the operation terminal via the wireless transceiver and the network.

7. A plant operating method as claimed in claim 6, wherein information concerning the status of on-site operation at the plant worksite is transferred to the central control room.