UPDATING AND UTILIZING DYNAMIC PROCESS SIMULATION IN AN OPERATING PROCESS ENVIRONMENT

摘要

A simulation system that includes interconnected simulation blocks which use process models to perform simulation activities for a process plant is integrated into a process control environment for the process plant in a manner that makes the simulation system easy to use and easily updated for on-line process simulation. The disclosed simulation system enables future predicted values as well as the current predicted values of process parameters produced by the simulation system to be made available for performance evaluation as well as to guide plant operations. Additionally, the simulation system is connected to the operating process plant to receive various on-line process plant measurements, and uses these measurements to automatically update the process models used in the simulation system, to thereby keep the simulation system coordinated with the actual operating conditions of the process plant.

主权项

1. A process control system for controlling a process plant, the process control system comprising:
a plurality of field devices operable to process physical materials to produce a product; a process controller communicatively coupled to the plurality of field devices and operable to execute one or more control modules to control the plurality of field devices, the control module configured to accept, at an input of the control module, a measured value or parameter and to generate an output to control one of the plurality of field devices; and a simulation block configured to simulate a portion of the process control system, the simulation block including:
a process model that models the portion of the process control system and is configured to receive live data from the process control system while the process control system is operating; anda simulation unit that, during a period of operation of the process plant, uses (1) the process model and (2) data from the process control system during the period of operation of the process plant, to simulate the operation of the portion of the process control system during the period of operation of the process plant, to generate a simulated output corresponding to the measured value or parameter accepted by the control module during the period of operation of the process plant; wherein the process controller is configured to automatically provide the simulated output to the input of the control module when the measured value or parameter is known to be faulty or has a bad status.