Device and method for monitoring the operation of an industrial installation

• US 6,288,650 B2
• Filed: 12/10/1998
• Issued: 09/11/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/24/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Alpes Systeme Automation
• Original Assignee: Alpes Systeme Automation
• Inventors: Chavand, André
• Primary Examiner(s): TWEEL JR, JOHN ALEXANDER
• Application Number:
  US09/208,417
• Publication Number:
  US 20010013832A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,006 Days
• Field of Search: 340/679, 340/525, 340/505, 340/506, 340/825.06, 340/825.36, 364/188
• US Class Current: 340/679
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 13/02 Special adaptations of indicating, measuring, or monitoring equipment measuring in general G01
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2221/037 Containing pollutant, e.g. H2S, Cl
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2250/032 using computers
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2250/036 using alarms
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2250/043 Pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2260/038 Detecting leaked fluid
• CPC Class Codes: F17D 3/00 Arrangements for supervising or controlling working operations
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 23/0272 Presentation of monitored results, e.g. selection of status reports to be displayed; Filtering information to the user

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for monitoring the operation of an industrial installation (3) comprising functional members (5), the said device (1) comprising groups (G₁, G₂ . . . G_n) of detectors (D_1,1, . . . D_n,j) that defect the operating status of the installation (3) these each being associated with a particular aspect of the monitoring, and a display unit (11) comprising means (13) of communicating the operating statuses picked up by the said detectors (D_1,1, . . . D_n,j). The device comprises, arranged between the said detectors (D_1,1, . . . D_n,j) and the display unit (11), means (15) for processing the operating statuses picked up by the said detectors (D_1,1, . . . D_n,j) and for controlling the selective displaying, on the said display unit (11), of information relating to overall operating statuses of predetermined groups (G₁, G₂ . . . G_n) of detectors (D_1,1, . . . D_n,j).

Claims

1. Device for monitoring the operation of an industrial installation, wherein the installation comprises functional members, the device comprising groups of detectors that detect the operating status of each of the functional members, wherein each group of detectors is associated with a particular functional aspect that is to be monitored, and a display unit comprising means of communicating the operating statuses picked up by the detectors, wherein the means of communicating the operating statuses comprises arranged between the detectors and the display unit, means for processing the operating statuses picked up by the detectors and for controlling the selective displaying, on the display unit, of information relating to an overall operating status of each group of detectors.

2. Device according to claim 1, wherein the means (15) for processing and controlling the selective displaying comprise a unit (19) via which an operator can input commands, and means (21) for storing in memory plans, each of which depicts at least part of the layout of the functional members (5) of the installation, the said plans being displayed, under the control of the operator, by the said display unit (11) together with at least one item of information indicating on the displayed plan the geographical position of at least one malfunction picked up by at least one detector (D_1,1, . . . D_n,j) of a predetermined group (D_1,1, . . . D_n,j).

3. Device according to claim 2, wherein the said plans represent various levels of detail, and in that the means (15) for processing and controlling the selective displaying comprise means (23), under the control of the operator, for selecting plans to move on from one level of detail to another.

4. Device according to claim 3, wherein the plans with the highest level of detail each depict, as a synoptic view, a station (P₁, P₂, . . . P_o) for supplying or distributing gas, and in that the communicating means (13) comprise means (25) of displaying, on these plans with the highest level of detail, values of measurements picked up by the detectors (D_1,1, . . . D_n,j) associated with this basic entity and representing the operating status thereof.

5. Device according to claim 3, wherein the said plans comprise a general plan which has the lowest level of detail and depicts the installation (3) in its entirety, this general plan being displayed permanently and in parallel with plans with a higher level of detail by the said display unit (11), and in that the communicating means (13) comprise means (27) of displaying, on this general plan, an item of information that relates to the position of that part of the installation that is depicted in parallel on another synoptic diagram with a higher level of detail.

6. Device according to claim 1, wherein the means (15) for processing and controlling the selective displaying comprise means (29) of coding the operating statuses so that the said information can be displayed in coded form.

7. Device according to claim 6, wherein the code used by the coding means (29) is a three-colour code, in which one colour is associated with correct operation, one with a malfunction of minor significance and one with a significant malfunction.

15. Device according to claim 2, wherein the means for processing and controlling the selective displaying comprise means of coding the operating statuses so that the said information can be displayed in coded form.

16. Device according to claim 3, wherein the means for processing and controlling the selective displaying comprise means of coding the operating statuses so that the said information can be displayed in coded form.

17. Device according to claim 4, wherein the means for processing and controlling the selective displaying comprise means of coding the operating statuses so that the said information can be displayed in coded form.

18. Device according to claim 5, wherein the means for processing and controlling the selective displaying comprise means of coding the operating statuses so that the said information can be displayed in coded form.

23. The device according to claim 1, wherein the particular aspect that is to be monitored is a gas leak or an operating status of a functional member.

27. Device according to claim 1, wherein the industrial installation is an installation for supplying gas for the manufacture of circuits in the microelectronics industry.

8. Method for monitoring the operation of an industrial installation, the installation comprising functional members, wherein the method comprises the following steps of:

detecting a functional status of the functional members;

forming groups of detected functional statuses, wherein each group is associated with a particular functional aspect that is to be monitored; and

permanently displaying an overall operating status of each group of detected functional statuses on a display unit.

9. Method according to claim 8, further comprising in a step which consists in the said display unit (11) displaying, under the control of an operator, a plan that depicts at least part of the layout of the functional members of the installation together with at least one item of information indicating on the displayed plan the geographical position of at least one detected malfunction.

10. Method according to claim 9, wherein the said plans depict various levels of detail and in that it further comprises the step which consists in selecting, under the control of the operator, a plan in order to move on from one level of detail to another.

11. Method according to claim 10, wherein the said plans with the highest level of detail each depict, in a synoptic view, a station (P₁, P₂, . . . P_o) for supplying or distributing gas, and in that it comprises the step which consists in displaying, on these plans with the highest level of detail, values of measurements that characterize the detected operating status.

12. Method according to claim 10, wherein the said plans comprise a general plan which has the lowest level of representation and depicts the installation (3) in its entirety, and that it comprises the step which consists in displaying this general plan permanently and in parallel with plans with a higher level of detail on the said display unit (11), and in that there is displayed on this general plan, an item of information that relates to the position of that part of the installation that is depicted in parallel on another synoptic diagram with a higher level of detail.

13. Method according to claim 8, further comprising the step which consists in coding the operating statuses and in displaying the operating statuses in coded form.

14. Method according to claim 13, wherein the code used for coding is a three-colour code in which one colour is associated with correct operation, one with a malfunction of minor significance and one with a significant malfunction.

19. Method according to claim 9, wherein the method further comprises the step of coding the operating statuses and displaying the operating statuses in coded form.

20. Method according to claim 10, wherein the method further comprises the step of coding the operating statuses and displaying the operating statuses in coded form.

21. Method according to claim 11, wherein the method further comprises the step of coding the operating statuses and displaying the operating statuses in coded form.

22. Method according to claim 12, wherein the method further comprises the step of coding the operating statuses and displaying the operating statuses in coded form.

24. The method according to claim 8, wherein the particular aspect that is to be monitored is a gas leak or an operational status of a specific station.

28. Method according to claim 8, wherein the industrial installation is an installation for supplying gas for the manufacture of circuits in the microelectronics industry.

25. Device for monitoring the operation of an industrial installation, wherein the installation comprises functional members, the device comprising groups of detectors that detect the operating status of each of the functional members, wherein each group of detectors is associated with a particular functional aspect that is to be monitored, and a display unit comprising a device for communicating the operating statuses picked up by the detectors, wherein the device for communicating the operating statuses comprises, arranged between the detectors and the display unit, a device for processing the operating statuses picked by the detectors and for controlling the selected displaying, on the display unit, of information relating to an overall operating status of each group of detectors.

26. Device according to claim 25, wherein the industrial installation is an installation for supplying gas for the manufacture of circuits in the microelectronics industry.