Process management using component thermal-hydraulic function classes
First Claim
1. A method for managing the operation of a system having a plurality of components following a malfunction of a component, wherein each component is assigned a thermal-hydraulic function in terms of mass, momentum or energy, said method comprising the steps of:
- assigning each component to a loop in the system, where the loop may be closed or open and connect to other loops at junctions or tanks, and wherein each component in a given loop is connected to the other components in said given loop and where each loop has a characteristic set of thermal-hydraulic parameters and is connected to one or more other loops;
identifying a first malfunctioning component in a first loop and classifying the malfunction in terms of a mass, momentum or energy thermal hydraulic function;
searching the loops for components connected to said first malfunctioning component;
searching said first loop for a second component of said loop of the same thermal-hydraulic function type as said first malfunctioning component;
generating a first modified loop structure wherein said second component having the same thermal-hydraulic function type as the malfunctioning component replaces said first malfunctioning component;
calculating and comparing thermal-hydraulic parameters of said first modified loop incorporating said second component with the thermal-hydraulic parameters of said first loop incorporating said first malfunctioning component prior to the malfunction; and
reconfiguring said system to include said second component in said first modified loop if the thermal-hydraulic parameters of said first modified loop and of said first loop incorporating said first malfunctioning component prior to the malfunction match;
orgenerating a second modified loop structure incorporating a third component having the same thermal-hydraulic function type as the first malfunctioning component for replacing the first malfunctioning component if the thermal-hydraulic parameters of the first loop and of the first modified loop do not match;
calculating and comparing thermal-hydraulic parameters of the second modified loop structure incorporating said third component with the thermal-hydraulic parameters of the first loop incorporating said first malfunctioning component prior to the malfunction; and
reconfiguring the system to include said third component in said second modified loop structure if the thermal-hydraulic parameters of said second modified loop match the thermal-hydraulic parameters of said first loop.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A process management expert system where following malfunctioning of a component, such as a pump, for determining system realignment procedures such as for by-passing the malfunctioning component with on-line speeds to maintain operation of the process at full or partial capacity or to provide safe shut down of the system while isolating the malfunctioning component. The expert system uses thermal-hydraulic function classes at the component level for analyzing unanticipated as well as anticipated component malfunctions to provide recommended sequences of operator actions. Each component is classified according to its thermal-hydraulic function, and the generic and component-specific characteristics for that function. Using the diagnosis of the malfunctioning component and its thermal hydraulic class, the expert system analysis is carried out using generic thermal-hydraulic first principles. One aspect of the invention employs a qualitative physics-based forward search directed primarily downstream from the malfunctioning component in combination with a subsequent backward search directed primarily upstream from the serviced component. Generic classes of components are defined in the knowledge base according to the three thermal-hydraulic functions of mass, momentum and energy transfer and are used to determine possible realignment of component configurations in response to thermal-hydraulic function imbalance caused by the malfunctioning component. Each realignment to a new configuration produces the accompanying sequence of recommended operator actions. All possible new configurations are examined and a prioritized list of acceptable solutions is produced.
8 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method for managing the operation of a system having a plurality of components following a malfunction of a component, wherein each component is assigned a thermal-hydraulic function in terms of mass, momentum or energy, said method comprising the steps of:
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assigning each component to a loop in the system, where the loop may be closed or open and connect to other loops at junctions or tanks, and wherein each component in a given loop is connected to the other components in said given loop and where each loop has a characteristic set of thermal-hydraulic parameters and is connected to one or more other loops; identifying a first malfunctioning component in a first loop and classifying the malfunction in terms of a mass, momentum or energy thermal hydraulic function; searching the loops for components connected to said first malfunctioning component; searching said first loop for a second component of said loop of the same thermal-hydraulic function type as said first malfunctioning component; generating a first modified loop structure wherein said second component having the same thermal-hydraulic function type as the malfunctioning component replaces said first malfunctioning component; calculating and comparing thermal-hydraulic parameters of said first modified loop incorporating said second component with the thermal-hydraulic parameters of said first loop incorporating said first malfunctioning component prior to the malfunction; and reconfiguring said system to include said second component in said first modified loop if the thermal-hydraulic parameters of said first modified loop and of said first loop incorporating said first malfunctioning component prior to the malfunction match;
orgenerating a second modified loop structure incorporating a third component having the same thermal-hydraulic function type as the first malfunctioning component for replacing the first malfunctioning component if the thermal-hydraulic parameters of the first loop and of the first modified loop do not match; calculating and comparing thermal-hydraulic parameters of the second modified loop structure incorporating said third component with the thermal-hydraulic parameters of the first loop incorporating said first malfunctioning component prior to the malfunction; and reconfiguring the system to include said third component in said second modified loop structure if the thermal-hydraulic parameters of said second modified loop match the thermal-hydraulic parameters of said first loop. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification