Field device digital twins in process control and automation systems

A method of controlling a process control or automation system (PCAS), the method comprising:

• instantiating in a compute fabric a first plurality of micro-encapsulated execution environments (MEEEs) that cooperate to execute a control algorithm to control a plurality of physical field devices in the PCAS;
• instantiating in the compute fabric a plurality of second MEEEs, each of the second MEEEs executing a digital twin of a corresponding physical field device;
• communicatively coupling each of the second MEEEs to one or more of the first plurality of MEEEs and to the corresponding physical field device;
• receiving at each of the second MEEEs, from the corresponding physical field devices, one or more parameters, and updating each second MEEE to mimic the non-physical operation of the corresponding physical field device;
• sending from each of the second MEEEs, to one or more of the first MEEEs, the one or more parameters received from the corresponding physical field device, thereby allowing the first MEEEs to execute the control algorithm;
• and
• sending from each of the second MEEEs, to the corresponding physical field devices, data received from the one or more first MEEEs such that control is effected.

A micro-encapsulated execution environment (MEEE) instantiated on a compute fabric operating a process control or automation system (PCAS), the MEEE executing a digital twin service configured to:

• mirror a unique network identifier or address of a corresponding physical field device in a process plant or automation plant controlled by the PCAS;
• (i) (a) receive, from the corresponding physical field device, one or more measured parameter values and (b) send to one or more other MEEEs executing on the compute fabric the received one or more measured parameter values, the one or more other MEEEs executing a control algorithm to control the process plant or automation plant, and/or (ii) (a) receive from one or more other MEEEs executing on the compute fabric one or more set points or commands for the corresponding physical field device and (b) send, to the corresponding physical field device the received one or more set points or commands;
• and
• maintain in a memory of the MEEE a plurality of values identical to a plurality of values stored in a memory of the corresponding physical field device.