Method and apparatus for performing a function in a process plant using monitoring data with criticality evaluation data

• US 20060241907A1
• Filed: 09/30/2005
• Published: 10/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rosemount Incorporated (Emerson Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: Rosemount Incorporated (Emerson Electric Company)
• Inventors: Giovanni, Augustine Di, Armstrong, Stephen, Hokeness, Scott N.
• Granted Patent: US 9,201,420 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/182
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 23/0218 characterised by the fault detection method dealing with either existing or incipient faults

Abstract

A method and system for monitoring an entity within a process plant includes collecting entity status data pertaining to the status of an entity within the process plant collecting criticality data pertaining to the importance of the entity within the process plant, and using the entity status data and the criticality data to perform a function within the process plant.

Claims

1. A method of monitoring an entity within a process plant comprising:

collecting entity status data pertaining to the status of an entity within the process plant;

collecting criticality data pertaining to the importance of the entity within the process plant; and

using the entity status data and the criticality data to perform a function within the process plant.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the criticality data comprises an evaluation of the importance of the entity within the process plant.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein collecting entity status data comprises collecting equipment data pertaining to the status of equipment within the process plant, and wherein using the entity- status data and the criticality data to perform a function comprises using the equipment data and the criticality data to perform a function within the process plant.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein collecting entity status data comprises collecting process control data pertaining to the status of process control activities within the process plant, and wherein using the entity status data and the criticality data to perform a function comprises using the process control data and the criticality data to perform a function within the process plant.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein collecting entity status data comprises performing process performance monitoring to generate process performance data related to the performance of the process, wherein using the entity status data and the criticality data to perform a function comprises using the process performance data and the criticality data to perform a function within the process plant.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the entity status data comprises data pertaining to the operation of the entity while the entity is in operation.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the entity status data comprises diagnostic data pertaining to the entity.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the entity status data comprises on-line monitoring data pertaining to the entity.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the entity status data comprises alert data pertaining to a problem with the entity.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the function within the process plant comprises a diagnostic function and wherein using the entity status data and the criticality data to perform a function comprises combining the entity status data and the criticality data to perform a diagnostic function.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the diagnostic function comprises at least one of the group consisting of:

an equipment monitoring diagnostic function, a process control diagnostic function and a process performance diagnostic function.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the function within the process plant comprises a process control function and wherein using the entity status data and the criticality data to perform a function comprises using the entity status data and the criticality data to change a process control parameter.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the function within the process plant comprises a viewing function and wherein using the entity status data and the criticality data to perform a function comprises creating and displaying a display screen via a display terminal using the entity status data and the criticality data.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising storing a representation of the entity and displaying the entity status data and the criticality data proximately to the corresponding representation.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein displaying the display screen comprising displaying the display screen via a web interface.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising displaying entity alarm data pertaining on a display screen.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the function comprises a maintenance function and wherein using the entity status data and the criticality data to perform a function comprises using the entity status data and the criticality data to perform a maintenance function.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the function comprises a decision function and wherein using the entity status data and the criticality data to perform a function comprises using the entity status data and the criticality data to execute a decision within the process plant.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein using the entity status data and the criticality data to execute a decision comprises using the entity status data and the criticality data to analyze the entity.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein using the entity status data and the criticality data to execute a decision comprises using the-entity status data and the criticality data to analyze an aspect of the process plant other than the entity.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein using the entity status data and the criticality data to execute a decision comprises using the entity status data and the criticality data to initiate an automated process.

22. The method of claim 18, wherein using the entity status data and the criticality data to execute a decision comprises using the entity status data and the criticality data to optimize control of the entity.

23. The method of claim 18, wherein using the entity status data and the criticality data to execute a decision comprises using the entity status data and the criticality data to adjust a parameter of the entity.

24. The method of claim 1, wherein the entity status data comprises a use index pertaining to the status of the entity.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the use index comprises a health index indicating the health of the entity.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein the use index comprises a performance index indicating the relative performance of the entity.

27. The method of claim 24, wherein the use index comprises a variability index indicating an amount of deviation of a parameter of the entity.

28. The method of claim 24, wherein the use index comprises a utilization index indicating a degree of exploitation of the entity.

29. A process control system within a process plant comprising:

equipment monitoring devices that collect equipment data pertaining to the status of equipment within the process plant;

a database adapted to store criticality data pertaining to the importance of the entity within the process plant; and

a computer system operatively coupled to the database that implements a software routine that receives the criticality data and the equipment data and that uses equipment data and the criticality data to perform a function within the process plant.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein the status data comprises data pertaining to the operation of the equipment while the equipment is in operation.

31. The system of claim 29, wherein the status data comprises diagnostic data pertaining to the equipment.

32. The system of claim 29, wherein the status data comprises on-line monitoring data pertaining to the equipment.

33. The system of claim 29, wherein the status data comprises alert data pertaining to a problem with the equipment.

34. The system of claim 29, wherein the function within the process plant comprises a diagnostic function and wherein the software routine comprises a diagnostic routine that combines the equipment status data and the criticality data to perform a diagnostic function.

35. The system of claim 29, wherein the function within the process plant comprises a process control function and wherein the software routine comprises a process control routine that uses the equipment status data and the criticality data to change a process control parameter.

36. The system of claim 29, wherein the function within the process plant comprises a viewing function and wherein the software routine is adapted to create and display a display screen via a display terminal using the equipment status data and the criticality data.

37. The system of claim 36, wherein the software routine is adapted to store a representation of the equipment and further adapted to display the equipment status data and the criticality data proximately to the corresponding representation.

38. The system of claim 36, wherein the equipment monitoring device, the database and the computer system are coupled via an internet, and wherein the software routine comprises a web interface.

39. The system of claim 36, wherein the software routine displays entity alarm data pertaining on a display screen.

40. The system of claim 29, wherein the function comprises a maintenance function and wherein the software routine comprises a maintenance routine that uses the equipment status data and the criticality data to perform a maintenance function.

41. The system of claim 29, wherein the function comprises a decision function and wherein the software routine comprises a decision routine that uses the equipment status data and the criticality data to execute a decision within the process plant.

42. The system of claim 41, wherein the decision routine comprises an analysis routine that uses the equipment status data and the criticality data to analyze the equipment.

43. The system of claim 41, wherein the decision routine comprises an analysis routine that uses the equipment status data and the criticality data to analyze an aspect of the process plant other than the equipment.

44. The system of claim 41, wherein the decision routine comprises an automation routine that uses the equipment status data and the criticality data to initiate an automated process.

45. The system of claim 41, wherein the decision routine comprises an optimization routine that uses the equipment status data and the criticality data to optimize control of the equipment.

46. The system of claim 41, wherein the decision routine comprises an adjustment routine that uses the equipment status data and the criticality data to adjust a parameter of the equipment.

47. The system of claim 29, wherein the status data comprises a use index pertaining to the status of the equipment.

48. The system of claim 47, wherein the use index comprises one or more of the following:

a health index indicating the health of the equipment, a performance index indicating the relative performance of the equipment, a variability index indicating an amount of deviation of a parameter of the equipment, and a utilization index indicating a degree of exploitation of the equipment.

49. A method of monitoring an entity having a plurality of lower level entities within a process plant, the method comprising:

receiving status data pertaining to the status of each of the lower level entities;

receiving criticality data pertaining to the importance of each lower level entity among the plurality of lower level entities to the entity; and

using the status data and the criticality data to perform a function within the process plant.

50. The method of claim 49 wherein receiving status data pertaining to the status of the plurality of lower level entities comprises receiving status data pertaining to the operation of each of the plurality of lower level entities while each lower level entity is in operation.

51. The method of claim 49 wherein the criticality data comprises an evaluation of the importance of each of the plurality of lower level entities to the entity.

52. The method of claim 49 wherein the function comprises a viewing function and wherein using the status data and the criticality data to perform a function comprises displaying a representation of the entity, displaying status data pertaining to the status of the entity proximately to the representation of the entity.

53. The method of claim 52 further comprising:

displaying a representation of each of the lower level entities;

displaying status data pertaining to the status of each the lower level entities proximately to each corresponding representation; and

displaying criticality data pertaining to the importance of each of the lower level entities within the entity proximately to each corresponding representation.

54. The method of claim 49 wherein the function comprises a diagnostic function and wherein using the using the status data and the criticality data to perform a function comprises using the status data and the criticality data to:

perform a diagnostic function pertaining to the entity.

55. The method of claim 54 wherein using the status data and the criticality data to perform a diagnostic function comprises using the status data and the criticality data to perform a diagnostic function pertaining to at -least one of the plurality of lower level entities.

56. The method of claim 49 wherein the function comprises a process control function and wherein using the status data and the criticality data to perform a function comprises using the status data and the criticality data to change a process control parameter of the entity.

57. The method of claim 56 wherein using the status data and the criticality data comprises to change a process control parameter of the entity comprises using the status data and the criticality data comprises to change a process control parameter of a lower level entity.

58. The method of claim 49 wherein the function comprises a maintenance function and wherein using the status data and the criticality data to perform a function comprises using the status data and the criticality data to performance a maintenance function related to a lower level entity.

59. The method of claim 49 wherein the function comprises a decision function and wherein using the status data and the criticality data to perform a function comprises using the status data and the criticality data to execute a decision within the process plant.

60. The method of claim 59 wherein using the status data and the criticality data to execute a decision comprises using the status data and the criticality data to analyze a lower level entity.

61. The method of claim 59 wherein using the status data and the criticality data to execute a decision comprises using the status data and the criticality data to analyze the entity.

62. The method of claim 59 wherein using the status data and the criticality data to execute a decision comprises using the status data and the criticality data to optimize control of a lower level entity.

63. The method of claim 59 wherein using the status data and the criticality data to execute a decision comprises using the status data and the criticality data to optimize control of the entity.

64. A system for displaying the status of an entity within a process plant having a plurality of entities, the system comprising:

a processor;

a display;

a database adapted to store status data for each of the plurality of entities and to store criticality data pertaining to the importance of each of the entities among the plurality of entities;

a routine adapted to be executed by the processor which stores a representation of each of the plurality of entities; and

a routine adapted to be executed by the processor which displays a set of the representations, which displays the status data proximately to each corresponding representation in the set and which displays the criticality data of each entity proximately to each corresponding representation in the set.

65. The system of claim 64 wherein the status data comprises data pertaining to the operation of each of the plurality of entities while each entity is in operation.

66. The system of claim 64 wherein the criticality data comprises an evaluation of the importance of each of the plurality of entities among the plurality of entities.

67. The system of claim 64 further comprising a routine adapted to be executed by the processor which uses the status data and the criticality data to perform a diagnostic function related to at least one of the plurality of entities.

68. The system of claim 64 further comprising a routine adapted to be executed by the processor which uses the status data and the criticality data to change a process control parameter.

69. The system of claim 64 further comprising a routine adapted to be executed by the processor which uses the status data and the criticality data to perform a maintenance function.

70. The system of claim 64 further comprising a routine adapted to be executed by the processor which uses the status data and the criticality data to execute a decision within the process plant.