Stream flow chemical process information system and method

• US 9,524,285 B2
• Filed: 04/29/2013
• Issued: 12/20/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: FLOWatch, LLC
• Original Assignee: FLOWatch, LLC
• Inventors: Levine, Bruno, Madireddi, Kapaleeswar, Panganamamula, Arvind
• Primary Examiner(s): Hailu, Tadeese
• Application Number:
  US13/986,408
• Publication Number:
  US 20140325331A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,331 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/174 Form filling; Merging

Abstract

A machine-implemented system and method for defining process information is disclosed. In one embodiment, the system or method allows a user to list processes, define processes using an input form, list process parameters, list sampling points, define sampling points using an input form, and list sampling point parameters for a chemical process or processes. Enhancements can include functionality that allows a user to list process streams, define process streams using an input form, list process stream parameters, list process stream chemicals, and list process chemicals. Other enhancements can include functionality that allows a user to list reports, render reports using an input form, and list sampling point logs. The objective is to allow users to log, report, and chart process data using electronic input forms that do not require the writing of programming code by the person defining the process or processes.

Claims

1. A form-based user-configurable machine-implemented stream flow chemical process information system, wherein:

the stream flow chemical process comprises a continuous water-based fluid flow,

and the system comprises;

a chemical process listing module that displays a chemical process list on a computer screen;

a chemical process definition module responsive to the chemical process list wherein the chemical process definition module comprises;

an input form displayed on the computer screen configured for entering and saving chemical process definition information for a continuos water-based fluid flow chemical process in the chemical process list, wherein the chemical process definition information further comprises;

a stage quantity identifier configured for identifying the number of stages in the chemical process; and

a placement order identifier configured for identifying the placement order of the chemical process in the chemical process list; and

a chemical process parameter listing module that displays a list of chemical process parameter list for the chemical process, wherein the chemical processes parameter list comprises a pressure, a temperature, and at least one parameter selected from the group of acidity, alkalinity, measured material flow, pH, turbidity, sludge production rate, total discharge, and total organic carbon;

a chemical sampling point listing module that displays a chemical sampling point list for the chemical process list; and

a chemical sampling point definition module responsive to the chemical sampling point list wherein the chemical sampling point definition module comprises;

an input form displayed on the computer screen configured for entering and saving chemical sampling point definition information for a chemical sampling point in the chemical sampling point list wherein the chemical sampling point definition information further comprises chemical sampling point physical location information; and

a chemical sampling point parameter listing module that displays a chemical sampling point parameter list for the chemical sampling point, wherein the chemical sampling point parameter list comprises at least one parameter selected from the group of acidity, alkalinity, measured material flow, pH, pressure, temperature, turbidity, sludge production rate, total discharge, and total organic carbon.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein:

the system further comprises;

a chemical process stream listing module that displays a chemical process stream list on the computer screen; and

a chemical process stream definition module responsive to the chemical process stream list wherein the chemical process stream definition module comprises;

an input form displayed on the computer screen configured for entering and saving chemical process stream definition information for a chemical process stream in the chemical process stream list; and

a chemical process stream parameter listing module that displays a chemical process stream parameter list for the chemical process stream;

a process stream chemicals listing module that displays a process stream chemical list for the chemical process stream; and

the chemical process definition module further comprises a process chemical listing module that displays a process chemicals list for the chemical process.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein:

the system further comprises;

a chemical process report listing module that displays a chemical process report list for the chemical process; and

a chemical process report rendering module responsive to the chemical process report listing module wherein the chemical process report rendering module comprises an input form displayed on the computer screen further comprising a submit button, the actuation of which causes a chemical process report to be shown on the computer screen; and

the chemical processes parameter list further comprises acidity, alkalinity, measured material flow, pH, turbidity, sludge production rate, total discharge, and total organic carbon.

4. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a chemical sampling point log listing module that displays a chemical sampling point log search fields list for the chemical process.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the system further comprises:

a chemical process report listing module that displays a chemical process report list for the chemical process processes;

a chemical process report rendering module responsive to the chemical process report listing module wherein the chemical process report rendering module comprises an input form displayed on the computer screen further comprising a submit button, the actuation of which causes a chemical process report to be shown on the computer screen; and

a chemical sampling point log listing module that displays of chemical sampling point log search fields list for the chemical process.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the chemical process definition module form further comprises:

a plurality of chemical process definition input fields responsive to user input comprising a chemical process name field and a chemical process type field;

a save button displayed on the computer screen that is responsive to user input; and

a chemical process data movement element that transfers the user-provided contents of the chemical process definition input fields to a computer memory in response to a signal from the save button wherein the data movement element does not require computer-generated code to transfer the user input field content into the computer memory.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising a user listing module and a user definition module wherein said user definition module is responsive to the user listing module and the user listing module further comprises a user function listing module and wherein:

the user listing module shows an existing system user list;

the user definition module comprises an input form displayed on the computer screen comprising a user definition input field; and

the user function listing module allows a user with the right permission to view and change an attribute of a module in the system.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the chemical process information system is implemented using a client-server architecture in which chemical process forms are displayed on a client computing device and data is stored on a server computing device connected to the client computing device.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein:

the chemical process forms on the client computing device are displayed using a program selected from the group of a web browser and application software residing on the client computing device; and

the client computing device and the server computing device communicate using an internet protocol.

