Process facility monitoring method including transformation of sequential conditions into constraining conditions
First Claim
1. A method of monitoring operation of a process facility, comprising the steps of:
- (a) storing in machine readable form a procedure defining steps for operating the process facility with conditions associated with the steps, each of the conditions defined as one of initial conditions, sequential conditions and constraining conditions;
(b) automatically monitoring execution of each of the steps of the procedure by comparing sensor readings in the process facility with the sequential conditions corresponding to an associated step and displaying, during execution of the associated step, indications of whether the sequential conditions are met;
(c) automatically comparing the sensor readings in the process facility with the constraining conditions during execution of the steps in the procedure and generating first warning indications for any violated constraining conditions; and
(d) automatically comparing the sensor readings with transformed conditions, selected from among the sequential conditions, during the steps following the associated step corresponding to each of the transformed conditions and generating second warning indications for any violated transformed conditions.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for a process facility monitors the execution of a procedure in which steps are defined with associated conditions. Each condition is one of an initial condition, sequential condition or constraining condition. While constraining conditions are checked for violations during several steps, sequential conditions are checked only during an associated step. The sequential conditions may be transformed into constraining conditions for subsequent steps by setting a transform flag either prior to execution of the procedure or during execution of the procedure in response to an operator request. Once a transformable sequential condition has been met or the step associated therewith has been completed, an enable flag is set making the sequential condition a transformed condition which is checked at the same time as the predefined constraining conditions.
25 Citations
9 Claims
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1. A method of monitoring operation of a process facility, comprising the steps of:
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(a) storing in machine readable form a procedure defining steps for operating the process facility with conditions associated with the steps, each of the conditions defined as one of initial conditions, sequential conditions and constraining conditions; (b) automatically monitoring execution of each of the steps of the procedure by comparing sensor readings in the process facility with the sequential conditions corresponding to an associated step and displaying, during execution of the associated step, indications of whether the sequential conditions are met; (c) automatically comparing the sensor readings in the process facility with the constraining conditions during execution of the steps in the procedure and generating first warning indications for any violated constraining conditions; and (d) automatically comparing the sensor readings with transformed conditions, selected from among the sequential conditions, during the steps following the associated step corresponding to each of the transformed conditions and generating second warning indications for any violated transformed conditions. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. An apparatus for monitoring operation of a process facility, comprising:
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means for storing in machine readable form a procedure defining steps for operating the process facility with conditions associated with the steps, each of the conditions defined as one of initial conditions, sequential conditions and constraining conditions; means for monitoring execution of each of the steps of the procedure by comparing sensor readings in the process facility with the sequential conditions corresponding to an associated step and displaying during execution of the associated step indications of whether the sequential conditions are met; first comparison means for comparing the sensor readings in the process facility with the constraining conditions during execution of the steps in the procedure and generating first warning indications for any violated constraining conditions; and second comparison means for comparing the sensor readings with transformed conditions, selected from among the sequential conditions, during the steps following the associated step corresponding to each of the transformed conditions and generating second warning indications for any violated transformed conditions. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9)
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Specification