Method for comparing and selecting process control apparatus
First Claim
1. A method of configuring a process plant related to analyzing a plurality of process control instruments capable of use in a specific process control environment, comprising:
- receiving, via a computer device comprising an input device and a central processing unit having a processor and a memory, and selected from one of a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a personal digital assistant, a networked computer terminal, and a server, process environment data related to the specific process control environment in which at least one of the plurality of process control instruments is potentially to be used;
storing the received process control environment data in a memory associated with the computer device in a manner that allows the process control environment data to be accessed at a later time;
receiving, via the computer device, device data indicating device-specific operating characteristics for each of the plurality of process control instruments and storing the received device data in a memory associated with the computer device in a manner that allows the device data to be accessed at a later time;
enabling a user to select a source for at least one of the device data and the process environment data, from which source the computer device receives the at least one of the device data and the process environment data, and wherein the selected source for the at least one of the process environment data and the device data is one of a user input, a memory, and a database;
storing, in a memory associated with the computer device, a modeling routine to model, using the device data, the operation of each of the plurality of process control instruments within the specific process control environment defined by the received process environment data;
using the computer device, the modeling routine, the received process environment data and the device data to model the operation of each of the plurality of process control instruments within the specific process control environment defined by the received process environment data;
determining, based on the modeled operation of each of the plurality of process control instruments, using the computer device, one or more performance characteristics for each of the plurality of process control instruments indicating the modeled performance of each of the plurality of process control instruments when used in the specific process control environment and storing the one or more performance characteristics in a memory associated with the computer device in a manner that allows the one or more performance characteristics to be accessed at a later time;
retrieving the one or more stored performance characteristics from the memory associated with the computer device, to allow display to a user of the one or more performance characteristics; and
displaying, via a display device, the one or more performance characteristics for each of the plurality of the process control instruments simultaneously via the computer device to enable a user to simultaneously view the one or more performance characteristics for each of the plurality of process control instruments in a manner that allows a user to choose, from among the plurality of process control instruments, the process control instrument best suited for the specific process control environment in which the process control instrument is to be used.
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Abstract
A method for comparing and selecting process control apparatus is disclosed. The method employs software, executed on a stand-alone computer device, or accessible through the web, to retrieve data specific to a given process control environment, and calculate the performance characteristics of multiple types of process control equipment capable of meeting the demands of the application. The performance characteristics of each type can be provided in graphical form, at the same time, to enable a potential consumer to readily discern the advantages and disadvantages of each type of process control apparatus. In one embodiment, a purchase of the apparatus may then be made.
15 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A method of configuring a process plant related to analyzing a plurality of process control instruments capable of use in a specific process control environment, comprising:
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receiving, via a computer device comprising an input device and a central processing unit having a processor and a memory, and selected from one of a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a personal digital assistant, a networked computer terminal, and a server, process environment data related to the specific process control environment in which at least one of the plurality of process control instruments is potentially to be used; storing the received process control environment data in a memory associated with the computer device in a manner that allows the process control environment data to be accessed at a later time; receiving, via the computer device, device data indicating device-specific operating characteristics for each of the plurality of process control instruments and storing the received device data in a memory associated with the computer device in a manner that allows the device data to be accessed at a later time; enabling a user to select a source for at least one of the device data and the process environment data, from which source the computer device receives the at least one of the device data and the process environment data, and wherein the selected source for the at least one of the process environment data and the device data is one of a user input, a memory, and a database; storing, in a memory associated with the computer device, a modeling routine to model, using the device data, the operation of each of the plurality of process control instruments within the specific process control environment defined by the received process environment data; using the computer device, the modeling routine, the received process environment data and the device data to model the operation of each of the plurality of process control instruments within the specific process control environment defined by the received process environment data; determining, based on the modeled operation of each of the plurality of process control instruments, using the computer device, one or more performance characteristics for each of the plurality of process control instruments indicating the modeled performance of each of the plurality of process control instruments when used in the specific process control environment and storing the one or more performance characteristics in a memory associated with the computer device in a manner that allows the one or more performance characteristics to be accessed at a later time; retrieving the one or more stored performance characteristics from the memory associated with the computer device, to allow display to a user of the one or more performance characteristics; and displaying, via a display device, the one or more performance characteristics for each of the plurality of the process control instruments simultaneously via the computer device to enable a user to simultaneously view the one or more performance characteristics for each of the plurality of process control instruments in a manner that allows a user to choose, from among the plurality of process control instruments, the process control instrument best suited for the specific process control environment in which the process control instrument is to be used. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification