Abstract: Example methods and apparatus to predict process quality in a process control system are disclosed. A disclosed example method includes receiving process control information relating to a process at a first time including a first value associated with a first measured variable and a second value associated with a second measured variable, determining if a variation based on the received process control information associated with the process exceeds a threshold, if the variation exceeds the threshold, calculating a first contribution value based on a contribution of the first measured variable to the variation and a second contribution value based on a contribution of the second measured variable to the variation, determining at least one corrective action based on the first contribution value, the second contribution value, the first value, or the second value, and calculating a predicted process quality based on the at least one corrective action at a time after the first time.

Abstract: A process control system includes economic models disposed in communication with process control modules, as well as with sources of economic data such as cost, throughput and profit data, and uses the economic models to determine useful economic parameters or information associated with the actual operation of the process plant at the time the plant is operating. The economic models can be used to provide financial statistics such as profitability, cost of manufactured product, etc. in real time based on the actual current operating state of the process and the business data associated with the finished product, raw materials, etc. These financial statistics can be used to drive alarms and alerts within the process network and be used as inputs to process plant optimizers, etc. to provide for better or more optimal control of the process and to provide a better understanding of the conditions which lead to maximum profitability of the plant.

Abstract: A process control system includes economic models disposed in communication with process control modules, as well as with sources of economic data, such as cost, throughput and profit data, and uses the economic models to determine useful economic parameters or information associated with the actual operation of the process plant at the time the plant is operating. The economic models can be used to provide financial statistics such as profitability, cost of manufactured product, etc. in real time based on the actual current operating state of the process and the business data associated with the finished product, raw materials, etc. These financial statistics can be used to drive alarms and alerts within the process network and be used as inputs to process plant optimizers, etc. to provide for better or more optimal control of the process and to provide a better understanding of the conditions which lead to maximum profitability of the plant.

Abstract: Example methods and apparatus to configure a process control system using an electronic description language (EDL) script are disclosed. A disclosed example method comprises loading a first script representative of a process plant, the first script comprising an interpretive system-level script structured in accordance with an electronic description language, and compiling the first script to form a second script, the second script structured in accordance with a vendor-specific configuration language associated with a particular process control system for the process plant.

Abstract: A process control system includes economic models disposed in communication with process control modules, as well as with sources of economic data, such as cost, throughput and profit data, and uses the economic models to determine useful economic parameters or information associated with the actual operation of the process plant at the time the plant is operating. The economic models can be used to provide financial statistics such as profitability, cost of manufactured product, etc. in real time based on the actual current operating state of the process and the business data associated with the finished product, raw materials, etc. These financial statistics can be used to drive alarms and alerts within the process network and be used as inputs to process plant optimizers, etc. to provide for better or more optimal control of the process and to provide a better understanding of the conditions which lead to maximum profitability of the plant.

Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed that include consolidating data from multiple spreadsheets. Consolidating data from multiple spreadsheets includes receiving a selection of a plurality of spreadsheets via a graphical control panel that includes a spreadsheet selection area. The spreadsheet selection area includes a workbook selection area to select workbooks that are not open for inclusion in the selection of the plurality of spreadsheets. Consolidating data from multiple spreadsheets further includes receiving a selection of portions of data from the plurality of spreadsheets and executing automated consolidation of the portions of data by retrieving the portions of data and generating a final report spreadsheet. Consolidating data from multiple spreadsheets further includes appending the portions of data to the final report spreadsheet.

Abstract: A method of consolidating data from multiple spreadsheets includes selecting multiple spreadsheets (52). Portions of data from files corresponding to each of the spreadsheets (52) are also selected. Automated consolidation of said portions of data is executed. The consolidation includes retrieval of the portions of data, generation of a final report spreadsheet (124), and appendage of the portions of data to the final report spreadsheet (124).

Abstract: Example methods and apparatus to standardize data properties in a process control environment are disclosed. A disclosed example method includes associating a function block with a primary key. The example method also includes associating at least one data property associated with the process control environment with the primary key and storing an instance of the at least one data property in a history database associated with the process control environment.

Abstract: A process control configuration and management system provides a plurality of function blocks representing a plurality of devices in relation to a spatial layout of a facility in which the process control system is implemented. The configuration and management system also provides process control information and process simulation information related to each of the plurality of devices in relation to the spatial layout of the facility. The configuration and management system may be implemented on a handheld device and it may include a geographic positioning system providing geographic positioning data related to the handheld device and various devices in relation to the spatial layout of the facility.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods, apparatus and articles of manufacture for configuring a communication network associated with a plurality of wireless enabled field devices. A disclosed example method of establishing a communication network for use in a process control system having a controller and a plurality of wireless enabled field devices involves identifying a plurality of wireless communication links available for routing communications between the wirless enabled field devices and the controller. Each of the wireless enabled field devices is at least one of a sensor or an actuator. The example method also involves automatically assigning at least first and second ones of the plurality of wireless communication links to a first one of the wireless enabled field devices based on at least one predetermined signal criterion. The first wireless communication link wirelessly communicatively couples the first wireless enabled field device to a second wireless device.