10. The system of claim 1 further comprising a chemical process set organization module configured for grouping chemical processes and chemical process streams into a chemical process set.

11. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a chemical plant definition module configured for grouping chemical processes and chemical process streams into a chemical plant;

a chemical facility definition module configured for grouping multiple chemical plants into a chemical facility; and

a chemical organization definition module configured for grouping multiple chemical facilities into a chemical organization.

12. The system of claim 11 further comprising:

a chemical process asset management module wherein the chemical process asset management module is configured for listing assets, editing assets, and adding assets.

13. The system of claim 11 further comprising:

a chemical facility point management module wherein the chemical facility points management module is configured for listing chemical facility points, editing chemical facility points, and adding chemical facility points.

14. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a chemical process maintenance management module wherein the chemical process Maintenance management module is configured for listing chemical process maintenance items, editing chemical process maintenance items, and adding chemical process maintenance items.

15. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a chemical process schedule management module wherein the chemical process schedule management module is configured for listing chemical process schedule items, editing chemical process schedule items, and adding chemical process schedule items.

16. The system of claim 1 further comprising a data import and export function wherein each imported and exported datum comprises:

a value that represents a measurement stored in the system; and

a key that provides contextual information for the value.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein the format of the data being imported is from the group of Extensible Markup Language, and Java Script Object Notation, and a text file.

18. The system of claim 1 wherein the computer screen is part of a mobile electronic device selected from the group of a tablet computer and a mobile phone.

19. A form-based method for defining and recording stream flow process information, the method comprising the steps of:

electronically connecting a client computing device to a server computing device;

entering stream flow water-based fluid chemical process definition information into a stream flow water-based fluid chemical process definition form displayed on the client computing device wherein;

the stream flow water-based fluid chemical process information comprises at least one stream flow water-based fluid chemical process;

the process comprises at least one stream flow water-based fluid chemical process definition;

the stream flow water-based fluid chemical process definition comprises at least one stream flow water-based fluid chemical process parameter;

the stream flow water-based fluid chemical process definition form comprises at least two stream flow water-based fluid chemical input fields comprising a process stream flow water-based fluid chemical name field and a stream flow water-based fluid chemical process type field; and

the stream flow water-based fluid chemical process definition form further comprises a save button the actuation of which causes data to be saved on the server computing device; and

entering information for at least one sampling point for a process into a sampling point form displayed on the client computing device wherein;

the sampling point information comprises at least one sampling point definition;

the sampling point definition comprises at least one sampling point parameter;

the sampling point definition input fields comprise a sampling point definition name field and a sampling point definition type field; and

the sampling point definition form field further comprises a save button the actuation of which causes data to be saved on the server computing device.

20. A form based client-server system for defining and recording stream flow chemical process information, the system comprising:

a computer-readable memory wherein the memory is located in a device selected from the group of a server computer, a client computer, and a combination of the client computer and the server computer;

a computer program stored on the computer-readable memory and adapted to be executed on a processor wherein the computer program displays the following on a client computer;

a list of stream flow water-based fluid chemical processes;

a list of chemical process definitions information for each water-based fluid chemical process in the water-based fluid chemical process list wherein the chemical process definition information further comprises;

a stage quantity identifier configured for identifying the number of stages in the chemical process; and

a placement order identifier configured for identifying the placement order of the chemical process in the chemical process list;

a list of chemical process parameter information for each water-based fluid chemical process in the chemical process list wherein the chemical process parameter information further comprises;

a pressure;

a temperature; and

at least one parameter selected from the group of acidity, alkalinity, measured material flow, pH, turbidity, sludge production rate, total discharge, and total organic carbon;

a list of chemicals for each water-based fluid chemical process in the chemical process list;

a list of sampling points for the water-based fluid chemical processes in the chemical process list; and

a list of sampling point parameters for each sampling point in the sampling point list wherein the sampling parameter list comprises at least one parameter selected from the group of acidity, alkalinity, measured material flow, pH, pressure, temperature, turbidity, sludge production rate, total discharge, and total organic carbon.