Real-time synchronized control and simulation within a process plant
First Claim
1. A simulation system for simulating the operation of a process control network as connected within a process plant, the simulation system comprising:
- a simulated process control network that uses one or more simulated process variable signals to produce one or more simulated control signals to simulate the operation of the process control network as connected within the process plant;
a process model communicatively connected to the simulated process control network that uses the simulated control signals to produce the one or more simulated process variables; and
an update module communicatively connected to the process control network to periodically receive a first state variable indicative of a current configuration of the process control network during operation of the process control network and to periodically receive a second state variable indicative of an operation of the process during operation of the process control network, wherein the update module periodically configures the simulated process control network with the first state variable and wherein the update module periodically uses the second state variable to update the process model.
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Abstract
A process control system simulation technique performs real-time simulation of an actual process control network as that network is running within a process plant in a manner that is synchronized with the operation of the actual process control network. This real-time, synchronized simulation system includes a simulation process control network and a process model which are automatically updated periodically during the operation of the actual process control network to reflect changes made to the process control network, as well as to account for changes in the plant itself, i.e., changes which require an updated process model. The disclosed simulation system provides for more readily accessible and usable simulation activities, as the process control network and the process models used within the simulation system are synchronized with and up-to-date with respect to the current process operating conditions. Moreover, this simulation system is more accurate as it uses process models developed from the current state of the process whenever the simulation system beings to perform a simulation. Still further, the disclosed simulation system is easy to operate, as it uses the same user interface applications as the actual process control network and can be initialized and used at any time during operation the process plant without any significant configuration or set-up activities.
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. A simulation system for simulating the operation of a process control network as connected within a process plant, the simulation system comprising:
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a simulated process control network that uses one or more simulated process variable signals to produce one or more simulated control signals to simulate the operation of the process control network as connected within the process plant; a process model communicatively connected to the simulated process control network that uses the simulated control signals to produce the one or more simulated process variables; and an update module communicatively connected to the process control network to periodically receive a first state variable indicative of a current configuration of the process control network during operation of the process control network and to periodically receive a second state variable indicative of an operation of the process during operation of the process control network, wherein the update module periodically configures the simulated process control network with the first state variable and wherein the update module periodically uses the second state variable to update the process model. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of simulating the operation of a process control system having a process control network connected within a process plant, the method comprising:
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periodically receiving a first state variable indicative of a current configuration of the process control network during operation of the process control network; periodically receiving a second state variable indicative of current operation of the process plant during operation of the process control network; periodically configuring a simulated process control network using the first state variable; periodically updating a process model using the second state variable; and simulating operation of the process control system by applying one or more simulated process variable signals to the simulated process control network to produce one or more simulated control signals and using the simulated control signals in the updated process model to produce the one or more simulated process variables. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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Specification