Transparent Models For Large Scale Optimization And Control

CATEGORY: PROCESS CONTROL
PATENT
Transparent Models For Large Scale Optimization And Control
United States Patent Application 20120239169
Inventors:
Smith, Alexander Barton (Round Rock, TX, US)
Sayyar-rodsari, Bijan (Austin, TX, US)
Application Number:
13/051819
Publication Date:
09/20/2012
Assignee:
Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc. (Mayfield Heights, Oh, Us)
Abstract:
The present invention provides novel techniques for graphically modeling, displaying, and interacting with parametric hybrid models used to optimize and control components of industrial plants and enterprises. In particular, a graphical modeling tool of a control/optimization system for controlling a plant or enterprise is configured to transmit a graphical user interface to a user, wherein the graphical user interface enables a plurality of command inputs relating to a plurality of parametric hybrid models based on a security access level of the user. The parametric hybrid models may be displayed by the graphical user interface as nodes of a network with connections connecting the nodes. The user may graphically manipulate the nodes and connections associated with the parametric hybrids models to either modify optimization constraints of the model network, or actually modify the manner in which the parametric hybrid models function (e.g., inputs, outputs, parameters, and so forth, of the parametric hybrid models), depending on the access level of the user.
BACKGROUND
The present invention generally relates to modeling for optimization and control of industrial plants and enterprises. More particularly, the present invention relates to systems and methods for graphically modeling, displaying, and interacting with parametric hybrid models used to optimize and control the operation of industrial plants and enterprises and/or the operation of some of their components.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION
The current state of operation in an industrial facility, such as a manufacturing plant, an oil refinery, a power plant, or even a utility plant on a college campus, treats planning, scheduling, and control (manual or automatic) as separate disciplines. In particular, the prevailing practice views planning and scheduling as offline (i.e., not during operation of the plant) activities that serve as inputs to an online (i.e., during operation) component of the plant (i.e., operator or control system actions).
This separation introduces significant challenges to the robustness, cost-effectiveness, and environmental footprint of the operation, and has long been recognized by plant operation personnel and managers, as well as business management personnel. A solution to this challenge, however, has proven elusive. Despite significant investment in sensing and control infrastructures, database systems, and business management software, creating a production schedule that meets “current” financial goals of the enterprise and respects the operational constraints of the plant has remained a formidable challenge.
The plant operation is often given a schedule that is either not feasible or does not optimally account for the current operating conditions of the plant. When faced with this challenge, plant operation is unable to contribute to the modification of the outdated schedule, as the model used for scheduling is viewed as a “black box” to the plant operation. To add to the complexity, the model typically relates to the entire plant, and the knowledge base for the model is thus distributed throughout the plant. Consistent modification of the relevant model from a distributed set of expertise throughout the plant has proven a significant challenge. Furthermore, the scheduling problem setup and execution is also a cumbersome process for which the required expertise is not widely available.
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