Integration of process modules and expert systems in process plants

A configuration system for configuring a process control system of a process plant, the configuration system comprising:

• a configuration database stored in a computer readable memory to store a configuration of the process control system;
• and
• a process module stored in the configuration database, the process module comprising:
• a plurality of process objects, each process object representing a corresponding physical entity in the process plant, the process module representing a logical unit in the process plant;
• and
• a set of expert rules associated with the process module and adapted to be applied by an expert engine to detect at least one abnormal situation associated with the logical unit, the set of expert rules referencing information exposed by the process module.

A system for monitoring a process control system of a process plant, the system comprising:

• a processor;
• a computer readable memory;
• a process module stored in the computer readable memory, the process module comprising a plurality of interconnected process objects, each process object representing a corresponding physical entity in the process plant, the process module representing a logical unit in the process plant, each process object having a parameter memory storage to store parameter data corresponding to the physical entity represented by the process object, wherein at least some of the process objects of the process module include simulation capabilities to simulate the corresponding physical entities;
• an expert module stored in the computer readable memory, the expert module including a set of expert rules associated with the process module and adapted to be applied by an expert engine to detect at least one abnormal situation associated with the logical unit, the set of expert rules referencing parameter data of the process module, the expert module including expert module parameters associated with evaluation of the expert rules;
• a process graphic stored in the computer readable memory, the process graphic adapted to provide on a user interface a graphical depiction of the logical unit, parameter data of the process module, and parameter data of the expert module;
• an execution engine stored in the computer readable memory and adapted to be executed by the processor, the execution engine to execute the process module during operation of the process plant and to display on the user interface the graphical depiction of the logical unit, the parameter data of the process module, and the parameter data of the expert module;
• and
• an expert engine stored in the computer readable memory and adapted to be executed by the processor, the expert engine to apply the set of expert rules of the expert module.

A method to facilitate monitoring a process control system of a process plant, the method comprising:

• configuring a process module, the process module comprising a plurality of interconnected process objects, each process object representing a corresponding physical entity in the process plant, the process module representing a logical unit in the process plant;
• configuring an expert module, the expert module including a set of expert rules associated with the process module and adapted to be applied by an expert engine to detect at least one abnormal situation associated with the logical unit, the set of expert rules referencing parameter data of the process module, the expert module including expert module parameters associated with evaluation of the expert rules;
• configuring a process graphic, the process graphic adapted to provide on a user interface a graphical depiction of the logical unit, parameter data of the process module, and parameter data of the expert module;
• storing the configured process module, the configured expert module, and the configured process graphic to a configuration database, the configuration database to store a configuration of the process control system;
• and
• downloading the configured process module, the configured expert module, and the configured process graphic to a workstation in the process plant, the workstation adapted to implement an execution engine to execute the process module, to display the process graphic on a user interface, and to implement the expert engine during operation of the process.