System and Method for Distributed Control of a Plant Process
First Claim
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1. A system for distributed control of a hydrogen fuel generation and refueling facility, the system comprising:
- means for monitoring plural variables of the hydrogen fuel generation and refueling facility using plural sensors, wherein a first sensor communicates a first variable of the hydrogen fuel generation and refueling facility via a first protocol and a second sensor communicates a second variable of the hydrogen fuel generation and refueling facility via a second protocol;
means for controlling plural plant processes associated with the variables of the hydrogen fuel generation and refueling facility; and
processing means for receiving the first and second variables of the hydrogen fuel generation and refueling facility from the monitoring means via the first and second protocols, translating the received data into a common protocol, and sending control signals to the controlling means based on the translated data.
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Abstract
Exemplary methods and systems for a distributed control system (DCS) in an industrial environment such as a plant. The DCS includes sensors for monitoring plant processes, and controllers for controlling plant processes. The sensors and controllers each have an associated communication protocol. The DCS also includes an interface that receives data from the sensors, translates the data into a common protocol, and generates control signals based on the translated data to the controllers over a network. The interface communicates with each sensor and controller based on their respective communication protocols.
62 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A system for distributed control of a hydrogen fuel generation and refueling facility, the system comprising:
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means for monitoring plural variables of the hydrogen fuel generation and refueling facility using plural sensors, wherein a first sensor communicates a first variable of the hydrogen fuel generation and refueling facility via a first protocol and a second sensor communicates a second variable of the hydrogen fuel generation and refueling facility via a second protocol; means for controlling plural plant processes associated with the variables of the hydrogen fuel generation and refueling facility; and processing means for receiving the first and second variables of the hydrogen fuel generation and refueling facility from the monitoring means via the first and second protocols, translating the received data into a common protocol, and sending control signals to the controlling means based on the translated data. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A system for distributed control of a process of a hydrogen fuel generation and refueling facility, the system comprising:
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a plurality of sensors, wherein each sensor monitors at least one variable of the hydrogen fuel generation and refueling facility and a first sensor communicates first variable data of the hydrogen fuel generation and refueling facility via a first protocol and a second sensor communicates second plant variable data of the hydrogen fuel generation and refueling facility via a second protocol; a plurality of controllers, wherein each controller is configured to control at least one process of the hydrogen fuel generation and refueling facility based on at least one variable of the hydrogen fuel generation and refueling facility; and an interface that receives first and second variable data of the hydrogen fuel generation and refueling facility from the first and second sensors, translates the received data into a common protocol, and generates control signals based on the translated data to send to the controllers over a network. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for controlling a process of a hydrogen fuel generation and refueling facility, comprising:
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monitoring plural variables of the hydrogen fuel generation and refueling facility using plural sensors, wherein a first sensor communicates first variable data of the hydrogen fuel generation and refueling facility via a first protocol and a second sensor communicates second variable data of the hydrogen fuel generation and refueling facility via a second protocol; controlling plural plant processes associated with the variables of the hydrogen fuel generation and refueling facility through plural controllers; receiving the first and second plant variable data via the first and second protocols; translating the received data into a common protocol; and
sending control signals to the controllers based on the translated data. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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Specification