Integrating real-time simulation models into a SCADA environment : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Technology at Massey University
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Date
1997
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Massey University
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Abstract
Control system engineers have always envisaged the prospect of using the real-time models in an industrial setting. The inclusion of the real-time models can benefit industry in the following ways. 1. Operator Training - The operator can learn about how the various process react to control actions with the help of simulation models without affecting the real process itself. 2. Control Systems testing - The simulation models can be helpful in testing the control system software prior to trialing it on the real process. 3. Proccss Monitoring - Operators can compare the real process outputs with the simulation model outputs. This helps them in stopping the process when unusual conditions occur. 4. Testing for optimum operating conditions - Simulation models can be used to test for optimum operating conditions or for testing a certain operation at a new operating condition without affecting the real process. 5. Implementation of advanced control strategies - Advanced control strategics such as multivariable control, model predictive control and non linear control can be implemented as a real-time model without the development of separate real-time software. Even though using the real-time models can benefit the industry as mentioned modeling and real-time models have not found much favour in the industry. The reasons for this may be as follows: 1. Lack of awareness - Most of the plant managers/operators fail to understand what modeling results in and how it can improve the overall plant operation. 2. Lack of expertise - There is no expertise and/or tools in the company to develop the simulation models and implement it. 3. Cost of modeling - Producing a simulation model incurs significant costs. 4. Cost of implementation - Once the model is developed in the development environment it has to be transferred to the industrial platform. The cost of this transfer is high as the model software has to be more robust than the general purpose software. In order to produce real-time simulation models for an industrial setting there are two significant environments required. These are the development environment where the model is developed and secondly the implementation environment, where the model is used.
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Keywords
Mathematical models, Supervisory control systems, Computer simulation, Automatic data collection systems, Evaporators -- Automatic control