Embedded dynamic alarm control system

A method of controlling an operation of a process having a plurality of independently controlled, manipulated variables, at least one controlled variables and none or more disturbance variables comprising the steps of:

• a) determining simultaneously for each of said manipulated variables a set number of future dynamic moves along with a future steady state value and for each of said controlled variable, a set number of predicted future dynamic values along with a future steady state value in accordance with steady state constraints and dynamic constraints relating to each of said manipulated variables and said controlled variables including where appropriate in accordance with future values relating to each of said disturbance variables;
• b) embedding alarm controls in a simultaneous dynamic control and steady state optimization in accordance with varying type of alarming situations and aiding operator in recovery actions;
• and
• c) performing a receding horizon form of control wherein said control is performed at successive time interval by monitoring and feedback of process responses resulting from the control actions applied at previous time intervals;
• wherein said control process further comprises an objective function J in the form of J=F(M, C, Dd, Md, Cd)+ΣΣPlcCl+ΣΣPhcCh, wherein
• F is some optimizing function for the process over the time horizon of time to steady state for said process,
• Md is dynamic values of manipulated variables over a predetermined time horizon,
• M is steady state value of said manipulated variables,
• Cd is dynamic values of controlled variables over a time horizon to steady state,
• C is steady state value of said controlled variables,
• Dd is a dynamic value vector of said disturbance variables over a time horizon no greater than said time horizon of dynamic values of said manipulated variables,
• and wherein further the process is considered to be a dynamic system, and said controlled variables response both in steady state and dynamic is characterized by (C, Cd)=G(Md, Dd),
• Plc is a penalty value to be applied for said controlled variable violating its low limit dynamically,
• Phc is a penalty value to be applied for said controlled variable violating its high limit dynamically, further
• Chi is high limit dynamic violation variables of said controlled variables, Ci and Cli is low limit dynamic violation variables of said controlled variables,
• Ci, the aforementioned control variables penalty relate to either economic criteria and/or safety criteria depending on the nature and characteristics of said controlled variable.