Abstract: An appendable system includes a plurality of appendable devices that are adapted to interoperate with each other and/or a workstation via a communication network to monitor and/or control a process. Each of the appendable devices can communicate with one or more sensors and/or control outputs and includes a housing that facilitates mounting of the appendable device to a surface.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods, apparatus and articles of manufacture for configuring a communication network associated with a plurality of wireless enabled field devices. The disclosed methods, apparatus and articles of manufacture may compare identification information associated with a wireless enabled field device to configuration database information. Configuration information associated with the wireless enabled field device may be retrieved based on the comparison of the identification information to the configuration database information. The retrieved configuration information is sent to the wireless enabled field device via at least one wireless communication link to configure the wireless enabled field device.

Abstract: A simulation system attaches to a configuration database for one or more fully configured nodes of a process control system and copies the modules within those nodes into one or more simulation computers as simulation modules. The simulation system includes an algorithm that automatically creates a reference parameter module for each of the copied nodes that stores a reference parameter for each of the inputs, outputs or other references to signals external to the nodes. In the case of the Fieldbus function blocks, the simulation system automatically creates a function block within the simulation workstation in the protocol of the controller node which mimics the operation of the Fieldbus function block, and then creates the simulation system having those mimicked Fieldbus function blocks operating as if they had originally been configured to be in the controller being simulated, instead of within a field device external to the controller.

Abstract: An integrated optimization and control technique integrates an optimization procedure, such as a linear or quadratic programming optimization procedure, with advanced control, such as model predictive control, within a process plant in which the number of control and auxiliary variables can be greater than the number of manipulated variables within the process plant. The technique first determines a step response matrix defining the correlation between changes in the manipulated variables and each of the process variables that are used during optimization. A subset of the control variables and auxiliary variables is then selected to be used as inputs to a model predictive control routine used to perform control during operation of the process and a square M by M control matrix to be used by the model predictive control routine is generated.

Abstract: A method and device or monitoring parameters in a process reduces power consumption and bandwidth requirements in the transmission of the monitored parameter to for example, a monitoring application. In particular, new monitoring parameter values are only transmitted if the difference between a measured or calculated parameter value and the most recently transmitted value exceeds a limit, since the last communication of the parameter or if the time since the last communication of the parameter exceeds a preset refresh period. The determination as to whether to transmit the parameter can be applied to engineering unit values or raw values.

Abstract: An optimization technique for use in driving a process plant controller, such as a model predictive controller, uses an organized, systematic but computationally simple method of relaxing or redefining manipulated, control and/or auxiliary variable constraints when there is no feasible optimal solution within pre-established constraints, to thereby develop an achievable solution for use by the controller. The optimization routine uses penalized slack variables and/or redefines the constraint model in conjunction with the use of penalty variables to develop a new objective function, and then uses the new objective function to determine a control solution that bests meets the original constraint limits.

Abstract: A common process control graphical user interface plant operators, plant maintenance personnel, and management is disclosed which provides a real-time interface to both the process and the plant. The common interface is modular in design and is capable of supporting various specializations for each user type. Operator consoles are dedicated to each section of the plant and include additional functions such as maintenance, configuration, simulation and supervisory information. The unified for common graphical interface replaces control room displays filled with single case analog controllers, meters, and digital indicators. The common interface addresses the functions that previously were provided by the panel motor start/stop buttons and status indications, chart recorders, annunciator panels and subsystem interfaces.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: An apparatus is adapted to be used to create software and programming instructions for a distributed process control system having a user workstation remotely located from a distributed controller that controls one or more field devices using control modules. The apparatus includes a computer having a memory and a processing unit as well as a configuration application and a controller application stored on the computer memory to be executed on the processor. The configuration application is further capable of being executed on the user workstation of the distributed process control system to create the control modules for execution by the distributed controller while the controller application is adapted to be executed on the distributed controller to implement one of the control modules during operation of the distributed process control system.

Abstract: Graphical display support is provided within a process plant configuration, monitoring and simulation system to enable graphical displays to be created in a manner in which they are associated with one another in the runtime environment. In particular, a single graphic display editor may be used to create various interrelated graphic displays that may, for example, be accessed from one another in the runtime environment to provide further information about a process entity within one of the graphic displays, to scroll through adjacent sections of a process plant or to provide different displays for different functions within the process plant, such as for an operator viewing function, a simulation function and a maintenance function.