Operator interface for plant component control system

A process controller for a system including a vessel containing liquid, a charging subsystem for adding liquid to the vessel, and a letdown subsystem for removing liquid from the vessel, comprising:

• an operator interface having four visually distinct, substantially contiguous regions,
• the first region being dedicated to monitoring the level of liquid in the vessel,
• the second region being dedicated to monitoring the charging subsystem,
• the third region being dedicated to monitoring the letdown subsystem, and
• the fourth region being dedicated to the specification of a setpoint for each of said subsystems;
• signal transmission means for communicating digitized data between the system and the interface;
• control logic means coupled to the first signal transmission means, for defining at least three system master control logic schemes including,
• a first control logic, whereby both subsystems are automatically controlled to achieve a liquid level setpoint specified by the system,
• a second control logic, whereby the operator specifies a setpoint on the operation of one subsystem and the other subsystem is automatically controlled to achieve a liquid level setpoint specified by either the system or the operator, and
• a third control logic, whereby the operator specifies the level setpoint and at least one of the subsystems adjusts automatically to achieve the level setpoint.

A touch sensitive electro-luminescent display device for controlling a process dependent parameter in either automatic, semiautomatic or manual modes, wherein the device has a display screen substrate and means for generating images superimposed on the substrate, and the process is performed by at least two subsystems each of which has at least one component capable of adjusting a process independent variable, the device comprising:

• first, second and third substrate regions each having a respective plurality of superimposed static indicator and switch images thereon;
• a fourth substrate region that can be selectively activated to dynamically superimpose each of a plurality of indicator and switch images thereon;
• said superimposed images on the first substrate region including indicators of the current value of the parameter, the current setpoint for the parameter, and the current mode of control for the process;
• said superimposed images on the second region including,
• indicators of the current value of one of said variables, the current setpoint value for said one variable, the identification of the components capable of adjusting said one variable, and the current mode of operation of the components capable of adjusting said one variable, and
• a switch for dynamically selecting one of at least three first subsystem control image patterns in the fourth region, including touch sensitive images for opening or closing at least one of the components, adjusting the output demand of at least one of the components, and establishing an operator setpoint for the one variable;
• said superimposed images on the third region including,
• indicators of a bargraph representation of process deviation from setpoint, the current value of the other of said variables, the current setpoint value for said other variable, the identification of the components capable of adjusting said other variable, and the current mode of operation of the components capable of adjusting said other variable, and
• a switch for dynamically selecting one of at least three second subsystem image patterns in the fourth region, including opening or closing one or ore of the components, adjusting the output demand of one or more of the components, and establishing an operator override setpoint for the one variable.

A controller device by which an operator can adjust an operating variable in a process plant system from a plant control room, comprising:

• first means, included within the plant system, for storing a target value of the variable;
• second means responsive to the current and target values of the variable, for altering the variable toward the target value;
• third means, in the control room, for displaying the current value of the variable;
• fourth means, in the control room, for displaying the target value of the variable;
• fifth means, in the control room, for manually generating a first signal commensurate with a desired change in the target value of the variable;
• and
• sixth means, coupled to the first, fourth and fifth means, for receiving said first signal from the fifth means and sending second and third signals to the first and fourth means, respectively, commensurate with the desired change in the target value of the variable.

A method for incrementing and decrementing the target value of a plant operating variable from the value currently displayed to the operator in the plant control room, comprising:

• (a) providing a switch means having three manually selectable settings consisting of neutral increment, and decrement;
• (b) setting the switch means to neutral when the current value of the variable is to be maintained;
• (c) setting the switch means to the increment position when the value of the variable is to be increased;
• (d) while the switch is in the increment position,
• (i) increasing the target value of the variable by a first time rate of unit change for a first predetermined total increment, then
• (ii) increasing the target value by a second, higher time rate of unit change for a second predetermined total increment following the first total increment, followed by
• (iii) resetting the switch to the neutral position.