On line interactive monitoring of the execution of process operating procedures

A method of on-line monitoring of the execution by a human operator of procedures for a complex process facility comprising the steps of:

• storing electrical signals representative of step by step procedures for the complex process facility;
• generating sequentially from said stored electrical signals a visual representation of the current step to be executed of said step by step procedures, in the form of a textual statement of the current step and a textual statement of operator action recommended in response to said current step;
• generating visual prompts informing the operator of how to generate an input signal in response to the visible textual statement of recommended action;
• providing means for the operator to electrically generate such an input signal;
• indexing the current step to the next step in the stored step by step procedures in response to an input signal generated by the operator;
• measuring selected process parameters and generating parameter signals representative of the measured values of said selected parameters;
• and
• simultaneously with said visual representation of the current procedure step, and in response to predetermined values of said parameter signals indicative of an abnormal process condition, generating a visual indication of the existence of the abnormal condition.

A method of on-line monitoring of the execution of procedures for a complex process facility comprising the steps of:

• storong sets of electrical signals representative of a plurality of step-by-step procedures for the complex process facility;
• generating on an on-line basis, parameter signals representative of the current values of selected process parameters;
• selecting the set of electrical signals representative of one of said step-by-step procedures based upon the values of said parameters signals;
• generating sequentially from said selected electrical signals a visual representation of each step of the selected procedure, one step at a time, at least some of said steps including generating a visual recommendation to the operator that a transfer be made to another set of stored electrical signals representative of another one of said step-by-step procedures based upon the current values of certain of said process parameters selected by the visually presented step;
• providing means for an operator to generate an electrical response signal to each visually presented step;
• indexing said visual display to the next step in the selected procedures in response to each response signal;
• and
• providing mens for the operator to select between generating an electrical transfer signal and an electrical override signal in response to said visual recommendation, selecting in response to a transfer signal said another set of stored electrical signals representative of another one of said procedures for sequential generation of a visual representation of each step, and continuing in response to an override signal to generate a visual respresentation of each step in the first selected procedure.

A method of on-line monitoring of the execution of procedures for a nuclear power plant comprising the steps of:

• storing sets of electrical signals representative of a plurality of step-by-step plant procedures;
• generating on an on-line basis, parameter signals representative of the current values of selected plant parameters;
• selecting a set of electrical signals representative of one of said step-by-step procedures;
• generating sequentially from said selected electrical signals a visual representation of each step of the selected procedure;
• electrically monitoring the current values of designated ones of said parameter signals in parallel with the sequential generation of a visual representation of each step of the selected procedure;
• generating a visual representation of a recommendation to transfer to a designated set of stored electrical signals representative of a different procedure than the selected procedure in response to selected values of said designated parameters;
• providing means for an operator to select between generating an electric transfer signal and an electric override signal;
• and
• electrically selecting said different set of stored signals for generating sequentially the visual representation of each step of said different procedures in response to the generation of a transfer signal by the operator, and continuing to generate a visual representation of each step of the first selected procedure in response to an override signal.

Apparatus for on-line interactive monitoring of the execution of procedures in a complex process plant comprising:

• a plurality of sensors for generating sensor signals representative of the current values of a plurality of plant parameters;
• a storage medium for storing electrical signals representative of the steps of a plurality of step-by-step procedures as a current step, to process selected
• a digital computer programmed to sequentially select stored signals representative of a selected one of the steps of one of said plurality of step-by-step procedures as a current step, to process selected sensor signals to determine the status of a process condition selected by the current step and recommended action as a result thereof, and to select from said library textual statement signals representative of the current step, the status of the designated process condition and the recommended action;
• a display device for generating a visible display of said textual statements;
• and
• an input device including means by which an operator generates a response signal to the visible display, said digital computer being further programmed to generate in the display device selected prompts including a completion prompt to indicate completion of the action recommended by the current step and an override prompt to indicate an override of the recommended action, said input device including means for the operator to generate completion and override response signals responsive to the respective prompts.

A method of on line monitoring of the simultaneous execution of two different procedures for a complex process facility comprising the steps of:

• storing electrical signals representative of at least two, step-by-step procedures for the complex process facility;
• generating parameter status signals representative of the real-time status of predetermined process parameters and storing said parameter status signals in a common memory;
• electrically selecting electrical signals representative of one of said procedures as a first active procedure, presenting sequentially on a first display a visual textual statement of action recommended by each step of said first active procedure to be executed, said actions affecting the status of some of said stored parameter status signals, and simultaneously electrically monitoring selected parameter status signals stored in the common memory and generating a visual indication on said first display of any conditions represented by the real-time status of said selected parameter status signals which conflict with the first active procedure;
• and
• simultaneously electrically selecting electrical signals representative of another one of said procedures as a second active procedure, presenting sequentially on a second display a visual textual statement of action recommended by each step of said second active procedure to be executed, said actions affecting the status of certain of said stored parameter status signals, and simultaneously electrically monitoring predetermined ones of said parameter status signals stored in the common memory and generating a visual indication on said second display of any conditions represented by the real-time status of said predetermined ones of said parameter status signals which conflict with the second active procedure.

Apparatus for on-line monitoring of the simultaneous execution of two different procedures for a complex process facility comprising:

• a plurality of sensors for generating parameter signals representative of the current values of a plurality of facility parameters;
• digital processing means having memory in which at least two, step-by-step procedures and libraries of textual statements are stored and including common memory, said digital processing means being programmed, to process said parameter signals to generate parameter status signals representative of the real-time conditions in the facility, to store said parameter status signals in said common memory, to independently sequentially select a step from two different step-by-step procedures stored in memory as the current step of a first and second active procedure respectively, to independently determine as to the current step of each active procedure the condition of associated stored parameter status signals and action recommended as a result hereof, to independently select from said library, textual statements for the current step and the actions recommended thereby for each active procedure, to independently as to each active procedure simultaneously monitor certain parameter status signals stored in said common memory and when the values thereof indicate a conflict with the associated active procedure, to select a textual statement from the library indicative of the same;
• and
• display means for generating for each active procedure a visible display of the textual statement of the current step and the action recommended thereby, and when conditions so indicate, the textual statement of a conflict between the monitored parameter status signals and that active procedure.

A method of on-line monitoring of the simultaneous execution of two different procedures for a nuclear power plant comprising the steps of:

• storing electrical signals representative of at least two, step-by-step procedures for the plant;
• generating parameter status signals representantive of the real-time status of predetermined process parameters and storing said parameter status signals in a common memory;
• electronically selecting electrical signals representative of one of said procedures as a first active procedure, electrically determining for each step of said first active procedure the status of designated ones of the parameter status signals stored in said common memory, presenting sequentially on a first display a visual textual statement of action recommended by each step of said first active procedure to be executed based upon the status of said designated parameter status signals, said actions affecting the status of some of said stored parameter status signals, and simultaneously electrically monitoring selected parameter status signals stored in the common memory and generating a visual indication on said first display of any conditions represented by the real-time status of said selected parameter status signals which conflict with the first active procedure;
• and
• simultaneously electrically selecting electrical signals representative of another one of said procedures as a second active procedure, electrically determining for each step of said second active procedure the status of designated ones of the parameter status signals stored in said common memory, presenting sequentially on a second display a visual textual statement of action recommended by each step of said second active procedure to be executed based upon the status of said designated parameter status signals, said actions affecting the status of certain of said stored parameter status signals, and simultaneously electrically monitoring predetermined ones of said parameter status signals stored in the common memory and generating a visual indication on said second display of any conditions represented by the real-time status of said predetermined ones of said parameter status signals which conflict with the second active procedure.