# US 12,769,290 B2 · Apparatuses, computer-implemented methods, and computer program products for processing multiple representations of a processing plant > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,769,290 B2 - Document ID: US12769290B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/184,300 - Filed: 2023-03-15 - Published: 2024-02-01 - Granted: 2026-10-20 - Earliest claimed: 2022-07-30 - Assignees: Honeywell International Inc. - Applicants: Honeywell International Inc. - Inventors: Christopher J. Webb; Joseph Z. Lu; Kiran Raviprakash - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12769290B2 ## CPC - G05B 19/41835: {characterised by program execution} - G05B 2219/41108: Controlled parameter such as gas mass flow rate - G05B: CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS OR ELEMENTS (systems for controlling or regulating non-electric variables G05D; systems for regulating electric or magnetic variables G05F; control devices or systems insofar as characterised by mechanical features only G05G) ## Abstract Embodiments of the present disclosure provide for generation and use of multiple representations of a processing plant, for example a refinery plant. In some embodiments a first representation is utilized to visualize the component(s) and/or connection(s) of the processing plant, with a second representation utilized to process one or more aspect(s) of the processing plant. The first representation in some embodiments represents the physical components and/or connections between such components to enable intuitive visualization and monitoring of the components thereof. The second representation in some embodiments represents a virtualized representation of the physical components and/or connections between such components in a manner that is better processable via one or more computing process(es). Such processing is performable to generate data for controlling configuration and/or operation of component(s) in the processing plant. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus for processing multiple representations of a processing plant, the apparatus comprising at least one processor and at least one non-transitory memory including computer-coded instructions thereon, the computer coded instructions, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to: identify external representation data representing a physical layout of the processing plant, wherein the external representation data comprises a physical representation of a physical component of the processing plant; and automatically generate internal representation data corresponding to the processing plant based at least in part on the external representation data, wherein the internal representation data comprises a plurality of virtual representations associated with the physical component of the processing plant, wherein each virtual representation corresponds to a flow of input and output products used by the physical component to produce a final product in a plurality of modes operable via the physical component of the processing plant; generate at least one optimized operational parameter corresponding to the physical component of the processing plant based at least in part on the internal representation data; and automatically control, via a user-interface, the physical component of the processing plant based on the at least one optimized operational parameter. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, the apparatus further caused to: cause operation of the physical component based at least in part on the at least one optimized operational parameter. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, the apparatus further caused to: configure a lift schedule based at least in part on the at least one optimized operational parameter. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one optimized operational parameter corresponds to a plurality of optimized amounts comprising an optimized amount corresponding to each product to be generated at least in part via the physical component over a particular time interval. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processing plant comprises a plurality of physical components corresponding to a plurality of physical representations, wherein the internal representation data comprises a different plurality of virtual representations associated with each component of the plurality of physical components, the apparatus further caused to: generate at least one optimized operational parameter corresponding to the plurality of physical components of the processing plant. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The apparatus according to claim 5, the apparatus further caused to: cause operation of the plurality of physical components based at least in part on the at least one optimized operational parameter. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, the apparatus further caused to: generate a user-facing interface based at least in part on the external representation data, wherein the user-facing interface includes at least one physical path associated with the physical representation of the physical component. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the physical component comprises a blender configurable to activate the plurality of modes associated with a batch blender. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each modal path corresponds to a different product of a plurality of products generable via the physical component. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, the apparatus further caused to: control operation of at least the physical component via a mode of the plurality of modes at a plurality of time slices. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each virtual representation of the plurality of virtual representations associated with the physical component comprises a virtual blender associated with a different product of a plurality of products generable via the physical component. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the physical component embodies a crude flow unit. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the physical component comprises a first physical component comprising a batch blender, wherein the processing plant comprises the first physical component and a second physical component comprising a run-down blender, the apparatus further caused to: cause configuration of the first physical component utilizing a batch blender optimization process that generates at least one optimized operational parameter generated based at least in part on the internal representation data; and cause configuration of the second physical component utilizing a run-down blender optimization process, wherein the batch blender optimization process differs from the run-down blender optimization process. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the external representation data is embodied as a flowsheet model. ### Claim 15 A computer-implemented method for processing multiple representations of a processing plant comprising: identifying external representation data representing a physical layout of the processing plant, wherein the external representation data comprises a physical representation of a physical component of the processing plant; and automatically generating internal representation data corresponding to the processing plant based at least in part on the external representation data, wherein the internal representation data comprises a plurality of virtual representations associated with the physical component of the processing plant, wherein each virtual representation corresponds to a flow of input and output products used by the physical component to produce a final product in a plurality of modes operable via the physical component of the processing plant; generate at least one optimized operational parameter corresponding to the physical component of the processing plant based at least in part on the internal representation data; and control, via a user-interface, the physical component of the processing plant based on the at least one optimized operational parameter. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The computer-implemented method according to claim 15, wherein the processing plant comprises a plurality of physical components corresponding to a plurality of physical representations, wherein the internal representation data comprises a different plurality of virtual representations associated with each component of the plurality of physical components, the computer-implemented method further comprising: generating at least one optimized operational parameter corresponding to the plurality of physical components of the processing plant. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The computer-implemented method according to claim 15, the computer-implemented method further comprising: generating a user-facing interface based at least in part on the external representation data, wherein the user-facing interface includes at least one physical path associated with the physical representation of the physical component. ### Claim 18 A computer program product for processing multiple representations of a processing plant comprising at least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer program code stored thereon that, in execution with at least one processor, configures the computer program product for: identifying external representation data representing a physical layout of the processing plant, wherein the external representation data comprises a physical representation of a physical component of the processing plant; and automatically generating internal representation data corresponding to the processing plant based at least in part on the external representation data, wherein the internal representation data comprises a plurality of virtual representations associated with the physical component of the processing plant, wherein each virtual representation corresponds to a flow of input and output products used by the physical component to produce a final product in a plurality of modes operable via the physical component of the processing plant; generate at least one optimized operational parameter corresponding to the physical component of the processing plant based at least in part on the internal representation data; and automatically control, via a user-interface, the physical component of the processing plant based on the at least one optimized operational parameter.